Bassett upholstery plant completes EFEC program
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 9, 2009
Newton, N.C. — Bassett Furniture's upholstery plant here has completed the American Home Furnishings Alliance's Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture program.
AHFA created the voluntary environmental management program for the residential furniture industry. It calls for companies to improve management of resources, while reducing energy consumption and waste disposal and costs.
The AHFA said Bassett has cut its energy costs at the plant by 8% and has a goal of achieving another 4% by next July. Recycling measures have reduced landfill waste by 50%, and consolidation of two product wrapping areas has cut natural gas consumption.
Maegan Hubbard, Bassett's project manager for store development, is an accredited professional in the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and is in charge of the company's EFEC implementation.
Bassett also is working to have its wood assembly plant in Martinsville, Va., and corporate headquarters in Bassett, Va., registered through EFEC.
Other manufacturers that have achieved EFEC registration for some or all of their facilities include Fairfield Chair, La-Z-Boy Residential, Flexsteel (including DMI), Hooker (including Bradington-Young and Sam Moore), Century, American Drew, Bernhardt, C.R. Laine, Hickory Chair, Kincaid, Lea Inds. and Vaughan-Bassett.
