Wood Furniture Manufacturing

Washington State Department of Ecology
A Success Story in Waste Reduction from the Norse Furniture Corporation.

 

Washington State Department of Ecology

WOODEN FURNITURE MANUFACTURING

A Success Story in Waste Reduction

Norse Furniture Corporation
1202 Black Lake Boulevard
Olympia, Washington 98502
(360) 943-5090

Lyle Morse, owner of Norse Furniture Corp. in Olympia, applies
pollution prevention strategies on a broader basis than most
companies.  Going beyond its own manufacturing processes, the
company takes steps to address the long-term environmental impact
of its products.  From design to manufacture, and throughout the
life of the furniture, Norse Furniture products pollute less and
waste fewer resources.

Norse Furniture designs durable furniture for institutions like
colleges and military facilities.  The company builds its
furniture to last 15 to 20 years.  Most pieces use modular
components which can easily be replaced or repaired.  State-of-
the-art computer applications get the maximum use out of raw
materials, such as wood and fabric.  Computerized, numerically
controlled machining equipment, like the Morbidelli boring
machine, reduces rework and improves quality control.

Improved manufacturing methods significantly lower the amount of
solid waste generated by the company.  Wood, fabric, and foam
waste is reused in-house.  The wood that is not reused goes to an
off-site recycler.  The company now uses launderable cloth rags
to apply stain instead of disposable paper wipers.  These design
and manufacturing improvements reduce Norse Furniture's refuse
from 32 to 20 yards a month.

Lyle Morse has found ways to reduce the toxicity of materials he
uses, too.  By using plycore, a seven-ply veneered plywood,
instead of particle or chip board, the furniture gives off less
formaldehyde and other volatile compounds.  Dry-joint
construction techniques eliminate the need for adhesives during
assembly.  The reduces off-gassing acts as a marketing asset due
to growing customer concern about indoor air quality.  Norse
Furniture's move away from toxic materials and processes provides
customers with a "green" alternative.

Converting to water-borne, rather than solvent-based, stains and
lacquers lowers the company's emissions of volatile organic
compounds.  Norse Furniture reduced its release of these
compounds by roughly 35% between 1992 and 1994.  Some of these
coatings cover nearly twice the surface area of solvent-based
coatings which offsets their higher cost.

Company employees support the switch to a different coating
system although it requires operational changes.  Norse Furniture
is a union shop and employs 30 to 70 workers.  "The old KV
lacquer had a terrible odor," says employee Wally Rohr.  "The new
water-based coatings clean up the atmosphere in the shop."  Lyle
Morse also finds that workers experience less eye irritation.
The change benefits the surrounding neighborhood, which includes
a densely populated residential area, a nearby school and a
fitness gym.  "It's the company's policy to do all we can to be a
good neighbor," says Morse.  "We are happy to find a way to
reduce our emissions."

For Lyle Morse, pollution prevention increases profits, improves
worker and community health and safety, save on raw materials and
waste disposal costs and enhances marketing.  Norse Furniture
Corporation proves that increased production does not have to
increase pollution.

This document is published by the Washington State Department of
Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program.  This
Success Story highlights the achievement of a Washington business
that has found pollution prevention planning the next step toward
waste reduction and management.

Businesses across the state have discovered significant benefits
form waste reduction, including:  *cost savings on waste
disposal, raw materials, and operating * reduced regulatory
burden * coordinated management of various environmental
requirements * increased production efficiency * improved
competitiveness * improved worker safety.

It is our hope that the information contained in this Success
Story will help other businesses identify ways to reduce their
impact on the environment.

Success through Waste Reduction 1995  Publication #95-418

Last Updated: March 31, 1997