BIFMA
All about furniture and sustainability
AIM Enviro is the first in India to guide the Indian furniture manufacturers on compliance to BIFMA Standards. With pioneering work to its credit, AIM Enviro has also helped the furniture manufacturers in assessment of compliance by undertaking second party verification of conformance viz;
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For Organizations seeking LEED certifications
BIFMA Certified furniture products shall help the customer desirous of seeking LEED rating in the following areas:
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BIFMA e3 Credit 7.6: Low Emitting Furniture:
USGBC LEED criteria for Indoor Environmental Quality – Low Emitting Materials
New furniture and furnishing items must be tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1–2011. Comply with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard, Sections 7.6.1 (for half credit, by cost) OR 7.6.2 (for full credit, by cost), using either the concentration modeling approach or the emissions factor approach. Model the test results using the open plan, private office, or seating scenario in ANSI/BIFMA M7.1, as appropriate.
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.5: Bio-Based Non-Wood Renewable Materials
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.6: Bio-based Renewable Materials – Sustainable Wood
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.7: Recycled Content
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.8: Recyclable and Biodegradable Materials
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.9: Extended Product Responsibility:
USGBC LEED criteria for Purchasing – Facility Maintenance & Renovation
Purchase at least 50%, by cost, of the total maintenance and renovation materials that meet at least one of the following criteria. Include products specified in Materials and Resources prerequisite: Facility Maintenance and Renovation Policy. There is no minimum scope of renovation or new construction work required for eligibility of this credit. Each purchase can receive credit for each criterion met.
USGBC LEED criteria for Materials & Resources – Sustainable Purchasing
Sustainable purchases are those that meet one or more of the following criteria:
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Purchases contain at least 10% post-consumer and/or 20% post-industrial material.
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Purchases contain at least 70% material salvaged from off-site.
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Purchases contain at least 70% material salvaged from on-site.
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Purchases contain at least 50% rapidly renewable material.
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Purchases contain at least 50% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified wood.
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BIFMA e3 Certification:
USGBC LEED criteria for Environmentally preferable interior finishes and furnishings
Use interior finishes and furnishings from manufacturers who have validated multiple environmental attributes relevant to the product via certifications and that have publically disclosed the product attributes on which the certification has been granted. Use ANSI/BIFMA e3 certified products which account for at least 50% of the total interior finishes and furnishing materials by cost.
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BIFMA e3 Credit 5.2: Life Cycle Assessment:
USGBC LEED criteria for Certified Multi-attribute Products and Materials
To encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts. Use at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project. Furniture certified to ANSI/BIFMA e3 can contribute to this credit.
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BIFMA e3 Credit 8.7: Supply Chain-Supplier Code of Conduct:
USGBC LEED criteria for Social equity within the supply chain
Promoting fair trade, respect for human rights, and other equity practices among disadvantaged communities. The supply chain assessment must address at minimum the social responsibility elements namely; No child / forced / bonded labor, Health and safety procedures and training, Right of freedom of association, Non-discrimination, Discipline / harassment and grievance procedures, Fair working hours and compensation, Anti-corruption and bribery.
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BIFMA e3 Credit 7.5.1.3: Product Level Chemicals- Advanced Level:
USGBC LEED criteria for Avoidance of chemicals of concern in building materials
Use permanently installed products from manufacturers that demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 ppm). The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned at least 3 points under 7.5.1.3 Advanced Level in e3-2014 in ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard.
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BIFMA BIFMA G1-2013 ERGONOMICS GUIDELINE FOR FURNITURE USED IN OFFICE WORK
USGBC LEED criteria for Ergonomics approach for computer users:
To improve occupant well-being (human health, sustainability and performance) through integration of ergonomics principles in the design of work spaces for all computer users. Computer users are defined here as full time equivalent staff that utilize a computer for more than 50% of their workday. For computer workstations, refer to the most up-to-date versions of BIFMA G1 Standard.
About Furniture Sustainability Standard
Established in 1973, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association(BIFMA) International is a not-for-profit organization. BIFMA serves businesses that are primarily engaged in design, development, marketing and fulfillment of office and institutional furniture products. BIFMA develops voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and environments.
This Standard was developed by the Joint Committee on Business and Institutional Furniture Sustainability using the consensus process described by the American National Standards Institute. The Committee was created by the BIFMA and NSF International. (Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide.).
The purpose of this voluntary Standard is to provide measurable market-based definitions of progressively sustainable furniture. This Standard provides a pathway towards sustainability by establishing measurable criteria for multiple levels of achievement and/or performance.
This Standard is applicable to business and institutional furniture manufactured in one facility or multiple facilities. The Standard is also applicable to materials and components manufactured by suppliers to furniture manufacturers. It addresses product-based characteristics in the general areas of materials, use of energy, human and ecosystem health, and social responsibility impacts.
Organizations that choose to assess their business and/or institutional furniture products to this standard can achieve first-party, second party, or third-party verification of conformance. Organizations can show continuous improvement by moving products to higher levels of conformance.