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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
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Fibre source
Wood and
other natural materials from sources that are not certified
under a recognised certification scheme
(e.g. FSC or AFS) as being sustainably  managed
shall not originate from
Illegal
harvesting, Genetically modified organisms, or Uncertified high
conservation value communities |
The product range under assessment is available with several
timber parts which are used as tops or doors of the storage
cabinets. Following the assessment process by GECA the
manufacturer has decided to provide the product range with GECA
certified Laminex E0 and Laminex MDF finished with the Laminex
laminates or GECA certified veneers by Briggs Veneers. There are
no other timber components. GEC received written conformation
confirming the above fibre source commitment. |
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Treatment
Wood and
natural materials used in furniture and fittings products may
not be treated with fungicides and insecticides that are
classified due to their hazardous nature by the World Health
Organisation as type 1a
and Type 1b for storage and/or transportation. Refer
http://www.who.int/whopes/
recommendations/en/
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The use of GECA certified timber products achieves compliance to
the requirements of this criterion. |
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Air
Emissions
Products
made from wood and other natural products that contain
formaldehyde based additives, shall be subject to air emission
limits for formaldehyde as measured using the Air Chamber,
Desiccator or Perforator test methods. Raw timber and natural
materials is exempt from this criterion. |
The use of
GECA certified timber products achieves compliance to the
requirements of this criterion. |
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Salvaged & Reclaimed Timbers
Salvaged or
reclaimed timbers may be used in certified furniture and
fittings. Salvaged and reclaimed timbers must be certified by
the EU Flower label or the Nordic Swan label or, once
released, satisfy the requirements of the GECA Standard No – :
Salvaged and Reclaimed Timbers. |
The nominated products contain no salvaged or reclaimed timber. |
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Plastics -
Resin Identification Code
An
appropriate plastics resin identification code promulgated by
the Plastics and Chemical Industry Association must be marked on
each individual recycled
plastic products or components weighing greater than 100g. |
The
Tambour Door Cabinets are available with PVC and polypropylene
doors. Products using PVC are not certified under this
assessment. FGP have started the use of Polypropylene extrusions
and are hoping that this material will eventually supersede the
use of PVC in the products. The Polypropylene extrusions were
found to be marked with
the PP code. |
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Padding material requirements
Polyurethane padding requirements:
1. CFC, HCFC, HFC or Methylene Chloride shall not be used as
blowing agents.
2. Analine based amines, and pigments and catalysis based on
mercury, lead, cadmium, and chromium must not be added to the
padding material.
3. Where organic tin catalysts are used in the production of
flexible polyurethane, the manufacturer must have in place a
contract with a licensed or registered hazardous waste disposal
company who is responsible for the correct disposal of the
hazardous waste. |
The nominated products contain no padding materials. |
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Fabrics
Fabrics
must be certified by the Good Environmental Choice Label, the EU
Flower label or the Nordic Swan label or satisfy the
requirements of the GECA Standard No – 19: Textiles. |
The nominated products contain no fabrics. |
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Glass
Lead
glazing, crystal glass, mirror glass, wire reinforced glass
and/or laminated glass must not be used in the furniture or
fittings. |
The
Entomological Cabinets contain 3mm glass drawer tops which are
compliant with the requirements of
this criterion. |
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Adhesives
Adhesives
must be certified by the Good Environmental Choice Label, the EU
Flower label the New Zealand Environmental Choice Label or the
Nordic Swan label or satisfy the requirements of the GECA
Standard No – 1: Adhesives. Adhesives used to fasten textiles on
to padding are exempted from the VOC requirements specified in
GECA Standard No – 1: Adhesives. |
The
Flammable Liquid Cabinets contain a door seal that is designed
to withstand extreme temperatures. FGP use Liquid Nails, a
solvent based adhesive, as water based products will evaporate
and fail to provide the fitness for propose needed. GECA accepts
the use of this adhesive. |
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Hazardous
Materials
The
following substances shall not be added to eco-labeled furniture
during the production process:
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Lead
Mercury
Fluorine
Chlorine
Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
Tar oils (benzo(a)pyrene) |
GECA
inspected MSDS for powder coats, adhesives and solvent based
cleaners used in the production of the FGP products. These were
found compliant to the requirements of this criterion. |
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Chemical
Additives
Furniture or fittings shall not contain carcinogenic substances
in categories 1, 2A as classed by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer –
http://www.iarc.fr.
At levels which expose the user to emissions greater than 1/20th
of the NICNAS recommended limits |
MSDS for
all production ingredients have been reviewed and provided
suitable evidence for compliance with this criterion. |
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Prohibited
Substances
Halogenated
organic binding agents, analine based amines, phalates,
aziridine or polyaziridines as well as pigments and additives
that contain lead, tin, cadmium VI, mercury or their compounds
are prohibited. There are some exceptions, for example the
coating of metal gas lifts |
None of the substances mentioned in this criterion are added to
the products under assessment; this is apparent by a review of
MSDS for all production ingredients.
The PVC shutters used in the products under assessment have been
replaced with Polypropylene shutters, which are appropriately
labeled with resin codes. |
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Separability
The eco-labeled
product shall be easily disassembled making possible the
recovery and recycling of materials
used. In order to facilitate recycling of the materials used in
products, the following materials have to be easily separated:
- Aluminium, if it composes ≥ 5% by weight of the eco-labelled
product;
- Steel, if it composes ≥ 10% by weight of the eco-labelled
product;
- Glass, if it composes ≥ 10% by weight of the eco-labelled
product;
- Plastic, if it composes ≥ 20% by weight of the eco-labelled
product. |
The
products are very easily separated into the different materials;
this was witnessed by a GECA qualified assessor during a site
assessment. |
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Product
Custodianship
The
applicant shall accept their product without additional cost
(not including transportation costs) for further recycling, or
have arrangements with an Australian plastics or steel recycler
to accept the product,
or have an established product stewardship program. |
GECA has
received a copy of a take back policy signed by the General
Manager. FGP will accept products at end of life and use
established recyclers to recycle the different components. FGP
have established arrangements with Southern Recycling, Amcor
Recycling and Sims metals. |
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Coatings and treatments
Furniture
and fittings products (or components) must not be impregnated,
labelled, coated or otherwise treated in a manner which would
prevent post consumer recycling. Exemption may be made for
products
with a long product life where a coating or treatment would
further extend the useful life of the product. |
No coating
or treatment is applied to the products that will prevent
recycling. |
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Replacement Parts
For those
parts of a product which are subject to wear, e.g. hinges,
locks, table leaves, functionally compatible
replacements shall be guaranteed for a period of at least five
years. Replacement parts are available to all products. |
Replacement parts are available for all certified products as
part of the standard warranty
terms. |
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