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FURNITURE AND FITTINGS
GECA
28-2006 Standard (PDF) |
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Schiavello Vic Pty Ltd
The
Liberty, Piuma and Novetta chairs from Schiavello are
now GECA certified, exhibiting environmentally
preferable characteristics. |
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Product Marketing Name:
Schiavello Use and Application: Chairs
Date of Certification: 11
March 2008
1.
Description of the
Technology.
Schiavello is one of Australia's leading international designers and manufacturers of furniture products and interiors for advanced work environments.
Brothers Tony and Joe Schiavello, who began making furniture and partitions for office interiors in Melbourne, Australia, founded the Schiavello Group in 1966. Today, the family owned company is ranked within Australia's top 500 private companies, with over 1100 employees. Schiavello currently manages over 87,000 square metres of facilities, including manufacturing plants, showrooms, corporate headquarters and sales offices.
Schiavello is committed to world's best practice principles and takes environmental issues very seriously. Our products are designed and engineered in facilities certified to local and international quality and environmental management systems. We have achieved Quality Management Accreditation to ISO9001 and environmental certification to ISO14001, the first Australian company in our industry to achieve this.
2. The Products
Piuma Chair, Liberty Chair, Liberty Mesh Chair,
Novetta Chair
Piuma is a contemporary mesh back chair, adaptable to task and executive seating. Featuring a contoured mesh back, stretched taut across a sturdy external frame, Piuma allows the fabric to breath whilst offering total support.
The Liberty chair is ergonomically designed specifically to accommodate frequent, spontaneous changes of position assumed throughout the working day. Challenging conventional chair design, renowned American designer, Niels Diffrient, has developed an office chair like no other - it automatically supports the body's every position, without relying on locking mechanisms and manual controls.
Internationally acclaimed designer, Niels Diffrient created the Liberty Mesh Chair upholding the philosophy that all task chairs should fit like a suit. The result was a soundly engineered tripanel mesh which displaced pressure across the back region without the need for manually adjusted external lumbar support devices. The new Liberty Mesh chair is the first tri-panel, non-stretch mesh task chair, providing optimal postural support for all shapes and sizes, with vast improvements on workplace performance and satisfaction.
Schiavello's Novetta range includes a general task chair or drafting chair in two different back sizes, with or without arms. Novetta features an ergonomically contoured foam seat with seat and armrest height adjustment. There is also the synchro-tilt mechanism with multi-lock and antishock.
Core Environmental Criteria Tested:
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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
3.1 Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their
intended application. Certain standards of quality and
durability are implicit in the Label. The manufacturer must
ensure that the product is fit for its intended purpose |
Schiavello are a leading producer
of office chairs in Australia. GECS has received written
confirmation from the Managing Director with regards to the 5
year warranty terms.
The Office Chair Manufacturers
of Australia Pty Ltd - OCMA, operates a Quality Management
System that complies with the requirements of AS/NZS ISO 9001:
2000. GECS has reviewed this ISO 9001 certificate awarded by NCS
International on the 23.05.07. GECS has reviewed a Quality Plan
Inspection Record form that includes non-conformance testing, as
well as visual and functional inspections on Schiavello chairs
and their various components. Sample production quality control
form was received and reviewed.
The nominated products come with a 5 year standard conditional warranty for the product and replacement parts.
The Piuma chair has been
certified against the requirements of ANSI/BIFMA X5.1- 2002. |
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3.2.2.1 Resin Identification
Codes To be licensed to carry the Label, 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. |
All plastic components weighing
greater than 100g are appropriately marked with a plastic resin
identification code. The base and back (inner and outer) of the
chairs under assessment are coded with the appropriate resin
codes. In the case of the Piuma seat base and back there is no
resin code displayed, Schiavello have undertaken to apply these
with the use of a sticker, Schiavello have also requested the
manufacturer of these components applies a resin code to these
components. The use of the Sticker has been verified during a
site assessment of the Schiavello assembly site, as well as
being confirmed in writing by their Managing Director. |
3.2.3 Padding material
3.2.3.1 Synthetic latex and natural latex requirements
Latex containing 1.3 butadiene shall be at levels <= 1mg/kg
latex.
The total amount of discharges
(measured as COD or TOC) from the production of foam rubber
shall be treated and decreased by 90% in on-site or external
sewage treatment works prior to emissions into waterways. |
There is no synthetic latex or
natural latex used in the foam component of the chair under
assessment. |
3.2.3.2.1 Additives
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. |
A review of MSDS for the foam
components from the various suppliers indicates compliance to
the requirements of this criterion for the Piuma and Liberty
chairs. According to the MSDS, none of the abovementioned
prohibited substances are used in the product under assessment.
This has been further verified with a signed declaration from
the various suppliers stating that the blowing agents used for
the Polyurethane padding are not CFC, HCFC, HFC nor Methylene
Chloride. No other substances dealt with under this criterion
are applicable. |
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3.2.6 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. |
A water-based adhesive is used to
bind foam to the seat base and to fasten textiles to this foam.
GECS has reviewed an MSDS for the adhesive and has found it to
be fully compliant with the requirements of GECA Standard No -
1: Adhesives. |
3.3.1 Overall Loads
In order to promote the reduction of pollutant hazards in the
disposal, landfill and/or incineration of end of life furniture,
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) |
Schiavello have confirmed in
writing that no additives dealt with above are contained in the
chairs under assessment. The chairs are primarily comprised of
PP plastic, polyurethane and steel. A review of MSDS for the
various polyurethane components conducted in the above criterion
3.2.3.2 also indicates that none of the above-mentioned
substances are used in the production process. This has been
further verified via other documentation received.
Furthermore, GECS has received
a signed Declaration from the Managing Director confirming
Schiavello's claims against the criteria of the Furniture and
Fittings Standard; and in particular, confirming that none of
the hazardous substances dealt with in this criterion and 3.3.2
prohibited substances below are used in the product under
assessment. The gas lift is highly polished steel and is coated
with some chrome finish. However, this is exempt under the
requirements of the below criterion 3.3.2 Prohibited Substances
for reasons of heavy physical wear. GECS has further confirmed
the components that make up the product during site assessment
and is confident that Schiavello comply with the requirements of
this criterion. |
3.3.2 Prohibited Substances
Furniture or fittings shall not contain carcinogenic substances
in categories 1 or 2A as classed by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer - http://
monographs. iarc.fr/ ENG/ Classification |
No solvents or prohibited
substances listed under this criterion are applicable, and this
has been verified through a review of Material Safety Data
Sheets for the various components. |
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3.4.1
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 comprises >= 5% by weight of the
eco-labelled product;
- Steel, if it comprises >= 10% by weight of the eco-labelled
product;
- Glass, if it comprises >= 10% by weight of the eco-labelled
product;
- Plastic, if it comprises >= 20% by weight of the
eco-labelled product. |
The nominated chairs from
Schiavello, are designed for disassembly. The component
materials (steel, plastic and foam) are able to be re-used or
recycled. This was verified by GECS during site assessment of
the manufacturing site, as well as through review of appropriate
product information documentation. |
3.4.2 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. |
Schiavello have an appropriate
take-back policy in place whereby products can be returned to
their Tullamarine, Victoria production facility for re-use or
recycling of the various components. Schiavello have also
committed to issuing an annual report that details how the
products and product components were recycled or re-used as
appropriate. Clients can indicate their desire to enter into a
product stewardship agreement prior to purchase as part of this
take-back policy. GECS is confident Schiavello has the technical
ability to implement this product custodianship policy
successfully and with a positive environmental outcome. |
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3.4.3 Coatings/ 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. |
There are no coatings or treatments applied to the Schiavello chairs that will prevent post consumer recycling. This has been confirmed via a signed declaration and product inspection. |
3.4.4 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. |
Schiavello provide a 5 year
warranty for the product as well as replacement parts, and thus
satisfy the requirements of this criterion. |
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3.4.7 Packaging Requirements
Chlorinated or halogenated plastics must not be used in product
packaging. Used packaging shall be able to be recycled by local
recycling systems. |
During a site inspection, GECS
confirmed that the plastic packaging used is made of a material
which is not chlorinated or halogenated and is recyclable in
most local recycling systems. |
3.4.8 Product Information
The manufacturer must provide written information to the
consumer clearly stating: · The intended use of the product. ·
Instructions for correct use and storage so as to maximise the
product lifetime. · Maintenance instructions, if required.
Maintenance instructions must not specify the use of any
chemical or coating limited by any part of this standard. ·
Recycling instructions for the product end-of-life. |
GECS have reviewed sample product
information that is provided to consumers at point-of-sale and
is satisfied that the requirements of this criterion are met. |
 View
Schiavello EPD
3. Environmental and Social Regulatory Obligations:
GECA also found the Schiavello range to
be fully compliant with their obligations under Labour,
Anti-Discrimination, and Safety Regulations. The company
has not been the subject of prosecution in relation to
compliance with labour, anti- discrimination, safety
regulations and environmental regulations.
Additional Information
Good Environmental Choice Australia
recommends these products to green purchasing officers,
specifiers, and every day Australians seeking to
purchase products and services on the basis of
functional and overall environmental and human health
performance.
For more information contact Schiavello
directly:
Schiavello
Address: 1 Sharps Road, Tullamarine VIC 3043
Ph: +61 (03) 9330 8888
Fax: +61 (03) 9330 8899
Web: http://schiavello.com/
You can go to the company's web site here:
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Liberty Chair
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Liberty Mesh
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Novetta
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Piuma
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