The government has made it a priority for suppliers to work towards broader outcomes beyond the immediate concerns of purchasing workplace and classroom furniture.
The workplace and classroom furniture contract can be used to support your agency’s sustainability goals. This page details some of the options available.
Suppliers are working to increase the proportion of their products that have environmental certifications.
Environmental certifications like Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute (AFRDI) Green Tick, Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) and GreenTag indicate the product has been manufactured sustainably.
You can help reduce the carbon footprint of your office or classroom fit out by trying to purchase products with environmental certifications.
GECA, Green Tag Level A and AFRDI Green Tick are the highest certifications for furniture. Certified products are not harmful to the environment; they are sustainably manufactured and built to last.
Not all products can achieve the highest tier. Greenguard, for example, is a certification that covers chairs and soft seating, but these products would struggle to achieve a tier 1 rating.
Buying New Zealand-made products promotes local industry and creates jobs for New Zealanders. It reduces carbon emissions associated with imported products.
Furniture suppliers are working to increase the proportion of their product catalogue that is made in New Zealand.
Selected suppliers can repurpose and re-use old furniture instead of sending it to landfill. This reduces waste by increasing the useful life of furniture.
Reducing the amount of non-recyclable packaging used when installing furniture during fit outs is a priority for suppliers.
Suppliers are contractually obligated to track emissions throughout the full term of the contract and aim to make reductions. Suppliers report to the Government Property Office on their emission reduction efforts each year.
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