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Environmental Requirements |
Core Environmental Performance Characteristics |
3.1 Fitness for Purpose
As well as having sustainability aspects, GECA certified products need to be good performers in their intended application. |
Sheldon’s nominated product is sold with a ten year warranty. Monthly Overview Quality Problems sheets for May, June & July 2007, indicate good quality procedures are utilized during manufacture. |
3.2.1.1 Controversial Sources
Wood and other natural materials from sources that are not certified under a recognised certification scheme (e.g. FSC or AFS) as being sustainable managed shall not originate from Illegal harvesting, Genetically modified organisms, or Uncertified high conservation value communities |
The Datum Workstation and Screen System contains 79% by weight of Vertiboard E0 sourced from Laminex - a product which is certified separately by GECA under Licence LA-2005. Technical Specification, Supplementary Report: Datum Workstation & Screen System, July 2007 has evidence that E0 is the only source of board for the nominated product. Delivery dockets for (approx) 39 square metres of Vertiboard MR E0 25mm Flint Parchment 3600 x 1800 delivered on 18 June 2007 confirm the use of Laminex products. |
3.2.1.2 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 ICAC as Type 1a and Type 1b for storage and/or transportation. Refer to:
http://www.who.int/whopes/recommendations/en/ |
The fibre used in Laminex E0 boards has not been treated with fungicides or insecticides - as certified separately by GECA - therefore Sheldon’s nominated product conforms to the requirements. |
3.2.1.3 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.
Glues in Plywood and Laminated Wood:
The content of free formaldehyde in glues for plywood or laminated wood or other natural material panels or products may be up to 0.5% w/w. |
The formaldehyde emissions from Laminex E0 board conform to AS 1859: Part 1 – Particleboard/Part 2-MDF. E0 board is certified separately by GECA - therefore Sheldon’s nominated product conforms to the requirements. |
3.2.1.4 Salvaged & Reclaimed Timbers
Salvaged or reclaimed timbers may be used in certified furniture and fittings. Salvaged and reclaimed timbers include timbers legally sourced as pre-cut waste timber or deadwood from cityscape, urban and rural gardens, demolition sites, and waste wood from certified tree loppers / doctors. |
No salvaged or reclaimed timber is used in the nominated product. |
3.2.2.1 Resin Identification Codes
To be licensed to carry the GECA label, appropriate plastics resin identification code (promulgated by the Plastics and Chemical Industry Association) must be marked on each individual plastic product or component that weighs more than 100g and is able to be ultimately recycled. |
During the site assessment the GECA qualified assessor recommended that appropriate use of plastic identification be initiated on small components. The nominated product has screens and desk accessories made from polycarbonate plastic. The large items (screens) are marked with the name ‘polycarbonate’ but small items are not (eg: file trays that are heavier then 100g). These items are not to be included in products sold under the GECA licence. |
3.2.3 Padding material
3.2.3.1 Synthetic latex and natural latex requirements |
The nominated product does not contain synthetic / natural latex. |
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3.2.3.2 Polyurethane padding requirements |
The nominated product does not contain polyurethane foam. |
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3.2.4 Fabrics |
The nominated product does not contain fabrics. |
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3.2.5 Glass |
The nominated product does not contain glass. |
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. |
The adhesive used to affix the edge banding to the workstation is Ethylene Vinyl Acetate co-polymer (JOWATHERM 280.30), a solvent based adhesive, which does not meet the VOC requirements specified in GECA Standard No – 1: Adhesives. Since edge banding provides extended duration of the product’s usefulness and an alternative adhesive is not available currently, GECA gives an exemption to the current adhesive.
To maintain this exemption, Sheldon must measure and know the quantity of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate co-polymer it receives each year and have a policy ready to test water-based, low VOC adhesives as these become available in providing equivalent fitness for purpose in the edge banding machine. |
3.3.1 Overall Loads
In order to reduce pollutant hazards in the disposal, landfill and/or incineration of end-of-life furniture, the following substances shall not be added to eco-labelled furniture during the production process:
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Lead
Mercury
Fluorine
Chlorine
Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
Tar oils (benzo(a)pyrene) |
Metal components of the nominated product are powder coated. Sheldon provided Technical Specification, Supplementary Report: Datum Workstation & Screen System, July 2007, with Attachments D1, D2 & E. These show the formulation of the powder coating used on the nominated product and it does not contain any listed hazardous materials. There is a delivery docket of 150 kg of imported powder coating, which is an indication of the quantity utilised during manufacture. |
3.3.2 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 |
Material Safety Data Sheets for all substances used in the manufacturing of the workstation confirm compliance to the requirements of this criterion. |
3.3.3 Prohibited Substances
Halogenated organic substances or solvents (e.g. binding agents), Analine based amines, the phthalates DEHP, DBP, DAP or BBP. Aziridine or polyaziridines, as well as pigments and additives that contain lead, tin, arsenic, cadmium, mercury or their compounds, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or short-chain chlorinated organic flame retardants shall not be used or added during manufacture. |
Sheldon’s Technical Specification, Supplementary Report: Datum Workstation & Screen System, July 2007 has a letter signed by the Managing Director, which confirms that the listed prohibited substances are not added during manufacture of the nominated product. |
3.4.1 Separability
The eco-labelled 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. |
A GECA qualified assessor observed disassembly of the nominated product during the site audit. The products are easily disassembled. |
3.4.2 Product Custodianship
The applicant shall accept its 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. |
Sheldon offers a take back arrangement to its customers in compliance to the criterions requirements. |
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. |
Coatings observed by the qualified GECA assessor during the site audit were powder coating and melamine. Sheldon’s nominated product meets the requirements of this criterion. |
3.5 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. |
The nominated product has no moving parts. Other parts which might be subject to wear are covered by a ten year warranty. This is confirmed by Sheldon’s Technical Specification, Supplementary Report: Datum Workstation & Screen System, July 2007 in the wording of the warranty in the sales agreement. |
3.6 Recycled furniture
Recycled furniture can be licensed to conform to this standard providing that the furniture has not been refinished or coated with any materials except for the purpose of cleaning. |
Sheldon’s nominated product does not contain recycled furniture components. |
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