Sustainable Partnership

With 2 million employees in a wide variety of agencies and branches, the U.S. federal government is the nation's largest employer and most diversified conglomerate. But like any organization, it achieves cohesiveness through its values and how they're reflected in operations. The General Services Administration (GSA) plays an important role setting an example for the government and the nation.

As the government's central procurement agency, the GSA sets standards for purchasing products, services and workspaces. Ensuring that business partners are environmental stewards and helping government agencies achieve their sustainability goals are important GSA criteria.

To showcase environmental leadership, the GSA established an annual Evergreen Award program in 1998. The award recognizes outstanding efforts in waste prevention, recycling, procurement of recovered materials, preference for products with reduced impact on human health and the environment, and modeling leadership through investments and culture change. Steelcase is honored to receive the 2010 Evergreen Award for furniture, and is proud to be the only company that's been honored twice in that category, first in 2000.

"Essentially, it's about innovation, new technologies and approaches, partnering and sharing," says Rich. "All agencies look to the GSA. It sets the pace for government purchasing, so receiving the Evergreen Award again is satisfying proof that Steelcase is providing value to one of the largest organizations in the world."

In many ways, the federal government is currently facing the same workplace challenges as other businesses Steelcase serves. New real estate strategies are requiring organizations to deliver on sustainability objectives by optimizing performance of real estate and maximizing space utilization. Through the GSA's Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, a special Presidential Executive Order and other communications, the federal government is driving to reduce energy consumption, lessen the environmental impact of government buildings and reduce unneeded space.

In projects such as the Research Support Facility at the Department of Energy's Natural Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado that opened in the summer of 2010, Steelcase's research, insights and sustainable products and applications are helping to achieve the government's goals.

"Steelcase has done an outstanding job of making environmentally friendly options available to our federal customers and are committed to helping us reduce waste and save taxpayer dollars," said Regional Administrator David H. Ehrenwerth. "We are honored to partner with companies that help us to green the government's supply chain while creating a more sustainable environment and building a greener future."

"Organizations want to do the right thing, and a consistent view of sustainability allows everybody to be more effective," Rich notes. "It's about being transparent, sharing insights and working together for the benefit of all to meet the aspirations of this country and, in the process, inspire others." ■