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Kathryn Scott Design Studio
Best Practice Achievements
Sustainable Materials
We make a conscious effort to manage our materials selection, seeking materials we are confident are sustainable, such as legally harvested forest products, responsibly produced plantation products, and recycled content:
Recycling and Reclamation
We factor disassembly, recyclability and product reclamation into buying decisions. We offer a product reclamation/product reuse policy:
Return and Reuse
We use recycled or recyclable packing/packaging materials, offer blanket-wrap transportation arrangements for customers and have a carton return/reuse policy:
Chain of Custody
We ask for verifiable chain of custody documents (i.e. legal logging certifications) before buying products containing wood:
Decrease use of Toxic Chemicals
We have decreased our use/acceptance of known toxic chemicals for treatments, binders and finishes, replacing compounds that compromise indoor air quality and are harmful to human health:
Low Environmental Impact Textiles
We are asking our vendors for textiles that have a lower environmental impact, i.e. organic cotton in place of conventionally-grown cotton, as well as seeking other eco-friendly textiles:
Life Cycle Analysis
We are moving forward on doing a Life Cycle Analysis and/or are applying for SMaRT certification:
Local Sourcing
We extract, manufacture and distribute for consumer use within a 500 mile radius for at least a portion of our product line:
Third Party Certifications
We hold third party certifications for some of our products, or as a store, we promote and educate the consumer on the meaning of various third party certifications:
Sharing the Wealth
We take responsibility for sharing our commitment to sustainability up and down our entire supply chain, rewarding our vendors with increased business for partnering with us on sustainability issues:
Social Responsibility Code
We have a written Social Responsibility Code of Contact that is a baseline for employee relations:
Supplier Responsibility
We have written and distributed a Supplier Responsibility Code of Conduct for our vendors and conduct training at our partner facilities on the adoption of same:
Health and Safety Code Compliance
We and our partners meet or exceed all local health and safety codes and can document our health and safety working conditions in all our facilities/stores:
We Pay Living Wages
We pay a living wage rather than minimum wage and extend that around the globe:
We Sponsor Sustainability Events
We have participated in or sponsored in-store, community and/or regional educational events on sustainability and the environment:
We Inspect
We investigate and mitigate any negative environmental impacts from our operations:
Save Paper and Other Office Resources
We save paper and other office resources with a policy expressing an aversion to excess written documentation:
We Use Energy Specialists
We have had an energy specialist or utility company audit to measure our conventional energy usage and are on track to reduce it. We are replacing a portion of the energy we consume with certified renewable energy, either directly, via a program of our local utility, or via Green e-Power:
Updated Inefficient Equipment
We have replaced outdated and inefficient equipment, identified and changed wasteful resource procedures and implemented tighter operational controls:
Energy Efficient Lighting
We have increased the use of day lighting and/or are upgrading to more energy efficient lighting system:
Verified Sustainability Claims
We make only verifiable sustainability claims in adherence with FTC mandates against greenwash and in support of their Environmental Marketing Guides:
Committed to Training
We are committed to conducting training in-house and in the broader community about global climate change and our partnership with the SFC:
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On reducing energy consumption:
2016: We are in the process of replacing our printed library of catalogues with use of website references to avoid the mass of paper trash from continual updates. My goal is to maintain our library with minimal or no waste.
I hope to expand our reduction of printed matter, saving information electronically whenever possible. Should it be necessary to print a paper copy, I hope to increase our use of double sided printing, to reduce paper. Excess paper scraps are saved to be used for office notes.
I hope to further diminish the use of disposable products used in the office. At the moment we save portable coffee trays and unopened bags of plastic cutlery to return to restaurants who deliver food to the office. We have cups, tableware and cloth napkins for employee use. There are refillable coffee pods for the single-use office coffee maker as well.
To minimize unnecessary shipping waste, we save boxes and shipping materials for re-use or donate excess to UPS for re-use. I hope to take this a step further by reducing our purchases from vendors who waste materials through inefficient shipping practices.
2015: Reduce support of vendors who over package in shipping. Source more local artisans.
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On how we will manage our primary material or service to a more sustainable direction:
2016: By increasing our own awareness of sustainable-minded day to day habits, I hope to influence clients to do the same.
I hope to include more existing, vintage and antique furnishings as well as reclaimed materials and architectural salvage in our designs to reduce waste in our projects.
2015: Use porcelain accessories made locally and wrapped in eco-friendly packaging.
In keeping with our commitment to continual improvement, we are planning to take the following actions this year: On education and promotion of the sustainability cause:
2016: I want to develop a new approach to kitchen design, with the mindset of reducing unnecessary quantities of equipment and utensils than we assume is needed. I believe people live a simpler lifestyle than they realize and include more products in their kitchens than they actually use or need. The lack of awareness creates more initial cost and maintenance, more energy use, more space needed and more waste created.
I would like to encourage clients to generally consume less, and recognize their true needs before assuming they need to accommodate the abundance of materials that overfill our homes today.
I hope to make a list of sustainably minded vendors and service providers as our preferred vendor list, to help all of us in the office make better selections.
I hope to further engage family, friends, employees and clients in discussions about the important relationship between people, our behavior patterns and the environment in which we live. With awareness, the impact thoughtful choices and habits have on our personal well being and that of our natural environment can be transformative, improving our health and surroundings.
2015: Collaboration on events with Food & Water Match and Brooklyn Heights Association. Speak with clients about eco-friendly options. Create a "Care" package for clients that use non-toxic products.
