Corporate Sustainability Excellence

Herman Miller, a company with a green commitment dating back more than 50 years, has enhanced its already outstanding corporate sustainability initiatives by encouraging employees to participate in two new and innovative programs.

The Cool Planet Challenge tracks participating employees’ personal energy consumption and carbon footprint though an online database. The participants are required to monitor their activities – miles driven and home energy use – from June 1, 2008 through the end of March 2009 and incorporate creative changes to their daily routines. Some will be radical, others not so much.

With rising fuel prices it shouldn’t be hard to find willing participants. The top three-energy/carbon footprint reducers will win both recognition and prizes.

The Sustainable Garden Club, a program of Herman Miller’s Ideation office, provides an opportunity for its designers and engineers to draw inspiration from nature. Driven from the company’s interest in biomimicry, the Garden Club will select and maintain plants, flowers and vegetables that will mimic a natural ecosystem.

Paul Murray, Herman Miller’s Director of Environmental Health and Safety, believes it makes sense for Herman Miller to inspire a sustainable lifestyle among employees and hopefully ignite interest for other companies to support similar programs.