NeoCon Presentation Description: and ECO-nomic sense! There is a growing community of facility managers working together to drive sustainable change in the commercial furniture industry. In this value-driven session, we will share insights and best practices from kimiko green's roundtable discussions that include many fortune 500 global organizations. Founding members Dianne Murata and Jenny McMath will share financial scenarios including a case study from 8 million sq ft facility Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that support sustainable furniture practices and make a case for circular furniture programs. Over the last three years LANL has purchased millions of $ in new interior products with a focus on sustainable and high-quality interior furnishings. However, it is only the beginning of their goal to maximize it's useable life and landfill diversion. Sustainable commercial furniture, if well maintained and warrantied, can last well beyond the accounting depreciation of the asset, ultimately saving taxpayer and/or organizational dollars. Waste reduction and keeping commercial furniture out of landfills has multiple environmental benefits, but implementing circular practices also makes great financial sense--whether planning and managing 8 million square feet or 8,000 square feet.

Do you think keeping commercial furniture out of the landfill has to be expensive, time-consuming, and complicated? Spoiler alert: It does not! In this session we will talk a lot of trash and in the process, we will debunk the common myths and reveal creative cost- and time-saving truths about sustainable furniture decommissioning. Kimiko Green is a community of facility owners and managers who have taken a deep dive into the challenges of decommissioning commercial furniture in a responsible and sustainable way. Through a series of roundtables, conversations, research and case studies (+ several gallons of coffee), the collective has identified 5 practical strategies that you can implement to improve furniture circularity within your own organization. Building on these foundational strategies, this action-packed session includes real world examples of landfill diversion that aren't expensive, don't require significant time or resources and are simple efforts that, when combined, can significantly move the needle towards more sustainable ff&e programs. This session aims to provide you and your organization with true inspiration, preparation, and practical knowledge needed to divert commercial furniture from the landfill--all while saving time, money, and stress.

Join kimiko green's Dianne Kimiko Murata and mindful MATERIALs' Laurel Christensen Chadzynski to explore innovative ways to leverage your specifying power and drive positive change in sustainable procurement. Learn how to contribute to a consistent aligned 'ask' from the industry, encouraging manufacturers to make greater investments in sustainability. Discover the art of formulating clear and impactful questions about product certifications, allowing you to filter out greenwashing and make informed choices easily. We will also delve into the realm of cross-industry knowledge transfer, examining lessons learned from other sectors and applying them to the world of furniture, Request for Proposals (RFPs), and procurement guides. Gain valuable insights into adapting successful strategies from various industries to enhance sustainability practices in your procurement processes. Additionally, the presentation will illuminate the practical application of mindful MATERIALS' Common Materials Framework. Learn how to evaluate materials' lifecycle impacts holistically, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their environmental footprint. Join us on this journey towards more sustainable and responsible procurement practices that positively impact your organization and the planet.