HON

An operating company of HNI Corporation, HON manufactures its office furniture at the company’s numerous manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States. Headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, HON maintains “a member culture that is approachable, confident, smart and ready to serve.” Part of their commitment to clients is illustrated in their evolving designs that respond to new technologies: “We’ve created office furniture, teacher stations and student desks that anticipate and adapt to the next waves of high-tech products like the iPhone.”

• ilira®-stretch Back Work Chair— Part of the F3™ Collection, the ilira®-stretch Back Work Chair functions in a way that suits different work tasks and office environments, “from private offices and conference rooms to open office plans.” Pneumatic seat height adjustment, 360-degree swivel, synchronized knee tilt, tilt lock, and height and width-adjustable arms create a task chair that conforms to the user’s body. This ergonomic chair uses a breathable mesh that allows the back to move throughout the day.
• Initiate— A workstation that aims to be sustainable, Initiate starts with longevity: durable construction and easy configuration ensure that Initiate will last for years. Metal-to-metal connections create a solid structure, so everything fits together without gaps. Additionally, all panels are made of Nature Core™, a patented low-emitting fiberboard made from a rapidly renewable material. With excellent sound control and low air emissions, Nature Core™ is a good choice for office systems that contribute to LEED credits.
• SmartLink— A seating system developed with the contemporary classroom in mind, SmartLink is flexible and lightweight, encouraging students and teachers to move: “SmartLink seating uses a responsive, contoured design to support the way students move, allowing them to turn around, sit sideways, lean back, and stay comfortable and focused for longer periods of time.” The SmartLink seating includes smooth glides and casters, so rearranging the classroom is easy, even “at a moment’s notice.” Twelve colors including Tangelo, Calypso, and Lime allow schools to express themselves.

HON follows a simple environmental philosophy: “lean is green.” The company began a waste reduction program in 1947 and instituted a formal environmental program in the 1980s. Since the 1990s, HON has followed the lean is green model by conserving resources and maximizing health and safety. HON collects its powdercoat finishes and “loops them back into an electrostatic spray gun.” And HON recycles fabric scrap: over 300 bales annually get ground into small pieces that become car trunk lining. By using a compression molding process, HON also diverts postconsumer waste from landfills.