Business Sustainability (Iyler Furniture Case Study)

* Determine whether the company may be named as a potentially responsible party (PRP). Review the requirements for consideration as a PRP by answering the questions: What constitutes a PRP? What types of materials may cause problems? Do they exist in this company?

* Make recommendations as to both waste removal actions and waste remediation actions that the organization must follow to resolve their status. How do these two actions differ from each other?

* Analyze the organization's energy use concerning the U. S. energy policy and make recommendations for a conversion to alternative renewable energy or reduction of nonrenewable energy use to reduce its carbon footprint.

Case Study: Iyler Furniture

Iyler furniture is a small furniture manufacturer that employs approximately 60 people. The company manufactures inexpensive functional furniture that is sold online. Available pieces include sofas, recliners, dining tables and chairs, and occasional coffee or side tables. The furniture is shipped to customers unassembled with explicit assembly directions and all necessary hardware. Assembly tools are not included.

All furniture is manufactured in the Iyler facility. Sofa and chair cushions are subcontracted to a textile manufacturer and finished pieces are delivered to Iyler. Particleboard is used extensively as the base for all pieces. Pieces also have pine accents that are finished in the factory.

Particleboard is manufactured from wood chips or shavings bonded together with formaldehyde, a resin. The particleboard used by Iyler is purchased through a local supplier. The company offers several finishes for the pine accents, including clear lacquer, tung oil, and paint. The lacquer and paint are solvent based and the tung oil must be diluted with turpentine to ease application.

The facility is a large rectangular area with various manufacturing and finishing stations throughout. Lighting is provided by shop-type fluorescents and some natural light through windows on the front side of the building. The space has an older, but operational ventilation system throughout. In the front right corner of the space is the administrative office where incoming orders are processed and sent back to the manufacturing floor. The office has a two-person staff who have easy access to the manufacturing area. Employees are encouraged, but not required, to wear protective gear as appropriate to his or her job function.

Manufacturing and finishing materials are stored at the back end of the facility. Particleboard and pine are stored on open shelving. Wood finishing products are stored in the original containers. The company disposes of virtually all operation wastes into the municipal landfill via the dumpster behind the building. Leftover wood finishing products where the amount is too small to retain are often poured down a sink and flushed through the plumbing system.

Several employees, including the office staff, have complained of headaches and burning eyes. These complaints appear to rotate with employees as pieces move through the manufacturing and finishing processes. One employee sought a doctorâ??s care because of nausea and vomiting. To increase airflow in the factory, the back doors are kept open during hours of operation.

Electricity provided by the local utility company, Kelsey Power & Light runs the furniture-making and finishing machinery. Kelsey Power & Light generates electricity mainly through coal-fired plants, but also through generators powered by oil, natural gas, and nuclear reactors. The utility company also purchases some electricity from hydroelectric power sources. The company has two programs available for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint: a purchase program for renewable energy credits and a program to reduce the installation costs of certain solar-powered systems.