Contact Information: CONTACT: Betsy Hoye Advertising & Public Relations Manager 563.272.5690 HoyeB@honcompany.com Jennifer Allanson Robert Falls & Co. Public Relations 216.696.0229 jallanson@robertfalls.com
MUSCATINE, IA--(Marketwire - November 5, 2007) - When the word "cubicle" is mentioned, words
like "noisy," "no privacy" and "Dilbert" may pop into your head. But how
about "green," "sustainable," or "environmentally friendly?" Why aren't
these making the top of the list?
One Iowa-based company is driven to change that perception. The HON
Company, one of the largest designers and manufacturers of office furniture
in the U.S., has developed a new cubicle "filler" for inside cubicle walls
which provides sustainable benefits, as well as improved indoor air
quality. The material, Nature Core™, is the first of its kind for the
office furniture industry, and is made primarily from kenaf, an annually
renewable crop that is second only to cotton in the volume grown around the
world.
Kenaf isn't a new crop -- in fact, its roots are based in ancient Africa,
more than 4,000 years ago. Its main uses are for rope, twine, coarse cloth
and paper (for newsprint, printing and writing paper); however emerging
uses of kenaf include: engineering wood, decking, animal bedding, and as
an additive for various types of matters, such as seeded grass mats for
instant lawns. In addition, kenaf seeds yield a vegetable oil that is
edible and high in omega antioxidants, and is used for cosmetics and as
bio-fuel. The product potential for kenaf is really unlimited.
And the best part about kenaf is that it provides manufacturers an annual
crop base for fiber that doesn't endanger or deplete our forests and the
environment. One acre of kenaf produces 7 to 11 tons of usable fiber in a
single growing season; compared to an acre of U.S. forest, which produces
approximately 1.5 to 3.5 tons of usable fiber in per year.
The HON Company's Nature Core material is now standard on the company's
most popular panel (a.k.a. "cubicle") system, Initiate®, without an
increase in price. Office workers won't notice a difference between
traditional cubicles and those with Nature Core, as it is extremely durable
and offers excellent sound-blocking characteristics.
For more information on Nature Core, visit www.honthinksgreen.com
About The HON Company
The HON Company is a leader in the design and manufacturing of workplace
furniture including chairs, storage, panel systems, tables and desks.
Headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, The HON Company has numerous
manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the United
States, and markets its products through a nationwide network of dealers
and retailers. The HON Company is an operating company of HNI Corporation
(formerly HON INDUSTRIES). For more information, visit www.hon.com.
