» Environmental Statement
Charles Alan is committed to environmental resposibility

Environmental Responsibility

Charles Alan Incorporated is a company aware of its environmental responsibilities. Our commitment to sustainability is a routine. From recycling to emission control, Charles Alan takes action to improve environmental performance and the work environment for our employees. Charles Alan takes pride in our responsible use of natural materials.

Custom designs, whether a revision to an existing design, or a new product designed to fit a customer’s specifications, allows us to develop and engineer product with innovative aesthetics, functionality and sustainability.

Conservation and sustainability are the guiding principles we use to create and develop award-winning designs for the contract industry. All products are manufactured in our own facility in the United States.

C.A.R.P. – Charles Alan Recycling Program

Charles Alan has had a long-term commitment to recycling and adaptive reuse of primary and secondary post consumer use materials. Listed are just some of the ways Charles Alan has reduced the impact on the environment:

  • Introduced HAPS-FREE (hazardous air pollutants) lacquer thinner
  • Recycle all finishing by-products including oils, and solvent-based liquids for a secondary post processed fuel product at a cement factory
  • Adopted Kremlin’s Air Assist Airless Finishing – 80% transfer efficiency
  • CARB compliant, Phase 1, containing no added urea formaldehyde panel products across the product offering
  • Recycle all metals, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and brass
  • Use of a non-hazardous biodegradable cold saw coolant
  • All usable fabric, vinyl and leather remnants are donated to charitable organizations
  • Fall off foam is bundled and recycled or reused as packing material
  • Plant wide recycling program for cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum cans
  • All corrugated cardboard packaging contains a minimum of 40% post consumer waste
  • All hardwood waste is bundled and recycled
  • Digital design process, CNC, and lean manufacturing methods have streamlined the product development therefore reducing the raw material consumption by 15%
  • 65% of product line has a Modular Design concept which fosters the reuse, reupholster, and finishing to lengthen the product lifecycle

CARB Compliance

In April 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency, voted to implement new limits for formaldehyde emitted from composite wood panels. These new limits will be implemented in two phases starting January 1, 2009. When the final limits are fully in place by 2012, the regulation will establish the toughest production standard in the world for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood panels.

The California regulation governs the formaldehyde in both raw composite wood panels and finished products sold or used in California. Both imported and domestic products are regulated, and must be third-party certified and clearly labeled to indicate they meet California’s requirements.

Charles Alan is considered a 'fabricator,' under the sell-through provision in place for fabricators we are able to clear out and sell all non-CARB compliant Pre-Phase 1 materials by June 30th, 2010. Charles Alan is CARB Phase 1 compliant at this time.