ARCHBOLD, Ohio (August 1, 2024) – Sauder Woodworking Co. is proud to announce the release of its 2023 Sustainability Report. This annual report highlights the company’s continued dedication to environmental stewardship, reflecting its core value of “Acting today for a better tomorrow.”
In 2023, Sauder Woodworking furthered its commitment to sustainable business practices by joining the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi sets scientifically determined targets to help businesses understand the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Sauder’s alignment with these standards underscores its pledge to curb global temperature increases and contribute to avoiding catastrophic climate impacts.
Key Highlights from the 2023 Sustainability Report:
Solid Waste and Recycling:
- Sauder has maintained a remarkable streak of 30 consecutive years without sending any wood waste to a landfill. The company’s co-generation plant, which generates electricity from wood scraps and sawdust, plays a pivotal role in this achievement.
- In 2023, Sauder recycled over 97% of the total solid waste generated. Excluding wood, over 70% of solid waste was recycled, demonstrating Sauder’s ongoing commitment to reducing, reusing, and recycling materials.
Carbon Footprint:
- Over the past decade, Sauder has reduced its total carbon footprint (CO2e) by 29%. In 2023, the company’s total carbon emissions decreased by an impressive 17.1%, surpassing the annual reduction target set by the SBTi.
- Initiatives such as revising shift schedules to create a “dark” period during peak energy hours and reconfiguring dust collection systems contributed significantly to this reduction.
Water Conservation:
- Sauder’s co-generation plant saw a reduction of over 7.5 million gallons (26%) in water usage during 2023, aligning with the decrease in total power generation for the year.
- The company’s production processes remain highly efficient, with minimal water consumption outside of sanitary purposes.
Sauder’s 2023 Sustainability Report showcases the company’s comprehensive approach to energy management, water conservation, and waste minimization. By combining these efforts with the use of low carbon footprint raw materials and freight-efficient packaging, Sauder exemplifies outstanding environmental stewardship.
“Sauder Woodworking was founded in 1934 on the principles of Stewardship and Better Ways,” said Kevin Sauder, CEO at Sauder Woodworking Co. “Today, three generations later, we continue to honor those principles by producing environmentally responsible products in ways that conserve our world today and preserve it for future generations.”
For more information and to read the full 2023 Sustainability Report, please visit Sauder.com and download the complete report.
About Sauder Woodworking:
Sauder Woodworking Co. is North America’s leading producer of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture and one of the top five residential furniture manufacturers in the United States. A majority of Sauder® furniture is manufactured in Archbold, Ohio — right where we were founded in 1934. With some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world, their facilities encompass nearly 4 million square feet of space, employ about 2,000 workers and house a wide variety of local and imported materials. Sauder also sources furniture from a network of quality global partners, all supported by domestic warehouses in three strategic locations.
Sauder markets more than 60 distinct furniture collections in a full line of RTA furnishings for the home, including entertainment, home office, bedroom, kitchen and storage. Other market segments include: Sauder Commercial Office™, a line of office furniture under the OfficeWorks® and Worksense® brands; Sauder Cabinetry™, a line of frameless kitchen cabinets for single and multi-family residential environments; and Sauder Closets®, a line of closet systems for residential and commercial markets.
Sauder is a privately held, third-generation, family run business. Subsidiaries include: Progressive Furniture Inc., a designer and importer of wood bedroom, dining and accent furniture; and Sauder Manufacturing Company, a leader in worship, educational and healthcare seating and contract furnishings. With its 2,400 employees, the Sauder family of companies generates sales of over $600 million annually.
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