Welcome to AHFA's Environmental Toolbox, a resource designed to make your job as a home furnishings industry environmental professional easier.
Fact sheets, guidance documents, technical memoranda and presentations from regulatory agencies are provided here in all major environmental areas, including air quality, water quality, hazardous waste and environmental management. Use the Quick Reference index down the left-hand side of the page to advance quickly to your area of interest.
AHFA is recognized by governmental and regulatory agencies as the authoritative voice of the furniture industry on environmental issues. An Action Committee on the Environment (ACE), comprised of environmental professionals from AHFA member companies, helps identify training and educational needs, as well as issues requiring action.
The committee maintains a comprehensive, online Environmental Guide with detailed information on environmental regulations and legislation of particular interest to the furniture and cabinet manufacturing industries. The guide, which members can access online, also provides news and links to many useful sites for furniture and cabinet industry environmental professionals.
With leadership from AHFA professional staff, environmental executives from AHFA member companies are actively engaged in developing solutions to regulatory and compliance issues. These solutions typically involve offering educational programs and practical tools to help companies meet their obligations under today's increasingly complex federal and state regulations. Altogether, this process is referred to as "SET" – Solutions, Education and Tools – and it serves as the foundation of all AHFA environmental efforts.
Events
AHFA holds workshops throughout the year as needed to respond to specialized training and educational needs.
Special Counsel for Environmental Affairs: 
Environmental questions of a legal nature may be directed to the following attorney. There is no charge for any advice or information that can be provided in a single phone call. If additional research is required to respond to a member inquiry, the attorney will discuss billing arrangements prior to any expenses being incurred.
Alan McConnell
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919/420-1798
Fax: 919/420-1800
Eco3Home
Over the past 10 years, AHFA has developed a series of three furniture industry specific environmental programs designed to help member companies implement sustainable business practices. All three programs fall under the umbrella of Eco3Home. The first is an environmental management program called EFEC that is implemented at individual facilities (including factories, warehouses and office buildings). The second program, called Sustainable by Design, takes EFEC’s culture of environmental stewardship and extends it throughout a company’s global supply chain. Finally, the product registration program allows companies that have successfully implemented both EFEC and Sustainable by Design to “register” product collections by providing detailed safety, health and environmental information on individual products, which can then carry the Eco3Home product hangtag.
Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture
– EFEC
EFEC is a voluntary environmental management system created by AHFA in 1999 to help its members develop and maintain strong, proactive environmental programs. EFEC provides a systematic approach for reviewing and improving your company's operations for better environmental performance and improved profitability. In addition, many states now offer specific benefits for companies with an environmental management system in place. These benefits may include less reporting, fewer inspections, permit flexibility, faster permit approvals, government recognition and reduced permit and application fees.
Go to EFEC >
Sustainable by Design
Once a company has implemented EFEC at all of its domestic facilities, it is eligible to continue its Eco3Home journey by entering the Sustainable by Design program. Companies with NO domestic facilities may also enter Sustainable by Design. This program requires companies to establish internal standards, practices and management systems that govern their own environmental performance but also requires them to evaluate, monitor and set standards for all overseas suppliers. A key tool assisting members with the requirements of Sustainable by Design is the industry’s first Responsible Sourcing Manual.
Go to Sustainable by Design >
Eco3Home Product Registration
The final component of AHFA’s Eco3Home initiative allows participating companies to extend their environmental commitment down to the individual product level. Product registration requires companies to provide safety, health and environmental information for each PIECE of furniture they wish to have carry the Eco3Home hangtag. The hangtag then directs consumers to the Eco3Home website, where they can find a description of each registered product and evaluate its environmental footprint. By creating a standardized format for reporting these details, AHFA is making it easier for consumers to evaluate the safety, health and environmental attributes of products and make informed decisions when purchasing new furnishings.
Go to Eco3Home Product Registration >
Environmental Guide
AHFA's Environmental Guide contains detailed information on environmental regulations and legislation of particular interest to the furniture and cabinet manufacturing industries. The guide also provides news and links to many additional websites containing information and data that is useful for furniture and cabinet industry environmental professionals. Adobe Acrobat software is needed to view the guide and can be downloaded free of charge from the Introduction page of the guide.
Go to the Environmental Guide >
Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Final Rule for Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards.
Go to Homeland Security >
Fuels Testing Protocol
In February 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency finalized the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Industrial/ Commercial/ Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters – known as Boiler MACT. AHFA provides member companies with this "tool box" for Boiler MACT compliance. The documents help companies determine whether they must comply with the Boiler MACT and, if so, how to bring their facility into compliance in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible.
Go to Fuels Testing Protocol >
Solid Finishing Residue Best Management
Practices
AHFA has taken a proactive step toward addressing the growing concerns of handling and disposing of furniture finishing solids residue generated from various furniture finishing operations. These Best Management Practices have been reviewed by AHFA members and their suppliers and are available for other member companies to review and evaluate.
Go to Solid Finishing Residue Best
Management Practices >
Boiler MACT
In addition to the final Boiler MACT, published February 27, 2004, this page includes a link to the 227-page Boiler MACT compliance manual developed by AHFA and published in December 2004.
Go to the Boiler MACT page >
CAM Guidance
In addition to a variety of support documents, this page includes the Compliance Assurance Monitoring rule, amendment, overview and frequently asked questions.
Go to the CAM page >
Metal MACT
The 42-page final Rule of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface Coating of Metal Furniture is housed on the Metal MACT page, along with a brochure that provides an overview of the final rule and various support documents.
Go the Metal MACT page >
Plywood MACT
This page includes the 503-page Final Rule of National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and Composite Wood Products. In addition to the final Plywood MACT rule, the page includes a fact sheet and other support documents.
Go to the Plywood MACT page >
Benton Work Group
The Benton Work Group page contains copies of correspondence between AHFA and the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality, dating from April 2002 in an effort to resolve certain air permitting concerns.
Go the Benton Work Group page >
Water Quality
Presentations to the Environmental Concerns Committee on Water Quality
Go to presentations >
Back to top >
General Guidance