Ghent announced that its line of Aria and Harmony Glassboards are the first and only glassboards to have earned BIFMA LEVEL® 2 Certification, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA) e3 sustainability certification program.

Developed in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) procedures, LEVEL is the label awarded to office furniture products that meet multiple criteria of the stringent, multi-attribute ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. Earning the LEVEL mark requires validation by an approved third-party certification body.

“One of our core values as an organization is Preserve the Environment,” commented Director of Product, Scott Bowers. “We’ve been living this value for over 40 years. Attempting the BIFMA e3 standard gave us the opportunity to take an in depth look at sustainability in all areas of the business including our environmental impact, health and wellness impacts, and social impacts. I’m incredibly proud of this designation as it puts even more meaning behind the work we do as a USA-made manufacturer.”

As thought leaders in the visual communication space, Ghent strives to be at the forefront of advancements in the commercial furniture industry. By assessing material selection, energy usage, social responsibility, and human and ecosystem health impacts, LEVEL addresses how a product is sustainable from multiple perspectives. Highlights of the Aria and Harmony glassboards LEVEL 2 certification are the use of water-based paints mixed just-in-time to cut down on VOCs as well as waste, low-iron glass for a clear, true color, and easy installation saving both time and money. Both Aria and Harmony glassboards are independently LEVEL certified by Intertek and have also earned Clean Air Gold certification for indoor air quality.

"Being awarded and joining the select group of companies to have earned LEVEL certification is a significant accomplishment,” said John D’Agostino, President of GMi Companies. “This is validation for the extra effort we routinely invest in our quest for manufacturing and product development excellence.”

BIFMA’s LEVEL certification is the preferred sustainability standard for the General Services Administration (GSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the state of California, who were all instrumental in developing the standard, among others. Additionally, LEVEL certified products are preferred for projects going for WELL or LEED building certifications.