It's Easy Being Green: How We Reduce Waste

Nature has inspired artists since humans first began expressing themselves. And, as we covered in last month’s feature story, the Plein Air movement is based on painters capturing outdoor scenes.

So, part of our commitment to artists is doing whatever we can to keep the environment pristine, preserving the natural beauty around us so it can serve as a Muse for future generations who seek to interpret it through the brush or lens.

Enter our green initiatives. We partner with brands that share our Earth-friendly values, and we count on the three R’s - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - to run as green as possible, not just on Earth Day, but every day.

Take our suppliers, for instance. We choose mostly American-based companies that manufacture their materials in compliance with reforestation practices and other U.S. environmental standards. When we do import products, we hold overseas companies to the same standards, choosing “green” materials whenever we can, and opting for recyclable products such as cardboard packaging rather than Styrofoam.

Like all companies, American Frame generates production waste. But, we limit it as much as possible by producing naturally low-waste products, such as Nielsen™ metal frames. Unlike wooden frame stock, which sometimes includes knots and other imperfections that require the entire section to be discarded, metal frames have more useable length.

Then comes the recycling. We distribute our metal dust, and acrylic, paper and wood scraps to other companies that use them during their manufacturing processes.

We look for opportunities to reduce the energy we use as well. Our main facility has a white roof, naturally cooling the facility in the summer and warming it in the winter.

To prevent certain materials from ending up in landfills, we’ve placed large recycling bins around our offices, and we encourage our employees to deposit used papers into them instead of in the trash. When we have leftover frames and mats, we donate them to local schools and art programs. We also have a “Free Bin” full of over-runs in our showroom.

Some reduction efforts expand beyond our own brand. We participate in UPS’ Carbon Neutral Fund, certified by the CarbonNeutral Company. For every UPS shipment we send, American Frame donates 5 cents (for ground shipping) and 20 cents (for air) to environmental projects designed to offset the carbon emissions from that shipment. That has earned us the CarbonNeutral seal that comes on our packages. Learn more about projects funded by the UPS Carbon Neutral Fund here.

So, every time you shop with American Frame, you’re making an investment in our environment and the beautiful art it inspires.