David Bright, SVP Communications, Interviewed in The CMO's Periodic Table

An interview with David Bright, Senior Vice President of Communications, Knoll, appears in The CMO's Periodic Table, published this year by New Riders, a division of Pearson Education. Edited by Drew Neisser, who founded Renegade LLC, the book features interviews with 64 thought leaders from global organizations, including Audi, IBM and NASA. The interview chapter, "Sustainable Design: Designing a Better World," centers around the role that environmentally responsible design, production and life cycle assessment plays in Knoll's business, covering Knoll's corporate philosophy, third party certification, accountability and impact measurement, and the value of transparency and sustainability to customers. 

Bright explains the context in which Knoll considers its environmental priorities. "The kind of work we do means that our practices have a significant impact on the workplace, an arena where so many people spend their time," he says. "When we think about sustainability, we are not only framing our own corporate philosophy, but also making decisions that will shape the daily lives of our customers for decades. As a company, we consider environmental, economic and social sustainability in all our design and management choices, from what kind of materials are used in our products to the well-being of our employees. But we are also acutely aware of our responsibility to contribute to sustainable homes and workplaces, environments that promote a better world."

In the interview, Bright touches on Knoll's ongoing efforts and successes in reducing carbon emissions and corporate waste. "For example, our manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania is now landfill free," he says. "And our recycling programs for products that have reached the end of their usable life deliver many hundreds of tons of waste from landfills every year. These are significant and quantifiable changes that we are proud to report."

"But," he adds, "I think a lot of the impacts from our sustainable practices are intangible. They will be felt over many years in the homes and offices of our customers, in the communities where we work, in the forests we have left intact."

A full overview of Knoll and its environmental practices, including third party certification and life cycle programs, can be found at Knoll and the Environment.