Kimball International, Inc. Issued Its Inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Summary Report

Thursday, 24 June, 2021

JASPER, Ind., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBAL) today issued its inaugural ESG Summary Report. It includes a comprehensive summary of the Company’s strategy and performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and introduces performance targets for 2021. This review was prepared using the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Building Products & Furnishings standards. The Company also aligned the disclosures in its summary report with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

La-Z-Boy plans plant expansion, request of tax breaks

Thursday, 22 June, 2021

NEOSHO, Mo. — Officials with La-Z-Boy Inc. plan on expanding the company’s Neosho plant and will request tax breaks to help pay for the new construction.

The Neosho Board of Education on Monday gave approval for Superintendent Jim Cummins to vote in favor of the tax breaks when the city’s Enhanced Enterprise Zone Committee meets and discusses the matter. That meeting has been set for July 20.

According to documentation from Grow Neosho provided to board members, La-Z-Boy has planned a $29.8 million construction project for its plant at 4301 Howard Bush Drive.

BusinessGreen Technology and Investment Forum clean tech showcase: Rype Office

Monday, 21 June, 2021

Last month saw 15 of the UK’s most exicting clean tech entrepreneurs pitch their prospective businesses to investors at BusinessGreen’s Technology & Investment Forum, which was hosted online this year in association with Innovate UK.

A vast range of businesses and ideas were on show covering renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, ultra-efficient toilets, and much more, and this month BusinessGreen is publishing a series of short pitch videos from the event. Each entrepreneur was given four minutes to deliver an ‘elevator pitch’ introducing their business, the opportunities it offers, and its short to medium-term fund-raising plans.

Delivered as part of the Net Zero Innovate Hub, hosted with support from Boston Consulting Group and Kingspan, the cleantech showcase series continues today with Greg Lavery – managing director of Rype Office, which repurposes old office furniture into new desks, chairs and more in order to cut down on costs, waste and CO2.

Sun European Partners Sells Furniture Group Sharps to Epiris

Monday, 21 June, 2021

Sun European Partners has agreed to sell U.K. furniture company Sharps, its second major exit in a matter of weeks.

The private equity firm is selling the group to funds advised by Epiris for an undisclosed amount, according to a statement Monday. During its ownership, Sun shifted Sharps’s focus toward direct-to-consumer sales and advertising and made what it called “significant operational improvements” at the company.

Public filings shine unusual spotlight on $1.8B Herman Miller-Knoll deal

Sunday, 20 June, 2021

As a transformational merger between two office furniture giants heads for final approval, the details of their seven-month courtship offer insight into a deal that could change the industry’s landscape.

Zeeland-based Herman Miller Inc. in April shocked the industry when it announced it would purchase long-time competitor Knoll Inc. in a $1.8 billion cash-and-stock deal.

The pending deal, which is up for shareholder votes at both companies on July 13, was the result of back-and-forth proposals that began in December 2020 and nearly fell apart because of eleventh-hour renegotiations just four days before news of the merger became public.

Steelcase recognized as 2021 honoree of The Civic 50

Thursday, 17 June, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase has been recognized for its community involvement as a 2021 honoree of The Civic 50, part of the Points of Light volunteer service initiative.

The company was recognized for a number of service initiatives such as providing volunteer time, product and service donations and financial gifts as well as its “integration of community commitment into business policies and practices.”

New social innovation platform ensuring equity and wellbeing in education

Wednesday, 16 June, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we live, work, play and study. The impact has been particularly disruptive in our teaching and learning environments, with the pandemic highlighting the growing crisis surrounding equity and wellbeing, affecting both teachers and students.

Steelcase has responded to this issue by creating the Steelcase Social Innovation Lab to identify and accelerate the development of solutions addressing issues of equity and wellbeing in the education environment.

La-Z-Boy annual, quarterly profits surge

Wednesday, 16 June, 2021

MONROE — La-Z-Boy Inc., one of the nation’s leading furniture makers, on Tuesday reported a fiscal 2021 profit of $106.5 million, or $2.30 a share, as it began restarting then expanding its manufacturing operations to meet increasing demand across all of its business units.

Sales for fiscal 2021 totaled $1.73 billion, compared with $1.704 billion in fiscal 2020. Its fiscal 2020 profit was $77.5 million, or $1.66 a share.

Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) gains 0.8940% for June 15

Tuesday, 15 June, 2021

Herman Miller Inc. (NASDAQ: MLHR) shares gained 0.8940% to end trading Tuesday at $48.53 per share – a net change of $0.43. Shares traded between $48.61 and $47.73 throughout the day.

Only 4.8% of designers are Black. Herman Miller, Adobe, and Gap unveil a plan to change that

Tuesday, 15 June, 2021

Design is a particularly white profession. Depending on the poll, only 3% to 4.8% of designers are Black. But a powerful new collective of design companies is looking to change that.

Launching today, the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative is a group of nearly two dozen companies from across the design world—ranging from the furniture company Herman Miller to the software maker Adobe to the ubiquitous fashion brand Gap to the brand consultancy Wolff Olins—all of which are pledging meaningful efforts to bring equity to the field of design. Equity matters for any profession, but it has outsized importance within the world of design, which influences the look and feel of just about every product and service. Design can help create or crush equity.