The 3form family of companies double-down on a higher standard for innovation, sustainability, and human well-being

Editor’s Note: We’re excited to share this story from guest author Mike Johnson, Sustainability Director of LightArt/3form. We are also grateful for their sponsorship of our annual Living Future Conference. Learn more about LightArt/3form and the Living Future event.

Between a global pandemic and a worldwide concern about the changing climate, it can be hard to know where to begin to affect change. On a personal level, this task is easily overwhelming–but as a group of companies, the 3form family felt they had not only the platform but the obligation to spring into action. That’s why earlier this year, the 3form family of companies, including 3form, LightArt and EFI, put together a company-wide strategy. Our efforts to think holistically about sustainable product creation, from supply chain to packaging, can and should enact real change within the industry and on a global scale.

3form has invested heavily into solar energy at its headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT.

Expanding existing measures, putting in place structural innovation, and emphasizing human well-being, the companies launched a group called Align: a poignant platform of earth- and people-centric initiatives focused on three main pillars–people, product, and planet. Align represents the culmination of 17+ years of commitment to sustainability at 3form, and is a re-doubling of their efforts to pursue environmentally and  socially responsible design. The companies strive to develop materials with intentionality that empower architects, designers, and consumers to make smart choices about how they buy and build.

The three pillars of people, product, and planet translate into practices: Optimizing current offerings and establishing protocols for the products of the future–not only reducing the companies’ footprint, but contributing to the restoration of our planet and the betterment of human lives. Responding to this moment of urgency, Align is the next step toward net-positive manufacturing within the companies.

Today

3form recently released Flek, a terrazzo-like material created from 75% recycled content.

Several significant policies are already in place at 3form: Protecting the health and wellness of employees, clients, and the people involved in their supply chain, the companies utilize Declare labels for ingredient disclosure, and GreenGuard® certification for indoor air quality assurance. By eliminating the use of Red List chemicals, many of their products qualify for the rigorous standards in Living Building Challenge, LEED v4.1, and WELL building challenges. 

3form is a founding member and leader of the Living Product 50 (LP50), a group of forward-thinking companies like Humanscale, Teknion, and Shaw, who are defining, adhering to, and promoting the rigorous benchmarks of the ILFI’s Living Product Challenge (LPC). This comprehensive framework is the peak standard for developing products that are healthy, socially responsible, and give back to the environment. Exemplified in the 2019 release of material solution Flek, made from approximately 75% pre-consumer recycled content, 3form continues to invest in research and bold thinking, pushing towards net-zero manufacturing.

“The ‘family’ in 3form’s family of companies is more than a euphemism—it’s how we treat people.”

– Wynn Clayton, CEO, 3form
A look inside the on-site health center at 3form headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT.

3form developed its Full Circle program to support artisans and their communities worldwide, creating micro-savings infrastructures, midwifery education, and adult literacy programs. The company has consistently invested in fitness and wellness programs, an annual GreenWeek celebration, and monthly sustainability challenges and continuing education. The 3form flagship facility also boasts an in-house health clinic and full-sized gym for employees to utilize and offers classes for employees to focus on their health and wellness.

3form offers free charging stations at their Salt Lake City headquarters for employees who drive electric vehicles and also incentivizes them to use alternate methods of transportation. They also regularly host speakers to educate and empower employees to get involved in their local communities, to get outside and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and to improve their health, well-being, and personal sustainability. For the 3form companies, this is about much more than manufacturing–it’s about living well, and acting with intention.

What’s next?

3form starts by measuring and reporting their environmental impact through life cycle analyses, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and other disclosures, and continues to optimize their products in pursuit of the Living Product Challenge and other respected third-party verifications. 3form now has optimized EPD’s on three of its core products—Varia, Chroma and Pressed Glass. 17 years ago, they launched an industry-defining flagship product that contained up to 40% recycled content: Varia. Last year, the company introduced Flek, a product with approximately 75% pre-consumer recycled content, showing a strong growth trajectory towards closing the loop. In line with that research, 3form’s lighting company, LightArt, recently launched the Coil Collection, a new collection of pendants made from waste from previous 3form orders, pelletized and upcycled through additive manufacturing into new, modern pendants.

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LightArt’s newly launched Coil Collection, made from upcycled waste.

3form will continue to commit extensive research and development to further these efforts. The 3form companies’ relentless investment in research and innovation are baked into their pursuit of zero-waste manufacturing, which is one of several steps taken towards creating net-positive products. Other steps include reducing their products’ embodied carbon and water usage, as well as an investment in their take-back program, preventing materials from ending up in a landfill.

Under the guidance of Align, the companies aim to create net-positive products that will leave our planet in better condition. They intend to design and manufacture products in ways that protect, nourish, conserve, and restore the planet–all of which is scientifically quantified and independently verified. These lofty and urgent goals are central to the 3form culture–they see their products and influence as a means to a better world. That’s part of why 3form is working toward JUST certification—a nutrition label for socially fair organizations, earned in part by ensuring equitable, healthy, and transparent workplaces. As a recognized pioneer in bringing transparency to the marketplace, beginning with their position as a pilot manufacturer in Google’s Healthy Materials initiative, the companies continue to push for more health and sustainability disclosures and educate their clients accordingly with their Continuing Education (CEU) program. 3form’s flagship goods are manufactured in North American facilities and with the sustainability initiatives under Align.

Products meeting the Align standard will be labeled with the Align stamp–an instant indicator of responsibly designed products, some carrying industry certifications such as Living Product Challenge, EPDs, Declare labels, and GreenGuard® Gold. This allows architects and designers the opportunity to meet LEED v4.1, WELL and other green building challenges easily and transparently.

For the 3form family, this initiative is about more than looking good, or being smart–it’s a necessary response to an unprecedented moment that transcends manufacturing and design alone. The companies are committed to being on the forefront of finding and implementing the solutions this moment demands, and hope they will be joined by the industry at large.

About 3form

3form, a Hunter Douglas company, is a design-driven materials solutions company offering breakthrough sustainable products that help bring projects to life. Their approach promotes craftsmanship, community, sustainability, and respect for the environments where we work and live. The 3form product portfolio ranges from innovative materials to sophisticated turn-key solutions. The full 3form family includes lighting studio, LightArt, and glass surfacing manufacturer, EFI.

About LightArt

LightArt, a 3form company, is a custom lighting fabrication and design studio in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. The work of the Seattle studio is an ever-evolving tale of innovation, creative exploration, and endlessly variable custom lighting creations. From the sleek geometry of the forward-thinking LA2 line, to the organic elegance of our custom chandeliers, LightArt has a unique, handmade lighting solution to meet your needs. For more visit http://lightart.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Written By

Mike Johnson

As Director of Sustainability at 3form companies, Mike designs and implements sustainability initiatives designed to foster climate responsibility, materials transparency and optimization, zero waste and circular materiality, social equity and employee engagement, and others with the near term goal of producing regenerative and net positive products. Mike spends a large amount of time focused on materials transparency and optimization, offering educational presentations from coast to coast to help the A&D community better understand and embrace the Living Building Challenge, LEED V4, and other healthy building standards. He is a passionate and vocal advocate of meaningful actions and responses to address the growing global climate crisis.