The North Face grabs LEED

• Posted on September 22, 2009 at 1:26 PM
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As I talk about in the Fall issue's Into Gear column, sometimes "green" goes beyond the actual product made to the overall company ethos. Case in point, outdoor industry giant The North Face opened a new headquarters in St-Laurent, Quebec, in 2008, that was built to the silver standard of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Basically it's a pretty sustainable building. Good for them. Check out the release below:

The North Face Canada in St-Laurent, Quebec, has achieved a Silver Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI).

The designation, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes structures that utilize sustainable construction and operational methods, with an emphasis on energy and resource conservation.

The North Face Canadian Headquarters, developed in early 2008, features an interior with an efficient lighting retrofit project that takes advantage of natural light and daylight and motion sensors. The project reduces the space’s energy requirements by more than 60 percent and gives the greatest number of associates access to natural light. The North Face used recycled content for building materials during the headquarters’ construction and developed a construction waste management program. The brand also re-used furniture from its previous headquarters facility when it moved into the new building.

“We are proud to have achieved LEED-CI Silver status at one of our global headquarters," said Rick Wood, Vice President & General Manager, VF Outdoor Canada. “This is another natural stepping stone in The North Face’s commitment to sustainability, and we hope this milestone will motivate and encourage companies on the capabilities of corporate leadership and responsibility.”

Other green features incorporated into The North Face Canadian Headquarters include innovative water reduction fixtures, a green cleaning service and environmentally-conscious drinking water and catering initiatives that encourage reusable rather than disposable products.

The North Face® brand’s journey to sustainability has achieved strong momentum over the past years, from a reduction of North American facilities’ energy use to innovative products that reduce environmental impact. The brand works with many partners including bluesign®, the independent industry textile standard, the Environmental Protection Agency Climate Leaders program, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation for green e-Climate certified wind-powered Renewable Energy Credits. The North Face also works with the Conservation Fund’s Go-Zero program to offset emissions through its land restoration and tree planting programs.