Our Employees

Health and Safety
If OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) did not exist; we would still be implementing the precautions and standards needed to safeguard our employees. A healthy and safe work force is the backbone of our environment and our community. While our employees have been with us on average 6.5 years, many have been with us for their entire working life.

Training and Education
Knowledge is paramount to success and there is no substitute for education, be it formal or on the job. We have committed considerable resources to providing continued education, training and skill management assistance to every employee, helping every person to reach their full potential, not only as an employee, but as a human being.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity
Our planet is diverse, and so is our company. By embracing our differences, we learn that we are actually a lot alike. We all work together to create products that will benefit our society. We all want to live a happy and productive life. We all want to be treated equally and fairly.

Our Facilities

Our air quality is monitored and is in full compliance with all OSHA, EPA and IDEM regulations. In many cases, our air quality is superior to the standards set forth by these regulatory entities. We meet or exceed all applicable IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations for air emissions, storm water and hazardous waste disposal.

Jasper Group operations are exempt to U.S. EPA’s Mandatory Green House Gas (GHG) Reporting Rule published under 40 CFR 98. A third party inventory and evaluation for the 2011 calendar year provided Jasper Group’s aggregate maximum emissions fall well below the reporting requirements. For this reason, Jasper Group is exempt for 2011 Green House Gas Emissions regulatory reporting.

Our Community

In 2012, we contributed to over 105 separate charitable organizations and events in our community. We have given over $22,000 in cash and product as well as provided resources for the following organizations:

Our Procedures

Finish
We are constantly updating and upgrading our wood finishes and wood finish application lines in an effort to become more efficient and environmentally friendly. By utilizing high-efficient spray guns and application training, we have reduced material waste by 54% on average. Any excess materials, solvents or waste is recycled.

Powder Coat
The powder coat process is a self contained system where emissions are not released into the air and all excess material is able to be reclaimed and reused.

Wood
Wood is our primary resource and is 100% utilized. Any wood that has not been used as a product part is used as an energy source throughout the year or converted to animal bedding for local farmers.

Upholstery
The use of CNC (Computer Numeric Controlled) cutters and time-tested templates create maximum yield from our raw materials, leaving little waste. Fabric scraps are recycled and unused rolls of fabric are inventoried for future use or donated to local charities. Leather scraps are collected and sold to vendors who make wallets, purses and planners. Foam scraps are collected and recycled into carpet padding.

Recycling
As of 2011 year end, Jasper Group has recycled over 129 tons of material and eliminated 417 metric tons of CO2 emission.

Water
Our water usage in the production process has been dramatically reduced over the last decade by efficient use of condensation pumps. All excess steam not employed in production is returned to the feed water tank, filtered and reused. Employees also make a concerted effort to use less water in their daily activities at work and at home.

Energy
To reduce and conserve energy, we have installed high efficiency lighting throughout our facilities. We embrace more efficient production techniques; require machines to be turned off or to power-save mode when idle and by keeping a mindful eye all employees help to reduce our energy consumption.

Transportation
Whenever possible, we use members of the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative brand representing cleaner, more fuel efficient transportation options. Over half of our key commercial carriers are SmartWay members. We have also implemented “No Idle” policies for our drivers and “No Idle” zones at our manufacturing facilities.

Partnerships

Jasper Group is easily accessible and flexible, so we are able to partner with you to achieve your goals for sustainable product specifications and green design.

LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a third-party certification program and the generally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council. Jasper Group may contribute 7 or more points toward your LEED project and are committed to increasing our contributions.
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GREENGUARD
(GREENGUARD Environmental Institute) is a third-party organization that independenly establishes acceptable indoor air quality standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings. All standard Jasper Group products have attained certification. website

GREENGUARD Children's & Schools
(GREENGUARD Children's & Schools) is a third-party organization that independenly establishes acceptable indoor air quality standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings for children. We have signed a letter of intent to pursue GREENGUARD Children's & Schools certification for all of our standard products. website

Green Building Council
As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council community of leaders, we are working to make “GREEN” buildings available to everyone within a generation. The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity. website

OSHA
(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) we aspire to meet or exceed OSHA regulations at all of our manufacturing facilities. website

BIFMA
(The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association) is responsible for developing voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable environments. All our products are constructed to meet and/or exceed BIFMA standards for performance, durability and structural integrity. website

IDEM and EPA
(Indiana Department of Environmental Management) and (Environmental Protection Agency) we meet or exceed all applicable regulations for air emissions, storm water and hazardous waste disposal. website

Premium Indiana Forest Products
Indiana is home to many of North America’s finest hardwoods, sought throughout the world for quality products and shipped around the globe for international manufacturing. There is an abundant, sustainable supply of the finest Indiana hardwoods to meet consumer demand from forests that are well-managed, legally harvested and environmentally responsible. website

Wood IS Green
A grassroots campaign aimed at spreading awareness of the environmental friendliness of wood. It asserts that wood is a natural, sustainable and renewable resource that is carbon-retaining.
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Architecture 2030
(Architecture 2030, The 2030 Challenge) is a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization. Its goal is to dramatically reduce the climate-change-causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Building Sector. We've adopted the 2030 Challenge. website

Our Product

As a manufacturer, we use a wide variety of materials to not only create quality products, but to manage them as well. This includes everything in the process, from the moment the raw materials enter the facility to the time that they leave as finished goods, destined for a life of supporting human endeavors.

Wood
Wood is our primary resource, and it is 100% renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. It is the most diverse, process friendly and widely used natural resource in the history of the human race. All our wood is 100% utilized. A majority of our product being comprised of wood with a finish or powder top coat, allows for easy recycling or reuse of products at the end of their life cycle.

Fabrics
Momentum®, CF Stinson®, Maharam® and Mayer® are just a few of the textile manufacturers we work with that offer 100% recyclable/compostable textiles, textiles that are manufactured from 100% recycled materials and PVC - free offerings.

Laminates
Any laminate material purchased through Wilsonart®, Pionite® or Formica® is GREENGUARD certified.

Finish
Our low emission finish, DuraTex, was specifically designed to reduce hazardous off gassing formaldehyde. DuraTex offers exceptional hardness, abrasion and impact resistance, while removing hazardous or harmful gases. This finish meets or exceeds the required federal, state and European Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive guidelines.

Design and Construction
Our primary goal is to supply our customers with the value-added products they need and want. We design, produce and deliver to high standards, our standards. This is what has kept us in business for so long, and what ensures that we will have a future in this industry.

Jasper Group products are designed and manufactured with the mission to last longer than any of us expect; to transcend the years and provide a full and useful product life for their users and owners.

All our products are constructed to meet and/or exceed BIFMA standards for performance, durability and structural integrity. Jasper Group utilizes an in-house lab and third party verification for testing.

Original seating from 1929 can still be found today, performing admirably and showing no signs of failure any time soon. Desks from the 1950s are still being used, many having served more than one proud owner. Even some of the trendiest casegoods and seating from the 1970s have been welcomed by charitable organizations that aren’t afraid of accepting a second-hand dated style, but rather appreciate the product for its longevity and functionality.

We are committed to our focus of providing products that expand and improve our “Sustainable Partnerships” through process, product and life cycle management.

Choose and click a topic from the life cycle management chart above to learn more about what we at Jasper Group do every day.

Founded in 1929, we began as a manufacturer of durable, well-crafted wood chairs. The skilled artisans who had settled this land and plied their trades were able to create a diversified community centered on wood, the world’s most sustainable resource. Through the years, as our company has grown, so has our respect for the resources we use and the environment that provides them. We are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling and to the conservation of our environment and its natural resources, as well as the encouragement of our suppliers and customers to do the same.

“For 80 years we’ve worked hard to create and preserve the legacy that is Jasper Group for the next generation. We plan to leave this world a little better than when we found it.”

Michael J. Elliott
Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Jasper Group