SMaRT Sustainable Gold Rating of Chadwick Chair Underscores Knoll Commitment to Sustainable Design

BOSTON, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Knoll, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of branded furniture and textiles recognized for innovation and modern design, has announced that the Chadwick(TM) task chair has achieved a Sustainable Gold rating under the SMaRT(C) Consensus Sustainable Product Standard.

SMaRT is a comprehensive, transparent, third-party sustainable product certification that measures a product's environmental, economic and social benefits over its life and throughout its global supply chain, from raw materials to reclamation or re-use.

Chadwick is the second product in the furniture industry to be SMaRT certified. The Knoll Life(R) chair earned the SMaRT Sustainable Gold rating in March 2008. Both chairs feature efficient use of materials, high recycled and recyclable content and easily replaceable parts. Chadwick and Life chairs, along with all Knoll Office Seating, are manufactured using

clean technology in our Lubin Manufacturing Facility in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, which is LEED(R) Gold and ISO(R) 14001 certified. All electricity used at this site is offset 100% by wind energy.

Developed by the non-profit group The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS), SMaRT standards were developed using an American National Standards Institute accredited process that brought together a powerful coalition of product manufacturers, environmental groups, and key state and local government leaders. Among other requirements, SMaRT requires the completion of a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) per ISO standards. SMaRT certified products can contribute to achieving a LEED Innovation in Design credit.

Commenting on the Chadwick chair's SMaRT Sustainable Gold rating, Lou Newett, Knoll Environmental, Health and Safety Manager, said, "Each year Knoll sets key initiatives in our journey to sustainability and takes a leadership position in establishing universal environmental standards for our industry."

"We are pleased with our progress in implementing SMaRT certification for Chadwick because it considers all three criteria of the sustainability triple bottom line: environmental, social and economic impacts. We

believe this standard is the most meaningful certification tool for sustainable products," he added.

Knoll to Adopt The Green Standard Environmental Product Declaration System

In addition to SMaRT, Knoll is committed to introducing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) with The Green Standard in 2009. Knoll has partnered with The Green Standard to draft EPDs for its Life and Chadwick

chairs. The Green Standard is a non-profit organization whose mission is advancing global sustainability through the ways products are

developed, certified, purchased, used and re-purposed at the end of their useful life.

The Green Standard EPD System, which is being introduced at Greenbuild 2008 in Boston during the week of November 18th, gives institutional and

individual purchasers independent, impartial assurance of a company's environmental claims about its products. EPDs are verified documents containing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results and additional environmental performance information about a product.

"What our EPD System offers to all U.S. stakeholders is a scientifically-robust platform with a user-friendly interface encompassing a vast array of life-cycle and other product performance information," says Paul Firth, Vice President of Technology for The Green Standard and Manager of the EPD System. "With Life Cycle Assessment as its foundation, our EPD System is in alignment with ISO standards and best practices globally."

Knoll is a Gold Level Sponsor at Greenbuild 2008

As a leader in policies and practices designed to protect the biosphere, conserve natural resources and reduce waste, Knoll will be presenting a wide array of seating, systems and textiles that feature sustainable

design at the U.S. Green Building Council's 2008 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.

Knoll is a Gold level sponsor at Greenbuild 2008. The event is the world's largest conference dedicated to green building and will take place November 18-21 in Boston, MA. More than 20,000 building professionals from all over the world will come together for three days of educational sessions, green building tours, special seminars and networking events.

Knoll will also sponsor educational seminars at the Boston Convention and Expo Center during Greenbuild 2008, including:

    --  LEED 2009: Credit Categories & Intents
    --  Tuesday, November 18th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
    --  BCEC Room 52B
    --  Integrative Approach to Successful LEED Projects
    --  Tuesday, November 18th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
    --  BCEC Room 156AB
    --  Investing to Create Green Existing Buildings: Concepts, Select Tools
    & Calculations
    --  Tuesday, November 18th, 8:30am - 12:30pm
    --  BCEC Room 104C
    --  Managing LEED Documentation
    --  Friday, November 21st, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
    --  BCEC Room 104A
    --  LEEDing to Platinum Learning Session
    --  Wednesday, November 19th, 2:00pm-3:30pm
    --  Location: TBA

About Knoll

Since 1938, Knoll has been recognized internationally for creating workplace and residential furnishings that inspire, evolve and endure. Today, our commitment to modern design, our understanding of the workplace and our dedication to sustainable design has yielded a unique portfolio of products that respond and adapt to changing needs. Knoll is aligned with the U.S. Green Building Council and can help companies, healthcare organizations and educational institutions achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R)) workplace certification. Knoll is the contract furniture industry's first member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX(R)) and is the founding sponsor of the World Monuments Fund Modernism at Risk program.

SOURCE Knoll, Inc.

CONTACT: David E. Bright, of Knoll, Inc., +1-212-343-4135, dbright@knoll.com