In the past, office furniture manufacturing facilities, as well as many other industries such with painting and coating operations, were significant sources of air emissions. As part of their continuous improvement focus on the environment, KI manufacturing facilities have made considerable progress in reducing the amount and toxicity of air emissions that are generated as part of their manufacturing processes. These changes have positive impacts for KI and KI's customers by:

• Improving KI employee work environments.
• Improving regional air quality in the areas in which the furniture manufacturing occurs.
• Reducing potential for off-gassing and indoor air quality issues associated with the use of the final product lines as a benefit to KI's customers.
• Reducing hazardous and toxic wastes generated at the manufacturing facilities, since solvent-based (i.e. volatile) materials commonly produce hazardous wastes.
• Being able to focus KI staff energy and efforts to productive activities rather than the strenuous and complicated tasks of air emissions permitting, record keeping, and monitoring required when a facility is a major source of air emissions.

In general, KI manufacturing facilities have improved their air emissions by following the theme of "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE". The following table identifies some of the traditional methods for KI's operations and how many KI facilities have reduced air emissions in this area. Note that air emission reductions have also achieved other environmental benefits, such as water conservation, waste reduction, etc.