Putting Planet and People First
Landscape Forms Joins 1% for the Planet
Believe it or not, only three percent of today’s total philanthropic contributions go toward the environment. We believe our planet needs greater support. As part of our continuing efforts toward sustainability, we’re proud to announce that Landscape Forms has joined 1% for the Planet -- a global alliance of businesses working together to promote corporate responsibility and serious commitment to the environment.
1% for the Planet’s goal is to significantly increase the overall amount of global dollars going to environmentally focused non-profit organizations. They connect these organizations with businesses like Landscape Forms, who then donate one percent of gross sales on certain products to one of the non-profits.
"Landscape Forms has a longstanding history of participating in our community and supporting organizations we believe in,” says Marjorie Simmons, the company’s CEO. "And when you think of an organization you want to be a part of, 1% for the Planet is the ideal candidate—they come from a good place, connecting companies like ours with nonprofits to create a more sustainable world.”
Established in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet has facilitated nearly $300 million in donations to approved nonprofit organizations to date. Their global network consists of thousands of businesses, individuals and nonprofits across nearly 100 countries all working together to support and protect the environment.
Michael Blum, President of Landscape Forms’ Studio 431 and leader of the company’s Sustainability Committee adds, “Environmental stewardship is a large component of our sustainability program, but it doesn’t end there. For us, sustainability is an ambition that runs throughout our entire company—how we treat our people, how we treat our customers, how we treat our planet, and how we make decisions at our company are all threads in a larger tapestry of sustainability.”
Partnering with 1% for the Planet is just the latest initiative to grow out of Landscape Forms’ Sustainability Committee. The team is comprised of emerging leaders from all areas of the company who share a passion for taking equitable action on environmental issues. The group is tasked with taking a fresh look at products, processes, programs, and facilities through a lens of sustainability, each member working with smaller teams in their areas to implement department wins while also tackling larger company-wide goals.
For 2021, Landscape Forms is pledging its donations to the Landscape Architecture Foundation, a nonprofit working to increase the impact of landscape architects in creating a more sustainable future. LAF occupies a unique perspective at the intersection of the built and natural worlds—the domain of the landscape architect. This unique point of view provides valuable insight and actionable research across all four pillars of sustainability: Human, Social, Economic and Environmental.
“At its heart, LAF is an environmental nonprofit. And we’re the only one who invests in designers of the natural environment who can develop a more holistic approach to sustainability, conservation and environmental equity,” describes Barbara Deutsch, CEO of the Landscape Architecture Foundation. “We're thankful to be partnering with Landscape Forms to strengthen our power and impact on the environment. I’m confident that together, along with 1% For the Planet, our voices and efforts will enact great change.”
Blum adds, “It’s exciting to join the LAF and other partners in the 1% for the Planet network, all of whom value a strong commitment to the environment. At the end of the day, we’re all about the outdoors—we play outdoors, we enrich the outdoors, and we want to ensure the longevity of these vital experiences for future generations.”
Articles
Guided by moderator Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, the panel began with a brief discussion of the three pillars of sustainability—the dimensions of economic, social and environmental responsibility that, when existing in balance and harmony, form the basis for holistic sustainability.
Powerful Perspectives: Cross-Industry Experts Discuss Design & Holistic Sustainability
As a company founded by a landscape architect and outdoor enthusiast, sustainability, stewardship and a profound respect for natural spaces are deeply rooted in Landscape Forms’ purpose and culture. For landscape architects, environmental accountability is an essential criterion in their work.
Going Green: Growing Sustainability Across the Landscape Forms Group of Brands
Design, Culture and Craft—the three pillars at the core of Landscape Forms—are backed by a strong sense of environmental accountability that drives all aspects of the company. Sustainability is considered at every turn, at every touch point, from the product design, to the manufacturing process, to the development of employees and workplace culture.
Designing for Sustainability: A Process of Continuous Improvement
Landscape Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of premium site furniture, structure, LED lighting, and accessories, continues to expand its commitment to sustainability, announcing its new status as a SITES® Community Partner and introducing a groundbreaking embodied carbon Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) initiative.
Landscape Forms Announces Industry-Leading Sustainability Initiatives