The "Three R" symbol has been ingrained in American culture for years, but most people associate the symbol only with recycling.  For Storage Systems & Goelst, the symbol represents far more.  It is our philosophy that recycling should only be a last resort, and that truly being environmentally conscious means creating sustainable environments, with sustainable products, where products seldom need to be recycled.  This philosophy is what we call "Sustainable Design."

It is our mission to supply sustainable environments that are built to last and can be reconfigured many times.  We feel so strongly about this mission that Goelst provides a ten-year warranty including on-site service.  By supplying ten years of on-site service, we extend the life cycle and reusability of our products.  In addition, our casework is built for component level replacement of parts allowing for repairs and reuse if damage occurs.  This is what leads to the three R's of the Storage Systems & Goelst process: Reuse, Repair, Recycle.  By supplying high quality, modular casework and extended service, we ensure that our cabinets can be reused for many years, thus greatly reducing landfill waste.

Steel Cabinets Sustainability

Laminate Cabinets Sustainability

Key Points

• Compared to recycling, reuse requires fewer resources, less energy, less labor, less disposal, and prevents the manufacturing of new products from virgin materials.
• Reuse has become an environmentally preferred alternative to other waste management methods because it decreases air, water and land pollution, and limits the need for new natural resources, such as timber, petroleum, fibers, steel, and other materials.
• Waste reduction has recently been identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as an important method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a contributing factor to global warming.
• Our ten year warranty allows for the Goelst product to remain at its fullest potential.  This contributes to a long lifecycle.  Comparatively, millwork will have to be thrown away when it is time to make any changes to your work environment, let alone when it breaks.
• Due to the modularity of the Goelst product repair becomes an easy task.  Our laminate product is held together by a series of cams and pins, our steel product just screws.  For the majority of the parts, the only tool necessary for disassembly/repair is a screwdriver.

Reuse, Repair, Recycle

The typical casework 'churn rate' in healthcare environments is three to five years.  With Goelst, your casework is reconfigurable and reuseable, and thus not tossed into a landfill when the need to change arises.

Environmentally friendly and recyclable products are important.  Even more important is making sure your product is reusable and accommodates your changing needs.

A large part of sustainable design is being future capable.  Goelst provides a win-win situation for the environment and the end user.