Burnes Home Accent has found a better solution for the sawdust waste that comes from the company's products. Burnes is working to cut the amount of waste it puts in landfills by a quarter over the next two years, starting by reusing the sawdust that results from its manufacturing and creating materials from that waste that winds up back in photo frames. Beyond photo frames, Burnes will also make photo albums and storage products.

The decision grew out of an environmental initiative Burnes launched last year. The company reevaluated its product materials and designs, as well as shipping and manufacturing. Burnes has developed several programs from that evaluation. The company has released a new line of photo frames — the Decor Essentials line — made with a variety of post-consumer plastic and wood. Burnes is also working to reduce waste by reducing the number of items damaged during shipping. For just one product, the 11-inch by 14-inch photo frame, Burnes has already reduced damaged deliveries from 40 percent to four percent.

The sawdust recycling program will begin with a test at Burnes' Durango, Mexico manufacturing facility. If all goes as expected, Burnes will expand the program to plants it has partnered with in Asia.

Image — Burnes