Warren Somers has been providing environmentally-friendly products and services for over two decades. “We embraced sustainability over 25 years ago—becoming one of the first Canadian dealerships to be recognized by the National Office Products Association for our recycling initiatives,” Warren shares. “At CTI Working Environments, we focus on creating effective working environments—an integrated balance of human comfort and environmental responsibility.”

Today, being green reflects a culture of discipline and strategic business practices. “Here at CTI, it starts with our team being dedicated to sourcing suppliers and products that help us reduce our impact on the environment, commencing with our manufacturers. Offering products that are renewably sourced, or making sure the materials are environmentally friendly—those standards are a given,” Warren says. “Sustainability for us is all about embracing the needs of human capital and environmental stewardship; our Ergonomic Evaluations & Training, Disposal, Fabric Cleaning and Fabric Protection Programs, for example, are all designed for sustainability and return-on-investment.”

Warren is President of CTI Working Environments. With a motivated and dedicated team of professionals, CTI delivers smart workplaces that are good for business and the environment. Working with architects, designers and corporations, CTI integrates architectural interiors, furnishings and floorings to provide clients with the ability to adapt their respective workspaces to the growth and development of their organizations.

CTI’s advice helps organizations extend and sustain the life cycles of their workplaces by utilizing a variety of applications and services. “What is old may be new again with cleaning, refinishing and retouching—classics are never out of style. Fixed-in-place walls are not reusable and they end up in landfill when space is changed,” Warren explains. “Modular walls can be moved and reinstalled to reshape an office space without disturbing the interior. Unique raised flooring increases durability and flexibility, facilitating effective space management of HVAC systems and data and power wiring.”

The result of these modifications is a more sustainable workplace. “These applications provide additional space for incorporating office infrastructure,” Warren says. “They are tremendously effective in terms of space and energy use, which reduces an office’s impact on the environment and saves on operating and installation costs.” Increased efficiency also applies to CTI’s modular furniture, which gives facility managers flexibility in redesigning their office’s layout.

CTI procures its products from organizations committed to high environmental standards and known for ethical sourcing and stringent recycling policies. “Haworth, for example, produces the Annual Sustainable Report which provides disclosure on carbon footprint and waste reduction in addition to the environmental initiatives underway in manufacturing and materials innovation—recyclable metal components in furniture, the reusing of generated solid waste, and the wood fiber material used in desks made with 95 to 100 per cent recycled industrial byproduct,” Warren says.

CTI works with many mid-to-large-size organizations across the GTA and Canada—their client roster includes companies such as Rogers, Ernst & Young and the City of Toronto. “These clients are socially responsible at all levels,” Warren explains. “We not only make sure they’re purchasing responsible products, we make sure that used materials are properly disposed of and recycled.” Warren describes the CTI “cradle-to-cradle” approach, which includes: sourcing environmentally low-impact products manufactured with materials and services that yield a high reusability percentage; product management services that use environment-friendly cleaning and protection products; and disposal solutions that strip products to their raw material states that can be recycled and/or sold. These initiatives help close the traditional life cycle of a product and create more sustainable products.

Warren says CTI’s clients have expressed confidence in the organization’s proactive and innovative approach to sustainability within the industry. “While price remains a strong driver, we continue to be competitive even with all our environmental initiatives and advantages,” he says. “Sustainability is at the forefront of many companies’ objectives, and our disciplined approach to balancing human comfort and environmental responsibility helps drive employee retention for these organizations.”

CTI shares a strong environmental commitment within its own corporate culture—a bullfrogpowered organization since 2006. “Our industry has been significantly impacted in this economic downturn, yet we continue to choose Bullfrog Power because we’re strong believers in it,” Warren says. “In discussions with our employees about supporting green energy, they agree with the choice, hands down.”

Warren Somers recalls decades ago when recycling was considered a pioneering venture. “Today, we look back and realize it was the beginning of a new age. We were only scratching the surface when we were purchasing recycled materials,” he says. “Who knew then that we were embarking on the next economic driver to shape our society? From the Industrial Revolution to the Tech Boom—today we’re sustainability leaders in what we believe to be the driving economic force of our future. We embrace the challenge. We need to drive it forward.”