Raeco

A GECA licensee for 12 years, Raeco have supplied Australian-made library shelving and furniture to libraries around Australia and worldwide for over 60 years. We spoke to Dean Parker, Marketing Manager at Raeco, about why they decided to get GECA certification.

What are some of your company's key sustainability priorities?

At Raeco, sustainability isn't just a buzzword — it's the blueprint for how we do business. We lead the way in sustainable shelving and furniture solutions for communal and collaborative spaces across education, library, and commercial sectors.

Outside of our GECA certified range, one example of sustainable innovation is the development of a sustainable adhesive covering for book presentation and protection. Our Bioguard80 book covering is the world's first fully biodegradable, non-toxic, microplastic-free adhesive book covering. It's certified to ISO 14855-1 for biodegradability.

Why did you choose GECA certification? And how vital is independent certification to you and your customers?

The library world was telling us they want sustainable solutions. They required shelving and furniture that withstands the rigours of heavy commercial use. By choosing to become GECA certified, we back up our claims, as long-lasting furniture is far better for the environment and the most cost-effective long-term solution.

What do you think are the biggest sustainability challenges and opportunities for your industry right now?

A common misconception is that fast furniture is a suitable and more affordable option for library spaces. In reality, our sustainable furniture is designed to last a minimum of 10 years, delivering far greater long-term value.

For example, purchasing one of our sustainably made chairs for around $500 may appear more expensive upfront compared to a $250 fast furniture alternative. However, when you factor in the need to replace that cheaper chair three to four times over the same lifespan, along with additional freight costs and the environmental impact of repeated disposal, the true cost of fast furniture becomes significantly higher.

Choosing sustainable furniture is not only the most cost-effective solution over time, but also the most environmentally responsible one.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Thank you, GECA, for helping make the library world a little greener and providing a valuable point of difference between our Australian-manufactured, GECA certified shelving and low-quality imported alternatives.

There's still work to do to raise awareness about the true cost of fast furniture, from environmental impacts and questionable base materials and adhesives to the conditions of overseas workers involved in production.

Many of these products are also not fit for purpose in heavy-use public spaces, which can raise safety concerns and even compromise public liability insurance if a patron is injured.