Milliken’s London Showroom Becomes First in the UK to Receive Well Certification
April 2021
Leading flooring designer and manufacturer Milliken announced today that it has been awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level for its Clerkenwell Showroom by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL v2 pilot, the next version of the WELL Building Standard. WELL is the premier building standard to focus on enhancing people’s health and wellness through the buildings where we live, work and play.
Milliken’s three storey showroom is a multi-functional space used as a gallery for showcasing flooring collections, sample storage and distribution, client meetings, hospitality and events, meeting space and as a flexible work and well-being hub for Milliken employees.
Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. Milliken’s London Showroom at 5 Berry Street earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — and achieved a Platinum level rating. Platinum is the highest of the three WELL certification levels achievable.
“We congratulate our friends at Milliken for achieving WELL Certified Platinum for their London showroom,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “It is our pleasure to celebrate Milliken’s outstanding leadership with this latest achievement as the first UK project to be WELL Certified under WELL v2, and to do so at the highest level of certification. As an industry leader Milliken has underscored its commitment to advancing people first places and is inspiring others to support human health and well-being.”
Alison Kitchingman, Milliken’s Marketing and Design Director, commented: “We are extremely excited and proud that our stunning Clerkenwell showroom is the first showroom / retail space in the UK to be WELL Certified. To receive the highest level of certification – Platinum – is an amazing achievement and reflects our philosophy and commitment to well-being in all the spaces we help to create.”
Some of the many features that helped Milliken’s London showroom achieve Platinum status inlcude:
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Mind– Employee support and promotion for mental health since 2016
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Movement– Movement network and circulation, free yoga classes and floor coverings to aid circulation and engagement
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Materials – Declare and Cradle to Cradle – Silver Certification for flooring and Declare for desking
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Sound– Background noise managed with cushion backed carpet, window units and HVAC with minimal noise pollution
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Air – Installation of indoor air quality monitors
WELL is grounded in a body of evidence-based research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend approximately 90 percent of our time, and the health and wellness impacts on the people inside these buildings. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, Milliken’s London showroom underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which is the third-party certification body for WELL, to ensure it met all WELL Certified Platinum performance requirements.
About Milliken
Milliken is a leading supplier of floor coverings, with a rich history of delivering dynamic carpet and luxury vinyl tile collections from its award-winning design studios and manufacturing facilities in Wigan, UK. Combining global insight with national expertise and proprietary technologies, Milliken is at the forefront of innovation and design, offering high-performance, expertly-engineered products. Founded in 1865 Milliken has achieved an amazing 150 years in the textiles business and is now one of the largest privately owned companies in the world, providing expert solutions across a range of disciplines, including specialty chemicals, floor coverings, and performance materials. With over 100 years of environmental stewardship, the Milliken family of companies is one of the world’s most responsible manufacturers.
Designing innovative products and solutions for our customers is of the utmost importance. Through meaningful design, deep science, and unique insights, we advance product development to the next level, while supporting Milliken’s efforts to increase sustainable results and minimise environmental impact of all products. Milliken’s holistic approach to innovation encompasses all stages of the life cycle – from material sourcing and manufacturing practices to end-of-life management. Our commitment to transparency, health, safety, quality, and sustainability allows us to put our customers, associates, and communities first. In 2021, Milliken was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute for the fifteenth year running.
About The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL, WELL Portfolio, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.
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