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The Refinishing Touch reducing carbon emissions

20 Jun '12

4 min read

The Refinishing Touch, a world leader in furniture refinishing, re-upholstering and armoire modification for private and public organizations, celebrates 35 years of providing on-site environmentally safe and sustainable furniture asset management services this month. With global recognition of its non-toxic, non-flammable and cost-efficient practice and their financial, environmental and legal impact, The Refinishing Touch's achievements are unequaled in its industry.

Since it was founded in 1977, The Refinishing Touch has worked to promote revolutionary and innovative furniture asset management solutions. Today, the company works with an impressive client base in hospitality, higher education, and government.

This includes hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IGH, Wyndham, and more, as well as projects completed at the U.S. Superior Court; U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy bases worldwide. The company is contracted to work with all 27 agencies of the U.S. Federal Government and has completed a broad scope of projects, including the White House, Executive Office of the President. In education, The Refinishing Touch has worked with universities and colleges across the nation.

When it was launched as a refinishing service for hotels, The Refinishing Touch had a unique premise: on-site, environmentally- and business-friendly refinishing techniques to preserve furniture assets with minimal downtime. The business idea came out of Mario Insenga's experiences at his family's Ohio musical instrument repair business. Working alongside his uncles and his grandfather (Vincent DePrisco – inventor of the first automobile horn, for Autolite), he developed an intense work ethic and drive for success.

Today The Refinishing Touch has more than 20,000 customers, with operations worldwide, including a direct and recent expansion into Canada. The company estimates it has saved more than three million tons of carbon dioxide and nine million trees. Through its refinishing processes and furniture asset management, The Refinishing Touch has helped its clients save, on average, 80 percent in furniture costs and 90 percent in carbon emissions, when compared to buying new.

Mario Insenga, founder and president of The Refinishing Touch, said: “Thirty five years ago, we were evangelizing the notion of preserving furniture and appreciating the longevity of these valuable assets. We were green before it was fashionable, though our dedication and commitment to educating large organizations and businesses remains the same. Too often I see examples of 'greenwashing' – hotels request guests be energy conscious during their stay, yet still send hundreds of high-quality yet worn furniture to the landfill, simply because they are unaware of furniture asset management alternatives.”

Over the past 35 years, The Refinishing Touch has continued to pioneer, innovate and gain recognition including:

• The creation of a waterborne refinishing system allowing all remediation services to be complete on-site
• 'Touch Textiles' – a fabric procurement resource that gives customers a one-stop-shopping experience
• CMAS contract holder for 15 years
• General Service Administration (GSA) Contractor, maintaining certification for 15 years. GSA contact GS-29F-0002M
• GSA's Evergreen Award recipient for environmental consciousness
• Being named to the White House's transition team.

Insenga concluded: “Our central purpose remains the same: to encourage good environmental and business practices to protect the environment, the bottom line and to constantly innovate.”

The Refinishing Touch is a world leader in on-site environmentally safe and sustainable furniture refinishing, re-upholstering, armoire modification, and EPA and OSHA TV recycling for private and public organizations. Its Touch Textiles division provides eco-friendly fabrics that complement its portfolio of materials, such as granite and quartz, as well as a range of furniture hardware fixtures to offer a one-stop service to its clients.

The Refinishing Touch