About Green Design Systems

Green Design Systems (GDS) makes building products from straw. We manufacture a patented method of creating wall systems made primarily of rice straw with no toxic off-gassing ingredients. Our building products make natural building accessible to architects, contractors and owner-builders. Our building system is healthy, saves heating and cooling costs, and does so at an affordable price.

We became a B Corp because B Corp fit with what we're doing. Our company was founded by,and our product was developed by,a chemically sensitive environmentalist to reduce the impact construction has on health and the environment. We make an energy efficient, non-toxic building system primarily from refuse rice straw. Every ton of the refuse rice straw we use, would have otherwise created over one and one half tons of CO2 or CO2 equivalents. Our business was created to bring about change for the good. Being a B Corp helps separate us from our competition.

Using an agricultural waste product, we produce a beautiful wall system that has very low embodied energy and is toxin free. GDS straw panels have been picked among Sustainable Industries Magazine’s “Top Ten Green Building Products of the Year” as judged by the Northwest Chapter of the Green Building Council. Our straw building system is a durable, easy to use, wall system that is energy efficient, non-toxic, highly fire resistant, and affordable.

The Change We Seek®

Green Design Systems seeks to redefine the construction material industry through enhanced performance, reduced costs, and environmental excellence. Our straw building system addresses the social and environmental issues important in today's construction industry.

• We have conducted a thorough impact analysis addressing issues such as Rural Employment, Forest Conservation, CO2 reduction, Energy Conservation, Air Quality, and Health Impacts. Our product is made from waste straw, 100% recycled steel and FSC certified sustainable grown and harvested lumber. There are no toxic off-gassing ingredients.

• Our building system reduces global warming gases, reduces airborne particulate matter and black carbon, reduces manufacturing energy as compared to the competition, reduces wood use, saves on heating and cooling expense, and at the end of its useful life is completely compostable or recyclable.

• GDS has created a detailed set of values and objectives that will continue to propel the company toward sustainable objectives. GDS is committed to pursuing sustainable practices in the products we make, the materials we use, our manufacturing, and even our products impact at the end of its useful life.

Green Design Systems

• Industry: Other
• Product/Services: Straw Panel Building System
• Location: Healdsburg, CA
• Ownership: Private
• http://www.greendesignsystems.com