juniper
DCL
"We have actually passed a point of no return in terms of environmental awareness, and although the future of the supply chain looks complicated to all of us, the ECOngress will help us move forward with a plan for sustainable growth, as opposed to leaving it to chance," ~ Robert Maricich, World Market Center Las Vegas' president and chief executive officer.
The choices we make for the furnishings we purchase for our homes may seem straightforward, but as we dig deep into the origins of a new couch or table, there is a vast web of global and health issues that impact our planet. How the wood for our furnishings gets sourced is changing.
The Sustainable Furnishings Council is partnering with World Market Center and numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations (World Wildlife Fund, Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship) to stage ONE GOOD WORLD ECOongress conference to better understand the impact of the Lacey Act on the home furnishings industry and how to build legitimately sustainable products. The Lacey Act is a U.S. law bans commerce in illegally sourced plants and their products, including wood and paper products. The Lacey Act amendments goes into effect in April, which calls for legal prosecution of anyone found guilty of importing, transporting, selling or purchasing furniture using illegally harvested wood from the U.S. or abroad.
The goal of the ECOngress is to identify pragmatic solutions that are good for business and the planet. ECOngress will be the first-ever summit that will tackle both sourcing legal wood & building green markets.
This "ONE GOOD WORLD ECOongress" will represent major organizations from all points in the supply chain, including U.S. government officials, academic institutions, forest landowners, Top 10 furniture manufacturers and retailers, interior design associations, and consumer media. The 1-day event will take the place on Sunday, January 31, the day before the opening of the Las Vegas Market.
"As the third biggest user of wood products, the furniture industry has a responsibility to take a leadership role in legal wood sourcing, and the ECOngress represents a groundbreaking step by bringing together every vital constituency for the very first time to show support, discuss challenges and share ideas," ~ Jeff Hiller, president of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
As consumers, and stewards of the earth, when we approach furniture choices we should first look to the least impact. I always try using the three 3's approach before buying new - reduce, repair and recycle. This is usually the best case scenario, but sometimes it makes more sense to buy a new furnishing.
Right now, the best determinant for knowing if the furniture we buy comes from sustainable wood is from Forrest Stewardship Council. The FSC was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. FSC has developed a set of Principles and Criteria for forest management that is applicable to all FSC-certified forests throughout the world. Read the criteria here.
8 questions about wood we want answered by ONE GOOD WORLD ECOngress to ensure that the furniture we buy adheres to high environmental, health and human rights standards:
1. What is the origin of the wood the furniture is made from?
2. What are the materials used and are they healthy for adults, children and pets?
3. How were the workers treated in regards to wages, hours and health?
4. How were the ecosystems near the factories affected?
5. How is the packaging made and transported?
6. What are the shipping and fuel and implications?
7. How durable is the product? Can it be passed down for generations?
8. Does the company give back? What is their environmental and sustainability sections say about their commitment the planet?
I like the sound of a gathering that will bring industry and consumers together in the hopes of making the wood furnishing companies step closer to transparency in their practices. What do you think?
