Furniture For The Forest: Sustainable Furniture Council Label

Enlarge Image Image Gallery SFC Silver Exemplary member Zola Eco-Friendly Furnishings makes handcrafted furniture using sustainably harvested woods and organic textiles. The Lorenzo chair is made with kirei board and Eco-Intelligent Polyester fabric. www.ZolaFurnishings.com

The Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) has created a new label to help consumers identify home furnishings made with the health of forests in mind. SFC members, which include furniture manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, environmental groups and media representatives, adhere to strict environmental standards. Requirements include providing a verifiable supply chain that is socially and environmentally responsible each step of the way, from materials origins to the finished product. SFC standards also call for reducing carbon emissions, waste and pollutants, and for eliminating the use of nonrecyclable content and unsustainable raw materials. For more details, including a list of SFC members, visit www.sustainablefurniturecouncil.org.

Why Does It Matter?

Sustainably made furniture helps to:

• reduce carbon emissions by promoting responsible forestry operations and manufacturing

• decrease deforestation through selective thinning and proactive replanting

• deter illegal logging practices by supporting ethical ones

• create incentives for long-term forest management