Sustainable Furniture Council Front & Center In Las Vegas

Furniture World News

The Sustainable Furniture Council announced that it will be celebrating their highly successful first year with a number of important events that will keep them in the spotlight at the January Las Vegas Market to be held January 28 – February 1, 2008. The SFC is a balanced coalition of furniture manufacturers, retailers, NGO’s and trade press formed at High Point in October 2006 to promote sustainable practices throughout the industry. The organization currently numbers more than 150 members, and applications are steadily increasing. In their first year, they developed rigorous Standards in accordance and with the participation of creators of the universally accepted LEED Standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for the commercial building sector. Opinions from seven leading environmental groups were incorporated, and the Standards were published for public review in October 2007. It is expected that these will become the consensus standard for furniture. To keep things rolling, the SFC and the World Market Center in Las Vegas are co-presenting The Brave New World Environmental Leadership Education Series all week long at the Living Green Pavilion at the MGM. The events are open to Buyers, Suppliers, Designers, Media and industry service providers and are designed to provide key information and proven strategies for effective change with a focus on long term consumer and supplier education. A complete schedule is attached. The SFC is also staging a Panel Discussion on sustainability in the furniture industry at 1 pm on Wed, 1/30 at the MGM Conference Center, Room m-201. The panel will include SFC founder and president Gerry Cooklin of South Cone, Bill Perdue, VP of Environment, Health, and Safety with the AHFA, and moderated by Powell Slaughter, Senior Editor of Home Furnishings Business magazine. It is expected to be a lively discussion as they cover hot topics such as Standards, greenwashing, product labeling, and the challenges faced by manufacturers and retailers alike in their progress toward sustainability. “We welcome everyone interested in the broader issue of sustainability to join us at these important events, regardless of their current level of compliance,” says SFC founder Gerry Cooklin. “Education is the single most crucial need at this stage of the movement, and these presentations are a great place to get started.” More information can be obtained at www.sustainblefurniturecouncil.org.