The Rainforest Alliance Releases Expanded Sustainable Furniture Directory In High Point

Furniture World Magazine

The Rainforest Alliance announced that it will release an updated SmartGuide to Sustainable Furniture, its comprehensive listing of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood furniture manufacturers and suppliers in North America at the Fall Furniture Market in High Point, NC. The number of certified furniture and furniture components manufacturers listed in the first SmartGuide edition increased by 34 percent since its launch in 2006, from 235 to 315 companies. Institutional furniture suppliers increased most of any category at 400 percent, while residential furniture suppliers increased 182 percent. “In the past, green building has been largely responsible for the rising awareness of sustainability issues, which spurs demand for sustainable furniture,” said Rick Hilton, green building specialist for the Rainforest Alliance. “Increasing pressure for differentiation in a competitive market, downward profit trends in the industry, the need to communicate a 'green image' and the launch this past summer of U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) standards, indicate a surge in demand for sustainable residential furniture.” Market attendees can learn more about sustainability trends in the home furnishings industry at the Rainforest Alliance booth: I-839, Eco-Style Pavilion, Suites at Market Square. In addition, the Rainforest Alliance will display FSC-certified furniture by Jensen Leisure, a Rainforest Alliance/Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified company, and can direct visitors to other sources of FSC-certified furniture and components at the show or around the world. WHO: Two members of the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable forestry division will be present for questions and interviews: - Rick Hilton, specialist in sustainable supply chain management and market development - Lawson Henderson, expert in sustainable forest management and supply chain certification WHEN + WHERE: - Suites at Market Square – Suite I-839 - 317 W. High Ave., High Point, NC 27260 - Monday, Oct. 20 – Sunday, Oct. 26 BACKGROUND: The Rainforest Alliance, a nonprofit international conservation organization, helped establish the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) in October 2006. The SFC has grown to more than 250 members in just two years. In addition to the updated SmartGuide to Sustainable Furniture, the Rainforest Alliance offers many customized tools and services to help companies incorporate sustainability into their products and operations. It is the world’s leading certifier of forestlands to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, verifies legality of timber, analyzes supply chains for risk, designs and implements procurement policies and helps communicate partner successes. The Rainforest Alliance works with businesses of all sizes to link sustainability from the forest or farm to consumers. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org/smartsource.