With 10 successful years in home furnishings under its belt, sustainable style expert and home furnishings manufacturer Groovystuff announced that it has been awarded with the elite Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification from the Rainforest Alliance.
To achieve its certification, Groovystuff spent the past year and a half developing adequate tracking and handling procedures for the Thai manufacturing facility from which it purchases reclaimed teakwood products – mostly teak and rosewood wagon wheels and oxen yokes – which are then manufactured into the company’s unique line of upper-medium and high-end home furnishings for both indoors and outdoors. In addition, Groovystuff had to ensure that workers in the Thai facility had sufficient training on FSC chain of custody requirements for handling post-consumer reclaimed materials. Groovystuff developed procedures, work instructions and a training manual to cover the handling of post-consumer materials from the time of procurement through production and final sale.
Sheryl Saxton, Groovystuff’s Sustainability Officer, has overall responsibility for managing the chain of custody program, as well as overseeing Groovystuff’s overall corporate environmental commitment.
Groovystuff’s FSC Chain of Custody certificate means it can label its products with the FSC trademark. The FSC’s standards are widely recognized as the most rigorous anywhere, guaranteeing that products bearing its label come from forest lands that are responsibly managed to conserve biodiversity and support local economies.
Groovystuff’s certification covers the next five years, from February 2009 to February 2014.
The company is now able to place the FSC-Recycled label on select products beginning with the Phoenix Collection which will be unveiled at the April 25-30 High Point Market in High Point, N.C.
The company can also use the certification logo from the Rainforest Alliance, which is accredited by the FSC to provide third-party certification. The Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program provides a variety of certification and auditing services, including the FSC chain-of-custody certification achieved by Groovystuff.
Green is the New Black
The timing for Groovystuff’s certification couldn’t be more opportune. “The past few years have seen a growing interest in ‘green’ home products,” states Groovystuff Vice President Chris Bruning, who founded the company in 1998 with business partner Jeff Singleton.
“This interest has been driven, in part, by the success of the green building movement and the resulting emphasis on sustainable homes. Many design professionals and homeowners are now trying to create living spaces that reflect their commitment to sustainable living.” Bruning believes this interest will continue to propel the market demand for FSC certified furniture.
“The furniture industry in the United States has undergone radical changes in recent years, with more production moving off-shore,” Bruning continues. “Buyers and manufacturers are faced with increasing choices and possible uncertainty with regard to the actual sources of the products they purchase.”
Bruning suggests that manufacturers with international facilities need to promote sustainable sourcing and management practices. “FSC certification ensures that your furniture product has been sourced and produced with responsible use of our forest reserves. It also differentiates your company and promotes these values in the marketplace.”
Committed to sustainable manufacturing and environmental accountability, Groovystuff’s vision is to assist its retail customers in growing their businesses sustainably. Designed for today’s lifestyles and inspired by yesterday’s antiquities, Groovystuff offers six unique residential collections: Prairie, Iron Horse, Adirondack, Back to the Roots, Kodiak, and Rocky Mountain. Each group features pieces designed with the foundation of style, value, longevity and preservation of natural resources.
Groovystuff is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, American Home Furnishings Alliance, and proudly holds FSC Certification # SW-COC-003905.
Founded in 1998 by Chris Bruning and Jeff Singleton, Groovystuff designs, produces, and distributes unique reclaimed teakwood home furnishings at upper-medium and high-end price points. Based in Dallas, it has permanent showrooms in High Point, NC (The Suites at Market Square, G-1148), Las Vegas (World Market Center, A642), and once a year at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, IL (The Merchandise Mart, No. 8-9036A). For more information, please visit www.groovystuff.com.