subject: Sourcing Green Furniture 101 - For Interior Designers, Decorators And Homeowners [print this page] It seems the list of third party green certifications for wood furniture keeps growing on a daily basis. The granddaddy of certifications is put out by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) but there are many others including those offered by the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association, Smart Wood, Green Seal and many others.
Why is Green Certification of Wood Furniture So Important?
What's at stake anyway? Nothing less than protection of endangered peoples, environments and animals, it turns out. Even global warming. Here's why:
Up to 90% of the wood furniture sold in the US today is imported. Unless you're buying furniture from a small local manufacturer, chances are the wood in it was harvested illegally from the rapidly disappearing rainforests of Brazil and Southeast Asia. That stolen wood was then shipped to China, Vietnam and other third world countries where it landed in sweatshops and was quickly transformed into cheap, low quality furniture for import to the US and Europe. The resulting environmental and social damage includes:
Erosion, flooding and loss of biodiversity in the rainforest
Loss of homes and land by indigenous peoples and animals who are dependent on the rainforest for their traditional livelihoods
Near extinction of some of our most beloved and iconic species such as the tiger, panda, Asian Elephant, and Clouded Leopard, not to mention thousands of amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, and plants
The addition of huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, worsening climate change. It is currently estimated that 20 percent of global warming results from illegal tropical rain forest destruction
What Is the Best Green Furniture Certification?
I think most unbiased experts would agree that FSC certification is the gold standard for wood furniture certification. FSC in an independent, third party, non-profit group founded by leaders in the environmental movement rather than by an industry group. The FSC certification addresses numerous aspects of sustainable forestry, including ecological functions, old-growth forests, plantations, restoration, native habitat, indigenous people's rights, and sound management for timber production.
FSC is an international organization and probably the world's most widely respected green seal of approval for wood furniture. It is the only LEED certification program approved by the US Green Building Council (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It has however, come under intense criticism for perceived leniency, particularly towards a policy that allows logging in ancient, old growth forests.
Should I Consider Only FSC Certified Furniture as Green and Sustainable?
Definitely not. FSC certification is not for everyone and there are plenty of green furniture makers who are not FSC certified. Usually their objection is cost-based. Many small furniture manufacturers simply cannot afford the considerable price of obtaining and maintaining FSC certification paperwork. Those who do invest in FSC certification are often not recognized for it as they may be certified under a group certificate rather than under their own company name.
Conversely there is so much corruption and counterfeiting in the timber industry that even if you do purchase furniture labeled as FSC certified there is a fair chance it's fake.
For more information on sourcing green furniture, see follow-on article: Sourcing Green Furniture 102 For Interior Designers, Decorators and Homeowners.
