The Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) is a non-profit industry association founded at High Point, NC in October 2006 to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike. Their mission is to promote sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry, practices that promote a healthy balance of what is good for environmental conservation, social equity and economic development.

SFC’s goals are:

    * To raise awareness of the sustainability issue
    * To assist companies in adopting good practices
    * To serve as an information clearing-house
    * To create a symbol of assurance for consumers

Gerry Cooklin, CEO of South Cone, is the founder of SFC. South Cone is a furniture manufacturer that has held FSC chain-of-custody certification since 2002. Cooklin has been organizing the furniture industry to create SFC for several years as a challenge to the industry to take responsibility for their impacts and support sustainable manufacturing practices.

The SFC recognizes the overwhelming scientific consensus that the world is experiencing dangerous global climate change. SFC members acknowledge the tremendous urgency, and will take immediate steps to minimize carbon emissions, waste stream pollutants, non-recyclable content and primary materials from unsustainable sources from any product platform under their control.

SFC members support the triple bottom line of “PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS” and intend to lead the industry in developing awareness of best practices throughout their supply chains by increasing their purchases from suppliers that show continual improvement toward meeting SFC’s high standards.

Importantly, SFC believes that sustainability has become a mandate among the buying public. As consumers become more educated, they seek out acceptable choices that meet their needs for style, value, and eco-responsibility.

In 2008, SFC will be launching a public advertising and in-store tagging program for consumers to identify retailers and products which exceed SFC’s threshold sustainability standards. SFC currently has more than 100 members and is growing strong, with a presence at all major furniture trade shows throughout the country.

For more information:
www.sustainablefurniturecouncil.com