Copeland Furniture Achieves SFC Silver Exemplary Membership Status

October 14, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on October 2008 Copeland Furniture, Bradford, Vt., has been awarded Silver Exemplary Membership Status by the Sustainable Furnishings Council. The manufacturer of natural hardwood furniture already is Forest Stewardship Council=certified, making it one of a few American furniture

manufacturers that has met that organization’s stringent requirements, the highest standards in the world.

“Copeland Furniture’s continued commitment to sustainability serves to strengthen the sustainability movement and the furniture marketplace,” said SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis. “I am excited to welcome Copeland Furniture as our newest Silver Exemplary Member and am particularly impressed by Copeland’s commitment to use FSC-certified North American wood and other responsibly sourced materials for the health of consumers, communities, and the environment.”

Copeland Furniture actually exceeds requirements for SFC Silver status, using between 15 and 25 percent FSC-certified or equivalent wood; between 1 and 25 percent non-wood products made from recycled or bio-based materials; and has completed a Carbon Footprint Report that includes detailed analysis of its operation’s energy output; and is showing a positive impact on supply chain improvements as a result of sustainability efforts.

“Stewardship runs deep in rural New England, and Copeland Furniture’s manufacturing processes reflect our ingrained respect for our local forests and communities,” said Tim Copeland, CEO of Copeland Furniture. For 35 years, the company has sourced 90 percent of its lumber from forests in a 500-mile radius of the manufacturing plant, effectively reducing the fossil fuel required by trucking and contributing to local economies. SFC and FSC certifications are important to the company in that they indicate Copeland’s commitment and assist it in consumer-education and awareness.

At High Point Market next week, Copeland will introduce Newport, its sixth FSC-certified bedroom collection. Newport is constructed of FSC-certified solid maple and combines minimalist style with functionality. The group includes a queen or king-sized bed, one-, five-, six- and seven-drawer cases, and a wall-hung mirror. Pieces are available in natural, cocoa, chocolate or graphite finishes.

“In our search for eco-friendly home furnishings that combine quality and consumer demands for exceptional new designs, Copeland Furniture is one of the few manufacturers we’ve found that exceeds all our expectations,” noted retailer Shawn Olsen of Skandinavia in Austin, Texas. “They don’t sacrifice on sustainability or design, and their products are made right here in the USA.”