Williams-Sonoma Joins WWF Forestry Protection Initiative

October 27, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on October 2008 Williams-Sonoma, San Francisco, has made a commitment to supporting responsible management of the world’s most threatened forests by joining the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest & Trade Network, the organization announced Monday.

Williams-Sonoma, the parent company of Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma Home, has pledged to increase the proportion of wood products in its supply chain that originate from credibly certified forests and phase out unknown wood sources for its brands. Members of the WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network have annual forest products sales of nearly $53 billion a year and employ more than 2.7 million people. According to the organization, deforestation accounts for nearly 30 percent of all global carbon emissions.

“Retailers and consumers both have a role to play in saving the forests and the people and animals depending on them. Knowing and caring about the source of wood products is an important first step,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “With this agreement, Williams-Sonoma is demonstrating leadership and a strong commitment to responsible business practices that we hope will serve as an example that other companies follow.”

Within one year, Williams-Sonoma will complete an assessment of the wood used in its furniture to determine its origin and whether the wood is from well-managed forests. Once the assessment is completed and within five years, Williams-Sonoma has committed to obtain wood from known sources that are responsibly managed and ensure that important environmental and social values are protected, officials stated in the announcement.