Daily News Archive
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April 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on April 16, 2013
Packaging and marketing solutions vendor Wright Global Graphics will start manufacturing from chemical-free printing plates later this month.
This move will allow Wright to produce significantly less chemical waste during the printing process, reducing the need dispose of harmful chemicals into the environment and decreasing the negative environmental impact often associated with traditional offset printing.
Offset printing is a common printing technique where the inked image is not directly pressed onto the final surface but rather is transferred from a plate to a rubber mat, and finally to the printing surface. The images are typically created on the computer and then burned onto metal plates using a chemical developing process. Chemical-free printing plates utilize water instead, eliminating the need for hazardous chemicals found in traditional water-based printing.
Our company is very conscious of the environmental concerns long associated with the printing industry and we have always been committed to making the printing process as eco-friendly as possible, said Wright President and CEO Greg Wright. The decision to switch to chemical-free plates seemed like a natural progression in reducing our carbon footprint and advancing our environmental mission.
Wright already has adopted eco-friendly policies, including using recycled products, renewable soybean ink, and energy efficient lighting. Most recently, in 2012 the company installed solar panels at their headquarters in North Carolina. Since the initial installation of the panels, the company has generated enough energy to offset 82 tons of carbon emissions.
April 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on April 16, 2013
The Sustainability Furnishings Council will offer a free Sustainability Essentials webinar Thursday at noon (Eastern Time).
This free one-hour webinar gives an overview of the environmental issues related to home furnishings, including the factual basis for climate change, problems with indoor air quality, toxic waste, and water conservation.
Content also includes a synopsis of GREENleaders, the industry's first certified sustainability training course. This webinar is intended to give participants useful information they can begin using in their business immediately as well as answer any questions they may have about getting the most out of SFC membership.
Click here to reserve a seat.
April 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Green on April 16, 2013
A World Wildlife Fund report says illegal logging destroying forests of the Russian Far East supplies wood largely to Chinese furniture and flooring manufacturers.
According to WWF-Russia, widespread timber theft is endangering the long-term survival of the endangered Amur tiger, while providing a conduit for illegal timber to find its way into the United States, Europe and Japan. The report, Illegal Logging in the "Russian Far East: Global Demand and Taiga Destruction," synthesizes more than 10 years of on-the-ground field observations and highlights a sobering reality: Russias forest sector has become deeply criminalized, with poor law enforcement, allowing illegal loggers to plunder valuable timber stocks of oak, ash, elm and linden with impunity.
The scope and scale of illegal Russian logging puts U.S. companies and consumers at risk of purchasing furniture and flooring made with wood stolen from tiger habitat, said Linda Walker, World Wildlife Fund-US forest program manager. U.S. companies need to ensure that they are sourcing wood products from legal and responsible sources, or they risk violating their customers trust and seriously degrading tiger habitat.
In the report, analysis of Russian customs data reveals that in 2010, the volume of Mongolian oak logged for export was twice the amount legally authorized for harvest from the regionmeaning that at least half of oak shipped across the border to China was stolen. Further analysis of export data showed that 2010 was a mild year: in 2007 and 2008 the oak harvest was four times as large.
Illegal logging in the Ussuri Taiga is imperiling the long-term survival of the Amur tiger and the livelihoods of thousands of forest villagers and indigenous peoples, said Nikolay Shmatkov, WWF-Russia forest policy projects coordinator. With minimal efforts in place to detect and prosecute illegal logging throughout the region, the sheer scale of violations has reached epidemic proportions.
Illegal logging degrades vital habitat for Amur tigers and their prey. Scientists estimate around 450 Amur tigers remain in the wild. Over harvesting limits the supply of pine nuts and acorns--a main food source for their prey. As timber supplies dwindle, ecologically sensitive forests like wildlife reserves are increasingly threatened.
The report also finds that, although there are a few positive examples of successful Russian forest law enforcement actions, the proportion of registered illegal logging violations brought to trial is extremely low. In 2011, only 16 percent of the 691 registered cases of illegal logging in Primorsky Province were brought to trial--the lowest figure in the past 10 years.
While WWF is working in Russia to suggest measures the government can take to end illegal logging from the supply side, importing nations can help on the demand side. In particular, the report highlights the need for strengthened collaboration between Russia and China to ensure better timber tracking between the two countries.
As Russian species can be purposely mislabeled as originating from other countries, the report urges importers of Chinese or Russian hardwood furniture and flooring to confirm the species and country of wood origin. For products made with Russian oak, ash, elm or linden, companies should exclusively purchase Forest Stewardship Council-certified products to ensure they are sourcing products from legal and responsible sources.
April 15,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on April 16, 2013
Pat McCrory, governor of North Carolina, will meet with the 42 furniture industry leaders who sent a letter in support of funding for the High Point Market Authority.
The private meeting will take place Saturday at noon for about 45 minutes in the President's Room on the 11th floor of the IHFC.
"We appreciate the governor taking time out of his schedule to attend the High Point Market and to meet with us," says Doug Bassett, president of Vaughan-Bassett, and chairman of the High Point Market Authority. "We want to thank Gov. McCrory for his support of the Market Authority and the furniture industry, particularly in providing funding that will help us to continue and to improve the massive trade show that has such a huge economic impact on the state of North Carolina."
Following the closed meeting, McCrory will meet with representatives of the media.
April 14,
2013 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Motion Upholstery on April 15, 2013
Leather furniture vendor Kuka Home is adding 10,000 square feet to its Furniture Plaza showroom for High Point Furniture Market.
The extra space makes room for a major new line of motion furniture Kuka will introduce at the April 20-25 show. The expansion brings Kuka's total High Point showroom area to 34,000 square feet. The companys motion introduction includes 36 groups in styles ranging from transitional to contemporary. The new groups will feature both motion chairs and motion sofas.
Were broadening our line beyond stationary upholstery to expand our business with current customers and to attract new retailers that we havent been able to tap because we didnt offer motion, said Brian Parker, president of Kuka Furniture, Kuka Homes U.S. division. Like all our products, our motion seating will be distinguished by quality construction, fashion-forward styling and sharp pricing.
Founded in 1986, Kuka Home is a China-based, vertically integrated manufacturer with two furniture production facilities, a tannery and a network of more than 1,600 franchised and company owned stores in China and other countries throughout the world. The company sells on a direct-container basis, with products priced in the mid-range of the market. Orders are typically shipped from China within four to six weeks. The companys U.S. operation, Kuka Furniture, is based in High Point.
In addition to upholstery, Kuka Homes line also includes dining chairs and tables, barstools, ottomans and home office and entertainment furniture. To help with the marketing of its new motion line, the company is expanding its network of sales representatives.
High Point is the premier launching pad for the introduction of new furniture and this additional space will enable Kuka Home to give this new program the spotlight it deserves, said Julie Messner, vice president of leasing for International Market Centers.
Kuka Home will hold a grand-opening party for retailers in its expanded showroom, FP-615, on Friday.