Tackles ethical wood sourcing for home furnishings

Ushering in a new era of environmental responsibility in the home furnishings industry, The Sustainable Furnishings Council and World Market Center Las Vegas, in cooperation with World Wildlife Fund, Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship Council and numerous other leading governmental, environmental, academic and trade organisations launched the first cross-disciplinary One Good World Econgress on legal and sustainable wood sourcing in the home furnishings industry.

All Las Vegas Market participants were encouraged to attend all or part of the one-day event which took place on January 31, the day prior to the opening day of the February Las Vegas Market.

The event is geared to inform every point in the supply chain as to the importance of known legal origin and responsible forestry for wood products. Participants learned about tools, solutions, and issues of vital importance given the impending next phase of Lacey Act declaration requirements which will be effective in April 2010.

The Lacey Act is a US law, amended in 2008, that bans commerce in illegally sourced plants and their products, including wood and paper products. In April, furniture items will be included in Lacey declarations requirements reinforcing grounds for legal prosecution of entities importing, transporting, selling or purchasing products using illegally harvested or traded wood from the US or abroad.

Econgress marked the first time such a broad array of constituencies assembled to address a sustainability concern in home furnishings. Major organisations represented included WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the US Department of Justice and Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and speaker panelists included some of the world’s foremost experts and leaders on the issue.

“As the third biggest user of wood products, the furniture industry has a responsibility to take a leadership role in legal wood sourcing, and the Econgress represents a groundbreaking step by bringing together every vital constituency for the very first time to show support, discuss challenges and share ideas,” said Jeff Hiller, president of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

“Leadership is taking action while others wonder ‘what if.’ The goal of the Econgress is to identify pragmatic solutions that are good for business and the planet.”

The Econgress is a component of World Market Center Las Vegas’ new programme One Good World launching at February Las Vegas Market which includes a sustainable products locator for market attendees, a digital newsletter as well as expanded education offerings featuring celebrity designers who speak about the importance of sustainability in their life and work.