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Harden Furniture first to earn SFC Silver status

By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, March 30, 2008

Mcconnelsville, N.Y. — Case goods and upholstery source Harden Furniture has become the first furniture manufacturer to achieve Silver Exemplary Status from the Sustainable Furniture Council.

Harden can now display SFC Silver Exemplary Status hangtags at retail to help educate and inform consumers about its sustainable practices.

By earning the status, the company meets criteria including:

Forest Stewardship Council or equivalent certification for 15% to 25% percent of its wood products.
1% to 25% of non-wood products made from recycled or bio-based materials.
Completion of a Carbon Footprint Report with a detailed analysis of energy output in operations.
Showing a positive impact on supply chain improvements as a result of efforts.

Harden scored additional points for reducing carbon emissions by sourcing and shipping its products within a 500-mile radius; paying 100% of its employees a living wage; and creating The Living Canopy Program, a New York state-based educational initiative that also generates funds for land and water restoration efforts.

Two other tiers, Gold and Platinum, are above Silver in SFC status and have tougher criteria.

"It's exciting to be the first furniture manufacturer to be awarded an exemplary status," said President Greg Harden in a released statement. "We have always upheld a tradition of environmental stewardship at Harden, which over the years has included sustainable harvesting of trees in our own 20,000-acre woodland in upstate New York, maintaining an on-site forestry division and, in general, adhering to environmentally sound principles and practices."

Harden launched an upholstery collection at the October High Point Market featuring eco-friendly fabric. The line will grow this spring with the addition of five fabric options and one naturally processed leather option, to be shown at next week's High Point Market.

Also beginning this market, Harden will make bio-based urethane foams a standard option for most of its seat cushions.

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