CDG joins SFC
By Jeff Linville -- Furniture Today, May 26, 2008
San Diego — The Contemporary Design Group, a consortium of more than 20 retailers, has joined the Sustainable Furniture Council as part of a move toward becoming more environmentally responsible.
The SFC is a nonprofit coalition of furniture companies created to promote sustainable practices to manufacturers, retailers and consumers. The SFC is a storehouse of information on sustainability and environmental concerns related to furnishings and their manufacturing, according to Alison Sigrist, SFC administrative director.
As a member, the CDG can draw on the council for information and for supplier and manufacturer contacts. The council also provides point-of-purchase signage that declares a retailer's commitment to improving the planet.
At the end of 2007, the CDG established a "green" committee to gather information on ecologically friendly furnishings. The committee will help group members, who have a buying power of more than $120 million, make informed decisions on what to carry in their stores, and also will suggest ways to reduce their environmental footprint.
Carol Bell, co-owner of Contents Interiors of Tucson, Ariz., said it was obvious at the CDG's most recent annual conference that the manufacturers and importers knew a lot more about the green issue than the retailers did, so the CDG needed to be better educated. Her partner, Tamara Scott-Anderson, is co-chairing the new green committee with Andy Thornton of retailer LaDifférence in Richmond, Va.
The Contemporary Design Group's green committee is working on environmental issues in three steps, said Thornton. The first is to encourage improvements to stores, as Contents Interiors and his own store have done.
Scott-Anderson said Contents has converted to fluorescent lighting that uses less electricity. It also will put miniature fluorescent bulbs in its lamps on display, giving the consumer the option to take home the bulb with the lamp for a slight upcharge.
The store also is doing a better job at recycling. In addition, Scott-Anderson said she's looking for sources of polished steel goods to take the place of items with chrome, which is damaging to the environment to create and use. And the retailer has held events to promote the launch of goods that are green or made with sustainable woods, including a collection of U.S.-made case goods from Harden Furniture.
The second issue for the committee is to learn what the manufacturers are doing and ask about issues like sustainable woods, VOCs and formaldehyde. Being a part of the SFC will help, as the council already has asked manufacturers many of these questions.
Thornton of LaDifférence said he believes in supporting responsible U.S. manufacturers like Harden and conference attendee Vermont Tubbs. Rather than shipping American trees to Asia for manufacturing, Thornton would rather see the wood stay here to save fuel.
He also believes in the quality and ecological standards of American and European businesses. He said that after once offering a diverse lineup of internationally made upholstery, he's now back to sourcing about 60% domestically, with another 25% coming from Europe.
Part three for the CDG committee's mission is to educate the consumer on how to help. LaDiff, for one, is setting up a kiosk in its store that explains what the industry and the store are doing to help and offering advice for the public.
One way for a furniture consumer to reduce his or her environmental impact is simply to buy better goods less often, Thornton said. Spending more up front will actually save them more in the long run, and reduce waste, he said. Plus, selling better goods can improve a store's reputation and build consumer trust.
The CDG has more than 20 members, and every store is different, Thornton noted. So, not every suggestion is right for every member, but joining the SFC and establishing the green committee can benefit each one in some way, he believes.
