Gat Creek receives Sage Award

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, November 5, 2012

Pat Bowling, left, and Bill Perdue, right, of the American Home Furnishings Alliance present this year’s Sage Award for environmental excellence to Gat Creek, led by Gat Caperton.HIGH POINT - Case goods supplier Gat Creek was named the winner of this year's Sage Award for environmental excellence in the furniture industry.
     Other finalists for the award, sponsored by the American Home Furnishings Alliance and presented during the October High Point Market, were Ethan Allen, which received honorable mention, Naturepedic, Rowe and Wearbest/Bella-Dura.
     Gat Creek is a Berkeley Springs, W.Va.-based case goods manufacturer that works exclusively with domestic hardwoods harvested from Appalachian forests. It received its Forest Stewardship Council chain of custody certification in 2008.
     More than 95% of its raw materials are sourced within a 350-mile radius of its factory, according to the manufacturer. Gat Creek tracks 100% of its waste streams and has reduced its emissions of hazardous air pollutants by 90% and volatile organic compound emissions by 40% in the past 10 years, the company also reports.
     Gat Creek also is a past winner of the West Virginia Environmental Leadership Award for minimizing waste, liquid and air emissions and has attained Silver Exemplary status from the Sustainable Furnishings Council.