Sustainable furniture production grows in US

US furniture manufacturers and retailers have responded to guidance that helps protect forests and contributes to the sustainable use of wood and other materials, according to a new report. The 2021 Wood Furniture Scorecard from the National Wildlife Federation and the Sustainable Furnishings Council assessed 118 furniture retailers on their wood sourcing policies. 

'We’re witnessing an industry-wide shift toward sustainability, which is noticeable not only through the growing number of companies voluntarily getting involved in this process, but also by the increasing scores of the companies that have been scored in previous years,' says Barbara Bramble, vice president of international wildlife conservation and corporate strategies at the National Wildlife Federation. 'We applaud this year’s top and high Scorers and honorable mentions and encourage all retailers to move to responsible wood sourcing.'

Susan Inglis of the Sustainable Furnishings Council says there's cause of celebration: 'We have had more dramatic improvements in scores this year than in any of the previous years we've been publishing this scorecard. I am proud of the companies in our industry that have engaged to make use of a range of resources we are able to offer. I know that their own businesses, as well as the forests of the world, will benefit from their effective implementation of robust policies for sourcing wood furniture.'

This year, of the 118 companies assessed, 17 earned top scores, 20 earned high scores, and six earned honorable mentions. Leading the way in sustainable practices are Cisco Home, Williams-Sonoma, The Arrangement and Working Wonders.

Now in its fourth year, the Wood Furniture Scorecard continues to set the standard for responsible wood sourcing. As the number of retailers with strong scores increases year after year, consumers and companies are being made aware that unsustainable sourcing practices are no longer acceptable. The Scorecard acts as a comprehensive shopping guide for conscientious consumers and as a blueprint for retailers for improving their wood sourcing practices and contributing to their overall environmental, social and governance performance.

To learn more: https://sustainablefurnishings.org/