General News

CHAPEL HILL, NC – The Sustainable Furnishings Council partnered with World Market Center Las Vegas on several high profile events at Winter market, all of which drew sizable crowds with enthusiastic response.

CHAPEL HILL, NC – The Sustainable Furnishings Council and World Market Center, in cooperation with World Wildlife Fund, Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship Council and numerous other leading governmental, environmental, academic and trade organizations is launching the first cross-disciplinary ECOngress on legal and sustainable wood sourcing in the home furnishings industry in conjunction with Winter Market in Las Vegas. All media, materials suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and designers are strongly encouraged to attend all or part of the one-day event on Jan. 31, 2010, the day prior to the opening day of the February 2010 Las Vegas Market, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in World Market Center’s Building C, on the 8^th floor, Room C-888. Registration is free. 

Following is an edited transcript of a roundtable discussion moderated by Jeff Hiller, president of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, that took place Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at the High Point Market, in Ballroom B of the IHFC building, with participants Thom Filicia, Alexander Julian and Vladimir Kagan. The event took place on the third anniversary of the founding of the SFC. Also that morning, Hiller  announced the launch of a new consumer education and awareness initiative to feature the SFC's new DESIGNINGreen Leadership Team of celebrity designers and industry personalities who design for sustainable manufacturers and/or use sustainable practices in their work. --Susan Pyle Dickenson, Home Accents Today

Jeff Hiller's opening remarks: (Three years ago) we incorporated (the Sustainable Furnishings Council) as a nonprofit and off we went. Establishing standards for the industry was our first challenge, then building up our membership. Our membership was 41 three years ago, as of today, we have 400 manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, design organizations, responsible members of our community, all kinds of people sincerely committed to doing the right thing. So we have some market mass now and what we need to do is turn the page.

The SFC enthusiastically announces the formation of its new DESIGNINGreen Leadership Team.  We are delighted to have the support of High Point's IHFC in co-sponsoring a celebrity designer roundtable discusssion on Oct 19 that will stimulate interest and progress in sustainable design in the home furnishings industry.

October 19, 2009, 9:30 – 10:30 AM IHFC DESIGNINGreen Roundtable: Join legendary fashion and furnishings designer Alexander Julian, award winning product designer Vladimir Kagan, and award winning designer, author, and host of style network's Dress My Nest Thom Filicia, in a spirited discussion of the influence of sustainability in their work and for the future of our industry. All are inaugural members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council's new DESIGNINGreen Leadership Team formed to increase awareness in the design community and the consumer market.  Sponsored by the SFC and the IHFC.  
IHFC Green Wing, 11th Floor, Ballroom B, High Point, NC. Complimentary refreshments provided. Reservations Not Required.

Click on the images below to print your guide to SFC events and map for the High Point Furniture Market!

 World Market Center Las Vegas reported that the judges were impressed by the three finalists in the "One Good Chair: Fit Right Here" Design Competition.

 Competition and jury chair Lance Hosey said the judges opted to award each finalist $2,000 rather than choosing one $5,000 grand prize winner because there was so much debate about the merits of all three chairs.

Jeff Hiller, President of SFC, will be speaking at the International Conference and Business Roundtable focused on Legal & Certified Forests & Forest Products in Asia Pacific.

This intensive 2- day conference will examine trends in legal and/or certified forests and markets- globally and in China- and explore ways to harmonize policy and practice and enhance the capacity for positive change.

Organized by the Rainforest Alliance, the Chinese Academy of Forestry, and the WWF.

The conference will be held September 8-9, in Shanghai, preceding the FurnitureChina2009EXPO. Jeff will be speaking on Tuesday, September 8th, and will be at the Expo in the days following.  Please let us know if you would be interested in meeting with Jeff while he is there! 

Contact admin@sustainablefurnishings.org / 919.967.1137

See the announcement for more information.

Sustainable Furnishings Council is in the news! Read about us in this article on the AP, "How to save the planet with your home decor," by J.W. Elphinstone.