Urban Natural Value: Sustainable

When it comes to sustainability, our Workshop Partners don’t just leave it at how they source or make furniture. Many go one step further by being fully sustainable workshops. What does that mean? Luonto, for example, harvests raw materials from Viitala Forest in Finland – a family-ownedWoodworks timber business. All wood waste is converted into pellets then used in wood-fired ovens to heat all three of their factories, local schools, and a local town. They also partner with vendors and suppliers that support all sustainability efforts to reduce waste and repurpose scrap materials.

For Copeland Furniture, sustainability also means producing their own renewable energy. With more than 1,000,000 kWh of solar production and 3,500,000 BTUs of bio-mass heat generation capacity, Copeland generates 95% of their energy onsite. Based on figures provided by the EPA’s eGRID, this means two of their solar installations offset over 1.5 million pounds of CO2 emissions annually.

Copeland uses this energy to create durable, timeless furniture that will last generations. Heirloom-quality furniture diminishes the need for “fast furniture” and decreases negative environmental impacts. Other Copeland sustainability methods include a box-making machine that allows them to make only enough packaging as needed, recycling waste to reduce landfill reliance, and using wood waste to heat their manufacturing building.

As one of the founding members of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC), Cisco Home always produces sustainable, ethically-sourced goods with minimal waste. Cisco has been a top scorer of the Wood Furniture Scorecard for 3 years in a row. They only use FSC Certified Wood or water-based stains and natural fabrics – meaning all furniture is made with materials that are good for both you and the environment.

From upcycling scrap products to sourcing materials from environmentally safe and compliant areas, we are proud of our partners’ continuous efforts to push their sustainability and diminish their carbon footprint.