About the 2009 Winner

Copeland Furniture was singled out among this year’s entries for its “exceptionally focused” approach to sustainable business operations. The company holds a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certificate and currently manufactures eight product groups that qualify for FSC on-product labeling. Wood for these collections is sourced from forests within 100 to 500 miles of the plant. Ninety percent of the electricity used to power the manufacturing equipment comes from low emission sources.

According to Copeland President and CEO, Tim Copeland, the company is in the process of converting its heating plant from oil-fired hot water to wood-fired, using its own waste scrap as fuel. The scrap not used as fuel is reprocessed into wood pellets that are being sold locally to fuel wood stoves – a popular item in Vermont households.

Copeland was also recognized for urging its finish suppliers to formulate better water-based wood finishes – a key challenge for eco-minded furniture producers. Further, the company is taking steps to reduce the use of non-recyclable materials in product packaging and is posting its entire product catalog on its website rather than printing hundreds of copies for retail customers.

Copeland was awarded a $2,500 check from Cargill’s BiOH® polyols business unit to be donated to the charity of the company’s choice. Copeland chose to add another $2,500 to the amount, so $1,000 could be contributed to each of the following: Bradford Conservation Commission, Bradford Food Shelf, Orange East Senior Center, and the Bradford Library, all in Bradford, Vt.; and Dougscamp.org, Plymouth, Vt.

Copeland Furniture is a 32-year-old family owned and operated enterprise that produces quality bedroom, dining room, living room and home office furniture crafted from sustainably harvested hardwoods from the American Northern Forest. The company also holds the exclusive license to produce the furniture designs of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Drumroll please….. the 2009

Century Furniture is a family-owned furniture manufacturer that has been in business for more than 60 years. The company has implemented a comprehensive environmental management system within each of its domestic manufacturing plants, and this has resulted in dramatic reductions in energy use, water consumption and waste disposal. Aggressive recycling and resource conservation have become part of the corporate culture as a result of this program. Century has also begun to incorporate sustainability into its product design.

In addition to manufacturing in the United States, Century also procures goods from around the world, both as component parts and as finished products. Among the accomplishments noted by the Sage Award judges were Century’s efforts to push sustainable practices throughout its global supply chain.

We caught up with Alex Shuford, Jr. from Century Furniture shortly after they were named a Sage Award Finalist and captured some of his thoughts on sustainability in their business. Check out the video….

Copeland Furniture has been commited to sustainable manufacturing practices long before eco-friendly became a trend in the residential furniture industry. The company holds a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certificate and currently manufactures eight product groups that qualify for FSC on-product labeling. They are a founding members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and one of only eight companies worldwide that qualify for the Council’s silver exemplary status.

Their environmental initiatives touch every aspect of operations. Sustainably-grown raw materials come from within 100 to 500 miles of the plant. Ninety percent of the electricity used to power their manufacturing equipment comes from sources that are low emission. They are converting their heating plant from oil-fired hot water to wood-fired and using their own waste scrap as fuel. They are taking steps to reduce the use of non-recyclable materials in product packaging and are working with finish suppliers to formulate finishes that use water as the primary solvent. They’ve stopped printing their catalog and now post it entirely on the Internet. Despite all of their accomplishments, Copeland views sustainability as an ongoing process of improvement, rather than as a finite goal.

Gain a little more insight into Copeland Furniture from this short clip we captured of Ben Copeland shortly after they were announced as a Sage Award Finalist…

La-Z-Boy has adopted a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices. Altogether, 11 domestic manufacturing facilities across the United States have implemented an environmental management system to both systematize and accelerate sustainable practices throughout the corporation.

La-Z-Boy’s sustainability initiatives are helping them accomplish significant improvements in energy and water conservation, as well as in waste reduction. In 2008, they used almost 27,000 tons of renewable fuels. They reduced water consumption by more than 6 million gallons, and they recycled or reused more than 50 million pounds of material that previously would have gone to a landfill.  La-Z-Boy also has introduced moderately-priced, eco-friendly products (made with BiOH polyols!) under a brand name that millions of consumers recognize.

In addition, La-Z-Boy has a retail group of 68 company-owned stores that have also taken steps to minimize their environmental footprint by implementing energy and waste conservation measures. Across this retail network, the company is in the process of replacing 27,000 light bulbs with eco-friendly alternatives. The store merchandising team has started a “Go Green!” newsletter to encourage further conservation and recycling efforts. For more details on their environmental programs, check out their website.

We weren’t able to catch a video clip of La-Z-Boy after the Sage Award announcement, but I did have a chance to get a few more details from Rod Miller, Director of Environmental Affairs for La-Z-Boy this week. See a few of his responses to my questions below….

What have been some financial impacts of your sustainability efforts?
Our sustainability initiatives have helped us obtain significant improvements in energy, waste and water conservation including the following significant reductions (2008 compared to 2007):

• Reduced total energy consumption by 12% (electrical consumption was reduced by 9% and natural gas consumption by nearly 25%) at six upholstery facilities and 4, 12 and 18% at three case good facilities (also reduced natural gas consumption by 25%).
• Reduced water consumption at three upholstery facilities by 6.68 million gallons.
• Reduced the amount of waste sent to the landfill by an additional two million pounds (almost 15%) at six upholstery facilities. We even further reduced this amount by nearly 400,000 pounds per month in the first six months of 2009.
• Reduced the amount of solid waste going to the landfill by 47 % (139 tons), 63% (202 tons) and 38% (95 tons) at three different case good facilities.
• Reused or recycled more than fifty-million pounds of material.

We continue to utilize renewable wood fuels (26,800 tons in 2008) generated on-site for the production of steam used in our processes. Wood fuel, a renewable energy source via sustainably managed forests, helps reduce green house gas emissions and eliminate solid waste disposal. We also sell excess wood for further reuse by other industries.

What impact have your sustainability efforts had on your employees, your customers?
Besides the positive business and environmental impacts our sustainability initiatives have on our organization, we believe one of the most important outcomes are those that directly affect our employees and their communities. Some examples include:
• Employees have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald Houses across the country, from gathering donations to assisting with the day-to-day activities at the homes.
• An EFEC team visiting the local landfill and recycling center to more fully comprehend our waste management process
• Employees participate in local county selection committee for sustainability project grants
• An EFEC team member provided a presentation at the county Economic and Tourism Council regarding sustainability issues
• A group of employees made a float out of recyclable materials for the local city parade.

What are the benefits of your EcoComfort line?
The EcoComfort by La-Z-Boy line includes the use of soy-based foam in the cushions of several popular sofas, recliners and chairs. The soy material replaces a portion of the petroleum-based product used in manufacturing poly foam. This line also includes a selection of fabrics which have been tested and certified to be environmentally friendly by Oeko-Tex, the world’s definitive ecological certification process and come in a variety of colors and styles which we are proud to say are pleasing to the eye and the environment. Our eco-suede fabric utilizes the plastic of one recycled water bottle for each yard of fabric, thereby reducing waste and pollution. A recliner in the line also features arms made of renewable rubber wood. Many of the other wood materials and components we use are provided by suppliers that have implemented sustainable forest management practices or come from sustainable plantation grown rubber wood. Other wood and fiber based materials utilize recycled or recovered paper.

What advice would you give to other large companies wishing to become more focused on sustainability?
When you make the decision to focus on sustainability, realize that it is a journey. You will need to think broadly about timeframes, payoffs and successes. Start at the top with senior executives engaged in setting the vision and providing support for your initiatives. Use programs such as the AHFA’s EFEC and SBD initiatives to implement sustainability goals and give your program focus. You must also engage enthusiastic internal champions to help promote and implement each segment of your sustainability initiatives.

Ultimately, you must be committed to responsible stewardship of the environment by integrating environmentally sound and sustainable business practices into all of your daily business decisions.

Tune in next week as the winner of the 2009 Sage Award will be announced on December 2 at the AHFA Sustainability Summit in Greensboro, NC. Do you have any questions for the finalist companies?

Contest entry is easy. Upload a photo or a video to Facebook or You Tube and share why you are in need of an eco-makeover as well as why you want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Six regional finalists will be announced on December 1.  Finalists will get expert advice from green living gurus and will be asked to share their progress through social media sites over the next six weeks. (How fun for all of us to watch!)

One grand prize winner will be selected based on which contestant has made the most dramatic eco changes in their life. The winner will win eco-friendly furnishings for their home – valued at $5000!!

Do you know someone who needs an eco-makeover and would enjoy FREE, eco-friendly furniture? Encourage them to enter today!

The EarthCare Challenge contest is sponsored by Hickory Springs - a foam manufacturer that uses our soy-based BiOH^® Polyols as the renewable ingredient in their Preserve^® Foam products. Hickory Springs offers several environmentally friendly products in addition to foam as part of their EarthCare line.

The winning MCAD student exhibitors – Nick Kriegler, Stephanie Polus, and Ruth Sauvageau – did a fabulous job designing exhibits that fit with the Room & Board brand experience and told the BiOH^® story from soybean to sofa. I think they were happy to receive their $5000 cash prize too!

MCAD students receiving their $5000 prize from BiOH team

The Journey Starts with a Tiny Soybean

As guests entered the store, they were invited to start in the farming section where the soybean story begins. The students had been growing soybean plants for the past few months and the potted plants were spread throughout the showroom. Banners outlining the history of soybean farming were displayed along with a video highlighting images of “life on the farm.” Check out some of the exhibits through the images below…

MCAD Student Exhibitors in the Soybean Exhibits

Soybean Plants in Pots Built by MCAD Students

 

An Image Shown in the "Life on the Farm" Video

From Soybean to Foam Cushions

Next guests were invited to learn how soybeans are turned into BiOH polyols used to make foam. Several banners outlined the story of how soybeans are crushed into meal and soybean oil. The soybean oil is then processed and used as the primary raw material to make BiOH polyols. The students captured videos of how foam is made to show guests.  Visitors were even able to test foam properties by conducting a simple “ball rebound” test on three different types of foam.

Banners Educating on Soybeans to Foam

Furniture is the Star

Next guests were invited to learn about furniture history and craftsmanship through an interactive exhibit. There was a section specifically on sustainable furnishings that highlighted some sustainble features like certified woods, soy foams with BiOH polyols, responsible fabrics, and more. See an overview of the interactive exhibit below.

Focus on Sustainability

Downstairs guests were invited to learn more about the sustainable impacts of furnishings made with BiOH polyols through two very visual exhibits. The first was a sculpture made from gallon milk jugs hanging to highlight the amount of petroleum that can be saved when many people make positive choices to purchase furniture containing soy foam. It definitely caught guests’ attention!

MCAD student Milk Jug Exhibit Highlighting Petroleum Savings

Sign Next to Milk Jug Exhibit Outlining Impact

The second exhibit was a great visual that was easy to implement. A sofa was marked with a line to highlight that up to 20% of furniture foam can be made with soy-based materials rather than petroleum. People loved the bold color and simple message.

Additionally, we had our oil barrel sofa on display for people to write their questions about sustainable furnishings on. Some of the questions from guests….  “Is soy foam biodegradable?”. The answer = No, soy foams are not biodegradable and pass the same durability tests that all petroleum-based foams pass. Foam can be recycled at the end of its life.  ”How do costs compare?” The answer = Furnishings with sustainable features like soy foams are offered at a range of prices depending on style, functional, and budget needs.  There were several other questions that I hope to address in future blog posts!

Some Questions on the Oil Barrel Sofa on Sustainable Furnishings

Other Event Highlights

Besides engaging exhibits, there were several other great activities and experts on hand for the guests. We had three lovely ladies at the event who all embrace sustainability and green design in their own ways -Micaela Preston, the author of Practically Green and blogger of the Mindful Momma, Susan Rapp who writes a fabulous design blog – Urban Lifestyle Decor, and Cindy Ojczyk from Simply Green Design. They took a few minutes to smile for a photo.

Micaela Preston, Susan Rapp, and Cindy Ojczyk

We also had several fun activities for the youngest guests – including soy foam blocks of all sizes and colors to play on as well as pots of soybeans with eco-friendly stickers and (temporary) tattoos along with interactive video activities for kids of all ages.  Judging from the photos, I think the kids had fun!

Soy Foam is Soft!

I want these at home!

Even the little visitors like soy foam!

Soy foam blocks are fun!

Playing in Soybeans

That’s just a taste of what Experience Soy Style at Room & Board offered guests!  I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to see several images from the event. And I also hope there will be future opportunities for you to personally Experience Soy Style if you were unable to attend this celebration; many of the materials and resources from this event will be available in coming weeks for other retailers that carry furniture and bedding lines containing BiOH polyols to create personalized “Soy Style” events in their stores that can help educate about soy foam options. There is a huge opportunity to increase awareness of furnishigns with soy foams and the benefits they offer.  Stay tuned!

The students have designed several exhibits to take you on a “journey from soybean to sofa.” Through videos, banners, soybean plants, foam blocks, and scupltures, you can learn more about soy foam options and why they may be a better choice for your home. It will be engaging, fun, and inspiring!

There will also be several fun activities for kids of all ages – from digging in soybeans for prizes and playing with foam blocks to stepping into our “interview booth” to answer questions about helping the environment as well as older children getting “Press Badges” to act as Journalists in Training while capturing videos at the event. This experience will be family friendly!

We also have two special guests who will be on hand to chat about green living and green design. Micaela Preston, the author of Practically Green and blogger of the Mindful Momma, will be available during the event to answer questions about green living and share resources in her new book. Practically Green takes the guesswork out of reading labels and will show you how to make smart, healthy purchases for your family without spending hours researching.

Additionally, Cindy Ojczyk from Simply Green Design will be available to answer questions on green remodeling and green interior design. Enjoy connecting with these experts!

For those in the Minneapolis area, I hope to see you there! For those who cannot attend, stay tuned next week as we will post several photos and videos from the event here.

Let’s start with some background on why interior designers may consider specifiying products made using soy foam with BiOH polyols…

1.Clients are often seeking more environmentally friendly and healthier options for their homes, and designers are expected to bring solutions. (The Green Design Summit held earlier this year was a great venue to learn about some of those options.)
2. Many large jobs being bid require designers to source sustainably. (Check out one great example: The Charity Works GreenHouse project)
3. It’s the right thing to do for environment! (Cushions made in part with soy-based BiOH polyols leave a smaller environmental footprint since BiOH polyols require less energy to manufacture and have a smaller carbon footrpint. They also use less petroleum chemicals – reducing the industry’s use on this non-renewable resource.)

Now let’s address some questions you might have…

1. What exactly is soy foam?

Download our Fact and Defintions document for some background on how foam is made, etc.

2. How much of the “soy foam” is made from soy?

Our Fact and Defintions document gives more detail, but the typical levels of soy content in foams range from 5 to 20% – depending on the type of foam. (Higher density foams can often be made with higher levels of soy-based content than lower density foams.) Renewable BiOH® polyols were introduced just a few years ago. Since this is first generation technology, flexible foam manufacturers want to ensure that the foam meets certain performance requirements. Right now, 5- 20% is the typical range used across foam grades to meet the performance needs for the industry. The BiOH polyols team is working with flexible foam manufacturers to increase the use of the renewable, soy-based content over time. This is the first step on a journey, and every step counts!

3. What about fire retardance issues?

In our experience, manufacturers test soy foams the same as all petroleum-based foams to ensure that they pass all specifications.

4. Are foams made with BiOH® polyols biodegradable?

Foams made with BiOH polyols are not more biodegradable than traditional petroleum-based cushioning. Products made with our products are long-lasting and durable like traditional cushioning. Polyurethane foam, however, can be recycled at the end of its life.

5. Will people with soy allergies react to foam products made with BiOH® polyols?

See an earlier blog post on the topic of soy allergies.

6. What other eco-friendly cushion options exist?

The majority of upholstered furniture cushioning is made with polyurethane foams. Therefore,  polyurethane foams made in part with soy-based BiOH polyols represents a more eco-friendly choice for most manufacturers to satisfy both their performance and cost requirements. However, another option is the use of natural latex for cushions. Natural latex is made from renewable materials. (Note: latex is often a blend of both natural and synthetic ingredients so it is good to confirm the amount of renewable content in latex products.)  Latex cushions typically cost more than foam.

For more information on soy foams, please explore our FAQs.

Photo courtesy of American Leather

Now onto some additional important information, where can you find products using soy foam with BiOH polyols for your clients? You can find products through several retailers, or direct from manufactures like American Leather, LEE, C.R. Laine, Cisco, Willem Smith, Harden, and many more! Additionally, soy foam with BiOH polyols is commercially available from many foam suppliers so it should be easy for any of your manufacturers to source if they ask!

You Can Make a Difference

As Interior Designers, you truly have an opportunity to be catalysts for change in the industry! Your clients trust you to be knowledgeable about the latest trends and to create design solutions for their home that fit their lifestyle. The great news is that your clients don’t have to sacrifice quality or style when choosing furniture made using soy foam with BiOH polyols…and they get to reap the emotional benefits of feeling good about choosing more sustainable products!

The positive impact from each individual furniture purchase made using soy foam with BiOH polyols is small. However, when many people seek better options that fit their lifestyle, each individual purchase decision adds up in a larger movement towards reducing use of petroleum and leaving smaller environmental impacts. You (and your clients) can make a difference!

Whew! That was A LOT of information packed into one blog post. So without further ado, I’d love to hear thoughts or questions from designers about soy foams in furniture. What are your thoughts on soy foam?

There definitely was a common theme across many of the exhibits that going green, saves green. From making your own household cleaners to installing low-flow showerheads, these kids are thinking about their future and their pocketbooks. Smart!

4-Hers say "Go Green and Save Green"

I enjoyed seeing the Aveda cap recycling program highlighted by one of the 4-H members as that’s one of the programs that our office GREEN Team implemented last year! One of the GREEN Team members, Karen Skewes, led these efforts by promoting the cap recycling through signs/e-mails and adding a collection box for caps on her desk. Employees save caps from milk jugs, peanut butter jars, yogurt lids, and more to drop off at Karen’s desk…and then she drops them off at Aveda salons once the box gets full. Pretty simple… but it adds up! I wonder how many caps Aveda recycled in total last year?!?

Aveda Cap Recycling Program

There were also some interesting exhibits highlighting the use of renewable materials like corn and soy in many products we use daily. See for yourself!

Maybe next year there will be a soy exhibit on products made with soy-based BiOH® polyols! I hope so! I know these were just a few exhibits at one state fair so I’m wondering…do you think kids are more aware of environmental issues today than they were a generation ago? Why or why not?