BENCHMARK

From Global Surroundings comes the Lawas Bench. The handcrafted piece features mortise-and-tenon joinery and is made for the company by indigenous craftsmen in Java, Indonesia, of solid teak obtained from old local houses. Usable indoors or out, the seat measures 36 inches high by 60 inches long and comes in two depths, 22 and 36 inches. Hand-carved details vary from piece to piece.

TREE TALK

Saving forests may not be a top marketing point for those who make or sell furnishings. But that could be changing. A sure sign: Recent trade shows have seen a rise in new eco-chic furniture lines, the result of growing public demand for products that are kind to the environment, say some in the furniture industry.

Notes Patrick McCourt: “If the consumer starts demanding it, manufacturers will respond.” McCourt is the owner of Passport Accents, a to-the-trade Scottsdale showroom that represents furniture makers who long have been “committed to the concept of sustainability.”

Sustainability largely applies to maintaining forests responsibly and seeing that they are forever replenished, according to McCourt.

Choosing furniture that has met guidelines of the nonprofit Forest Stewardship Council—and received FSC certification—is one way consumers can be sure that the items they are buying come from wood harvested in a responsible manner.

Another option is to purchase furniture that does not involve cutting down trees at all, such as that sold by Global Surroundings. The Fountain Hills, Arizona, firm buys old teak houses in Indonesia and uses the reclaimed wood to make indoor and outdoor pieces.

“We’re not cutting down new trees, and this is better for the climate of the whole world,” says J.L. Jackson, co-owner. “The rainforests have a huge impact on the quality of air. Their trees provide oxygen to the atmosphere.”

TRULY GREEN

The Betula Chaise from Cisco Brothers’ environmentally friendly Basal Living group is “green” in more ways than one. Its frame is constructed of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood. The natural latex foam that covers the frame and cushions comes from protected rainforest trees. Upholstery options include natural fibers such as cotton, flax, hemp and jute. The chaise, pictured in green, measures 36 inches wide by 34 inches high by 65 inches deep.









AAAAH-MOIRE

Made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods from Peru and Argentina, the Canyon TV Armoire from South Cone is as environmentally friendly as it is unique. The Gardena, California, company, which crafts its various furniture lines in South America, is known widely in the furniture industry as a leader in the responsible harvesting of tropical rainforest hardwoods. Standing 5 feet high, the piece is 52 inches wide by 24 inches deep.