There is growing interest in “green” furniture among manufacturers, retailers and customers. Unfortunately, there is an equal measure of misconception and confusion regarding this important topic. How are we to provide what customers are asking for when we, and they, are working with a variety of definitions of green that are based on misinformation?
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As retailers, we have our own personal sustainability requirements and economic sustainability definitely comes first. We must survive in business. Environmental and social concerns can pale in comparison At times, the “green” furniture news can seem to be an irritating trend that we perhaps don’t need to address. However, such a knee-jerk reaction is based more on not wanting to change than it is on what is right—for our environment, for our community, and for our customers. Change is uncomfortable because change is uncertainty and our businesses must be sustainable first.
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When I got back from the Las Vegas trade show I felt like a Hybrid car with an empty tank and a nearly dead battery. (Whatever possessed me to think I could get everything done and see everything in less. than three days?) But the experience got me thinking about energy, fuel and how we as retailers are in for some interesting changes that we need to adapt to.
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Looking at the green equation brings up a number of issues. One is the landfill concern. There is an interesting dichotomy that has been occuring with our waste habits. In 1960, 1.3 pounds of stuff was thrown away each day per person. Today the amount is 4.2 pounds per day for every man, woman and child. We could respond by saying that we are now recycling, which we were not really doing in 1960. Recycling is good, and some of the recycled material gets used in the new green furniture, like recycled fibers in cushions or fabric and recycled steel in springs, but that doesn’t change the pounds per day increase. What happens to the rest? We’re back to the landfill issue.
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We need to reeducate, or perhaps remind, our consumers and our industry that there is a difference between “value” and “bargain.”
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When it comes to “Green/Sustainable,” it is like that old commercial: “You can pay me now ... or pay me later.” The inference was that if you bought a Fram filter, you wouldn’t have to pay the mechanic later to fix engine damage. This concept works in our “greening” industry, too. We can look at it globally with our environment. If we don’t change our perspective and our habits, we can really have a mammoth problem with climate change and pollution.
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It is a basic human drive to provide the means for survival of ourselves and our families. We all do it. Not being able to provide is a fear that goads. Poverty is a condition without borders. We don’t want to be part of that unfortunate group! If conditions are dire enough, ethics are ignored. People do what they need to do to exist. What is in demand at the moment? What can they do to meet that demand and earn enough to sustain their family?
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”Green”, unfortunately, seems to be about balancing good with greed! There are disturbing things happening in our rush to green. Some forests in Asia are being cut down to grow bamboo due to the increased demand for it as fabric and building materials. Brazilian forests are being replaced with soy to meet market demand. There are satellite photos showing regular woody forests in Russia, Burma, Laos and Thailand, not to mention bamboo forests in China, Africa and South America, that are being illegally logged at an alarming rate. This is endangering species that depend upon those habitats, and eliminating a large portion of our natural air cleaners. What will be next?
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In mid-1973 our country hit the “Tipping Point” when it came to our oil production. That was when our readily accessible oil—all that could be found in pockets easily reached—had been found, tapped and extracted. At that time a gallon of gas was 39 cents. A few years later, the North Slope Pipeline started. Gas was 62 cents, and we began our slow dependance on foreign oil.
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