S+A has become Australia’s first furniture maker to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. FSC is arguably the world’s most trusted eco timber certification system, and is endorsed by Greenpeace, the WWF, and the GBCA.

Download a copy of the FSC press release below (pdf, 1.1mb)

Media Release: Local Furniture Designers BecomeFirst to Receive International Accreditation

PROJECT “FAITH, HOPE & LOVE”

Welcome to a new world where some big rules are being re-written. Today it is possible for an inspiring black man to become president of America, and for Wall Street’s hubris to be humbled.

Closer to home, award winning designer furniture makers Schamburg + Alvisse are re-writing a few little rules, showing it’s possible for a small Australian business to create 100% Australian design built on principles, sustainability and community.

S+A Director, Michael Alvisse, says the firm last week became Australia’s first furniture maker to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. The FSC is based in Bonn, Germany (www.fsc.org).

Recognised by those in the know as the world’s most trusted eco timber certification system, FSC is endorsed by Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Green Building Councils of Australia and the USA. According to Greenpeace, “Credible certification gives a guarantee that a forest or plantation is ‘well-managed’ and meeting recognised international environmental and social standards.”

Alvisse says: “What the accreditation means is that buyers can have faith that the ‘green’ stuff they purchase can be trusted to be green. We first started greening our furniture 10 years ago, before it was fashionable and when green was something mostly fringe-types did. It was simply about looking after our people and our environment, not about a ‘growth opportunity’.”

Today, he said, the tide had turned, and many corporations seeking a sales edge cynically used greenwashing. The extent of the problem prompted the ACCC to issue a public report “Green marketing and the Trade Practises Act” in February 2008, warning that “Firms which make environmental or ‘green’ claims should ensure that their claims are scientifically sound and appropriately substantiated” (7). The ACCC has also ordered a large Australian consumer goods manufacturer to pay $3.1 million dollars for making “false and misleading” green claims.

“By contrast, S+A’s desire to be faithful to our team, suppliers and customers, took us on a challenging 6 year journey towards credible independent certification of our eco product. Much of the Australian furniture industry told us it was not feasible for a small company to achieve such rigorous independent certification, but we are pleased that we persisted despite the setbacks.

The hope aspect of their project, he said, was that buying green really could help save our planet. Choosing FSC certified products sends a powerful message to the international timber industry that consumers are no longer so keen to purchase timber that may have come from illegal and unsustainable sources, and gives them a simple and powerful tool to influence international forestry business practise. It also reduces greenhouse gases by protecting forests’ important role as “carbon sinks”. Old growth forests are particularly effective at absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide and sequestering it for the lifetime of the timber.
Up to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation (3). A 2005 report for the Australian Government identified about $400 million in “illegal or unsustainably harvested wood imported to Australia.” (1). Up to 70% of wood from Indonesia is likely to be illegally logged (4), with much of this exported to China for cheap furniture manufacture.

The love part, Alvisse said, was about caring deeply for our communities, our kids, their kids, and all habitats impacted by the stuff we buy. Given the global nature of climate change, it is increasingly important for us to consider the global consequences of our purchases. Cheap manufacture in places like China, for example, is often made possible because of lax local environmental and labour laws. Buying goods from these locations effectively exports our environmental degradation so it remains out of sight and mind. Science is proving however, that carbon pollution generated anywhere in the globe contributes to climate change regardless of where we live.
FSC certification requires that forest owners include local and indigenous communities as long-term stakeholders in responsible forest management. It prohibited the use of illegally harvested timber; timber from high conservation value forests; genetically modified trees; and timber harvested in violation of indigenous and civil rights. Forests areharvested within their capacity to regenerate, thereby protecting rivers, and coastlines from soil erosion.

Alvisse said that as part of his studio’s commitment to help build local communities, S+A used locally grown Victorian FSC timber and Sydney based craftsmen to produce its FSC furniture. Local forests and manufacture reduced greenhouse gas emissions and ensured strict environmental and labour laws were honoured.
Schamburg + Alvisse cater mostly for corporate and institutional clients and several major universities, who these days are keen to make, and be seen to be making, an environmental contribution.

SCHAMBURG+ALVISSE AND FSC TIMBER:

• S+A’s Felix range of upholstered lounge chairs, sofas and ottomans is FSC certified (Chain of Custody Certificate: COC SA-COC-002050). This furniture is 100% Australian made using 100% Australian FSC certified timber.
• All existing models of S+A sofas and ottomans will be added to COC SA-COC-002050 in 2009.
• All future S+A sofas and ottomans willl contain 100% FSC timber, and will be added to our existing certificate.

SOURCES:

1. Australian Forest & Wood Products Statistics, March & June 2006, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) November 2006.
2. Overview of Illegal Logging, Jaakko Pöyry Consulting, for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Sept 2005
3. Greenpeace website (http://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/energy/?p=282 )
4. The Good Wood Guide, Friends of the Earth, Fauna & Flora International, January 2002
5. Northern Australian Environment Alliance: http://naea.org.au/tiwitrashed
6. Steve Dow, journalist: http://www.stevedow.com.au/Article/article.asp?id=331
7. Green marketing and the Trade Practises Act, 2008, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

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