Groovystuff Completes Forest Stewardship Council Audit

Furniture World Magazine

Groovystuff has just completed a second independent audit from the Forest Stewardship Council to certify the chain of custody on select products in their catalog. The program evaluates the source of the wood and the handling procedures once the wood has been recovered. All information is verified through an audit before certification is granted. According to recent research more than 40 percent of American women will go out of their way to help the environment – and Groovystuff believes that can include buying outdoor furnishings that are environmentally friendly. Groovystuff is a Dallas-based manufacturer of residential furnishings crafted from reclaimed teak wood. New introductions at this week’s International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market include the Double Adirondack Swing Chairs crafted from antique plows and bark wood; outdoor benches, tables, and occasional sets crafted from the root bulb of teak trees; and an exclusive debut of the marriage between Made In America wrought iron frames from Charleston Forge combined with the live edge teakwood tops from Groovystuff. “The root bulb on a 50-year-old teak tree can be up to 15 to 20 feet in height,” says Chris Bruning vice president. “The farmers in Thailand dig them up to re-cultivate the land for farming. Conventional wisdom has always led them to burn these root bulbs which is horrible for the environment and contributes to the greenhouse effect evident in the lowland hills of South East Asia. To encourage reclamation, Groovystuff has employed local furniture factories to collect and then shape and work these root bulbs into sustainable furniture. The result of this work in progress can be seen at the Chicago Casual Market. “We have the ability right now to raise educational awareness in the casual furniture industry” Bruning says. “Education is the key to stewardship.” Do you know what it means to be “green”? Are customers asking you for green products but you don’t know what to look for? If you are going to the Chicago Casual Market, plan on attending the seminar: Sustainability 101: Increasing Your Sales, Profits & Market Share in a “Green” World, Wednesday, September 19 • 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Presentation, 2nd Floor, Merchandise Mart Conference Center. Bruning also points out that a recent MTV/CBS News poll of young people ages 13-24 found that most believe the time to do something about global warming is right now. Many pick the environment as the biggest problem that their generation will need to solve. “These are the next generation of furniture consumers, and it’s clear the environment is top of mind for them. Nearly 90 percent of them say they will choose brands that are aligned with a social cause. Groovystuff will give them a choice – with both indoor and outdoor products that are certified as being green. “