Rosie Teasdale, Deputy Director at FSC-UK, talks to Kim Corbett

  When we began research for our furniture rating label back in 2003 we asked forest campaigners at Greenpeace to identify gaps in our scheme. While they were enthusiastic about the label, they were very clear that the best independent & credible certification scheme was the FSC. We didn't have even 1 FSC product at the time so we went about looking for interior hardwood products with FSC chain of custody certification. We found very little. A lot has changed since then and now over 40% of what we offer is FSC certified. We commission our own designs in FSC oak and ash and we have two large workshops who have demonstrated their commitment by undertaking FSC certification. To get a handle of the history and workings of the FSC I asked Rosie a few questions: Kim: How does the FSC work and how long has it been around? Rosie: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme was established in 1993 in response to growing concern about global deforestation and demand for a trustworthy wood-labelling scheme. FSC has developed a system of forest certification and product labelling that allows consumers to identify wood and wood-based products from more...

We are very proud to announce the recent launch of our new FSC oak range! We've been busy working hard over the past eleven months developing this new range of bedroom, dining and living room pieces, all made in FSC certified American white oak. more...

These are cool, they have street cred and eco cred! Levi's have been busy making a fuss over waterless jeans, a project that looked at full life cycle of a pair of 501s and came up with a way to reduce the amount of water used over the life of the jeans to between 28-96%. What's really interesting is that 45% comes from the washing of the jeans once a consumer buys them. So that bit is not entirely in their control but that doesn't stop them - they have teamed up with a large laundry product manufacturer to address that side as well. Read more on their site. A pair of Levi's always looked good, now they look even better! So make sure to wash your Steve McQueen's in cold water!

We met up with Tim Larcombe, MD at Levi's, at the Guardian Sustainable Business awards where Levi's won an award for this project. Read what Tim's got to say about it on our interview page. There's a great video too!

Yipee! We scooped the Guardian’s Sustainable Business Award last night. Beating fellow finalists and multi-nationals Unilever and Lend Lease for a shock victory in the supply chain category. With other category winners being Tesco, Levi, British Land and Marks & Spencer, it shows that you don’t need to be big to be innovative and make a difference.

Director Kim Corbett said “We are absolutely thrilled - all of us, the staff, our suppliers, even my hard to impress children who wanted to take the award to school with them this morning! This means so much to us and all our staff, and of course credit belongs to our loyal customers too. We have always concentrated on long lasting, well designed furniture from sustainable sources, but we never thought we could win an award in such salubrious company. We see this as simply another step in a long process of showing that businesses, large and small, can be run with a responsible attitude to the environment.”

Tonight we’re off to Kings Place - where they’ll announce the winners of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards. We're shortlisted in the Supply Chain category along with Uniliver and Lendlease [LINK] . The competition is tough so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Jason Delf, a director at Chest of Drawers says, "The awards are great and we're pleased just to have made it to the final and to be in such salubrious company. The concept of sustainability is vast but the supply chain is a major part of it.  We began our environmental rating label project after we read a book by Felicity Lawrence about food labelling. We wanted to give customers information about our workshops' working practices and wood sourcing, as well as transportation issues summarised by ‘furniture miles’. It was our campaign to change the furniture industry one chest of drawers at a time! Information and education are all part of raising awareness of the issue. We still believe that transparency is the key to convince both consumers and manufacturers that there is a way forward that will benefit both. When we began our environmental label project there was a distinct lack of interest from everyone, or at best a mild bewilderment. Nowadays suppliers actively try to increase their ratings with us and our customers ask more and more about where the wood comes from etc. These are all important steps in the campaign to change consumer buying habits. Legislation may ultimately pave the way for a more sustainable industry but consumers can play a major part in making this happen. Changing buying patterns has an immediate effect because manufacturers ultimately provide what the market will pay for. Keep your fingers crossed for us please!"

 

Back to our favourite Danish accessories brand, RICE... We've now helped over 150 families in the one-to-one project with partners RICE and Danish Refugee Council. When you buy a Cup of Hope or a Spoon of Hope, they give families help when they are in difficult times. If you buy a set of our Cups, you give a family a water can and wash kit. If you buy a Spoon of Hope you give a family 24 servings of soup. RICE are aiming to sell 10,000. We have just reached a more modest figure of 154. RICE believes that no one can help everyone but everyone can help someone. It's a good motto. Go on, listen to Phillipe, one of the directors. Then look at the products - you know you want to!

Hooray! We've made it to the final of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards for our work improving the environmental and ethical standards in our supply chain. Our environmental grading system is one of the many methods we have used to make our production more responsible and sustainable. Thanks for your support!  Guardian Sustainable Business awards

For years we have stocked this cult Danish homewares designer and watched as one vibrant collection after another arrived. Our favourites are the handmade rafia baskets. They are loved by kids and adults alike. We love their products but we also admire the ethical side of the business. All pieces are produced in developing countries with a great respect for the people they work with. RICE has the SA8000 fair trade certification which guarantees they adhere to responsible social criteria. Click to see the basket range made in Madagascar.

We were thrilled to be nominated and shortlisted again for the Environmental Awards in 2009 and we humbly accept our nomination to the Environmental Business of the Year (under 200 employee) category. To be nudged out of the first place is difficult but made more palatable because we lost out to the superbly fantastic Arcola Theatre.