Oct 18 2007
The furniture industry must reduce harmful gas emissions and its carbon footprint to help avoid global catastrophe, delegates at the National Furniture Conference were told.
The ECOnomics of Sustainability was attended by a record number, and opened with an edited version of Nobel-prize winning Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. Nicky Chambers of Best Foot Forward then gave an overview of carbon footprinting, and said: “Producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers have the power to make a difference”.
Nicky has worked with furniture, fmcg and service industries to help them measure and reduce their carbon footprints. She examined the footprint of a South African apple, to highlight the hidden impacts of packaging and transportation, and discussed the principle of carbon offsetting as a ‘last resort’ while companies work to decrease their own carbon footprint.
“Don’t underestimate how difficult a process it is to work out how carbon neutral you are, but don’t be put off! The first thing is to measure energy consumption, materials use and transportation, and then aim to improve on the results,” she said. She also advised anyone seeking advice on environmental reporting to contact the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP).