Haworth Commits to 100% Sustainable Furniture Woods Program
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HOLLAND, MI – Haworth Inc., manufacturer of office and contract furniture, has pledged to verify that all woods used in its casegoods, systems, tables and storage products is sourced from sustainably managed forests by the end of 2015.

Haworth Commits to 100% Sustainable Furniture Woods ProgramHaworth, a privately-held company, with sales of $1.31 billion in 2012, said it will expect vendors to have third-party certifications from groups like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The company said that approximately 86 percent of its wood was sourced from controlled managed forests as of this year.

Haworth cited Tafisa of Lac-Mégantic, QC, as an example of a supplier that meets its goal.  Tafisa, which is FSC certified, is Haworrth's largest supplier of particleboard.

“Tafisa’s proximity to our manufacturing sites (less than 1,000 miles), combined with our ability to leverage railroad as the primary mode of transportation, has reinforced our decision to do business with the Canadian manufacturer,” said Jim Riley, Haworth commodity manager.

While Tafisa and other large wood product suppliers stand out, Haworth said its commitment to wood sustainability extends to less obvious components of its products, such as the wood dowels procured from Manufacturers Supply Company (Mansco) of Hudsonville, MI.

“Mansco continues to be proactive in helping us ensure that we maintain our chain of custody when purchasing FSC certified dowels,” said Steve Kooy, Haworth’s global sustainability manager.

To achieve its goal by the end of 2015, Haworth will continue to improve its FSC and PEFC product offering by removing exceptions and increasing surface options. The company will also continue to engage its supply chain and encourage them to become certified or expand their sustainable wood offering.

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