BRADFORD, VT -— Copeland Furniture, a family-owned manufacturer of natural hardwood furniture, has been awarded Silver Exemplary Membership Status by the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC). The company is already Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

“Copeland Furniture’s continued commitment to sustainability serves to strengthen the sustainability movement and the furniture marketplace,” said Susan Inglis, executive director of the SFC. “I am excited to welcome Copeland Furniture as our newest Silver Exemplary Member and am particularly impressed by Copeland’s commitment to use FSC-certified North American wood and other responsibly sourced materials for the health of consumers, communities and the environment.”

“Stewardship runs deep in rural New England and Copeland Furniture’s manufacturing processes reflect our ingrained respect for our local forests and communities,” says Tim Copeland, CEO of Copeland Furniture. He points out that the company sources 90% of its lumber from forests in a 500-mile radius of the manufacturing plant, effectively reducing the fossil fuel required by trucking and contributing to local economies. The company has sourced lumber in the same manner for 35 years.