FISP – Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme Seminar

Members of Covell Matthews ERD team, Chris Billimore and Alex Penter, attended a seminar on Thursday 29th November 2007 at Claremont Office Interiors, Aberdeen.

The seminar was conducted by FISP (Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme) who are a non-government funded organisation, with a diverse membership encompassing companies and individuals from around the world and across the entire furniture supply chain, from materials suppliers, components and furniture manufacturers, to specifiers, retailers and end users.

It was noted that most FISP Members are mostly from the commercial sector and not domestic. Members could be audited and will report annually. Anyone can become Associate or full member and will have access to a advice line with access to FIRA website

The key factors that FISP insist to be considered by furniture suppliers are:

• Social
• Environmental
• Economic

Environmental

• Waste management – re-use waste?

• Energy – how much is used and where (awareness).

• Packaging – re-using, consider psychology of over packed products.

• Transport – incorporating raw materials collection with delivery.

• Procurement – local procurement? eg. If sourced from middle east, child labour (ethical employment), wages, etc needed.

• Sustainable timber procurement

• Air emissions and discharges to land and water – permits in place for disposal of waste/SEPA

• End of life (re-cycling – re-use, etc.) – have they designed for longevity (re-use), recycling, demolition

Social and Economic Factors

• nuisance management (on its immediate environment)

• community relations

• education and training

• employment

• charity work

• competitiveness – profitable

Other factors also asked for consideration were certifications from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

These include:

• ISO14001 certified. Environmental policy – procurement policy.

• ISO26000 – corporate and social responsibility.

Sustainable timber (chain of custody) – certified all along the way from where they come from (easy to trace). Detail information can be sourced at the following:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

Of note the FSC can now certify buildings >50% FSC timber used.

Carbon Foot-printing – carbon offsetting and ecological foot-printing

The FISP will aim to produce a furniture industry standard for carbon offsetting as currently there is more than one way to measure it. This standard would involve industry labelling of products.