Crate and Barrel's Green Sofa
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03.15.07
Crate and Barrel has released a green sofa called the Lockaport, and a matching chair. "For upholstery, this is our first venture into" sustainability, says Heather Turner, product manager assistant with Crate and Barrel in Northbrook, noting that the retailer "hopes to develop more." The frames for the sofa and chair are made from hardwood that's certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. The seat cushions are filled with a soy-based poly-foam, which uses less petrochemicals than standard foam.
The foam core is then wrapped in fibers made from recycled plastic bottles and the whole thing is wrapped again in cotton ticking (unfortunately it's not organic cotton). Back cushions are made from recycled post-consumer fibers. And the outer fabric covering the sofa and chair is 100 percent cotton that has been treated with a water-based fabric protector. The stain on the furniture's legs is likewise water-based and eco-effective. The Lockport sofa costs $1,999 and the chair costs $1,199.
Ughhh more cotton. They should have considered bamboo.
I hope this is the real deal, it is certainly better than business as usual. Many questions spring to my mind, however, perhaps it is my suspicious nature. In the ad I got from Crate and Barrel, they mentioned SFI certified wood, this is a self monitored wood certification started by the forestry insustry, and monitored by them also. Do the words "fox" and "henhouse" spring readily to mind? Your article mentions FSC certification. FSC wood is independantly monitored for environmental sustainablility, fair wages for wood processing workers, and not being grown in areas that were clearcut specifically for tree faming. There are those who think that no trees should give their life under any circumstance, but given the fact that we use wood, a true Tree hugger should trust FSC.
It also does not mention how the foam is fireproofed. One of the chemicals that I go through extreme contortions to avoid in work and in my life is PDBE. Google it if you want the specific chemical name, but it is nasty stuff. It is Bio accumilative, meaning it builds up in your body and is not flushed out, it is banned in Europe, has been found in most mothers breast milk, and in the flesh of animals as remote as arctic whales. Eeeewwww. In animal testing effects have been found on tthe liver, thyroid and nervous system.
Now You go, Crate and Barrel, good looking reasonably priced greenish sofa. I just would feel better if I saw FSC wood, PDBE free foam, and organic something or other in the ad that is virtually all of the shelter mags.
This is obviously better than the standard. I've had a hard time finding out anything about the soy-foam company- Preserve. It seems that the auto industry started doing the soy thing a few years back; using up tp _% soy to replace petro. It would be interesting to see how much soy is in Crate an Barrels and Lee Industries new cushions; and do they still have to use potentially harmful flame-retardants with the new cushions?
this is a joke, i worked at crate and barrel for years. they are not even remotely good for the environment!!!!!!!!!!!! Notice everything you buy there is not in a box, but instead its wrapped in a bunch of tissue paper. We never recycled any of that paper, we through it away by the ton daily. Look n a crate dumpster......90% recyclable materials. Not to mention all the products from 3rd world countries with unfair labor practices, id hate to know how many children it took to make your placemats.....
The manufacturer for the Lockport Sofa was blogged about extensively at the High Fashion Home Blog.
http://www.highfashionhome.com/blog/2008/05/earth-friendly-upholstery-by-lee.aspx
The manufacturer for the Lockport Sofa was blogged about extensively at the High Fashion Home Blog.
http://www.highfashionhome.com/blog/2008/05/earth-friendly-upholstery-by-lee.aspx
The only thing I don't like about Crate and Barrel and for example furniture the in Macys is the damn crazy price for it. I mean many people are OK to pay twice without any reason. Of course stuff is beautifull, but check your other local stores