Organic Mattresses

More companies are selling latex mattresses to satisfy consumer demand. There are differences between a  latex mattress and an organic mattress. This is much more than an exercise in semantics.  If you are looking for a latex mattress there are many places to find one-from box stores, online retailers, and run of the mill mattress stores. Finding an organic mattress is not that easy. An organic mattress is organic: it is made from natural materials that have been certified organic. The consumer gets a sleeping surface that is free from chemical additives and coatings. Organic Mattresses Incorporated produces a certified organic mattress: the product as well as the plant where it is produced have third party certification. Handmade, organic, quality products are not inexpensive however when we deliver our mattresses we know we are giving our customers a superior product.

Sustainable Furniture Council

I had the opportunity to be part of a conference call with the standards committee of the Sustainable Furniture Council. Knee deep in a technical conversation that centered around devising green standards for things like foam cushions and adhesives made me realize what a daunting task this organization has taken on. What is really important is that someone is trying to establish standards for green furnishings. Many companies are beginning to promote sustainable goods and I think that is a good thing. I think too many people are overly concerned about "greenwashing"; saying something is environmentally friendly without really knowing or caring but just using green as a marketing ploy.

There is no real definition of sustainability; it is a moving target. I applaud the efforts of manufacturers to become more transparent about their manufacturing practices. And I appreciate the individuals and companies who are attempting to find the best way to minimize their footprint while maintaining a on-going operation. Our goal as a retailer is to represent those companies who are out there trying to product goods in a responsible manner and who also try to achieve the most innovative solutions for our customer's needs. Evaluating and retooling our global infrastructure will be an ongoing process. While we must always strive to be better we have to recognize that we are making progress and we have to support those eco-pioneers who are setting a new standard for design and production.

Las Vegas Furniture Market

It was a one day trip to Las Vegas but I managed to catch the highlights of the Las Vegas Winter Furniture Market. The designated Green Furniture area was much larger than summer market and had some new vendors. Of course Zola Furnishings, our premier organic upholsterer, was there with their new bamboo couch. I saw some nice new bamboo desks from Legare. Their transition from Baltic Birch to bamboo moves them up the chain of sustainability. I saw some very exotic tables made from reclaimed wood and old tree roots. And High Desert Naturals, another of our suppliers, introduced some new fabric colors and designs. It is really exciting to see the green furnishings options expand. We hope to have some of these new products in the store as soon as they are available. Keep in touch.