SAFEGUARDING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Our environmental sensitivity is a natural extension of our setting in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is home to expanses of nature in wild form, from pristine rain forests to glaciated mountain ranges and an orca-rich maritime ecosystem teeming with returning salmon. That is why we carefully select our suppliers and use processes that ensure furniture is produced in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.
We do our part in tackling pollution, climate change and the depletion of natural resources. It makes business sense to reduce our risk by securing sustainable sources of supply for raw materials, to cut costs through reducing packaging materials and meeting higher manufacturing efficiency. For you, we make a product made with highest environmental standards. Together, as customer and supplier we take steps to a better future.
OUR SUPPLIERS' CREDENTIALS
To offer you the cleanest option for your home while minimizing the environmental impact of production throughout the supply chain, we only work with ethical third-party certified suppliers who are as committed to preserving the environment while operating in a socially conscious way as we are.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Over the past 20 years, FSC has earned a reputation as the most rigorous, credible forest certification system. FSC's forest management standards expand protection of water quality, prohibit harvest of rare old-growth forest, prevent loss of natural forest cover and prohibit highly hazardous chemicals, which are all unique aspects of the system. FSC requires forest managers on both public and private lands to engage local community members and to protect customary rights of indigenous people. FSC requires the results of certification audits to be released to the public, even on private lands, which makes FSC unique among forest certifications. Green building standards, including the US Green Building Council's LEED program, provide incentives for using FSC certified materials.
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
GOLS is a set of required standards for processing, traceability, identification, record keeping, quality control, labeling, environmental management, social compliance, labeling and distribution of latex products, established by the Control Union. In addition to the use of organic raw material, this standard also concentrates on aspects such as human health, safety and welfare, and environment in the manufacturing process of latex products. Another top focus of this standard is the consistency of the quality. In fact, one of the main objectives is to prevent the introduction of ‘falsely certified’ products into the market. This prevention will protect the end consumer from being exposed to bogus products.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
GOTS-certified fabrics are guaranteed not only to be non-toxic, but to have been made from at least 70% organic fibers, with limited environmental impacts during production, and fair treatment to all workers. GOTS is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from certified organically produced raw materials. It includes strict environmental and social criteria for operations along the entire textile supply chain. Textile processing results in the often inadequately treated discharge of toxic chemicals into the air and water, as well as hazardous workplace situations. GOTS prohibits the use of the kinds of chemicals commonly used in textile processing that can cause cancer, birth defects and other serious illnesses.
Since 1992, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® has been a globally standardized, independent mark of quality for raw, semi-finished and finished textile products from all stages of production and for all accessory materials used in the process. This global certification system assures manufacturers, brands, retailers, and consumers around the world that certified products meet the strict limit values for harmful substances of STANDARD 100 and that these substances are not present in critical concentrations. OEKO-TEX® originally tested for about 100 chemicals like pesticides, carcinogenic colourants and heavy metals but today STANDARD 100 covers a wide array of several hundred harmful substances.
European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF)
The ECARF Seal of Quality has been awarded to allergy-friendly products and services since 2006. The certified products and services are suitable for people with allergies such as hay fever, dust mite allergies, contact allergies. The Seal was developed by the ECARF Foundation in close collaboration with experts from various fields. The Seal is awarded as a voluntary service provided by the ECARF Foundation and is granted upon fulfilment of specific quality requirements. An independent scientific advisory board appointed by the Foundation establishes the necessary evaluation criteria from a scientific perspective.
The Biokreis is a non-governmental organization. The approximate 1000 farmers and 80 processing companies are certified with the Biokreis Seal which stands for proven ecological quality. Its goals are to help farmers to grow organically and promote organic agriculture, bring farmers and manufacturers together - regionally and on a fair basis and ensure that the raw hides of the animals have come from ecological husbandry.
NATURTEXTIL IVN zertifiziert BEST
IVN has been involved in developing a standard for sustainable leather since 2001. The quality seal “NATURLEDER IVN ZERTIFIZIERT” certifies a high level of ecology and quality for the labeled product. The following criteria are tested: environmental toxicity, health threatening and poisonous substances for humans during the production and when using the product (human toxicity), degradability of employed substances, presence of harmful groups of substances, protection of natural resources (amounts of energy and water). Certain groups of substances that are considered harmful like chemical preservatives and biocides, heavy metals like chrome and lead are not allowed to be used.
Helps manufacturers create—and helps buyers identify—interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used.
Sustainable Seattle is focused on the long-term resilience of the Puget Sound region. EcoBalanza is a member of the PNW Resilience Challenge's multi-year initiative aimed at enhancing small business sustainability and resilience. The goal is to ensure resource productivity and minimize the environmental impact of operations. We are proud to have been nominated for two Sustainable Seattle awards.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
What sets us apart is our obsession with finding ethical partners - who are local whenever possible - to source only natural, non-toxic and 3rd party certified organic materials. Each material selected has a purpose and contributes uniquely to comfort and durability.