Home, Housewares & Furniture

Home, Housewares and Furniture | Credit: deborah cortelazzi on Unsplash

Includes carpets and rugs; china, flatware, glassware; decor; flooring; furniture; moving supplies; non- electric kitchen gear; paints and finishes; home; housewares

Company

Required:

  • Business core purpose includes a “green” business function.
  • Social and environmental mission and vision statement for your business on website.

Preferred:

  • Banking with a community development, minority, or socially & environmentally responsible bank or credit union.
  • Protocols in place (e.g., trainings, HR policies, support group(s), statement of commitment, accountability mechanisms, etc.) that advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) within the company.

Materials Used for Homes, Housewares & Furniture

Required:

  • Made from reclaimed, recycled materials OR sustainable and renewable materials.
  • Criteria for sourcing wood must include FSC certified, sustainably sourced (clear chain of production) or reclaimed.
  • Varnish/paint must be low or no VOC.
  • No use of formaldehyde, lead, PFAS, mercury, cadmium, bisphenol A in plastics, PBDEs as fire retardants.
  • If synthetic content, innovative in content or manufacturing process.

Preferred:

  • Carpets made of demonstrably less toxic components and petroleum products unless recycle

Manufacturing Of Products

Required

  • Commitment to sustainable labor practices and continuous improvement and transparency in the process.
  • Country of manufacture(s) disclosed on all products unless everything comes from one country and it is stated clearly on the front page of the website.
  • Code of conduct in place that addresses social and environmental factory conditions with enforcement mechanism.
  • Owned factories have an established worker representation mechanism.
  • Owned factories pay a wage that ensures workers well-being.
  • Commitment to a transparent supply chain including sub-contracting.
  • Long-term contracts with contracted manufacturers.

Preferred:

  • Owned and/or contracted factories are certified fair labor or fair trade, for carpets a GoodWeave certification.
  • Owned/contracted factories are unionized.
  • Disclosed factory list publicly available.
  • Factory labor is paid a living a wage.

Product Packaging

Required:

  • Environmentally and socially positive packaging.
  • Packaging is recyclable or compostable.
  • Packaging components are from recycled sources and used at minimum.

Preferred:

  • Packaging can be taken back for reuse.

Product Shipping & Company Transportation

Required:

  • Program in place to reduce emissions from company vehicles.
  • Works with distributors that take steps to reduce emissions from vehicles and shipping.

Preferred:

  • Company is an EPA SmartWay partner or affiliate.
  • Company Works with distributors who are EPA SmartWay partners or affiliates.

Company Employment

Required:

  • Employees have access to family friendly benefits including high-quality health insurance, sick days, paid parental leave and childcare help.
  • Offer a flexible workplace culture that encourages work/life balance and makes reasonable accommodations for telecommuting and flex schedules.
  • Pays a wage that ensures employees well-being.
  • Has an established non-discrimination policy and procedure, and ensures an inclusive workplace culture.
  • Governs fairly and in a transparent manner. Is open to employee input. Has a whistle blower protection policy in place.

Preferred:

  • Living wage is paid.
  • Has an established program that invests in employee growth and development.

Education

Required:

  • Educates consumers on how to properly dispose of product at end of life-cycle (if applicable).
  • Use transparent and truthful marketing.
  • Advocate for green business practices in the homes, housewares & furniture industries.
  • Established program for receiving input from both internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred:

  • Established take back program for end of product life-cycle.
  • Actively seeks feedback from industry peers and participates in industry associations and mentor programs.

Green Office/Facility

Required:

  • HVAC system well-maintained, building well-insulated, and smart and efficient climate control employed.
  • System in place for reducing electricity consumption from lighting and electronics.
  • Use of Energy Star rated appliances and CFL/LED light bulbs in office.
  • Use of 100% post-consumer recycled, Chlorine Free paper in the office and in all envelopes, marketing, and print materials.
  • Systems in place for reducing paper use such as electronic processes, printers set with double sided printing as the default, and more.
  • Use of only non-toxic cleaning and pest control products.
  • Maximum amount of waste is reused or recycled including paper, plastic, metals, glass, electronics, and printer ink cartridges.
  • Action on clean energy such as purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or use of on-site clean energy.
  • Compost all food waste.
  • Landscaping done with sustainability in mind, especially considering runoff and stormwater management.
  • Only fair trade and USDA certified organic coffee and tea served in the office.
  • Use of green or local caterers for events.
  • Use of a certified E-Steward for electronics recycling.
  • Proper disposal of hazardous materials (e.g., batteries, paint, motor oil, etc).
  • Knowledge of recycling/composting guidelines at your local recycling/composting facility.