Environment Furniture Balances Innovation and Sustainability with Exotic Materials

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Derek Markham in Furniture

Buying exotic wood furniture can be a boondoggle. Many of the world’s exotic trees have been over-harvested due to the high demand over the years, and the programs that bring the consumer’s awareness to the plight of tropical hardwoods are still gaining traction from the mainstream. Environment Furniture is one company striving to balance innovation and sustainability in the creation of beautiful furniture made from these exotic woods.

The primary component of Environment Furniture’s designs is Peroba Rosa, a Brazilian hardwood. They source their supply of this timber through reclamation of old houses, barns, and buildings in Paraná, Brazil, which gives a second life to the wood. The reclaimed timbers are an average of 70 to 100 years old, with a deep color and a weathered quality that really stands out.

Environment Furniture also combines responsibly harvested Indonesian mahogany in their pieces, purchased only through government approved plantations. The company is working toward getting Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their sources of both Peroba and mahogany, which will provide a better audit trail and independent verification of the sustainability of those woods.

Environment Furniture is built around an idea that’s as revolutionary as it is basic: the fundamentals of design come from nature. They have committed to using materials with low environmental impact and responsible processes, and work to create aesthetically sophisticated designs with a true organic quality. The materials used in EF’s wood collections are either reclaimed or responsibly harvested, providing true diversity in both appearance and texture.

The company is also a member of the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT), an organization working toward sustainable forest management and linking retailers and suppliers with sustainably harvested tropical woods.

Environment Furniture has showrooms in Los Angeles, New York, Costa Mesa, and Dublin, Ireland, as well as a website with great photos of their collection. Check them out if you’re in the market for exotic furniture, sustainably sourced.

Furniture, reclaimed wood, sustainable hardwoods, tropical hardwoods