Sustainability is a hot topic in the furniture industry, making eco-friendly solutions a top priority across every space. Foliot Furniture’s operations are tailor-made to reduce our environmental footprint through strategic manufacturing and supply chain management.
Today, let’s explore what you should look for in a North American furniture provider and discover Foliot's thoughtful approach toward sustainability.
The benefits of North American-made furniture
When people think “American-made,” a few words come to mind, including “quality,” “efficiency,” and “cost-effectiveness.” There are also inherent environmental and economic benefits to making and transporting furniture on our own soil.
For example:
Domestic production provides a lower carbon footprint
North American-made furniture supports the world around us, both by protecting the environment and supporting local economies.
Domestic, sustainable contract furniture also features superior materials and craftsmanship. It’s durable enough to last and reduce furniture waste in landfills, promoting a circular economy in which resources are reused, recycled, and repurposed.
And when everything is in your own backyard, you can enjoy the benefits of a more efficient supply chain—which include:
- Shorter delivery times
- Lower transportation emissions
- More jobs
- … and that’s just the start!
Sustainable furniture manufacturing: Less waste, more quality
Responsible manufacturing is vital. Many sustainable furniture manufacturers meet and exceed recommended environmental standards, and Foliot Furniture is no exception. We incorporate sustainable practices throughout the design and production of our contract furniture. As just one example, our engineered wood panels consist of 100% recycled or recovered wood fiber, reducing our impact on the environment.
Additionally, as a domestic operation, we fully control production inside our North American manufacturing facilities. This provides lead time flexibility to deliver furniture quickly and supports our sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact. (It’s also far easier to oversee and quality-check operations when they’re close to home!)
Tackling furniture supply chain issues
Issues with the supply chain can explain why your favorite products are often sold out in stores. The furniture industry feels this sting too, especially in the wake of global events. But North American-made furniture can avoid many of these issues.
Challenges in the global furniture market
Supply chain issues in the furniture industry impact product availability and costs. Think about the challenges of the last few years, from the COVID-19 pandemic to international conflicts and shipping disruptions. These challenges have dire consequences, including:
- Slowed delivery
- Increased costs
- Additional product waste in landfills
Domestic solutions to global problems
Foliot's North American-made furniture facilities mitigate the deepest supply chain issues. We source materials and manufacturers strategically and collaborate with regional partners whenever possible to reliably produce and deliver exceptional products across the country.
But that’s just part of our commitment to sustainability and supply chain optimization. Your sustainable contract furniture should come from manufacturers who use a combination of eco-friendly packaging and a carbon-negative transportation strategy. Foliot Furniture uses recycled cardboard and plastic packaging to ship products, reducing our footprint from floor to door.
A North American furniture provider is your sustainable choice
Domestic furniture production is uniquely poised as a sustainable option, following stringent guidelines to reduce carbon emissions and requiring fewer transportation demands. Foliot Furniture also takes extra steps to reduce environmental impact.
Reducing carbon footprint
Similar to how sustainable manufacturing is more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, buying North American-made furniture reduces your carbon footprint over importing. Foliot Furniture operates multiple distribution centers to make and ship products locally to reduce our environmental footprint. Our products are designed for durability and eco-friendliness, and it shows across our operations.
In addition to every product being sustainably sourced, eco-certified, and recyclable, we maintain a three-pronged sustainability approach:
- Factory waste recycling: We recycle more than 80 percent of our factory waste and use sustainable packaging.
- Eco-friendly production: Our software maximizes the yield from raw materials to reduce discarded materials.
- Replaceable parts program: We offer a barcode replaceable parts program to replace parts onsite and prolong our furniture’s usable life.
Our products meet the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB-2) standards for composite wood product formaldehyde emissions. Additionally, to ensure our products can continue to live on, Foliot partners with organizations, such as the Chicago Furniture Bank, so gently used products can find their way to new owners instead of landfills.
Satisfy your sustainability goals
To protect the world around us, it makes more sense than ever to outfit your housing needs, from hotels to residence hall, with sustainable contract furniture. Foliot is committed to being your go-to source for quality products, all while prioritizing sustainable sourcing, manufacturing, and shipping processes to reduce our carbon footprint.
Our North American-made furniture is built to last. Our homegrown operations make getting what you need seamless, ensuring business reliability. Are you looking for a North American furniture provider to equip your facilities with sustainable, durable furniture? Explore Foliot’s Furniture’s product solutions, then get in touch to discuss a collaboration!
