As the furniture industry joins the fight for a sustainable planet, the world’s forests may be the only weapons we need. Forests are the lungs of the planet, providing oxygen while reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Woodlands are places of great biodiversity, protecting river basins and enabling wildlife to flourish. Sustainable forestry can even boost local economies, providing disenfranchised communities with the materials, jobs and resources they need to survive.
Although many in our industry are taking a responsible approach, the deforestation associated with manufacturing is threatening the ecological balance. The consequences of deforestation are inspiring better management of wood materials, but few manufacturers are replenishing the resources they consume. That’s why Green are replanting the trees we harvest to make our products, planting one tree for every metre of seating, and every Leaf Lamp, we produce. We established our first forest in 2008, planting 1,000 birch saplings near our production workshop in southern Sweden. Five years later, we established a second forest nearby, planting 500 cherry trees and 400 maples, then added another 1,000 birch saplings in 2016.
Joakim Lundgren, Head of Sustainability at Green
Today, Green is embarking on another groundbreaking initiative: we’re planting trees in places where they matter most. ‘Replanting the trees we use in production makes sure that we maintain a renewable resource,’ says Joakim Lundgren, Head of Sustainability at Green. ‘But we’re also committed to making sure that the global amount of forestry doesn't diminish, so we’re looking for ways to increase it. This is why we’ve decided to plant a forest in Colombia, contributing to a project that protects river basins, encourages natural habitats and produces the life-giving oxygen needed to sustain them.’
Synthetic materials come and go, but the beauty of wood continues to endure. ‘Wood is a fantastic material that will always inspire,’ says Joakim Lundgren. ‘I think a lot of people can share stories about running across scalding hot sand on the beach to reach a wooden walkway that feels so much cooler. Or remember hopping barefoot over cold floor tiles to stand on a warm wooden floor. No matter if it's hot or cold, wood always feels good.’
It’s stories like these that Green are bringing to Hacienda La Tentación, where our contribution to reforestation will touch the lives of the farmers, their families and the communities around the river basin that rely on clean water. We’ll plant at least 5,000 more trees in the near future, creating a crop with potential to sustain whole ecosystems and the individuals who live nearby. As our products bring the beauty of wood to buildings around the world, we’re letting trees tell our story. And when trees are nurtured and protected, there’s always a happy ending to share.