sustainable

Hickory Chair Receives Sustainable By Design Certification

Filed under: Decor, Green

Furniture manufacturer Hickory Chair has made big moves towards sustainability. The company recently received the American Home Furnishings Alliance's (AHFA) Sustainable by Design certification. The AFHA runs a voluntary environmental management program called EFEC, for Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture which Hickory Chair joined in 2008. Companies involved have to demonstrate improvement in various areas including the management of resources and raw materials, reduction of energy use, water use and waste disposal. Hickory Chair also won the AHFA's first Sage Award in 2008 recognizing sustainable business practices, social responsibility and profitable growth.

The company has been on an environmental stewardship journey at its Hickory, North Carolina manufacturing facility since 1997. They began with recycling and repurposing waste materials. As part of its sustainability initiative the company reduced its landfill waste by 178 tons in 2007 and another 125 tons in 2008. Hickory Chair bought a wood grinder in 2008 to improve the use of wood scrap as boiler fuel.

Hickory Chair makes classic furniture from a variety of designers including Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien and Suzane Kasler. A couple of pieces will be part of the "Sex In The City 2" movie as furniture in Carrie's apartment.

[via Home Accents Today]

Tags: furniture, hickory chair, sustainable, sustainable living, sustainable style

Blogging From the American Express Publishing Luxury Summit: What Do Consumers Want?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

As the American Express Publishing Luxury Summit got underway all old was new again. This is a crowd much shaken by the fickle consumer but also ready to focus on the future. They want your dollars, luxury consumer, and they are tentatively certain you might be ready to spend them again. But they also know that you've changed.

Cynthia McFarlane, President, Saatchi & Saatchi Latin America, broke down the results of her survey of luxury consumers around the world and found some core points of global connection. Customers want what is classic, quality and a known quantity. And yet, they want to be surprised, they want to be dazzled, they want thrills. They want choice, but not too much choice, deals but not discounts. It's all a bit confusing for brands trying to maintain consistency while creating the excitement luxury consumers need to see.

One things interesting to note across the panels was that when it came to discussions of successful luxury one name kept coming up, Hermes. Luxury advisor Michel Gutsatz praised the brand for its integration of ad campaigns, website and stores to create a distinctive unified brand. William S. Taubman, the Chief Operating Officer of the Taubman Centers chain of shopping centers also highlighted the brand for its commitment to quality and authenticity. Time and again the distinctive orange brand received accolades. Louis Vuitton also got approving nods for focusing on core values of craftsmanship, a message neatly shown off in their recent ad campaign featuring everyone from famous astronauts to Baryshnikov. Pretty amazing that the future of luxury branding is being shown by luxury brands with very long histories. Another brand often discussed was Apple. Why Apple? Because nobody gets Apple discounts and that itself is a form of luxury and a little bit of magic that other brands would love to emulate.

Tags: american express publishing, luxury real estate, sustainable, tiffany, TiffanyAndCo, tihany design

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New Program To Certify California's Green Wines

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Green

California's wineries have been on the green trail for a while but now they have a new official certification program. Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing is a certification program that provides third-party verification of a winery or vineyard's commitment to a "process of continuous improvement" in the adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices.

While wines are certified organic, the other aspects of green (solar power, water conversation etc.) have largely been a question of wineries opting to police themselves. Wineries could declare themselves to be green minded but for consumers it was mostly a matter of trust.

The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance which had handled self-assessments, is behind the new initiative. The comprehensive self-test quiz looks at 227 winery practices and provides a good starting point for wineries taking a closer look at steps toward sustainability.

What is particularly interesting about the new certification is that, at least for now, it's not being pushed to consumers. In a comprehensive article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Chris Savage, director of environmental affairs for E&J Gallo Winery, says that the program isn't "about putting a label on the bottle yet."

Auditors haven't been chosen yet but once they are in place they will perform on-site visits at wineries and follow up with online audits. Major winemakers including Gallo, Diageo and Constellation have signed up. Some critics say the current standards are too modest and too vague but the planners say that the certifications will evolve over time. It's at least a good place to start.

Tags: california wine, california winemaking, CaliforniaWine, CaliforniaWinemaking, green, sustainable, wine, wineries, winery

Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Green

Lux Life Apparel recently launched an organic clothing site, Lux Green Living. (I know luxe is spelled with an "e," but this is how they spell it.) The site is just getting going, and for its first line is featuring Toggery by Kate D'Arcy, a simple, casual line with reasonable prices that the site calls "a fun, contemporary line that appeals to every body shape and is offered in all organic and sustainable luxurious fabrics." I saw only one item that cost more than $100. I randomly clicked on about 10 items, and all were made with bamboo or cotton, and some had Spandex. If you're looking for some light, breezy summer basics that are eco-friendly, this could be a place to start. See the gallery for a few items that caught my eye (too bad they don't come in petite sizes).

Gallery: Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury

Tags: apparel, bamboo, clothes, clothing, cotton, Kate DArcy, KateDarcy, organic, smallsplurge, smallsplurges, sustainable, Toggery

Four Seasons Offers "Sustainable Nuptials" In Hawaii

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

Green weddings are all the rage and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has jumped on the eco bandwagaon with their Sustainable Nuptials Package. What does sustainable mean to the Four Seasons? The Sustainable Nuptials Package costs $10,050 and includes a wedding planner's "eco-expertise," choice of outdoor wedding location , carbon credit to offset the wedding's carbon footprint, teak chair set-up, marriage license appointment (within walking distance), an officiant, solo acoustic musician, the bridal bouquet, groom's boutenniere, floral leis for 25 guests, a bamboo wedding arch, photography, wedding cake, Champagne and a couples massage. If you are having a hard time finding the green in this one you are not alone, especially since the list of amenities includes 2,000 dendrobium orchids sprinkled at the wedding site. Beautiful? I'm sure. Green? I don't think so. While I applaud the Four Seasons for its other eco-friendly efforts, trying to sell a destination wedding as a green event seems a bit of a stretch.

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Tags: four seasons, FourSeasons, hawaii, sustainable

The Sears Tower Goes Green

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green, Real Estate Developments

We see a lot of plans for new green buildings but an existing iconic tower is getting an eco-makeover. The famous Sears tower in Chicago was the world's tallest skyscraper when it was built in 1973. The new plan calls for installing wind turbines and PV to reduce energy use by 10% (the building has already reduced energy consumption by 50%). Adrian Smith of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture spoke about the project at this week's Cityscape conference and said it also calls for new lighting systems, extra insulation and a green roof. The Building website has video of Smith talking about the greenification which is expected to cost over $145 million.

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Tags: chicago, eco, green, sears tower, SearsTower, sustainable

Condo Meets Commune in Portland, Oregon

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green, Real Estate Developments

I'm inspired by those who grow their own vegetables and raise their own chickens but I'm not cut out for farm life. For those like me who might want to stick a toe into the sustainable life without opting for their own farm, a new condo in Northeast Portland, Oregon might be a way to start. The Columbia Ecovillage is part of the Portland Permaculture Institute which offers classes on sustainable living. A former apartment complex is being turned into 37 condos next to a 1912 farmhouse which will be a common building for the condos. This complex will be more of a community, residents will cultivate some of their own food and share some meals in the farmhouse. It will be a co-housing community. The prices are pretty low: studios to three bedrooms, will run $145,500 to $329,500. Reservations will be taken starting in May with move-in scheduled for the end of this year.

Is this part of a trend? Bankrate recently had an interesting piece on the new-found popularity of commune-like situations. As the Baby Boomers age they are looking for a sense of community and communes are one possible answer, offering both shared resources and shared experience.

[via The Oregonian]

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Tags: condo, oregon, portland, sustainable

Brown Paper Bag, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Green

Made of corrugated cardboard with leather accents and chrome buckles, this Brown Paper Bag handbag by Giles Miller is a bit of a detour from the usual. I'm really not sure yet what kind of outfit this bag would compliment the best, but no matter how you pair it you'll get "green" points galore due to the sustainable materials and low energy production. The card has been cut at a steep angle to leave an elegant swirl design on the outside, with wide leather straps accenting the sides and creating the handle. Fasteners open and close the bag from the top of either side, and no worries about "rainy days versus cardboard" as it's been treated to be water resistant. $358

Via Switched On

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Tags: brown paper bag, BrownPaperBag, cardboard, giles miller, GilesMiller, green, handbag, handbags, sustainable

Recycled Paper Jewelry

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Green

I've always been a little in the minority being what some would call a "girly girl" but at the same time really not liking jewelry with too much in the way of jewels or flash. I'm hugely partial to sterling silver pieces with organic energy and unique individual design. And as far as I'm concerned, pretty much everything from FrucciDesign fits that criteria -- especially this Tally ring. Made of recycled paper plus various other items like wood, metal, glass, or even lava, these designs aren't priced all that high but really could be -- there are definitely some conversations waiting to be started when you wear anything from this collection.

Gallery: FrucciDesign's Recycled Paper Jewelry

Via Design Mind

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Tags: etsy, Frucci Design, FrucciDesign, green, paper, recycle, recycled, sustainable

Michael Jordan's Pricey and Sustainable Sneakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping, Green

The Air Jordan shoe line has been making history since it was first released back in 1985, and the newest member of the family -- Air Jordan XX3 -- is no exception. The 23rd edition is not only special because of its connection to Jordan's iconic jersey number, but it's also the first design released under the "Considered" ethos -- meaning it's more environmentally friendly. The Air Jordan will now be made with more sustainable materials and will create less waste through the manufacturing the process.

The Air Jordan XX3 will start hitting select stores this month, with a national launch following in the spring. The shoes will be priced at $185.

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Tags: 23, air jordan, air jordan xx3, AirJordan, AirJordanXx3, environment, environmental, green, jordan, michael jordan, MichaelJordan, shoe, shoes, sustainable, xx3

Green Pet Homes from Sustainable Pet

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

It's all about being green lately, and if you're like many people you probably even made a New Years resolution this year that had something to do with being friendlier to the environment. Green Pet Homes from Sustainable Pet can help you (and your pet) be greener while not sacrificing in the beauty or style departments. I do a lot of container gardening so I'm loving these pet houses/garden combinations -- very earthy and natural without looking cheap or shabby. Not to mention it's always nice to have fresh herbs in the kitchen! $1000-$6000.

Via Trendhunter

Gallery: Green Pet Homes from Sustainable Pet

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Tags: dog, dog house, DogHouse, environment, environmentally friendly, EnvironmentallyFriendly, green, house, pet, pets, sustainable

Luxury Redefined T-Shirts

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Green

How much would you pay for a sustainable t-shirt? Luxury Redefined thinks the world is ready for the £100 sustainable T-shirt. What makes Luxury Redefined's shirt so special is that it is certified organic and Fairtrade. The shirts are made from cotton that is grown in a Peruvian co-op. It is rain fed rather than watered and the cotton is not dyed or bleached.

You've probably never thought about the sustainability factor of t-shirts, but it turns out that growing cotton takes a lot of water. The shirts are made in England at the John Smedley factor in Derbyshire. It will come with a mini-brochure made from 100 % post-consumer waste paper and printed with vegetable ink that explains the manufacture of the T-shirts. The shirts will be available this spring in men's, women's and children's sizes or you can try to win one in the contest from Smart Planet.

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Tags: cotton, green, luxury, luxury redefined, sustainable, t-shirts

Star Island Promises Off The Grid Luxury in the Bahamas

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Another Bahamas project has been announced and this one has a sustainable angle. Star Island is a 35-acre island in a protected sound ten minutes by boat from harbor island. The resort will be home to private homes and resort residences with facilities that will include a spa, restaurants, bars, pools, tennis courts and a "no-fuel" marina.

The developers have pledged that each part of the development and operation will be sustainable. This includes everything from alternative energy such as solar, wind and microhydro to shade-grown organic coffee in the restaurants and bamboo sheets on the beds. The plan is to have Star Island be entirely off the grid and 100% energy self-sufficient.

Buildings will be designed to meet LEED-certification requirements and will use technology such as cold-formed steel, insulated concrete forms, LED lighting and geothermal temperature-control devices. The island's water needs will be met by a rain-harvesting system and underground tanks with drinking water purified through reverse osmosis systems. This unique development is planned to be open in late 2009.

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Tags: bahamas, eco-friendly, green, resort, star island, StarIsland, sustainable

Water's Winery Unveils Sustainable Vineyard

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Green

Continuing our coverage of sustainable wineries, let's check out Waters Winery in Walla Walla, Washington. Wines & Vines reports that the winery's new $2 million, 5,000-square-foot winemaking facility and tasting room is set to open on November 2. Waters produces Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs, and a silky Bordeaux-style blend called Interlude which range in price from $20 to $40. Their new facility is made of masonry and rusted steel panels. The production building has a large skylight that brings light into the room for a naturally-lit workspace. The barrel aging rooms are surrounded by 17-inch-thick, insulated concrete masonry to reduce temperature swings. The building has concrete floors and a steel structure that is as much as 80% percent recycled content. The wood-framed walls are made from rapidly renewable trees. Future plans include adding a subterranean barrel room.

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Tags: green, sustainable, wall walla, washington, waters winery, WatersWinery

Zola, Eco-Friendly Furniture

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Green

Can your couch go green? The owners of Zola Furnishings, a company in Oregon say so. They make furniture from materials that are organic, sustainable or recycled. The frames are made from kiln-dried hardwood, harvested from sustainably managed forests and use non-toxic. water-based glue. The seat cushions are made of natural latex wrapped in organic wool and cotton/hemp cloth. The stains use earth-based pigments and the fabrics used are sustainably and organically produced. The Isabella loveseat shown here sells for $3695.

[via Oregon Live]

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Tags: eco friendly, furniture, green, organic, sustainable, zola