Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/FollowTheFlow
As the furniture industry continues its efforts to embrace sustainability in production, Minnesota-based companies are paving the way for responsible wood sourcing. In fact, the 2024 Wood Furniture Scorecard, produced by the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF), spotlights four companies headquartered in Minnesota, including Room & Board, Blu Dot, Target, and HOM Furniture. This annual report, now in its seventh year, assesses the practices of North American furniture retailers, highlighting those taking meaningful steps to reduce deforestation and promote responsible forest management.
The Wood Furniture Scorecard evaluates retailers on their commitment to sustainability, with a particular focus on wood sourcing policies, goals, and certifications. “Each year, an increasing number of companies are recognizing their critical role in protecting natural forests and the profound impact deforestation has on climate change,” says Barbara Bramble, vice president of international conservation and corporate strategies at NWF. “With more furniture retailers setting public commitments to harvest wood sustainability and report their progress, the scorecard empowers consumers and helps shift us toward a more sustainable industry.”
Photo courtesy of Sustainable Furnishings Council
Among the top-scoring retailers, Room & Board was recognized for its longstanding dedication to sustainable practices. With over 90% of its products manufactured in the United States, the company focuses on quality craftsmanship and responsible sourcing, particularly in its use of wood—its most widely used material. Room & Board also collaborates with manufacturing partners to increase the use of wood from responsibly managed North American forests, as well as certified, recycled, and reclaimed sources. Suppliers with certifications including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc. (AHMI), and National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) are prioritized when Room & Board seeks out local wood resources. By the end of 2025, the company plans to sustainably source 100% of its wood.
Likewise, Blu Dot, Target, and HOM Furniture ranked as “high scorers” on the list, each of which has made significant strides toward an eco-friendly future. Each company is currently working toward its own sustainability goals: Blu Dot aims for 100% of its wood to meet sustainability forestry certifications, such as FSC and SFI, by 2026; Target’s intention is to source all wood, paper, paper-based packaging, and wood-based fiber for its products from credibly certified, well-managed forests; and HOM is actively working with suppliers to eliminate wood from unacceptable sources.
“The 2024 results show that furniture retailers are increasingly prioritizing sustainable wood sourcing,” Scarlette Tapp, executive director at SFC, says. “We are thrilled to see so many companies leading the way toward more sustainable supply chains.”
