Meet Emily McGarvey, furniture maker and retailer. Accommodation and meals‘s first Sustainability Officer. Founded in 1980, the company recently became an employee-owned B Corporation. Room & Board has made significant efforts to reduce its environmental impact, including engaging 12,000 American artisans to create its furniture, reusing urban wood for its tables and chairs, and sourcing 95% of its wood from sustainable sources, with 51% of its packaging recycled to meet its 100% goal by 2025.
The global furniture industry is expected to reach $765 billion in sales this year. Statista Analysis. Reducing the carbon footprint associated with furniture (from sourcing wood and materials closer to the producer to shortening the supply chain to minimize transportation needs) can provide consumers with more sustainable choices. For example, retail chain Ashley Furniture has the seventh-largest ocean shipping carbon footprint among major brands, as most of its manufacturing is based in Asia. More information about Room & Board can be found at: https://www.roomandboard.com/
correction: We had to correct our reference to Room & Board’s progress towards recyclable packaging. The company is not at 89% recyclable packaging, but is currently using 51% recyclable materials. The goal is to reach 100% by 2025.
