Green Furniture: By the Numbers

Hello Greenies! The Green Ox here, coming to you from the cyberPasture reporting on Sustainable Furniture with Beaver Bob, famous for his "Just the Numbers" approach to sustainability.

Beaver Bob, how are are you today?

Well, today is a typical day, which means 80% of the time I am fair, 10% of the time I am indifferent, and the rest of the time I am basically just spaced out.

Alrighty then, let's just get to the numbers....I understand you have dissected the furniture industry and have some numbers that you would like to share with our fellow Greenies.

Yes, I do. First, let me introduce and explain the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Part of being a responsible consumer of furniture, is being responsible and aware of where your furniture is made and by what means.

Here are the numbers on the world's forests that supply our furniture industry.

• 78: Number of countries with FSC certified forests.
  
  
• 247: Number of million acres of FSC certified forests. worldwide
  
  
• 60: Number of million acres of those are located in North America.
  
  
• 11: Number of habitats at risk that FSC works to protect.
  
  
• 3 to 4: The length, in feet, some species of bamboo can grow in a day, in good soil and climate conditions.
  
  
• 100 times higher: The concentration of volatile organic compounds and particulates in indoor spaces vs. outdoors.
  
  
• 90 percent: The amount of time an average person spends indoors.
  
  
• 50 percent: Percentage of U.S. manufactured office furniture that went to Canada in 2006.
  
  
• $11.9: Billions of dollars spent on office furniture made in the U.S. in 2005.
  
  
• 300: Amount of furniture stores throughout the U.K. that provide publicly donated furniture to people in need.
  
  
• $19.99: Cost of a disposable bedside table from IKEA.
  

Thank you for your 5 minutes, Green Ox, I am going to go count some wood now.

Please visit: www.claytonoxford.com to see sustainable furniture at it's finest!