Our Selection Criteria
The criteria we use to select our products plays a critical role in ensuring integrity, value,
and the trust of our customers. Before we approve a product, we:
1) Consider Independent Certifications* from well-established organizations (without conflicting interests). This usually guarantees
a product to fit our criteria. However it is possible that we reject a certified product. For instance, if a manufacturer builds a piece of
furniture from FSC certified wood but uses a finish that contains toxic materials
or emits volatile organic compounds, the FSC certification for the
wood (while ensuring sustainable forestry practices), would be nullified because the end product is unhealthy.
*A Problem With Certifications
(From The Green Money Journal, Vol. 14, Issue 3)
A number of eco-labels are actually industry fronts to fool the consumer. The most notable example is the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), a screen for sustainable lumber
that competes with the more legitimate Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC)'s mark, but is actually made up of a consortium of the most powerful timber companies. The good news is that
the eco-industry works to expose these organizations and protect consumer values. We do not honor such "certifications" for ANY product.
2)
Study the source of a product. We investigate corporate citizenship and ask a number of questions:
How do they operate? How do they treat their workers? What are their waste levels or byproducts from manufacturing? What are their values?
For example, a company may make a great product but if they're dumping waste and toxins into the river or creating dangerous conditions for their workforce etc.,
their product's value is non-existant to us no matter how green its attributes or uses are, and we will not carry it.
3)
Qualify the product using our Green Product Checklist.
4)
Consider trade-offs. Trade-offs are inevitable because often the environmental attributes of a product outweigh other concerns we may have.
For example, decking/patio furniture made of recycled plastic may be considered "green" because a) it diverts waste from the landfill b) doesn't
release chemicals like pressure treated wood can c) is more durable than wood. So even though it's plastic, it can still be recommended after considering all factors.
