There’s only one Earth, and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy living here, we must take care of her. With rising and warming oceans, record-breaking heat waves and droughts, stronger hurricanes, and out-of-control wildfires, it’s clear that the time to act is now. So we’re taking steps to add a sustainable package program in conjuction with the Forest Stewardship Council®.
Scientists around the world have been seeking solutions to slow and fight climate change, and our forests stand as irreplaceable sentries in the battle. Not only are they serene to walk through, but forests release critical oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide, preserve biodiversity, and even provide homes for wildlife. Protecting and restoring forest ecosystems is a great step toward slowing global warming, protecting our planet, and securing our tomorrows.
Whalen Furniture realizes our need to be a good, proactive steward of this planet because our business practices impact the environment. We’ve partnered with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) to create a more eco-conscious approach to packaging, resulting in a better future for all. The FSC is a non-profit international organization which promotes responsible forest management. As part of this FSC certification program, Whalen will change its product packaging requirements to achieve a higher level of environmental sustainability.
Starting Oct. 1, 2023, Whalen will require all products shipping from Asia to use outer corrugated cartons certified by FSC, from Whalen’s approved packaging material supplier list. The sustainably sourced packaging will bear an FSC label describing the material used. Whalen will recommend using 100% carbon fiber (of which at least 85% is post-consumer recycled material), and Whalen also will accept the FSC Mix Label, which denotes a combination of FSC-certified virgin fiber mixed with controlled virgin fiber and/or recycled fiber. Whalen will align with FSC-recommended specifications for inner packaging materials in 2024.
Packaging that carries the FSC label lets our consumers know the packaging materials originated from recycled sources and/or well-managed forests. FSC’s certification program also gives customers world-wide the opportunity to support ethical companies that champion forest conservation with the overall goal of reducing global warming.
What is sustainable packaging?
Three words describe sustainable packaging: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Why is it important to use a sustainable package? A package is just a package, right? Not so. Outer and inner packaging materials can have a significant impact on the environment, increasing our carbon footprint and filling landfills.
By adopting sustainable packaging practices, Whalen is thrilled to reduce our impact on the planet. Through careful packaging design and sustainably sourced materials, Whalen won’t sacrifice packaging integrity, so the products you choose for your home are still fully protected during shipping.
Benefits of careful sustainable package choices
There is a plethora of documented environmental benefits to a more sustainable package, including conserving trees, reducing waste, reducing our carbon footprint, and bringing awareness of the importance of fighting global warming.
Forever forests: Perhaps the most significant benefit of committing to FSC-certified sustainable packaging is conserving forests. Forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen so they help regulate carbon levels. Rising carbon levels are a major global warming contributor, called the greenhouse gas effect. Trees also help fight soil erosion and stabilize our environment by providing ecosystems where many species of animals and insects can thrive. In short, trees rock!
Cutting down on waste: Sustainable packaging also encourages using materials that can be broken down (biodegraded) and recycled, which reduces waste in our landfills and even our oceans, which are becoming more polluted with plastics and other trash. Sustainable packaging results in materials continually being repurposed or used. The result? Fewer materials go back into the environment.
Reducing our carbon footprint: Using recycled materials in packaging cuts down on the use of manufacturing resources that use energy to produce packages from new materials. Reducing the carbon footprint helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Building awareness: Yet another benefit of Whalen’s participation in a sustainable packaging program? Our customers have let us know they want more eco-friendly packaging, and we’re glad to embrace the sustainability movement. We also hope that more companies will join this push for more self-accountability and respect for our planet’s future.
Forest Stewardship Council: Protector of the forest
Everyone needs a hero, and forests all over the planet count on the Forest Stewardship Council to fight for their survival, to the benefit of us all. The FSC helps ensure forests are managed well and responsibly, and the critical standards the FSC demands for forest management helps preserve and replenish our cherished forests. These standards even include respecting indigenous communities within the forests and prohibiting hazardous chemical use. When companies like Whalen partner with the FSC, they agree to adhere to the guidelines the council sets forth.
“Just as we depend on forests, forests depend on us,” the Forest Stewardship Council states on its website. “We unite individuals, businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under a common goal: protecting healthy, resilient forests for all, forever.”
Whalen is pleased to partner with FSC and do our part to support conservation and healthy management of our planet’s forests. Slowing down global warming helps preserve our world for generations to come. Working together, we can make a profound difference in our collective journey toward a greener future.
