Circular knitted mattress fabrics maker Culp, Inc. is strengthening its commitment to environmental sustainability by joining the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC).  SFC is an independent, non-profit coalition of furniture industry manufacturers, retailers, and designers dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry.

As the only publicly traded textile company to join SFC, Culp hopes to use its membership to increase the company’s integration of best practices and affect positive environmental and social change as a leader within the home furnishings industry.

As a member of SFC, Culp support’s the council’s triple bottom line focus of People – Planet – Profits and recognizes the importance of incorporating sustainable practices into its operations.  Culp is committed to SFC’s core beliefs on carbon reduction, water management, product circularity, waste reduction, and other sustainability strategies. 

The company reports it has completed a variety of initiatives in these areas, including using solar power at its Read Windows production facility in Knoxville, TN; using hydro and wind power at its manufacturing facility in Quebec, Canada; water reuse at its Stokesdale, NC manufacturing plant; and becoming Zero to Landfill certified in all of its U.S. mattress fabric and sewn cover production facilities.

The company is also proud of the success of its LiveSmart Evolve upholstery fabric line. This collection combines sustainability with performance through its use of yarn made with an average of 30% recycled fibres from post-consumer plastic bottles. To date, Culp has diverted more than 1.6 million plastic bottles from landfills through the LiveSmart Evolve line.  The company is continuing its focus on developing additional product lines designed for the betterment of tomorrow, including mattress fabrics designed with certain recycled and biodegradable content. 

Commenting on the company’s recent membership into SFC, Iv Culp, president and CEO of Culp, Inc., said: “By joining this council, we are hoping to further our efforts of incorporating sustainable practices into our operations and have a greater positive influence in our industry.  We are known as an innovative and creative company committed to managing our business in a responsible manner.  This not only applies to our fabric designs and material sourcing, but to our entire company culture. We are striving to find ways of operating that are better for the environment, for our customers, for our employees, and for our communities.”

Manufacturing furniture products consumes large amounts of energy and creates waste, including emissions and packaging. Sustainable Furnishings Council is comprised of dedicated business leaders who are stepping up to change the industry by helping companies reduce their environmental footprints and helping consumers find healthy furnishings.

“SFC is so pleased to welcome Culp as a new member of our organization. Obviously committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, Culp is a significant company for our entire industry and their participation with us will make a difference for our cause,” said Susan Inglis, executive director of SFC. “We all have power in our reach - from the vendors and suppliers we use through the manufacturers and right to the consumers. Culp's participation with SFC strengthens our reach and I appreciate that.”

www.sustainablefurnishings.org

www.CULP.com