A Routes to Greater Sustainability in the furnishing industry conference is to be held next month.
The free event will be the first pan-furnishing industry conference of its type, welcoming businesses and delegates from all sectors of the domestic and contract markets, with the aim of sharing knowledge and best practice on routes for greater sustainability. As well as networking opportunities, the day will include a series of eight short presentations including an overview by the British Furniture Confederation of potential new legislation; the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme, the UK’s only industry specific scheme; alongside introductions to different corporate approaches to climate change initiatives.
The event is being organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Climate Change and Sustainability committee, which was launched in 2022 to support greater environmental awareness, promoting initiatives within the sector and identify opportunities for open innovation. It is being supported by the BFC and sponsored by FIRA, Ocee Design, Panaz and SATRA Technology.
The conference will also have representation from key industry associations including the BCFA, BFM, NBF and Carpet Recycling UK.
‘This event aims to unite all sectors within the furnishing industry and provide an opportunity to collaborate and knowledge share. Delegates will go away from the event with a better understanding of the various initiatives being undertaken by industry to reduce climate change as well as ideas to action within their own business,’ says Joanna Knight, FMC climate change and sustainability chairman.
‘The BFC is delighted to be co-hosting this important pan-industry sustainability event. Businesses are already acting in response or anticipation of the demands of their customers, shareholders and their own consciences. Government rules and regulations will follow and it’s important that we are there not only to keep our industry informed of these but to engage and shape them. Sustainability is one of the most important challenges and opportunities of our times. Success is essential for all not just some, so we must collaborate as never before, not just for the future of our businesses, but for the planet, our children, for mankind,’ says Jonathan Hindle, BFC chairman.
‘Our world will change irrevocably unless we address climate change. Sustainability and our effect on climate change must now be an important board meeting agenda item for all businesses. Everything we do affects it, and everything we do to make a difference needs to be planed for and delivered. The conference will help address some of these issues and give sound practical advice on implementation. We will not learn everything in one day but it’s a start along the sustainability pathway,’ says Tony Attard, Furniture Makers’ Company master.
The event will take place on 14 December from 11am– 5pm at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London.
The agenda is:
11am – Welcome by Tony Attard
11.10am – Anticipated forthcoming legislation, the role of the BFC with Jonathan Hindle and Jessica Alexander, NBF executive director.
11.30am – Coffee and networking.
12.00pm – Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme – an industry specific standard with John Hubbard, FIRA technical consultant.
12.15pm – Measuring your organisation’s carbon footprint with Nichola Pichel-Juan, SATRA Technology sustainability manager.
12.30pm – Capital Investment in renewables with Rollie Attard, Panaz ceo.
12.45pm – Lunch and networking
1.45pm – Packaging and sustainability, alternative solutions with John Hubbard, FIRA technical consultant.
2.00pm – A circular approach with Adnan Zeb-Khan, Carpet Recycling UK manager.
2.15pm – A circular approach with Angela Moran, Silentnight product strategy director.
2.30pm – Biomaterials and circularity with: Richard Naylor, Hypnos group sustainable development director.
2.45pm – Networking
3.15pm – Reuse and extending useful life with Fiona Edwards, JPA Workspaces head of sustainability.
3.30pm – Design classics – maximising lifecycle through design with Catherine Black, Sound Leisure PA.
3.45pm – Networking.
5.00pm – Close.
