FAQ Category: 7. Sustainability

FSC
(Forest Stewardship Council)
an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value. FSC is currently the most well-known certification system.

PEFC
(Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes)
is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third-party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. PEFC is currently the largest certification system.
SFI
(Sustainable Forestry Initiative)
an independent, non-profit organization responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving a sustainable forestry certification program that is internationally recognized. With SFI, consumers can be confident they are buying wood or paper from well-managed, legal sources.

Wood is one of the most useful and beautiful resources from nature, and one of the most renewable. However, that only succeeds when properly managed as a resource. Too often, forests are clear cut and optimal forest management is not a worldwide reality. We continue to witness deforestation at an alarming rate, often for cattle grazing or fuel, with wood for framing pictures merely an afterthought.

In Oceania, wood production increased over 300% for industry and 60% for fuel in the last 40 years. This is unsustainable, and the massive culling has disastrous and potentially irreversible implications – not only for equatorial ecology, but for the entire planet as habitats are destroyed. A previous framing industry standard was ramin, an Asian wood with an excellent ability to take a stain and not warp. However, using it was destroying forests and today it has been largely discontinued. Substitutes have been problematic, often impossible to certify in sufficient supply. As much of the low-cost frame moulding is imported from Asia or South America, understanding the source of wood is critical.

The worst victims of this over-cutting are some of our most elegant and rare hardwoods: Honduras Mahogany, Teak, Paduak, Wenge, Ebony and Koa. While logging these woods is not the only reason the tropical rainforests are disappearing, it is a significant factor. We discontinued using tropical hardwoods, unless they are certified from a sustainable source or are from old fallen stock, or perhaps in veneers.

Another trend is finger-jointed pines from renewable sources. After the application of gesso, the wood is formed in innumerable shapes and finished from matte black to gold. However, this does not enable you to create a frame with a natural wood appearance due to the joint lines required in its engineering. Reclaimed, veneer and laminates are another approach in design. Altogether, these are steps in the right direction.

Fortunately, the great hardwood forests of North America are well managed, and in many cases, are now more plentiful than they were a century ago. Therefore, using maple, cherry, and walnut grown in the US is an ideal solution, whether or not it is FSC certified.

Our love of natural woods for picture frame mouldings has led us to feature these truly beautiful domestic hardwoods. Maple, Cherry, Walnut, White Oak and Ash with natural finishes rival the aesthetic of the exotic woods.

Maple

Ash

Walnut

Cherry

The picture framing industry, like many, is realizing the importance of being environmentally responsible. Most manufacturers are already making changes to produce products with a lower “carbon footprint”, managing waste carefully, controlling air pollution from the finishing process, and managing effluents that may otherwise enter the water system. Others, particularly those working overseas, may not practice responsible forestry, or pay special attention to pollution. Everything is driven by price.

We are an early adopter of this philosophy. In early 2000 we re-dedicated our picture framing business towards reinventing our processes, deploying “green best practices” aiming to lead our industry, and focusing on suppliers that share our point of view.

Our focus is moulding “Made in the USA” from sustainably forested woods. These are our featured products, which we strive to make as affordable as possible to our customers than less eco-friendly alternatives. This also includes designing in optimal sizes to minimize waste and using every scrap possible for a productive purpose.

We take recycling as far as humanly possible, with cut-offs and scraps reused in creative ways, converted into products, or given away through local online sites such as Nextdoor and Craigslist. This has cut our waste by over 75% – far beyond government regulations.

We also have the largest inventory of frame moulding and matboard in the region. As we purchase our raw materials in bulk, which is more cost-efficient, and reduces packaging and shipping, small special orders are virtually eliminated. This reduces cost to our clients, shortens turnaround and is less wasteful.

Our clients learn how to “buy green” and therefore we help them save – both in the carbon footprint of the work and reducing the cost of framing.

In summary, we discovered that our strategy simultaneously cuts waste, reduces labor and paperwork costs, saves on packaging and shipping, reduces our cost of materials, enables faster turnaround and saves on our clients’ budgets. We hope you like our approach and work with us as we continually refine our methods, striving to offer exceptional design, value and craftsmanship on your next project.

  • We have over 500 styles of moulding in stock, which we purchase in large orders to reduce cost and carbon footprint in procurement.
  • We nearly always will have a profile in stock perfect for your project. 
  • Choosing from our selections will reduce the carbon fiber footprint of your project by reducing packaging materials, reducing waste in production, and eliminates fuel used for regular shipments.
  • Additionally, it means that your project will be done quicker with no risk the moulding is out of stock which is a chronic problem in the industry.