At ULOFT, our dedication to the environment means that we do everything in our power to utilize resources responsibly, making sure the forest is never depleted as a result of our activities.
For starters, we use EFT (environmentally farmed timber) in all our furniture. EFT is a hardwood that comes from the Pará rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, which we purchase from certified farms in Malaysia. The certification guarantees the farms meet quality, land management, and work practice standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council. Further, University Loft staff members verify these standards are being met by personally visiting the farms and saw mills.
In order to preserve the wellbeing of the forest as a whole, the Hevea brasiliensis trees are harvested on a 20-year plan. In the past, when rubber trees had no more latex to give, they were burned or left to rot. Our trees, however, are harvested and kiln-dried. As I shall detail in my next post, the surprising fact is that this environmentally responsible wood, from a quality standpoint alone, is one of the best possible choices for furniture available.
In the time it takes to grow one red oak tree, five Hevea brasiliensis trees can be grown and harvested. We recognize the importance of sustaining the environment for our current university students, and the many generations of students yet to come.
Matt
The ULoft Blog Team
About University Loft Company and our solid wood modular residence life furniture:
Since 1984, when James Jannetides built a loft configuration for his own dorm room at Southern Illinois University, hundreds of thousands of college students have enjoyed better campus living thanks to University Loft furniture. Today, University Loft serves more than 1,200 colleges, universities and related student housing partners. As Jannetides’ says: “We are always learning, always innovating, and always improving … our environment, our products, and our service. We are University Loft Company.”