NaturesCast opens U.S. office

Philippines producer makes furniture out of agro-forest waste

Angela Heck -- Furniture Today, July 28, 2008

LAS VEGAS – NaturesCast, a manufacturer of modern eco-friendly furniture and home accessories, has opened a U.S. center of operations here — out of its new permanent showroom in the World Market Center, space C-785.

NaturesCast’s parent company, Natures Legacy, is based in the Philippines.

The company uses Filipino agro-forest waste such as dry leaves, dead twigs and barks to create its functional and artistic décor products. After the waste materials are shredded through a special machine and bonded together using an odorless water-based binder, they are shaped by Filipino designers into a variety of products.

Founders Pete and Catherine Delantar stumbled on the idea in 2002 when they sponsored a “Clean and Green” day to remove debris from the forest floor in the Cebu province of the Philippines. Local authorities often gather and burn the waste so it does not become a life- threatening fire hazard. Instead of creating air pollution by burning the materials, the Delantars decided to use it as the base of an eco-friendly line of products.

The chic Club Sofa from NaturesCast cleverly provides an out-of-the-way storage space for its ottoman ($1,995).

NaturesCast products remain earth friendly even when they reach the end of their life cycle. The water-based binding agent allows natural materials to biodegrade.

A trendy acrylic liner is added to pieces that may encounter larger amounts of moisture, such as table tops and chair seats. The company says that acrylic is “greener” than the resins often used for the purpose.

Pete Delantar has been an individual founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council since 2007 and NaturesCast became a corporate member this year. The SFC is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices in the furniture industry.

NaturesCast will feature more than 100 vases, tables, lamps, accents, trays, bowls, frames, chairs and stools in its new showroom. All products have contemporary lines and come in a variety of finishes, including natural, black, brown and two-tone.

“The showroom in the World Market Center gives us a larger and permanent presence in the market,” said Delantar. “We have been attending tradeshows and other similar events but a permanent showroom will give buyers an opportunity to see our product line in its entirety.”

Source : http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/47315-NaturesCast_opens_U_S_office.php