The Philippines is as diverse and as rich in resources as the number of islands that make up its archipelago - if not more. Historically speaking, natural resources such as mineral deposits, marine products and forest products have been abundant here. At the center of all these islands is Cebu, its geographical location an advantage as a convergence point for the creation of furniture and furnishings that feature suchresources.However, history has taught us that not all resources are limitless, and that Mother Nature bears the weight of the actions of humankind.
The worldwide furniture industry is no stranger to this issue, and efforts are underway to steer the industry to work within sustainable limits.Fortunately, Cebu's furniture designers and manufacturers have been using sustainable materials and methods long before "eco-friendly" and "going green" became buzzwords. Natural fibers from renewable sources have been the R & D cornerstone of many Cebu-based furniture companies, while nature's castaways are now being incorporated into contemporary designs.
Naturescast by Nature's Legacy Home and Garden is at the forefront of such efforts. They use forest wastes such as twigs and leaves in the creation of chairs, vases and other furniture items and décor. They prove that sustainability is an achievable ideal. It can be done.
Other Cebu furniture players participate in the sustainability drive as well, though not all efforts are visible in the furniture pieces themselves. One example is the continued use of traditional, handcrafting methods which reduce potential carbon emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels. Responsible manufacturing processes such as recycling waste water or using water-based finishes are on the list, as are identifying renewable sources of local materials, and the development of technologies and procedures to produce furniture and furnishings that are globally competitive. Tree-planting initiatives by the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) round out the sustainability drive on an industry-wide level.
Sustainability, Return To Handcraftsmanship, and Individual Design are the three focus areas of CEBUNEXT. Sustainability is the heart of CEBUNEXT, which presents the concept to the world as a necessity, not a novelty, in hopes that world-wide sustainability efforts are not just trends but permanent fixtures that manufacturers, retailers and consumers can begin to take seriously and permanently - as unconscious fixtures in day to day functions as opposed to a conscious effort to ride a trend and profit from it.
Come see sustainable possibilities at the Design Capital of Southeast Asia.
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