by Organizations said members can continue to benefit from SFC’s extensive services, with expanded global support and expertise from Cascale
HONG KONG — Nonprofit sustainability alliance Cascale, formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has acquired various assets of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
The acquisition was announced at Cascale’s Annual Meeting in Hong Kong Monday, attended by Cascale co-founder and former Patagonia executive Rick Ridgeway and SFC Executive Director Scarlette Tapp.
Cascale said that moving forward, it will provide services to SFC members while SFC “continues as a membership organization during the ownership transition.”
“This means SFC members benefit from the same trusted brand — with expanded global support and expertise from Cascale,” the organization said.
“From the beginning, Cascale has worked to unite industries around a shared vision: tackling climate change and supporting decent work throughout the value chain,” Ridgeway said. “Sustainability cannot be siloed — it must be systemic, spanning every sector that touches people and the planet.”
The change marks the first major shift in ownership since the SFC was founded in High Point in 2006 by South Cone Furniture executive Gerry Cooklin. It started out with about 70 members and today has about 140, according to its website.
“For nearly two decades, SFC has worked to embed sustainability in the DNA of the home furnishings industry,” Tapp said. “Cascale will ensure that this legacy will not only continue, but scale globally — supporting businesses that are committed to reducing their environmental footprint and improving social outcomes.”
Cascale said it “will uphold SFC’s nearly 20-year legacy of education, training and advocacy. Based in North Carolina, with most members based in North America, SFC leads efforts to promote decarbonization, reduce waste and minimize the use of toxic chemicals in the home furnishings value chain.”
It noted that SFC’s tools and expertise, including the Eco-Insight Assessment Tool, accredited sustainability course and support for the Wood Furniture Scorecard program, “will continue to be available to SFC members and will eventually become part of Cascale’s global offering, benefiting members worldwide.”
