green house framing

GP: How green is your business - what green business practices do you embrace?

GHF: 100% green and sustainable from the moment we launched in 2002.  When we conceived of Green House Framing, our intention was to be the most the environmentally friendly company for picture framing.  For us, that meant jumping in all the way from the materials we use and how we source them to the design and operation of our studio and shop.  The short list of green practices includes green web hosting, renewable energy for all operations, reclaimed shipping boxes, biodegradable cornstarch packing peanuts, 100% post-consumer recycled or tree-free paper products, and framing components purchased from local companies.  We even designed our studio and shop with reclaimed materials and healthy paints and flooring.  There are so many more things we are doing to demonstrate our commitment to the environment.  For the complete list of practices and materials, please visit the environmental commitment page of our website.

GP: How green are your products - what green products/components do you offer?

GHF: All of our frames are handcrafted by us from reclaimed wood that comes from deconstructed buildings in the Pacific Northwest.  We have never used virgin wood and never will.  We firmly believe in deconstruction over tree replanting, using what is available rather than taking what is unnecessary.  We are salvaging valuable materials that would otherwise be dumped in a landfill.  This gives each frame we make a unique history and identity.  The finish we use is a plant based oil that we custom mix with colored pigments made from renewable sources such as crushed earth, rock, and minerals.  Our stains are free of petrochemicals, animal ingredients/testing, and are obtained using fair trade practices.  Our easel backs are manufactured in the US from 100% recycled chip board.  We use only Cotton RagMat for preservation framing.  Lastly, the paper used for dust covers is also 100% recycled.  We have tried to incorporate green products into every step of the framing process.  Check out our materials page for a complete list of components.

GP: Why did you choose to offer green products and implement green business practices?

GHF: Lars and I wanted an outlet for our artistic expression without causing harm to the environment or animals, and we wanted to work for ourselves. Also, as a chemically sensitive person, I needed a healthy work environment where I could control the products being used.  Most of all, we wanted to feel good about the product we were putting out into the marketplace. It is important to us to make a positive contribution through the work we do.  We just couldn’t see doing it any other way.  Please visit our about us and mission pages to learn more about who we are and what we hope to accomplish.

GP: How has offering green products and implementing green business practices affected your company?

GHF: We believed that we could design a frame that was beautiful and green, and we hoped to find a niche of caring consumers.  We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support and positive feedback.  It is such a pleasure to work with each client to design the perfect frame for them.  Each frame is a labor of love for us, so we feel lucky to be able to share that.  The amazing response we've received is what keeps us going each day.

GP: What are your hopes for a greener photographic industry?

GHF: It is our hope that more people will stop to consider the impact of the products and services they are using beforehand.  What we'd like is for more people to support small, domestic businesses as much as possible.  Buying frames from us through the internet is better than using a local frame shop who has their mouldings imported from China or Europe.  Our frames travel less miles since we only ship within the continental US and Canada, and there is no waste with our shipping materials.  We want consumers to start asking the hard questions about where products come from and how they are made.  Once we begin that dialogue, we can make informed choices with our dollars.  Slowly, but surely, it will make a difference.

GP: What is your favorite eco website or eco-product that we may not have heard of?

GHF: The Environmental Working Group  A wealth of unbiased information about chemicals in our food and cosmetics.  Highly recommend their Skin Deep Database for specific information about beauty products.

GP: Thanks so much to Green House Framing for taking the time to answer our questions!

Special Offer: 20% off all framing and services for GP members.  More info here.

**Green House Framing clients can receive 30% off GP certification with code GRNHOUSEFRAMIN til Dec. 2, 2010.**

If you have an idea for a spotlight feature or interview, let us know!

We recently received the following email from Lisa at Green House Framing.  We are shocked to learn of frame companies making false claims that they mouldings are Forest Steward Council Certified.  We have updated our framing article with this new information.  Thank you to Lisa and Lars for making some of the greenest frames out there and keeping other's honest.

Check out Green House Framing's blog post on this issue here.

We have been working with the Forest Stewardship Council in regards to some moulding companies claiming that their wood is FSC.  At this time, there is no moulding manufacturer who is using FSC certified wood.  Roma outright lied about the source of their wood and other frame companies have followed suit, thinking they would not be questioned.  FSC has forced Roma to remove the claims from their website and advertising.  They will be asking other frame companies and anyone else making those claims to do the same, including Framer's Workshop and Greener Photography.  I wanted to give you the heads up in case you wanted to go ahead an remove it voluntarily.  In order to list any company with FSC certification, you need to verify the certificate number for the product.  Also, just because a moulding company acquires some wood from an FSC forest, does not make their mouldings FSC certified.  That is an additional certification process that they have to go through, and no company has done either certification according to the FSC.  So, to sum up, there are no mouldings that are FSC certified, and there are no mouldings currently being manufactured from FSC certified wood.  Larson-Juhl has had their Biltmore Matting Collection FSC certified.  That is the only FSC label that you can use on your website.  The have some mouldings that are PEFC certified, so that is your choice whether to include that or not.  It is kind of a way around FSC certification because they know that cannot get one based on their wood sources. 

And, then there is the issue of managed forests.  This is just another marketing gimmick that means absolutely nothing.  Anyone can say it because there is no verification process.  It is your choice to promote that if you want.  If a frame company were actually using wood from a sustainable forest, then it would be FSC certified.  We are not the framing police, and definitely do not want to spend any more time than we have to on issues like this.  We just can't let these companies lie about their wood sources, especially when customers want to buy something that is better for the environment.  If I had to choose one company that is actually telling the truth about their mouldings, it would be Framerica.  I still have issues with them using virgin wood and toxic finishes, but at least they are not making wild claims about their frames.

Lisa Pratt | Artist/Owner | Green House Framing | 503.777.8420

And there you have it!  We never imagined that someone would falsly claim their products as FSC certified.  Currently Greener Photography does not have the resources to verify every claim and that puts us in a tough spot when we just report the information that is available publicly.  Would you like to see GP police these kinds of claims?  Please let us know.  We have a continued discussion on this topic in our forum.