Urbane Living care about the environment we live in. As a retailer we feel it is our duty not only to be responsible for the quality of our products but also the impact our products have on our environment.

All our products conform to the following policy:

• Raw materials will be sourced from suppliers who actively promote sustainability, in the case of wood flooring our suppliers must be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and/or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Urbane Living have full Chain of Custody certification for FSC (SA-COC-1654-CX) and PEFC (CATG-PEFC-096)
• To avoid polluting substances whenever possible, we take care to protect the environment in production, packaging and transportation of products.
• Urbane Living work with manufacturers who use natural and sustainable materials and who adhere to socially responsible business practices. When matching products with manufacturers we evaluate factors such as durability, affordability, and environmental benefits.

The Trademark of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) indicates that the wood used to make the product comes from a forest which is well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards. The forest of origin has been independently inspected and evaluated according to the principles and criteria for forest management agreed and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. FSC and PEFCis are international, non-profit association whose membership comprises environmental and social groups and progressive forestry and wood retail companies working in partnership to improve forest management worldwide. Learn more about FSC and PEFC.

Buying green – what are the benefits to the consumer:

• Cost efficiencies can be made, for example buying solid wood or bamboo flooring may be more expensive than carpet or laminated flooring at the outset, the life span of wood or bamboo flooring is considerably longer providing cost savings in the long run. Moreover with most natural materials, they tend to age beautifully and improve with the years.
• Your personal health should be an important consideration. Natural materials have proven to absorb CO2 resulting in enhanced indoor air quality. Furthermore many building products can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which have a track record of causing illnesses such as skin rashes, nausea, asthma and other breathing problems and is suspected to contain carcinogens.
• Decorating naturally also gives a sense of ‘goodness’ and well-being in ones self. We like to think this phenomenon is more than just a feel good factor as it is fundamentally being altruistic. We like to think if we look after our environment, it will look after us.
• Buying green can also be empowering, taking responsibilities for your actions and thus putting you at the driving seat of the way you design your home.

Buying green – what are the benefits to the planet:

• According to Friends of the Earth, an area the size of England was lost every year during the 1990s. Forests play a vital role in our global ecosystem. Tropical rainforests are not only home to tribes whose welfare and survival are being threatened, but it is also estimated that up to 30,000 species of animal and insect may go extinct each year. It is impossible to put a value on this loss of biodiversity, with rainforests estimated to contain between 70% and 90% of all of the world's species.
• Forests help to improve the quality of the air by absorbing CO2 produced by pollution and they are a key resource in the fight against global warming. Trees also play a major role in regulating climate by releasing oxygen that goes on to form water and therefore clouds. Through an intricate rooting system trees also help prevent land erosion.
• Cut emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change by buying products that require little greenhouse gases in their production and transportation.
• By consuming less we reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and minimise the demand on natural resources.
• The effect of consumption has a direct impact on wildlife around the globe; by minimising the demand on our natural habitats we are protecting many wild species on the verge of extinction.