Burlington, N.C. – Textile producer Glen Raven Inc. has made progress in its corporate sustainability efforts over the past year, including achieving a 25% use of renewable electricity and a 50% increase in its use of recycled products.

“Our corporate sustainability report reflects what we’ve been doing through history, and it’s our opportunity to really articulate what Glen Raven has stood for over time,” said Leib Oehmig, CEO of Glen Raven Inc. “We want to be transparent both internally and externally and hold ourselves accountable. We want to make sure both our customers and the larger community are aware of what we are doing.”

Since last year’s initial report, the company has also attained a 33% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 net carbon emissions between 2019 to 2021,  recycled 108,309 pounds of fabric in partnership with customers and increased its waste diversion from the landfill rate to 97%.

“We feel like it’s an achievable goal to become 100% powered by certified renewable electricity by 2025,” Oehmig said. “25% of our energy use today is from renewable sources. We are learning every day, working with power suppliers. We own two of the largest privately held solar installations in North and South Carolina, and we consistently push ourselves to do more.”

The concept around the company’s Recycle My Sunbrella program goes back a decade with the company’s focus on motivating consumers to return fabric so the company could recycle it into reusable fiber that has the look, feel and texture that consumers expect from Glen Raven.

“We went through a lull in that program in terms of interest,” he said. “But we’ve seen a renewed energy in the program over the past several years. It took us a little while to recycle 1 million pounds, but we believe we’ll get to that next million much more quickly.”

The company also has made progress in its goals to support its people and communities by establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team to lead the company; creating six new positions to help foster associate growth and inclusivity; achieving safety rates that were 50% better than the latest OSHA benchmarks; and completing 2,193 hours of volunteer work via the company’s associates.

One of the areas that’s been important to Glen Raven for generations has been early childhood education, both at the local level and in a broader way.

Leib Oehmig

“We want to have a role in ensuring that the next generation can have access and the opportunity to get the education they deserve,” said Oehmig. “The company’s culture is such that if employees require time away from the office to volunteer, no one is looking at the clock. There is a high level of trust here. We schedule these initiatives in a way that has a minimal impact on operations. We are flexible with our associates and haven’t felt the need to formalize that.

”When the company issued its first corporate sustainability report last year, the goal was to share a set of aspirational goals with the public. This updated report is another step to demonstrate Glen Raven’s commitment to accountability, according to the company.

“We’ve always operated with the belief that business growth is most valuable when done alongside the growth of people and preservation of the planet,” Oehmig added. “I thank our dedicated team and partners working toward our ambitious goals in spite of the pandemic and supply chain challenges. I commend them for the wins made last year and for their continued drive for more wins to come.”

For more information and to view the progress report, visit GlenRaven.com/sustainability.

See also:

• Glen Raven takes steps to grow domestic capacity

Duquesne, Pa. – American Textile Company (ATC) recently opened a tech center in downtown Pittsburgh as part of its digital transformation, which also extends to its manufacturing business.

The tech center is located in Nova Place, home to startups and more mature companies specializing in digital innovation. The new site fosters collaboration via an open plan design, but balances openness with areas where employees can focus. With its central location in the city and its proximity to high-tech companies in robotics, AI and autonomous vehicles, the operation is situated to attract top-tier technical talent, according to Blake Ruttenberg, EVP of American Textile Company and president of its AmeriFill division.

“Our continued growth as a company created the need for additional space. As we looked at the talent we needed to help lead our digital transformation, we had a choice to expand our existing site in Duquesne, go fully remote or bring talented people together in an environment that was truly built for collaboration,” he explained.

The office has dedicated project rooms that serve as a command center for coordination and collaboration of cross-functional teams during the implementation of new software systems and in scaling business processes using technology. Most of the company’s IT staff works permanently from the office. They include product owners, developers, analysts and engineers.

“But since the space is used by cross-functional teams, on any given week you will find, team members from other departments such as operations, human resources, finance or sales,” said Ruttenberg.

ATC is also investing to support growth in its manufacturing base. It has expanded its satellite warehouse in McKeesport, Pa., to help handle periods of peak demand. The newer facility in Tifton, Ga. consolidates manufacturing and distribution in facility to improve speed and efficiency by minimizing the movement of inventory. Additional changes include the automation of the facilities in Dallas, Salt Lake City and Duquesne.

“Across our manufacturing network, we have implemented technology to automate previously manual tasks. For example, automated fiber opening and weighing has improved our precision and increased our capacity by eliminating bottlenecks. Another example is the use of voice technology in our drop-ship operation. This again improves accuracy and speed since the system directs an associate on the most efficient walk path, eliminating steps and time,” said Ruttenberg.

See also:

American Textile makes key hire for digital transformation

American Textile Company promotes from within

Hickly, N.C. — HS Foam Fabricators, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co., is opening a second foam fabrication facility in High Point to further expand capacity for its business and provide additional support to current and new customers.

“The High Point region is a significant area for furniture, and we are excited to be increasing our capacity to better serve our customers” said Jason Porter, vice president of sales.

The addition of the 60,000-square-foot foam fabrication facility is expected to increase HSM’s production volume in the Triad and North Carolina area, as well as improve the overall flow of production in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Called High Point East, the multi-purpose facility houses assembly and cutting operations. It is the ninth foam fabrication location for HSM, which already operates in six states: North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana and Mississippi.

“Over the next six months, HSM will be adding various career opportunities in High Point to support operations,” said Michael Heyn, vice president of operations.

Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, based in Hickory, N.C., has more than 25 manufacturing plants in 13 states.

See also:

• Wm. T. Burnett acquisition marries 2 independent foam suppliers
• This foam producer to expand production with new factory in Maryland

• High Point, N.C. — The High Point Market and several furnishings exhibitors play a starring role in the second season of EarthxTV sustainability design show Chez Laurence.The newly released, eight-episode series is created, produced and hosted by New York-based interior designer Laurence Carr, who spotlights companies and organizations in the home furnishings and related sectors that are committed to creating a more sustainable future.For the second season’s premiere episode, Carr was filmed onsite at the October 2021 High Point Market where she participated in an immersive activation called “Sustainability Stories at Center Stage,” organized by the High Point Market Authority. Drawing on her expertise in circularity, Carr staged one of three vignettes showcasing innovations in sustainable furnishings from Currey & Company and Phillips Collection, along with paint from Farrow & Ball and materials like Unifi’s Repreve, which is made from 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic.

  Current High Point Market exhibitors featured or appearing in this season of Creating Things That Last include Aloka Home, Cisco Home, Copeland, Crypton, EtúHome, Libeco, Moore & Giles, Rowe Furniture and the industry association Sustainable Furnishings Council.

  The role of High Point Market, its exhibitors and SFC founding member Susan Inglis extends into future episodes, which are scheduled for release on EarthxTV each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET and then available on-demand, throughout the new season. The show is available for streaming on the EarthxTV app, AppleTV, Google TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.

  MORE

  Macy’s private label shifting to 100% preferred materials

  TJX unbundles new packaging requirements

   

Doraville, Ga. – During the last three months, bedding producer Serta Simmons Bedding has filed at least three WARN Act notices announcing plans to close factories in Virginia, Iowa and Kansas.

The most recent filing for the company’s factory in Lenexa, Kan., where Beautyrest products are manufactured, will impact 70 employees when the factory closes later this month. In April, SSB filed two WARN notices, one in Iowa and one in Virginia.

SSB filed a notice with the state of Iowa April 20 announcing the closing of its Clear Lake, Iowa, facility that employed 86 people. The company also gave the state of Virginia notice April 29 that it would close its factory in Fredericksburg, Va., that employed 128 people. Both factories were slated for closure June 30.

In April, SSB announced plans to consolidate two factories in Beloit, Wis., and Janesville, Wis., into a new shared 500,000-square-foot facility to manufacture Serta and Beautyrest products.

The company said it is in the process of creating “operational efficiencies” throughout the organization in a statement to Furniture Today.

“We are in the process of optimizing our manufacturing footprint to create operational efficiencies and best leverage our network to meet the needs of our retail partners as well as consumers, while creating a best-in-class employee experience,” according to the statement. “As part of this, we are expanding our operations in certain areas and consolidating other operations.

“We are grateful for the many contributions that our impacted manufacturing teams have made to Serta Simmons Bedding, and are committed to supporting these employees through the transition.”

See also:

• Serta Simmons Bedding enters into agreement to recapitalize the company
• Serta Simmons CCO Huet to exit company

HIGH POINT — As the third generation to lead his family’s company, mattress and upholstery fabric maker Culp Inc., Iv Culp initially stepped into the role of CEO on Jan. 1, 2020, right before the start of the pandemic.

Culp had worked for the company since 1998 and had served in several capacities including as president of Culp Home Fashions, the mattress fabrics division, since 2004. He became chief operating officer in 2018 and president in 2019. As a member of Culp’s senior leadership team for more than 15 years, he has played an integral role in the company’s business and strategic planning.

Culp succeeded Franklin Saxon, the previous chairman and CEO, who has since assumed the role of executive chairman. Culp’s grandfather Robert Culp II, along with his father Robert Culp III, started R.G. Culp & Associates in 1972 in High Point as a distributor that offered a complete line of fabrics to the upholstered furniture industry.

“It was the vision of my grandfather to be in two businesses: mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics. These are two distinct operations, two different markets and two sets of customers,” Iv Culp said. “That means Culp is less susceptible to market downturns and has been able to adapt to challenges.

“For most of our years, one business has supported the other. But for the past several years, both divisions are performing well and trending positively. This gives us confidence that our best years are ahead of us.”

Furniture Today spoke with Culp about the lessons he’s learned, the risks he’s taken and where he hopes the industry is headed.

Where do your best ideas come from?

My best ideas come from listening. I realized early in my career that people have such different talents and perspectives, and there is nothing more rewarding than a high functioning, collaborative team.

I think leaders understand that they don’t and can’t know all the answers. Good leaders benefit tremendously from bringing together individuals with different skills and ideas, from varying backgrounds and experiences. To me, there is much to gain by being a great listener.

I am amazed at the talent level we have within Culp Inc. and within our industry, and I have learned that the more I listen and bring forward the best collective ideas, the more we succeed.

Who opened doors for you? 

Well, it’s obvious to note that the biggest doors that were opened for me were via my grandfather and father. They had the inspiration to build a textile company from the ground up. They were the epitome of entrepreneurs, they were excellent salespeople, and they always did business the right way. I am blessed and honored to have the opportunity to continue their legacy.

I also pay a special nod to Frank Saxon, who proceeded me as CEO at Culp Inc. Frank is largely responsible for providing sound financial discipline to our company during the most difficult times, and he remains as a steady and constant support to me now.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken?            

My biggest risk has been making the decision to continue operating during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We knew that the best way for our business to stay financially solid was to remain open and ready to meet the needs of our customers. We also understood this was the best option to support our employees in an extremely uncertain period.

We are a manufacturing company, and our equipment needs to run.  Looking back, we can see that we weren’t perfect in every decision, but the move to remain open, maintain our employee benefits and support COVID relief efforts by making masks, appears to have been a great success. But it was definitely an agonizing (and risky) decision.

Where is the most interesting place your job has taken you?

Without any doubt, the textile industry is a global business, so we have visited many interesting places. The stories are endless. I have loved my trips to Asia (China and Vietnam primarily), and I cherish the many trips I have taken to Turkey. We have been fortunate to develop an excellent family culture with all of our associates and partners around the world.

Currently, I am most enamored with Haiti. Our operations and associates there are incredible, and Haiti feels like the ultimate convergence of opportunity for both our business and the people of Haiti. We are very proud of our presence there, and it’s a great place to visit.

How do you balance work and home life?

Work life balance is something I think about a lot, and I believe I manage it well. I had the greatest example in my own home watching my father. He was a true gentleman who treated everyone with respect, whether it was his family or his work. He did everything with class.

I learned there is no substitute for hard work, but you must always keep family first. I would never miss a game or an event that involved family — that will always be a priority — but I may also be back on emails that night.

What questions related to the industry have you been asking yourself lately?

I have been wondering what is in store for the consumer in the coming months. Our industry has been through such tumultuous times, experiencing supply chain challenges, peak demand and now rising inflation.

The furniture business has always been resilient, and consumers should continue to value the products we collectively produce. But trying to discern the short-term demand cycles is challenging.

What has been your biggest business mistake, and what did you learn from it?

I once led a decision to invest in a business that offered us a chance to diversify our revenue opportunities, but we didn’t fully understand the shifting industry dynamics. At the time, we were blessed with very strong conditions, and we purchased a company with an intent to target a new marketplace. We had an immediate new opportunity, but the marketplace changed and didn’t value our intellectual property or product innovation.

As painful as it was, I re-learned that due diligence in any deal must be extremely robust, and there is merit to staying within your core competencies.

When you get together with others in the industry these days, what is the key topic of discussion?

Most of the discussions I have these days are centered around supply chain opportunities, changing subtleties in the labor market and what business levels will be in the near term. I believe it is critical to have redundant supply chains that can react to any opportunity (or challenge) we may face in the future.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

I wish our industry would further embrace the value that we bring to consumers’ lives. We provide comfort and feelings of safety within the home, and we make products that can enhance personal health and promote environmental sustainability.

I am disappointed when we forego those benefits to focus on price, and I always hope for our industry to be given the respect and credit that we deserve.

 What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given and by whom?

I am not sure exactly where I got this advice, but I have been told “that things are never as good, or as bad, as they may seem.” For me that bears out in a mindset: Never be too high or too low, but be consistent and calm.

I believe it is possible to be ultra-competitive and have a strong desire to win in everything you do, but that should not come with any change in demeanor. I have watched successful people act in this way on an athletic field and in a boardroom. There are very few things that should invoke excessive frustration or celebration, and I think this is a good approach for business and life.

What are the three things that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I love live music, and I like to think that I am up to date on current music trends, but my kids often remind me that I am not.

I love everything about UNC-Chapel Hill sports, and I brainwashed my kids that way. Somehow, I ended up with a son who attends the University of Georgia, and I do find myself saying “Go Dawgs” every now and then.

I have found a new sport in pickleball. I play quite frequently, and I love the game, but I still don’t think I can beat our Culp Inc. Chairman Frank Saxon.

See also:

• Culp sales hold steady, challenges impact operating performance
• Culp assists SFC with 15th anniversary celebration

Philadelphia – Artisan-centric Kevin O’Brien Studio (KOBS) is broadening its palette with nature-inspired collections.

Set to debut at Atlantic Market next month, the introductions include the textile design house’s first foray into natural shades with a luxury bedding line of pure cotton-made coverlets and shams in the biscotti colorway.

“Our velvet is what we are known for, which is why we deliberately added a fetching velvet trim to our luxury bedding so that it all ties back to our decorative pillows and throws for a complete ensemble,” said Kevin O’Brien, founder of KOBS.

The studio is also introducing two new colors to its velvet ombre and burnout offerings. Evergreen is a lively, saturated green while Thistle is a soft lavender.

Sustainability features in this season’s introductions as well. As customers increasingly seek ‘quality that cares’ in their décor, KOBS is expanding the breadth of its Color Blocks of hand-crafted decorative pillows.

Color Blocks pillows are hand-made from the studio’s fabric scraps.

Fabric scraps and discards that are sheared and shed during KOBS’ domestic manufacturing process are repurposed into distinctive pieces. Handmade by KOBS’ sewers at the company’s Philadelphia facilities, each piece is unique.

The Prospect Park collection grew out of work Kevin O’Brien did for a historic furnishings exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum.

Product launches for Atlanta Market will round out with the new Prospect Park collection. It stems from a project O’Brien took on for the Brooklyn Museum furnishings exhibit, when he was asked to create reproductions of the original upholstery fabrics for some of the pieces.

Named after the iconic neighborhood where the Brooklyn Museum resides, the new collection of fabric yardage and pillows are made from hand-crafted in velvet and available in a variety of colorways.

The Kevin O’Brien Studio showroom at AmericasMart in Atlanta is located at showroom B1, 9-C-6.

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Madrid – Goldman Sachs, alongside majority shareholder Story3 Capital Partners, has led a $100 million into Recover, a global producer of recycled cotton fiber that is being used by brands including Primark and Lands’ End.

Recover’s proprietary recycled cotton fiber reduces the carbon and water intensity of the supply chain. The 70-year-old materials sciences company estimates that the new investment places it on a path to increase its production to over 350,000 metric tons of recycled cotton fiber per year by 2026, saving up to 5 trillion liters of water annually and allowing for significant reductions of carbon emissions, energy and land use relative to conventional cotton fiber.

The fourth-generation, family-owned company has opened new manufacturing hubs in Pakistan and Bangladesh, with additional hubs in Bangladesh and Vietnam due to open in the near term.

“Recover is a leading disruptor in the apparel and textiles space with much-needed sustainable solutions grounded in materials science,” said Letitia Webster,  head of Sustainability for Private Investing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

As part of the transaction, she will join Recover’s board of directors.

Peter Comisar, managing partner of Story3 Capital Partners and former partner of Goldman Sachs, noted that Recover has dramatically scaled up since the investment firm acquired a substantial stake in the business in 2020.

“Over the coming years, we will see radical transformation of large industries with sustainable solutions,” he added.

Related news:

Macy’s ups the ante on sustainably sourced cotton products

Parachute puts its chips on organic cotton

BASF’s traceable cotton program partners with UN’s sustainable network

Havre De Grace, Md. – Specialty foam manufacturer Elite Comfort Solutions is expanding and has leased a facility here with plans to add 225 full-time jobs over the next three years.

The new facility, expected to open in 2024 northeast of Baltimore, will house foam pouring and fabrication for the subsidiary of Leggett & Platt.

“We look forward to continuing to grow Elite Comfort Solutions and expanding our footprint with this new facility in Maryland that will give us the capacity and location to accomplish that goal,” said Tyson Hagale, president of bedding products at Leggett & Platt.

To assist with project costs, the Maryland Department of Commerce has approved a $900,000 conditional loan through Advantage Maryland. Additionally, Harford County, Md., is providing a $90,000 conditional loan to assist with workforce training costs. Elite Comfort Solutions is eligible for various state and local tax credits, including the Enterprise Zone Property Tax Credit and the Job Creation Tax Credit.

“Elite Comfort Solutions’ decision to expand its production capabilities to Maryland is a huge gain for our state’s manufacturing industry and the local economy in Harford County,” said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. “We believe this expansion will allow the company to accomplish great things in the area and continue growing its business throughout the East Coast.”

Leggett & Platt acquired Elite in 2019 in a $1.25 billion cash deal.

“The expansion of Elite Comfort Solutions to the Harford County business community will be a key addition to the county’s designated Enterprise Zone, which aims to attract new businesses and job creation,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “Our department is thrilled to welcome the company to Maryland and looks forward to its future contributions in the state.”

See also:

• Precision Textiles adds warehouse capacity in N.C.

Totowa, N.J. – Building on its push to grow its sustainability program throughout its factories and facilities, Precision Textiles has expanded Moe Kovangji’s role to include overseeing the company’s sustainability programs.

“Sustainability is one of our top priorities,” said Scott Tesser, CEO. “Precision Textiles is committed to doing its part to preserve the health of our planet and future generations to come. We apply environmentally conscious methods wherever possible, from incorporating organic wool fiber into our products to installing solar panels at our New Jersey headquarters. Our goal is to stay sustainably-sound and to continuously strive to develop new, sustainably-sound initiatives that improve the quality of our materials, products and business.”

The company has been rolling out a number of sustainable products over the past couple of years.

As the company’s vice president of manufacturing, Kovangji oversees Precision’s continuous improvement processes. During his 16-year career with the company, he has reengineered machinery, cross-trained employees and implemented energy conservation measures.

“Moe is skilled in team development and is particularly effective in implementing lean manufacturing principles and cost-reduction efforts, which makes him the perfect candidate for this position,” Tesser said.

Prior to joining Precision Textiles in 2006, Kovangji served in both engineering and plant management positions for Synthetic Industry Progress, Hills Brothers Coffee/Nestle Food and Recycled Paperboard.

“Our long-term business focus is to constantly change our business model by creating more environmentally friendly products without negatively impacting environment and community. Making manufacturing operations less wasteful, improving process efficiency, customer service and customer satisfaction,” Kovangji said.

See also:

• Precision Textiles ramps up in new N.C. facility
• Precision Textiles to open new factory in Phoenix