Upholstered furniture manufacturer Lee Industries has been awarded Gold Exemplary Recognition by the Sustainable Furnishings Council in recognition of its "deep environmental commitment and exemplary implementation of a range of best practices for sustainability." Lee Industries demonstrated compliance with the SFC's Exemplary Manufacturer Requirements by submitting audited evidence of its achievements in production, outreach and operations. The company is the only upholstery company among the SFC's nearly 400 member companies.

"As a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, Lee has been committed to their mission since its inception,” says Bondi Coley of Lee Industries. “Norman Coley set a sustainability vision for this company and it became his passion to earn the Gold status. A lot of hard work went into obtaining this level of certification, and with the guidance of Patrick Beard, our engineering manager, and his dedicated team leaders, we were able to achieve it. We look forward to carrying on the foresight that Norman put before us and continue to lead this industry in sustainability efforts."

The company has been family-owned and -operated since 1969 and has been involved with the SFC since the organization began in 2006, both as a founder and as an early recipient of Silver Exemplary recognition. SFC Standards Committee Chairman Gat Caperton reflects, “Lee Industries’ long-time commitment to continuous improvement is a testament to the high regard in which it holds the environment and its customers. The awarding of Gold Exemplary status proved easy for us following their years of hard work. The company approaches manufacturing with same elegance it demonstrates in its products. The SFC is proud to recognize their ongoing efforts with Gold Exemplary status.”