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Why sustainable furniture?
You seek out non-toxic cleaners, organic foods and energy-efficient appliances and lighting. But what about that new sofa? We often forget about the largest component of our home interiors, even when it's right under our derrieres. Choosing sustainable furniture has wide-ranging impacts, from rainforests to landfills to labor and even to our health. The exciting news is that sustainability now also means great design. When we think about furniture, we usually ask ourselves "How does it look and how much does it cost?" We'd like to encourage you to add a third question: "How was it made?"Why sustainable furniture?
Manufacturing and shipping furniture draws significantly on unsustainable natural resources and demands a great deal of energy. Furniture-grade wood is often sourced from tropical rainforests. Not only are some of the most diverse forests destroyed in the process (over 80% of the world's old growth trees have already been razed) but also the great biodiversity they support.
Furthermore, furniture manufacturing is rapidly moving overseas, which necessitates greater fuel consumption for shipping. Over the past eight years China has assumed ~1/3 of the world trade in furniture. And the US furniture industry accounts for $80 billion in annual sales. That's a lot of wood, fabric and tanker fuel! Then there is the healthy home interior factor. Furniture manufacturers typically use finishes, paints, adhesives and other chemicals that contribute significantly to indoor air pollution. This pollution is caused by off-gassing, a process of emitting chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. And the bonding agents used in furniture made of pressed woods (like particle board) often have high formaldehyde content. These toxins have been linked to many illnesses and allergies, and they leach out into the air we breathe as we sit on the couch watching TV. This is no small matter when you have young children in your house.
Attributes of sustainable furniture:
- Paints, stains and finishes that contain low or no VOCs (e.g., shellac, beeswax, and milk paint)
- Reduced use of glues, sealants and formaldehyde
- Natural fabrics, organic cotton, recycled fabric content and toxin-free upholstery
- 100% natural latex foam
- Use of materials that have been and can be recycled
- Minimal packaging
- Local manufacturing, which saves fuel and associated emissions
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