Eco Friendly Furniture

Eco Friendly Furniture - Our Tips:

Over the last few years the price of furniture has actually reduced quite substantially, this is not down to improved manufacturing methods , it is due to the "flood" of cheap imports that has taken place!

The price you have paid might have been cheaper, but the cost to the environment is actually much higher!

Many items of modern furniture these days are made with substances in them that are toxic to both humans and to the environment.

Just take a look around your office or your houses ,you will find that a lot of your furniture is made out of "particle board" which is just a fancy name for "chipboard". Particle board is made from wood scraps and a lot of glue or filler.

As the natural finish of chipboard is not pleasing to the eye, this is then typically covered in possibly a veneer made of wood or plastic.

The manufacturing process of this type of furniture could never be described as eco friendly furniture!

BUT, I hear you say it's cheap! - and typically most people end up thinking about price, not the environment, when they purchase their furniture!

The problem with furniture that is made out of particle board is that the resin in it that binds the chips of wood together actually has formaldehyde in it. This is a toxin and a carcinogen.

Of course, you can't be quite sure what wood is in the veneer and the chips of wood. It could be from any type of wood out there today.

Many of the covers and cushions for today's furniture is also made out of materials that can be pretty nasty. PVC is often used, which has formaldehyde in it as well.

Another material often used is polyurethane, which has a variety of bad chemicals, including fluorocarbons, acetone, and methylene chloride.

Furniture that is made out of solid wood is not always the great option either.

Although in many countries use of raw wood is controlled to soem extent to make sure that natural habitats are protected.

However, the furniture that is cheap that comes from other countries where such controls are not in place.

China, for example is the top wood furniture exporter in the world, and they are the top in flooring and plywood. The demand that they have for materials is actually leading to wood black market trade in a variety of other countries.

Most of the companies in China that make furniture are not required to ensure that the wood they use does not come from tropical or old growth forests.

Of course, it is easy to make China look like the bad guy. However, what happens to drive this problem is the demand by the West for goods that are cheap.

Outsourcing in this case has ended up leading to environmental problems.

The good news is that you can purchase both eco friendly furniture & eco friendly flooring that is earth friendly. Here are a few great tips that can help you make the right choice that is good for you and the environment:

• Avoid going with furniture that uses plywood or particle board.
• Think about whether you need to purchase new furniture. You may be able to restore the furniture that you have.
• Look for furniture that has a label that notes that it is sustainable.
• Remember that eco friendly furniture is an investment. It can save you in the long term to spend a bit more now.
• Look for options that are made from raw materials that are sustainable such as bamboo, which makes great eco friendly furniture.
• Furniture made from recycled plastic can be inexpensive and makes for great eco friendly furniture.
• Take a look at second hand or resale stores or flea markets for furniture that is cheap. With a little care, it can look great.
• Antiques are another fabulous option. Auctions are a great place to get great bargains on furniture.

 

 

Join our RSS feed to stay in touch with updates to the Eco Friendly Digest!

To Receive Our Latest Updates - Please Click the Button

 

 

 

Return to Eco Friendly Digest home page.