greenliving
The Best
Furniture is
Green
10 keys to
eco-friendly furnishings
our furnishings say a lot about our values, vision and philosophy. Tough, repairable items are less likely
But our buying decisions might also say that we think it is okay
to end up in the landfill. Although
to contribute to global warming, purchase products of child or
initially more expensive, they’re more
cost-effective than flimsier products
slave labor, or select disposable furniture that won’t last.
and can be passed along to others.
f
ortunately, responsible consumers are beginning to think twice about their
7. look for low-toxicity
purchases. And the furniture industry, aware of their contribution to global
deforestation and climate change, and the huge potential to help preserve
furniture.
dwindling rainforests, is producing more eco-friendly furniture. For smart choices,
Furnishings made of synthetic mate-
start with the list below.
rials or treated with synthetic sub-
stances, such as flame retardants and
1. choose certified
be flattened into flooring, molded formaldehyde, often off-gas toxic
sustainable wood.
into furniture, pressed into veneers or chemicals known as volatile organic
sliced to make window blinds. Most compounds, or VOCs. Studies show
Because trees absorb carbon dioxide
bamboo is grown in China, with few that indoor air quality is often worse
and produce oxygen, cool Earth’s
or no pesticides. than outdoors, due in part to VOCs,
surface, hold soil in place and provide
which have been linked to birth
habitat, deforestation produces devas-
4. embrace recycled defects, endocrine disruption and
tating consequences. Wood furniture
cancer. They’re a particular hazard to
made from sustainably harvested for-
metal and plastic.
children and pets.
ests and tree farms or from reclaimed
Furniture made from recycled plastics,
Check for Greenguard product
wood, is the responsible choice. Look
aluminum and other metals requires
certification (GreenGuard.org) to
for furniture certified by the Forest
less processing and fewer resources,
ensure low toxicity. Look for furniture
Stewardship Council (see FSC.org).
while supporting the market for re-
cycled materials.
that is untreated or treated with natu-
ral substances—natural wood finishes,
2. find furniture made
naturally tanned leather or organic
with reclaimed materials.
5. check for easy
cotton.
Some furniture is reclaimed from old
disassembly and
homes, furniture or factory scraps, or
recyclability.
8. Buy vintage.
resurrected from river bottoms (logs
Eco-friendly furniture should be easy
Pre-owned goods can be the greenest
lost in transport to sawmills) and res-
to repair, disassemble and recycle.
of all. Vintage and second-hand furni-
ervoirs (forested areas submerged in
Products certified through MBDC’s
ture requires no additional resources to
creation of man-made dams or lakes).
Cradle to Cradle protocol exemplify
Look for the Rainforest Alliance’s Re-
the principle. Avoid hybrids made from
manufacture, is often locally sourced
discovered Wood Certification label.
an inseparable amalgam of materials,
(cutting transportation), is already off-
difficult both to repair and recycle.
gassed, and eases the load on the land-
fill. Note: avoid buying painted furniture
3. Buy bamboo.
6. seek furniture that’s
from the early to mid-20th century,
Bamboo includes a family of fast-
growing, versatile grasses that can
durable and fixable.
which may contain lead, or use a paint-
testing kit from a hardware store.
24 Phoenix
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