formaldehyde, often off-gas toxic
chemicals known as volatile organic
Know the Forest and the Trees
compounds, or VOCs. Studies show
that indoor air quality is often worse
A Consumer’s Guide to Buying Wood
than outdoors, due in part to VOCs,
which have been linked to birth
defects, endocrine disruption and
cancer. They’re a particular hazard
A
ccording to Audubon Magazine, as much as 90 percent of
today’s furniture comes from illegally harvested wood, of-
ten clearcut from Earth’s rainforests. The Nature Conservancy
to children and pets.
reports that every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is
Check for Greenguard product
mowed down. That’s 56,000 square miles of natural forest lost each year.
certification (GreenGuard.org) to
Who will save this treasure of vital flora and fauna for our
ensure low toxicity. Look for furni-
children? Nonprofits are working hard, but are limited by available
ture that is untreated or treated with
resources and volunteers. Governments occasionally help, but only
natural substances—natural wood
when it’s politically expedient to do so. It’s up to green commerce to step up to
finishes, naturally tanned leather or
the task.
organic cotton.
If local retailers don’t know this basic information about their products, ask
them to find out.
8. Buy vintage.
Pre-owned goods can be the green-
Where is the wood from?
est of all. Vintage and second-hand
Knowing the source of wood products is the first step in making wise
furniture requires no additional
purchasing choices. Retailers should know what country the wood
resources to manufacture, is often lo-
came from—not just where it was processed. Ideally, they’ll also know
cally sourced (cutting transportation),
the region within the country and what company harvested it.
is already off-gassed, and eases the
load on the landfill. Note: avoid buy-
ing painted furniture from the early to
What species is the wood?
mid-20th century, which may contain
Slow-growing hardwood tree species are often more endangered than fast-grow-
lead, or use a paint-testing kit from a
ing softwoods. A tree’s origin also matters. For example, plantation teak from
hardware store.
Central America or Indonesia is lower risk than that from Myanmar.
9. Buy local.
is the wood certified by the
Just like food, parts of a piece of fur-
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)?
niture might have traveled thousands
FSC certification assures that the wood comes from a legal and sustain-
of miles to reach us. Look for furni-
ably managed forest. Ask about the specific type
ture made close to home to support
of FSC certification; e.g., 100 percent,
the local economy and independent
recycled, or mixed-sources.
craftspeople, while decreasing the
environmental costs of shipping.
if not FSC certified,
10. give furniture a
how do we know
makeover or find it a
wood was legally or
good home.
sustainably logged?
Furniture tastes and needs change
The same species of timber may
over time. Why not repurpose or
have been harvested legally and sus-
freshen furniture with a new finish
tainably in one place, illegally and
or paint? If it’s time to discard an
unsustainably in another. Some certifi-
item, make sure it gets reused: sell
cation labels on the international market
it via
CraigsList.org,
eBay.com, the
are not rigorously or independently evalu-
local paper or the next yard sale;
ated. Retailers may also have their own internal
donate it through Freecycle.org; or
systems to ensure that they are selling legal
place it curbside with a “Free” sign.
products. Ask for details.
No sturdy artifact should have to live
for eternity in the landfill.
Source: Natural Resources De-
fense Council Buying Guide;
Source: Adapted from TreeHugger.
species details at
NRDC.org/
com
land/forests/woodguide.asp.
September 2008
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