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Eco-friendly furniture
A lot of modern furniture contains toxic chemicals and will fall to bits after a few years. In contrast, sustainable furniture should use natural materials, be free of toxic chemicals and be made to last for many decades.
Choose natural materials
Furniture made from natural materials is good for the environment and will give your home an attractive natural look. Wood is the most common natural material for furniture. But try to find out whether the wood came from an environmentally friendly source such as a sustainably managed plantation, rather than from old-growth forest or tropical rainforest. One way to be sure of this is if the wood carries FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. Furniture manufacturers and retailers who really care about environment issues will know whether the wood is sourced sustainable.
Other natural materials include wicker (which is made from natural fibres such as rattan, bamboo, reed or willow), bamboo and stone. However, some non-natural materials may still be considered sustainable. For instance, steel can be a sustainable choice because it lasts a long time and can be recycled, while some designers produce furniture from recycled plastics.
Avoid chemicals
Modern furniture contains a surprising number of potentially toxic chemicals that have been linked with allergies, asthma and other health problems. Chemical coatings are commonly applied to the fabric of chairs and sofas to make them stain resistant or fire retardant. You can usually tell if a piece of furniture has a chemical coating simply by feeling and smelling it. Stiff, shiny fabrics, or those that feel "coated", usually have chemical treatments. And if it doesn’t smell natural, it probably isn’t. If possible, choose furniture with natural coverings such as hemp, wool, linen or organic cotton instead.
Most lightweight particle board, plywood and fibreboard furniture contains toxic glues and formaldehyde. Solid wood is a better, healthier alternative because it doesn’t need these chemicals. You can protect wooden furniture with natural sealants and varnishes such as beeswax or linseed oil, or repaint it with natural plant-based paints – standard petrol-based paints emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can affect your home’s air quality.
For seat cushions and bed mattresses, latex rubber foam is non-toxic, long-lasting and biodegradable natural alternative to petroleum-based polyurethane foams. If it comes from a sustainable rubber plantation it is a good eco-friendly choice.
Built to last
A well-made chair, table or wardrobe should last for generations. Investing in well-made quality furniture will be more cost-effective in the long-run than buying cheap rubbish that falls to bits within a few years and has to be replaced. And rather than throwing it out, give your furniture a new lease of life with a little maintenance and repair. For instance, getting armchairs and sofas reupholstered will often give them a new lease of life.
Buy recycled
If you scout around second-hand stores and garage sales you’ll find plenty of second-hand furniture in good condition. Not only does buying second-hand avoid the environmental costs of the energy and materials needed to make a new piece of furniture, but older furniture is generally better made and less likely to contain chemicals.
... and recycle
Take your own unwanted furniture to second-hand shops or have a garage sale. If you leave a piece of furniture out on the grass verge it will usually find a taker – just try not to leave it out in the rain to get ruined. Ideally, a piece of furniture should also be biodegradable or able to be recycled at the end of its life. For instance, wicker or wood will eventually biodegrade or even compost; while steel and some plastics can be recycled.
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References
Related Categories
Furniture - Custom Design
Furniture - Outdoor
Furniture - Retailers
Furniture - Second Hand
Furniture Removal