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Sustainable Furniture: Good for Both You & The Environment

By Sydney Cohen

You may be wondering what is so special about eco-friendly furniture. Sustainable furniture doesn’t use any harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process to create its products. It also uses materials like bamboo, cork, or recycled cotton to make its pieces of furniture. All of these things are better for you and for the environment.

These days people are becoming more conscious about sustainability and want to live a green lifestyle.

Fast Furniture

Did you know that fast furniture is made with fast fashion in mind?

This means it is usually mass-produced, making it hard to repair and it also doesn’t last for very long, not to mention that it is made with harsh chemicals and toxic materials. Sustainable furniture, on the other hand, is made with longevity in mind. It’s built to last, so there is less waste involved.

Waste in Furniture Production

There is an immense amount of waste generated in the furniture industry, and the waste has only increased rapidly each year since 1960, similar to the fast fashion industry. Quality furniture is expensive, and it is unfair to the average consumer that they are expected to “invest” in furniture. Instead, it should be the furniture companies that make the gradual, positive change.

Eco-Friendly Furniture and Design

When looking for eco-friendly furniture, it is important to know what eco-friendly really means. Eco-friendly can be a confusing term because there are many different standards that eco-labeling organizations use. Continue reading to learn more about the basics of eco-labeling and how to find eco-furniture for your home.

There are many criteria that sustainable furniture can fall under. “For example, a piece of sustainable furniture might be made using renewable energy and composed of recycled materials.“

Additionally, the transport of furniture is important to consider, as certain modes of transportation have worse environmental effects.

Biomimicry is an emerging design strategy in creating eco-friendly furniture. Many sustainable furniture companies use this strategy, which opts to create designs that mimic nature and biological structures, in the formation of their furniture. This has been shown to increase environmental awareness through the utilizing and appreciating of these furniture items in people’s homes, not to mention the support of sustainable furniture in the purchase of these pieces.

Sustainable Furniture Materials

Did you know that sustainable materials are becoming more popular in furniture manufacturing? It is not just about sustainable design anymore. Now, sustainable material options are increasing rapidly, and there are many ways for designers to provide sustainable materials without sacrificing quality or style.

Some sustainable materials include FSC certified wood, organic cotton, natural materials, non-toxic binding agents, ethical wood, and other environmentally friendly materials.

Fair Trade in Furniture Production

Fairtrade is a movement that promotes fair labor practices for workers globally. It was designed to help reduce poverty, fight inequality, and protect human rights.

The fair trade certification system helps ensure that producers are paid fair prices for their products, which can then be sold at fair prices to consumers.

Fair trade practices such as fair wages, family-owned businesses, locally sourced and locally made materials and products, all manufactured with ethical production methods, are part of the Fairtrade movement.

Sustainable Furniture Brands

With sustainable furniture brands on the rise, it’s more important than ever to get your hands on sustainable pieces of furniture. As you look for sustainable brands, there are some key things to keep in mind.

The first is quality and price – the most sustainable furniture will be built with materials that are durable and long-lasting so they can stand up against our changing climate.

Second, think about comfort – these pieces should have a design that makes them comfortable enough to use every day without being too supportive or too soft.

Thirdly is the environmental impact – this is an area where many sustainable brands excel by using recycled materials and sourcing sustainable wood sources.

Not only do eco-friendly, sustainable pieces of furniture look amazing, have various price options, and are of great quality, but they also have a positive impact on the environment due to their ethical, eco-conscious, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.

This is because sustainable furniture brands use sustainable materials in their products and sustainable manufacturing practices when creating them. Ethical furniture also frequently follows fair trade practices, which is another plus.

So, if you’re looking for any kind of sustainable furniture brand, then take a look at these various options!

West Elm Furniture

West Elm is a New York furniture company with a new ethical furniture collection. Their products include sofas, chairs, bed frames, dining room furniture options, tables, chairs, and sofas, made from organic, natural, and ethically sourced materials. West Elm follows fair trade practices, and most of its furniture is available at a reasonable price.

Certified B Corp Furniture

Certified B Corps are certified by the nonprofit organization B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Certification is based on a comprehensive set of legal requirements that includes certified public accountants’ auditing process, third-party assessment from an accredited assessor, annual reporting system for certified companies. Certified B Corps are committed to using business as a force for good in order to have a positive impact on society while continuing to create profits.

The Joinery Furniture

The Joinery is an example of a certified b corp furniture brand promoting sustainability. Their furniture is made in the USA, and they use organic reclaimed wood and natural and sustainably sourced materials to create affordably priced furniture pieces such as bed frames, storage, chairs, sofas, sectionals, and other furniture.

Fully Furniture

Fully is an eco-friendly ethical furniture company, that uses FSC certified wood, reclaimed wood, and other organic and natural materials to create quality furniture pieces at an affordable price. Some of their pieces include coffee tables, chairs, accent tables, end tables, sofas, sectionals, home décor, and other dining room and living room pieces.

Their furniture is made in the USA, and they are committed to using only responsibly sourced and environmentally friendly materials.

Religion and Sustainable Furniture

As described on TrendHunter, a designer named Boris unveiled in 2012 a design collection entitled ‘The Enlightenment Series.’

According to the article: “The ‘Enlightenment Series’ is compromised of four pieces including a Rosary Lamp, Confession Box, Omikuji Carpet, and Seven Pieces Mirror. This Hong Kong-based company, which started in 2009, has ‘developed a unique style of work blending design, sustainability and technology.'”

Moreover, religions can lead the trend towards sustainable furniture by religious people having eco-friendly furniture in their homes and places of worship. This is a great way for religious people to model their religious values in a practical way.

Is Sustainable Furniture For You?

If you’re looking to make your home a more sustainable place, then furniture is one of the easiest ways. That’s because all it takes is a little research and some creativity when redesigning – or even making from scratch! We’ve given you several ideas for how you can support green furniture in this blog post.

Now, it’s your turn to make a change. If you’re looking for a way to go green without sacrificing style then sustainable furniture might be right up your alley!

* Featured image source