Environmentally Friendly Furniture
Whether you live in a house, apartment, or dorm room, you’ll need furniture to provide a place to sit, eat, and store your stuff. You’ll naturally consider materials, color, quality, and cost. You may also want to use furniture to express your personal style. But what if (as evidenced by your coming to us – www.nat-eco.com) it’s your style to create a healthy home that’s contributing to a healthy planet? Well, then you’ll want to do some research. You’ll need to think about the entire life cycle of the piece, taking into account the resources used to make it, the energy costs associated with transporting it, and the ease of disposal. You’ll want to know whether it’s going to pollute your indoor air.
We don’t recommend that you try to do this research while standing in the middle of a furniture store. But green furniture is a fast-growing retail segment. If you know the lingo and the basics principles of green design before you go to the store, you’ll be able to make good choices with a minimum of head scratching.
Our Tips for you
At home
· Reuse. In your effort to go green, you may be tempted to throw out your existing furniture. But keep in mind that every new couch, bookshelf, or table takes a toll on the environment, from the resources used to make it to the energy consumed to transport it. So, before you buy new, reuse what you’ve got. Be creative. Can you repaint using a low- or zero-VOC paint? Can you cut off legs or re-upholster? Can a dresser become a baby changing table?
Recycle. If you are going to part with some existing furniture, don’t just dump it in a landfill. Sell it or give it away. If you don’t know anybody who wants it, try websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.
When shopping, look for
·Certified wood. If you are buying new furniture, look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). That’s an assurance that it came from forestry operations that meet strong environmental, social, and economic performance standards.
·Other eco-friendly options. Some bamboo processing options are less environmentally friendly than others, but, on the whole, bamboo is considered one of the greenest materials because it’s fast growing and doesn’t require pesticides. Other eco-friendly options include metal and glass.
·Reclaimed or recycled materials. Lately, furniture is being made of reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and recycled plastic. Keep in mind, however, that furniture made before 1978 may have lead-based paint or finishes. And, polyurethane foam may emit more flame retardants and other chemicals as it ages, so an older piece of foam may have higher emissions.
·Go local. Do your best to find materials that weren’t transported long distances.
· Low or no VOCs. Furniture can taint your indoor air through toxic finishes or adhesives. Choose paints, stains, and other finishes that are water based, with the lowest possible volatile organic compounds (VOC). And look for formaldehyde-free composite wood. A single piece of high-emitting furniture can elevate formaldehyde levels enough to cause eye, nose, throat, or skin irritation or headaches, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Placing a piece of furniture outside when you first get it can minimize the fumes, since emissions are generally highest right after furniture is manufactured. But the emissions may continue at low levels for a couple of years.
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