Green Furniture

Up until about a year ago, the thought of Eco-friendly or Green Furniture had never really crossed my mind. The idea is somewhat abstract and seemingly not that big of a deal. Then, you start to consider the implications. Every new chair, couch, and table has an impact on the environment. As with many other consumer goods they are produced as cheaply as possible with an often uncomfortable disregard for the planet and for your health. This doesn’t make the companies that produce them inherently wrong, but it does show that the marketplace has different priorities.

I believe this same marketplace is hungry for “greener” options…

The market for Green Furniture has grown over the past few years as people have begun to consider the types of materials used, the way these materials are colored and made, and the recycling options for each. If you are already living a natural health lifestyle and are interested in creating a Green Home, you have no doubt considered the cost of transporting foreign materials, how they are disposed of and any pollution implications from them. However, you may not have considered the health implications that some furniture may have on every member of your home.

Many types of furniture can negatively impact your indoor air quality through toxic adhesives and wood finishes. Quite often there are fumes from these compounds that are still present up to a year after they are manufactured and are especially concerning within the first few weeks they are made. If you buy a piece of furniture brand new and bring it home, you will certainly notice what I mean.

Also found within the furniture are different types of synthetic foams and padding that may have been treated with flame resistant sprays and materials. As these materials age, they begin to crumble and find their way into the air and dust we breathe. One of the primary forms of airborne contaminants, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers is found prevalently in North America and can potentially cause hormonal problems and even effect brain development.



Benefits

Aside from peace ofu mind and doing the “right thing” for the environment, Green Furniture specifically reduces unwanted chemicals from being produced for use in manufacturing and the leakage of these chemicals from making their way into our air and waterways.

Avoiding unnatural materials found in conventional furniture stores will ultimately improve your health. As you replace your old furniture with green furniture, you will piece by piece be reducing the potential for toxic chemicals in your household. This is a big part of natural health and healthy living.

How to Buy/What to Look For

• Obviously, you want to look for natural, ecologically sound materials that are made naturally and therefore easy to recycle down the road. This should be a staple of any green furniture store.
• Avoid VOC’s or volatile organic compounds. Instead, look for natural, water based finishes and paints as well as natural replacements for unwanted, toxic foam.

• Buy local if possible. This saves on transportation, while keeping your local economy humming along..

• Look for recycled materials. Many green furniture manufacturers are now “reclaiming” many parts and pieces from other natural furniture makers.

• Look for companies that are using sustainably harvested woods. Generally, this can mean it was made from organically grown materials or from reclaimed stock. This lessens the impact of over-foresting.

The bottom line is that purchasing Green Furniture is like purchasing a fine work of art. You are bringing into your home a safe, natural and sustainable element that you can feel comfortable purchasing…or sitting on!

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