How to Shop for Environmentally Sustainable Furniture

By Julia Ritzenthaler
Feb 3, 2010

The shopping public is a very fickle monster that retailers work hard to carefully understand and serve. What is popular one month will be out of vogue the next month. Popular styles will differ even in different parts of the country. Environmentally sustainable furniture is a fairly new concept to the buying public.

Many people believe that it sounds like a good idea but they do not really know what sustainable furniture is. The key is to not take more from the environment then can be replenished naturally. This includes the materials that the furniture is made from to the toxic chemicals that are emitted from the manufacturing plant where the furniture is created. 

One of the first rules of eco friendly furniture is to lessen your impact on the environment as much as possible. Reduce, reuse, and recycle is one of the best things to keep in mind. Do what ever you can to keep your pieces of furniture out of your local landfill. For instance, when you finally manage to replace your husband’s beat up arm chair, consider giving it to someone who will continue to love that monstrosity of a chair.  The definition of sustainable furniture includes using materials that have been recycled or re-purposed or are made from a renewable resource. These furnishings will also use materials and manufacturing processes that are safer for the environment. Transportation of goods also adds to the economic impact that furniture will have on the environment. Online retailers are also an interesting environmentally friendly shopping option.

You don’t have to drive to get to and from the store and because there is no brick and mortar store, the retailer has a smaller environmental footprint. Plus they have the ability to bring you an amazing selection and ease of comparison shopping.

Eco furniture can also be made from reclaimed materials. These materials may include wood, iron and glass. Buildings that are no longer being used can be stripped of these materials and then re-purposed to make a chair for your living room. Wood that has been reclaimed has become extremely popular because of the unique markings that it will usually have.

No matter what direction you choose to go with your sustainable furniture choices, be sure to consider an environmentally friendly disposal option for your old items. Pass down to a family member or friend who is just starting out on their own, or consider donating to a women’s shelter or somewhere like Goodwill.

Source: Home Renovation Guide