![]() ![]() Select durable, well-built furniture that’s designed to last. Another upside to buying quality-made older furniture is that it emits little to no VOCs since the heaviest off-gassing typically happens in the months directly following construction. You prevent these pieces from becoming waste by giving them another life. Avoid buying furniture from non-renewable resources, such as endangered tree species.īuying second-hand or vintage furniture is also a sustainable practice because no new materials are being used. Renewable and nontoxic materials like bamboo, natural fibers, responsibly sourced or reclaimed wood, cork, and recycled materials are good choices when shopping for furniture. Purchase Furniture Made with Sustainable Materials ![]() To find truly sustainable furniture, keep the following six tips in mind. Sustainable furniture can limit your exposure to VOCs and help you breathe easier.Īs Raub mentioned, the word “sustainability” is often overused. These VOCs are emitted as a gas (off-gassed) and contaminate indoor air quality with two to five times a higher concentration than outdoors, as found by EPA’s Total Exposure Assessment Methodology Study. ![]() Materials and chemicals used to construct furniture, like adhesives, paint, and wood preservatives, contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). But it also affects your home environment, specifically your indoor air quality. Sustainably made furniture focuses on environmental impact. Or a brand claims to use FSC-certified products, but they manufacture those products in a factory 5,000 miles away, with a heavy carbon footprint,” explains Raub. “For example, the covers on your sofa could be made from recycled materials, but those fabrics are often recycled petroleum products with an off-gassing effect. “The term ‘sustainability’ is often overused and fails to address how products are made,” says Phillip Raub, CEO of Model No., an Oakland-based furniture brand that combines 3D printing with responsibly sourced material to reduce production waste and emissions. “Sourcing distance can also play a role in driving emission, so the more local you can obtain your pieces, the better,” he says. Hellstern advises choosing furniture made with natural materials, such as reclaimed wood, and avoiding carbon-intense materials, such as concrete and steel. Each step of production can add to or reduce your carbon footprint. Shopping sustainably includes considering the entire life cycle of an item, from how it’s made to how it arrives at your door. General Services Administration, the goal of sustainable design and construction is to improve buildings by reducing negative environmental impact and decreasing discomfort and health hazards for occupants. ![]()
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