By using eco-friendly items every day, more and more people are choosing to live a sustainable and ecologically friendly lifestyle. In the case of the furniture sector, multiple sustainable furniture companies have made a bold choice to steer away from fast furniture resources and start producing furniture based on regenerative economy and eco-design, not only because doing so creates a sustainable product but also because there are numerous benefits of using sustainable furniture.

What is Fast Furniture and what makes It an Issue?

Fast furniture involves manufacturing mass amounts of furniture as fast as possible using cheap materials that are difficult to repair and refurbish. These inexpensive designs from homeware companies make it easy for just anyone to get their hands on modern furniture without paying too much per piece.

However, with such a fast-paced manufacturing process, there are major concerns around the production of fast furniture since it has negative impacts on the environment. For example, the process of making fast furniture increases the likelihood of pollution, deforestation, and landfills, as well as many health concerns. That’s why many people are turning towards sustainable furniture these days.

How is Eco-friendly Furniture different from Fast Furniture?

Ecological furniture differs from fast furniture in the way that it’s produced. For example, sustainably made furniture is made from non-toxic and biodegradable materials such as natural wood, and other recyclable materials that aim to have a positive effect on the environment and ecosystems. In addition, furniture designed and manufactured for sustainability can reduce waste and conserve scarce resources that are needed for long-term use in other areas of production to make a better impact on the planet.

Perks of choosing Eco-friendly Furniture

There are many perks to choosing eco-friendly and sustainable furniture over traditionally manufactured furniture, which include but are not limited to the following:

Reducing Harmful Manufacturing Practices

Eco-friendly and sustainable furniture helps to minimize harmful manufacturing practices because it is made using products from plantations and ecological farms. For example, these farms dedicate space to produce sustainable furniture materials such as bamboo and natural wood as well as other recyclable materials that have no CO2 emissions, making it easier to conserve the ecosystems and environments.

Prevent Deforestation

Since forests are fundamental for preserving the natural resources of the planet by retaining 45% of carbon, choosing sustainably made furniture can prevent deforestation since it's produced with materials from ecological farms and plantations, as mentioned above.

Encouraging Recycling and Refurbishing

By choosing sustainable furniture, consumers can contribute to the circular economy by favouring reusing and recycling practices. This eco-design approach allows for longer-lasting furniture and also provides a surplus material supply for manufacturing new furniture.

What type of Furniture is more sustainable for Long-term use?

Bamboo is said to be a more sustainable wood type than any other natural wooden furniture. This is because it is one of the fastest growing plants globally requiring the least amount of energy and water to grow, unlike hardwood forests.

Tips for Choosing Sustainable Furniture

Here are a few tips on how to choose sustainable furniture to help make your space a bit more ecological and toxin-free:

Buy Second-hand and Choose Timeless Pieces

Second-hand and vintage furniture is locally sourced with reasonable resale value and can reduce the load on landfills. In addition, timeless pieces can ensure that there’s no need to change the look of your space when a new trend hops on the scene. In addition, try to find antique or heirloom-quality since this quality of furniture is always made with durable materials in the old-fashioned way, which ultimately saves money and resources long-term.

Stay away from Flame Retardants

Flame retardants are toxic powders that fall out of furniture and mix with surrounding dust, which is associated with cancer, and neurological, and reproductive disorders. Therefore, consumers can avoid these by checking with manufacturers and retailers that they don’t sell furniture with flame-retardant powders.

Check the Label

Try to familiarise the certified labels to make sure that the furniture you’re purchasing is sustainable for the environment. To achieve this, consumers can look for The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), The Rainforest Alliance, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) labels on potential furniture pieces.

Conclusion

Choosing sustainable furniture is becoming more and more of an ecological hype across the world. So, try to impact the planet positively by following the above-mentioned tips for choosing furniture and making the world a better place again.