What makes green furniture green? It seems like every furniture company is now promoting their furniture as eco-friendly, eco-friendly, or sustainable, but what does that really mean? How does a consumer make smart and conscious decisions when buying green furniture?
Here is a list of the top five questions to ask your furniture salesperson to see if their wood furniture is truly eco-friendly:
- Is the furniture made of natural solid wood? Are any furniture components made of plywood or particle board? Solid wood furniture will last, often for generations, while particle board furniture will likely be on the sidewalk in 5 years or less.
- Where does the wood for my furniture come from? Was it grown in a sustainably managed forest, or perhaps illegally harvested in third world countries where the world’s rainforests are rapidly disappearing? Local woods that tend to be sustainably harvested in the US include cherry, maple, oak, and walnut. However, if you’re looking for furniture made from tropical and/or exotic hardwoods, such as mahogany, teak, or rosewood, it’s very likely that it was illegally harvested from endangered rainforest habitats and brought into the US. with falsified documentation. Check with your furniture dealer to make sure they know where the wood comes from and whether or not it’s certified sustainably harvested.
- Is the furniture free of toxic chemicals, dyes, stains, glues, formaldehyde, finishes, and resins? This is not just an indoor air health issue, but an environmental issue as well. Look for natural solid wood furniture, with non-toxic natural finishes and non-off-gassing adhesives. At the very least, smell your furniture before you buy it!
- Is the furniture made in the USA? American-made furniture is built to higher standards than most imports that are produced cheaply in sweatshops in China and Vietnam. And since you’re closer to the US manufacturers, you have a much better chance of getting them to fix any potential issues, should they arise in the future.
- Is the furniture backed by a lifetime guarantee? You thought nothing was backed by a lifetime warranty these days, right? Believe it or not, many small furniture manufacturers build their wood furniture to last a lifetime and happily back it up with a lifetime warranty. It’s a valuable feature that could save you many thousands of dollars in replacement costs over the years.
Asking a few questions about the nature of the eco-friendly furniture you’re buying will help you select truly sustainable items that won’t endanger your family’s health and will be heirlooms you’ll be proud to own and enjoy for years to come. Isn’t it worth asking a few questions?