Introduction
Buying sustainable home furnishings is a great way to help the environment and your wallet. It’s easy, too—just follow these steps!
Check the label.
To start, you’ll want to check the label. Most sustainable home furnishings are labeled with one of these certifications: FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council), Energy Star certified, GreenSpec or LEED certified.
These labels indicate that the wood comes from a reputable source and has been harvested responsibly.
Know your wood.
Knowing your wood is important for a few reasons. First, it’s good to know that you’re making an ethical purchase and contributing to the sustainability of forests. Second, knowing which woods are sustainable can help you avoid products made from unsustainable sources like mahogany or teak. And lastly, if you’re looking for a specific kind of wood in your furniture, then this will help narrow down your search (for example: if you want oak tables).
There are many different types of sustainable woods available today–some more common than others–and they each have their own benefits depending on what type of furniture need they fill:
Don’t buy anything with particle board.
Particle board is a type of manufactured wood that’s made from sawdust and other particles glued together with resin. The resulting product is then pressed into sheets, which are used to make furniture and other products.
It’s an inexpensive material, but it can’t hold up over time like real wood can–and it uses toxic chemicals in its production process.
Instead of buying furniture with particle board in it, look for alternatives such as solid wood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard). These are both better options than particle board because they’re made from natural materials like trees instead of synthetic ones like plastic or resin glue.
Look for furniture made from reclaimed materials.
Another sustainable material is reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood has a story to tell, and can be used to make furniture that is one-of-a-kind. The best part? It’s not just for rustic cabins anymore! You’ll find reclaimed wood in modern homes and apartments as well.
- Look for furniture made from recycled materials
- Check out IKEA’s new Home Planner tool
Try to buy locally-sourced goods.
You might be surprised to learn that buying locally-sourced goods is actually more sustainable than buying goods made in the U.S. or overseas, which is often assumed to be the most sustainable option.
- Buying locally supports local businesses and helps keep money in your community. That means you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy economy while doing something good for yourself and others around you who are also trying to live sustainably.
- Local businesses are more likely than big corporations (think Walmart) to be ethical and environmentally friendly because they have less distance between themselves and their customers–and therefore more accountability for their actions.
Opt for vintage and used items as much as possible.
If you’re looking for a more sustainable option, consider buying vintage or used furniture. You can save money by purchasing these items and support local businesses at the same time. Additionally, if you’re lucky enough to find something that is no longer being manufactured, your purchase will be helping the environment because it won’t contribute to waste in landfills or require energy-intensive manufacturing processes like new products do.
In addition to saving money on your home furnishings (and supporting local business owners), there are other benefits: many pieces of vintage furniture were made with higher quality materials than those used today–making them more durable and long lasting–which makes them a great investment over time!
Buying sustainable home furnishings is a simple way to help the environment and your wallet!
Buying sustainable home furnishings is a simple way to help the environment and your wallet! Sustainable furniture is made from renewable resources, such as wood and cotton. Plus, it’s often created locally, which means that less energy was used to transport the product (and fewer emissions were released).
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your impact on Mother Earth while still keeping things stylish in your home or office space, keep reading!
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for new furniture or simply want to replace something old, it’s important to consider the impact of your purchase. Buying sustainable home furnishings is a simple way to help the environment and your wallet!