by bobbyo1

What is the Most Important Criteria When Sourcing Green Furniture? Look in your own backyard. Certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) are one indication of sustainability when sourcing green furniture, but they are not fool-proof. In my opinion, the two most important criteria when sourcing green furniture are to:

Source locally made furniture and
Ensure the furniture is made from natural sustainable materials, such as sustainably harvested wood or recycled, reclaimed, repurposed materials.

The US Green Building Council prioritizes local sourcing as well. Their LEED certification program specifies that furniture must be sourced within a 500 mile radius, and they emphasize: the closer the better.

Always ask your furniture vendor for specific information on where the wood or other material in your furniture comes from. If they can’t tell you, look elsewhere for authentically green furniture.

What Effect Does Furniture Quality Have on Sustainability?

The statistics I’ve seen show that the amount of cheap, low-quality furniture we are throwing into landfills increased six-fold between 1960 and 2008. The biggest jump in landfill volume occurred in the 1980s and continues still. It was in the 1980s that furniture making shifted from North Carolina and the Great Lakes areas to overseas in response to a burgeoning demand for cheap furniture. This low quality furniture, often made of particle board, MDF, pressed cardboard, staples and glue typically has a life of about 2-5 years before it ends up on the curbside and eventually in our landfills.

]]>

Look for high quality craftsmanship when sourcing sustainable furniture. Solid wood construction, robust joinery such as mortise and tenon and dovetail joints and non-toxic finishes will serve your clientele well over many years, while keeping our landfills virtually furniture-free.

Does the Furniture Industry Publish a List of Best Green Practices?

The Sustainable Furnishings Council SFC, a non-profit coalition of furniture industry players dedicated to promoting sustainable practices has published a list of best green practices for the industry. SFC members pledge to take steps to follow these recommendations and minimize carbon emissions, waste stream pollutants and un-recyclable content.

The group uses a detailed Life Cycle Assessment to analyze the environmental impact of their products, and a verifiable chain of custody as the only acceptable method for tracking wood flow. Members support the triple bottom line of People-Planet-Profits and lead the industry in developing awareness of best practices throughout their supply chains. Look for the designation of Silver, Gold or Platinum in an SFC member’s status to determine their level of commitment to the SFC mission and goals.

For more information on sourcing green furniture, see preceding article: Sourcing Green Furniture 101: For Interior Designers, Decorators and Homeowners.

Find additional options and tips for buying sustainable, eco-friendly green furniture at Vermont Woods Studios.

Visit Peggy Farabaugh’s Eco Furniture Blog for consumer advice on buying eco-friendly, natural handmade furniture that is made in America with sustainably harvested local wood.