Using natural and ecological furniture in your home allows you to adopt a green lifestyle that can reduce your carbon footprint. These types of furniture have less environmental impact than regular manufactured products because of the differences in how they are produced and raw materials they use. Natural furniture avoids introducing synthetic materials or volatile organic compounds found in other products into your home, explains Discovery Communications. For this reason alone, you may want to consider natural and ecological furniture for your home.
Ecological Furniture
Ecological furniture can take advantage of natural materials that may otherwise have little value in other industrial uses. Bamboo, for example, is a fast-growing plant which is durable and versatile, explains the company, Bamboo and Tikis. Furniture made from burls, which are knotty growths on trees offers an opportunity to buy one-of-a-kind pieces.
Natural Furniture
Natural furniture allows you to bring a bit of the outdoors into your home. You may find the connection with nature satisfying when you choose a table formed from a cross section of a log, or a chair carved from a single piece of wood. The advantages of this type of furniture are that processing is kept to a minimum and the natural appearance of the materials is retained. In this way, you can avoid introducing preservatives and other byproducts of furniture manufacture into your home.
Materials
Natural and ecological furniture may use organic materials for coverings and upholstery. In order to be certified as organic, the production of the products must minimize pollution and be free of residues, explains the Organic Trade Association. When you choose these types of furniture, you know that you are using products that do not negatively impact the environment. Wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council are from manufacturers who practice sustainable forestry. Natural fabrics include cotton, cotton blends and linen. Natural latex or innerspring mattresses covered with organic cotton and wool offer eco-friendly alternatives to foam rubber.
Benefits
Natural and ecological furniture benefit the environment by reducing energy costs associated with collection of virgin materials. Recycled or reclaimed wood can be used to fashion new furniture without the expense of harvesting timber. When you choose this kind of furniture, you are supporting the production of sustainable goods. Another advantage is the character of the wood itself. Pradan Furniture explains that using old, reclaimed wood can give furniture a weathered, vintage look.
Economic Benefits
The benefits of natural and ecological furniture extend to the businesses producing these products. Smaller companies can take advantage of the niche markets created by the demand for eco-friendly furniture, whether yoga supplies or mattresses or hand-carved wood furniture. With recycled products, manufacturers have a ready source of raw materials which benefits both them and their suppliers.
References
- Discovery Communications: How to Go Green - Furniture
- Bamboo and Tikis: Benefits of Using Bamboo versus Other Wood Materials
- Pradan Furniture
- Organic Trade Association: The National Organic Standards Board Definition of "Organic"
- Forest Stewardship Council: The History of FSC-US
- National Recycling Coalition: U.S. Recycling Economic Information Study
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