Green Is Not Just A Furniture Color

It’s hard to think that anyone wouldn’t want to “go green” as much as possible nowadays. The problem is, nobody really knows what that means…

By Jane Lee Bock

It’s hard to think that anyone wouldn’t want to “go green” as much as possible nowadays. The problem is, nobody really knows what that means and there are no federal regulations regarding the labeling of green products. If you’re looking for new furniture to spice up that home you are spending so much more time in now, here’s some information you need.

For a product to be truly green it should not only be made from sustainable materials, it should be safeguarding the air quality in your home from the toxins found in paints, adhesives, cleaning solutions, and paper products as well. Fortunately, the industry has developed several classifications to help you determine the “green quotient” of a product.

One of those developers is The Forest Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management, wood and wood derivatives. Sustainable forest management ensures that the harvest of timber products maintains the forest’s biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes. Their certifications apply not only to new wood used for buildings, but for flooring and furniture as well.

If you want to know what’s probably in your furniture now, look at what green certified furniture sellers guarantee is not in their products: “100% formaldehyde-free – Eco-friendly, 100% non-toxic, water-based stains – UV cured finish minimizes greenhouse gases.”

To evaluate a potential purchase, go here to get an environmental impact calculator for your specific area. The project savings estimates (both environmental and financial) are customized to your regional climate, prices and rebates.

So what materials are the most eco-friendly?  Bamboo seems to be the material of choice for furniture, although rattan is another choice. A fast growing grass that grows to maturity in five years of less, bamboo is said to be one of the best plants in the world to sequester carbon since it releases about 35 percent more oxygen than a comparable hardwood tree. And bamboo can be flattened into flooring, molded into furniture, pressed into veneers, or even sliced up to make window blinds.

Other qualities of green furniture include being made of recycled or recyclable metal and plastic, being able to be easily repaired, disassembled or recycled, and being low in toxic compounds. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are the most common family of chemicals that are offgassed and have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, and cancer. Flame retardants and formaldehyde are common VOCs offgassed by furniture. If your home or office is well-insulated (which it should be for energy purposes) toxins can’t get out easily and can put your health at risk.

The point is, you have options, and now you have the education to make an eco-friendly choice.