subject: Sustainability And The Greening Of The Furniture Industry [print this page] Everything we manufacture uses resourcesEverything we manufacture uses resources. Sustainability means using less resources now so there will be more available in the future, and as consumers we have the power to promote sustainability by taking ecological factors into consideration when we make our purchasing choices. Fortunately, the furniture industry has developed a forward-thinking ecological consciousness, and they are prepared to help us make more environmentally-friendly choices when we need to buy furniture, such as a new sofa.
If you want to buy a sustainable sofa, one thing to consider is the wood. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative closely monitors the lumber industry and wood manufacturers, so you should look for their label when furniture shopping to make sure you are buying a sofa made from wood that has been harvested renewably and responsibly. Another thing to look for is the use of recycled foam, which has become a much more widespread practice in the furniture industry in recent years. You also might want to consider buying your new furniture piece online. This method means direct shipment to you, thereby cutting out the middleman at the retail store and reducing the overall time and energy investment involved in the storage and transportation of your sofa.
One way to reduce environmental impact is to try and make what you buy last longer. For example, you can buy a sofa that uses replaceable foam and fabric. Another suggestion is to buy a sectional sofa. This way, when you get tired of looking at it, instead of buying something new you can just rearrange the sections, so it seems like a whole new piece of furniture. You could then cover it with new sofa fabric in a new color, and the impression of newness would be complete.
The furniture industry has tried very hard to keep up with the times. Many sellers are now offering sustainable sofas, making it easy for environmentally conscious consumers to purchase sofas and other furniture items that have a lower environmental impact.
