How ‘green’ is your home? We show you some tips to decor your home while taking care of the environment
Sustainability is becoming a new trend nowadays as people start to realize that the environment needs to take care also. This trend also happening in the furniture and home decor industry. Many brands start to introduce their collection that is eco-friendly, stylish, and has a good quality. Here, we show you the standards of the furniture to be called sustainable.
Why sustainable furniture?
Sustainable furniture is becoming a popular trend among interior designers and furniture sellers. The reason for this is that customers are increasingly demanding aesthetic, modern designs, and environmentally friendly products for their homes. Sustainable furniture is made with the new values of modern luxury in mind: quality over quantity, circular economy over throwaway mentality, and ethical working conditions over profit maximization. The furniture sellers need to ensure that they act in a sustainable and socially responsible manner throughout the entire value chain and that they deal consciously with the environment, people, and nature.
Standards of sustainable furniture
The use of natural materials
Sustainable furniture should be made from natural materials that will not harm the environment such as wood, natural fiber, rattan, and eco-friendly textile for the cushion. Furthermore, the use of non-endanger resources is also necessary to pay attention to. Using local and legal wood, like FSC certified wood is more environmentally friendly and also healthier for your home. Additionally, using recycled material such as recycled teak can be the other option for sustainable furniture.
Not only environmentally friendly but also ethical value production
How the products are made is playing an important role to claim that they are environmentally friendly. In terms of the material, it not only needs to be natural but also grown and processed organically. This involved avoiding endangered resources as we stated above, using minimal chemicals during the production process, and how the raw material and the end-product will be shipped. This is necessary because the goals of eco-friendly furniture are to save water, energy, or CO2 emissions so that it could significantly reduce a brand’s greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate neutrality.
In addition to environmental protection, the manufacture of sustainable furniture should ensure human safety, including fair working conditions, pollution-free and health-friendly jobs, and adequate wages. Many sustainable furniture manufacturers emphasize know-how, traditional craftsmanship, and handmade process.
Sustainable furniture should be recyclable
When purchasing furniture, it is necessary to ensure that it is made of recyclable materials. Many manufacturers claim that their product is 95 percent to 100 percent recyclable. However, it is not uncommon for furniture to be made of various materials that have been irreversibly glued or bonded together. If this is the case, it is no longer possible to claim that the furniture is environmentally friendly.
Durability means sustainability
Durability is an important point when looking for environmentally friendly furniture. This is because the products will last longer and not easily end up in the landfill. That is why the term “quality over quantity” is best suited for eco-friendly furniture.
Sustainable furniture is free of harmful substances
Eco-friendly furniture should have minimal harmful chemicals or well known as volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs are chemicals that evaporate when exposed to air at room temperature. Various materials (e.g., wooden panels) and surface treatments (e.g., liquid paints) commonly used in the furniture industry contain VOCs, which release hazardous gases into the indoor environment. The smell of “new furniture” after the packaging is removed is frequently caused by VOCs evaporating in the air.
Certification for sustainable furniture
FSC certificate
FSC certification focuses on forest management to ensure that the manufacturer using legal wood to make their products. The “Forest Stewardship Council” is in charge of the processing and trade chain, as well as environmental and social principles. Forest preservation will be promoted in this manner. As a result, FSC-certified wood furniture is responsible, resource-saving, and environmentally friendly.
Buy sustainable furniture
In general, do your own research is important before purchasing new furniture to ensure that it is worth the money and meets all your standards. It is always important to support local manufacturers and small businesses.
So, are you ready to change your furniture with eco-friendly pieces? Or want to import eco-friendly furniture and decor from Indonesia?
Asean Sourcing is the answer!
With our 25 years of expertise in international trade, manufacturing, and quality assurance. We will be your trusted European partner, established locally on the islands of Java and Bali, which will avoid you from all the hassles of sourcing in Indonesia. We are more than just an intermediary between you and your suppliers. We provide a custom-tailored offer allowing you to realize significant savings on the production and procurement of your products from qualified suppliers in Indonesia.
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