Eco-Friendly Furniture Trends for Modern Homes

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As such, judging from the trajectory of many in this industry, furniture-making practices are getting more ecological. We are seeing a worldwide movement towards sustainability and social responsibility.

Sustainable furniture manufacturers use low-impact production processes where waste and energy use are minimised, and that use reduced levels of VOCs which help to maintain healthier indoor environments (generally low-VOC paints and finishes are one example here).

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Biophilic Design

Furniture as a sustainable design trend is using natural elements in everything from organic shapes, to wood tones and textures beginning to look and feel more natural in hopes of bringing people back to the environment.

Bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled glass and used cork material are all being used instead of traditional building materials to prevent deforestation and limit greenhouse gas emissions made during manufacturing. We can also minimise environmental effects by choosing low VOC paints and stains.

Buying handmade pieces from local artisans and traders is another green practice, as is making your furniture in-community to reduce transportation costs. Reviving lost arts adds beauty and personality to your home and can provide an experience more authentic than mass-produced or fake art. Using secondhand things is also green because nothing new is being manufactured to replace perfectly good objects that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Streamlined design that serves more than one purpose result in living spaces that benefit the environment by producing less waste.

Local Craftsmanship

In keeping with growing environmental awareness, a growing number of consumers are turning to eco-friendly furniture that’s made for a greener Earth – without sacrificing style or comfort. An increasing number of adept designers are concentrating on making chic products that use less energy and produce fewer emissions while still looking fabulous.

In turn, manufacturers are striving more than ever to make use of local craft skills within their design processes. There are many advantages from a carbon footprint perspective as well as an economic one, and locally made items are much easier to track and trace – demand that current consumers are starting to expect.

Other sustainable manufacturing practices include the use of recycled and reclaimed woods for a certain amount of vintage character and patina, while adding a great deal of aesthetic appeal. Not only do these practices limit deforestation, but they often offer more aesthetically interesting designs than conventional products. Additionally, eco-friendly furniture typically employs low or no VOC finishes, giving the material a healthier indoor air quality along with making the pieces easier to clean and maintain, thereby further minimising their environmental footprint.

Zero-Waste Design

A focus for sustainable furniture is to follow a circular economic model, minimise landfill and pollution emissions, extend product lifespan, and close material loops through upcycling and improvement of operations.

On top of that, when you shop sustainable furniture brands you know exactly where everything comes from and how it’s being made; many of them are certified to a third-party concerned with environmental friendliness, like GREENGUARD or FSC.

Many green furniture companies that offer take-back schemes to have the old pieces reused or recycled if and when their life is over. This minimises waste while fossil-fuel based deforestation helps drive climate change.

Eco-friendly furnishings may cost you more upfront, but in the long-run they can save you money as they are more durable and longer-lasting, while helping to make a difference in the big picture on environmental matters such as deforestation, toxic chemical reduction and carbon emission reduction. You can easily find eco-furniture that’s beautiful and within your budget, if you put in the time to do a little research.

Modular Furniture

Many sustainable furniture manufacturers use known non-toxic, natural, renewable and recycled materials that consume less energy and give off fewer emissions, while embracing circular economic business models with real advantages to sustainability and zero waste.

Some consumers choose locally produced and handmade pieces, which reduce the carbon emissions associated with shipping. Other brands offer customisation opportunities for customers to select a design that corresponds to their particular needs and style preferences.

Furniture manufactured with reclaimed wood, recycled metal and upcycled fabrics are good examples, as is cork, increasingly used as a flooring material that is harvested from trees and does not kill them, and which is durable, lightweight, and insulating. Modular furniture is also a great choice – pieces can reconfigure and repurpose themselves as needed to both improve one’s comfort and decrease the costs associated with frequent replacement. More modules simply get added as your family grows and moves, making it an excellent solution (if space permits) when you are living in apartments or small dwellings where you must rent.