Are you buying eco-friendly furniture?

If you care about the environment, then enquire before acquiring that new item of furniture.  It seems every furniture retailer is now claiming their wooden furniture as green, eco-friendly or sustainable but what does that really mean? How does a purchaser make fit and conscientious choices when shopping for sustainable furniture?

Here’s a list of the top five questions to ask your furniture company to see if their oak furniture is indeed what it seems:

1. Is the sustainable wood furniture made of all natural solid wood? Are any components of the furniture made with veneers? quality wood furniture will last, often for years, whereas cheaper board furniture will likely be out on the pavement in five years or less.
2. Where did the wood in my furniture originate? Was it grown in a renewably managed forest, or was it harvested perhaps illegally in third world countries where the World’s rainforests are quickly disappearing? Local woods that tend to be sustainably harvested include cherry, maple, oak and walnut. If you’re looking at furniture made out of tropical and/or exotic woods, like mahogany, teak or rosewood however, chances are quite good that they were illegally harvested from endangered rainforest habitats and imported with faked documentation. Check with the furniture seller they know where the wood originate from and whether or not it is certified as being sustainably harvested.
3. Is the furniture free of damaging chemicals, dyes, stains, glues, formaldehydes, finishes and resins? This is not only an indoor air health issue, but an environmental problem as well. Look for natural solid wood furniture, with natural, non-toxic finishes and adhesives that do not off-gas. At a minimum smell your furniture before buying it!
4. Where is the furniture manufactured? Responsibly made furniture is built to higher standards than most imports which are produced cheaply in sweatshops in Vietnam. And since you are closer to local manufacturers, you have a much better chance of getting them to resolve any potential problems if they arise later on.
5. Is the furniture backed by a lifetime guarantee? You thought nothing was backed by a lifetime guarantee these days, didn’t you? Suprisingly, many small sustainable furniture makers make their wood furniture to last a lifetime and they happily back it with a lifetime guarantee. It’s a useful feature that could save you many thousands in replacement costs over the years.

Adding a few questions about the nature of the eco friendly furniture you’re buying will help you choose truly sustainable items that will not endanger your family’s health and will become heirlooms you’ll be proud to own and enjoy for many years. Isn’t it worth asking a few questions?

Find more tips for buying  Eco Friendly Furniture at the Wooden Furniture Store.