Ethical shoppers can make a difference. When enough individuals opt-out of unethical companies’ practices, their practices tend to change over time. However, how easy is it to “go green” in this way?
Sustainably-sourced materials must be renewable and free from toxic substances; local sourcing helps minimize shipping emissions. Ethical furniture brands will be transparent about their production methods and have credible certifications, as well as being aware of what will become of any unneeded furniture once it no longer serves its original purpose.
Green Living, Chic Spaces: Exploring Sustainable Online Furniture Options
Selecting materials made of eco-friendly materials when choosing furniture helps minimize its environmental impact. Ethical furniture typically uses wood that has been sustainably harvested, reclaimed or recycled while using nontoxic materials that don’t off-gas or release harmful chemicals into the air. Its durability will keep it out of landfills and preserve resources over time.
For instance, plastic pollution poses a great environmental threat; organic fabrics like hemp, linen or lyocell use fewer resources and don’t pose as many chemical or odor issues as cotton products do.
At the core of ethical furniture production lays its materials and sourcing. Production has a tremendous ecological footprint; energy is consumed for production while waste produced and economies affected. If you want pieces to be truly ethical, look for renewable, eco-friendly and nontoxic materials as these will have minimal impacts.
At the same time, it’s wise to avoid pieces made or sourced in countries known for poor working conditions and low wages – especially cheap mass-produced pieces made in China or Southeast Asia where laws do not provide sufficient worker protections, like those on this website or similar. When possible look for pieces made in North America such as the USA or Canada which tend to adhere to higher health and safety standards for their employees.
Fair Trade is a global network of consumers, producers and businesses working towards equitable trade by placing people and planet before profit. Their belief is that all producers deserve stable prices for their goods as well as access to markets and means to improve their quality of life.
They also create sustainable partnerships between businesses and farmers while raising awareness about social and environmental impact associated with purchasing fair trade products through advocacy, education programs, Fair Trade Towns Colleges & Universities or similar organizations.
Fair trade first emerged as a response to unfair trading practices and an ever-widening economic gap between global North and South economies that were having detrimental effects on farmers, workers, and their communities.
The principles include adhering to International Labor Organization agreements banning child and slave labor; paying products a fair price that covers production costs; fostering sustainable relationships through long-term business agreements such as crop pre-financing schemes; as well as maintaining transparency throughout supply chains.
These products provide many advantages, not least of which being ethical sourcing and supporting the local economy and creating jobs in your community. Studies have demonstrated that consumers are willing to pay more for fair trade products versus non-fair trade ones.
However, consumers may find the higher prices associated with fair trade products dissuasive; and producers may struggle to justify the additional fees that they are subject to. But nonetheless, fair trade seems set to stay and grow even more popular each day.
With so many sustainability labels out there, it can be confusing to understand exactly what products qualify as fair trade certification. But with careful research and attention paid to details, you can discover an array of ethically produced items with fair trade certification.
Making a Statement with Environmentally Friendly Furniture
Along with supporting local economies and businesses, purchasing handmade furniture can also be more ethical in that it often features higher-quality materials that outlive mass-produced pieces and thus save you money and reduce waste in the long run.
Artisans producing such handmade pieces use only premium materials such as solid wood from sustainable forests or reclaimed materials – meaning no exploitative labor practices occur when crafting them by hand!
When shopping for handmade, locally-sourced furniture, consider looking for entirely-made-local pieces crafted by artisans in your city or state. This will keep costs down by eliminating global shipping fees, while simultaneously decreasing environmental impacts of purchases.
Purchasing directly from an artisan allows you to meet their creator directly and experience more personal connection as you learn their work firsthand. An artisan may teach you how to care for it properly as they share their story – creating an uplifting sense of community spirit in the home.
By purchasing furniture constructed of recycled materials, you help reduce consumption of raw material and help the environment by cutting down fewer trees for new pieces of furniture production. Sustainable furniture however can be made out of old wood or bamboo instead, alleviating this concern altogether.
Finding a brand that utilizes eco-friendly practices is of utmost importance; this will mean no harmful chemicals are used during production and the furniture will therefore be safe for your family as no harmful substances will come into contact with it.
They will likely source materials locally to reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions, use minimal packaging materials, such as biodegradable ones to limit waste production, as well as plant more trees while cutting energy consumption costs down further.
Consider purchasing second hand or vintage pieces when looking for furniture as it helps save energy reduce landfills and saves money over time as these will last much longer than new. Plus it could save money over time too as these will likely outlive new purchases!
When purchasing vintage or secondhand furniture, it is advisable to inspect it closely for signs of wear and tear to ensure its quality and long life. Doing this will give you assurance of its durability.
Renting furniture instead of purchasing it is one way to reduce its environmental impact and extend its useful life cycle, thus cutting waste significantly. It’s important to remember this when buying anything new – for you or someone else.
Not only is eco-friendly furniture helping reduce waste production, it will not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemical byproducts produced during manufacturing processes that can pose health hazards.
