Where does your furniture come from?
No, that doesn’t mean the store you bought it from, or the ‘Made in X’ label on the back – but where does the material it’s made of come from?
The answer to that question will usually have disappointing answers. There are plenty of furniture brands that make their products from imported materials that are often of questionable origin, and most brands aren’t very honest about it either.
That said, there are brands that produce environmentally friendly furniture that is not just sustainable, but also of excellent quality.
What Counts For Eco-Friendly Furniture?
There are a number of things that are considered towards how eco-friendly any furniture is.
Materials
What the furniture is made of is one of the most obvious contributors to its eco-friendliness. Materials that have low or no environmental impact are obviously much better than those that have a long-term impact or are difficult to dispose of.
Production Methods
Another aspect of eco-friendliness is whether or not the method of production was eco-friendly or not. That is, does the furniture cause pollution while it is being produced, the size of its carbon footprint, and its social impact.
Finishes
Plenty of furniture needs to be polished and finished before it is available on the market, otherwise, it is easier to break, scratch, or be vulnerable to insects. Do the finishes have low or non-toxic ingredients and do they give off harmful fumes? These factors contribute toward eco-friendliness as well.
Life Cycle
A product’s life cycle is also important. How long does it last? Is it recyclable or reusable? Can the materials it’s made of biodegrading? All of these are also major contributors.
Durability
The durability of the product will also make a difference. How durable a product is will affect its life cycle, and will be more sustainable.
Top Eco-friendly & Sustainable Furniture Brands
The best eco-friendly furniture brands will consider each of these aspects when producing their furniture. Let’s take a look at some of these brands.
IKEA
IKEA is a general go-to when it comes to the furniture of all sorts. Whether it is for your bedroom, kitchen, home office, or your actual workplace, IKEA provides all sorts of furniture.
And this only gets better when you consider that IKEA is, in fact, also sustainable and eco-friendly. In fact, the brand has been working harder to make its production and business model more and more sustainable.
In fact, the brand has resolved that by 2030, they aim to use only renewable and recycled materials in their furniture, and reduce the IKEA carbon footprint by about 70% on average for each product.
When it comes to eco-friendliness, that’s a pretty major impact!
West Elm
While West Elm isn’t doing as much as IKEA in terms of making all their products eco-friendly, they are doing quite well on their own. The brand is one of the most well-known furniture brands around the world and now has an eco-friendly furniture selection as well.
The brand’s website has a sustainable furniture section that offers FSC-certified furniture and claims that about 30% of the wood they are currently using on their products is sustainable.
For people who are conscious about the visual aesthetic of their furniture, but don’t want to compromise on eco-friendliness, West Elm is an excellent solution.
Etsy
Etsy is not entirely a furniture brand and is more often associated with handmade, original pieces by various sellers. However, Etsy also works with sellers who work with furniture – and a lot of it is reclaimed and recycled!
Etsy is a certified B-corp, which means that the organization puts people and the planet at the forefront, so you can be sure that all the artists who work with furniture will be doing so as well.
Since the website is a sort of marketplace, you can find a variety of options when it comes to sustainable, eco-friendly furniture, from people who work with different art styles. You can also be sure to find a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture from all over the world.
There are also new designs being added consistently, so you can always find something new each time you look. Etsy’s business model makes it easier for you to find sustainable and artistic pieces that would look excellent in your home or office, while also supporting small-scale artists and craftsmen.
Inside Weather
Inside Weather is another example of an eco-friendly furniture brand. This company believes that furniture should be accessible, but also personal. They work with a zero-inventory model, so the furniture that is prepared is made only if a customer has ordered it.
On top of that, the production is done in-house right before it gets delivered. This means that they are able to keep wasted materials to a minimum. The company works in a carbon negative model, with biodegradable packaging and uses FSC certified birchwood for its furniture.
On top of being sustainable, the furniture maintains a modern aesthetic so you can be sure that the furniture you get is not just good for the environment, but also good for your room!
On top of that, Inside Weather has a partnership with the National Forest Foundation, so every order made comes with a new tree planted.
Flexispot
Flexispot is dedicated to fighting the ongoing climate crisis as much as possible. The organization has established the Climate-Positive Workstation as part of its initiative. Reducing emissions during production is not enough when it comes to making products more eco-friendly, which is why the company has been taking extra steps.
Besides simply reducing greenhouse emissions, the company also reduces the emissions of suppliers and the end consumer by switching to eco-friendly materials, and a greener manufacturing process.
Finished products by Flexispot are biodegradable, which reduces the harmful waste that comes from their disposal. By using bamboo in their furniture, Flexispot is able to reduce the harm that comes from the disposal of their furniture, as well as production.
On top of simply being eco-friendly, the company produces high-quality furniture for home and work offices, keeping in mind the visual aesthetic and the ergonomic aspect.
