Sustainability has become an important topic in many different industries, and furniture is no exception.
Furniture manufacturers have been influenced by business and consumer interest in green products and an increased focus on sustainability. To reduce environmental impact, furniture can be made with recycled materials or more sustainable woods such as acacia, bamboo, or reclaimed wood.
Some well-known furniture brands offer product lines that promote sustainability.
Increasing demand for eco-friendly buildings across the globe is generating demand for eco-friendly furniture. According to SmartMarket Report by Dodge Data and Analytics, there were 27% of green building activities which comprised over 60% of Green Projects in 2018. This scenario is fueling the market for sustainable furnishing.
Increasing adoption of eco-friendly housing projects by firms across countries such as Australia, China, Singapore, the U.S., and Canada owing to client demand as well as the prominence of environmental regulations is also driving the demand for sustainable interiors from the residential sector.
This scenario is highly boosting the application of environmentally friendly furniture as well as furnishings in the commercial and residential sectors.
In addition, increased health risks caused by traditional furniture which releases harmful pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and cause allergies, migraines, and asthma, is driving demand for eco-friendly interiors. This, in turn, is raising the preference for eco-friendly furniture produced with a minimal amount of chemicals.
According to a report by the European Respiratory Review, exposure to indoor VOC is a great cause of concern owing to its possible health effects on consumers. According to a blog by TreeHugger, on average, people spend 90% of their time indoors. Also, the concentration of VOCs and particulates is 100 times higher in indoor spaces compared to outdoors. Therefore, consumers are increasingly shifting towards the adoption of sustainable furniture products.
With an increasing aim to reduce emissions, the rising prominence of sustainability as a prevalent trend in home design and renovation is causing traction in the market. Growing acceptance of eco-friendly workplaces is adding to the growth of the market in the commercial sector. According to EPA, 8.5 million tons of office furniture is dumped into landfills each year. Therefore, there is high prominence for sustainable materials to produce various types of furniture such as reclaimed wood, rubberwood, bamboo, rattan, and wicker.
When shopping for for your furniture, pay attention to the following:
- Does the country where the piece was made use green building practices?
- Is the piece durable? Pieces that are cheap in price and materials don’t last as long and end up in landfills soon after purchase.
- What materials and chemicals are used in the piece? Is the frame of the furniture piece solid wood or particle board, containing formaldehyde?
- Did the manufacturer spray the fabric with a chemical to resist stains? It’s better to choose a microfiber or leather material than one that needs to be sprayed for stain resistance.
- What finishes add color or seal the item? Is the paint, stain or finish water-based? If not, it’s probably high in harmful VOCs.
- Could a different material be a better idea? Although exotic woods are stunning, bamboo, stone or porcelain may be more durable, require less harmful finishes and not affect forests.
Made in Italy furniture is actually all the above and beyond.
