Furniture is an investment. Not in terms of hoping to make money by waiting for the piece to gain value, though that is possible in some cases. Rather, it's an investment in quality, comfort, and style. You want a piece that will last, look good, and be fun and easy to use.
In an increasingly ecologically minded world, you also want furniture that doesn't harm the environment. Fortunately, sustainable furniture does exist, but it does take some information and a bit of searching to find. Knowing what to look for can help in that regard.
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A good start to examining whether furniture is sustainable or not is researching the materials used to make it in the first place. For example, pieces like Amish Furniture factory chairs are made from locally harvested renewable forests. Pieces made from recycled material, like plywood or reused plastics, are sustainable because they make use of previously created materials.
That said, furniture made from trees is generally not considered sustainable. That is because it takes so long for the wood to grow. Unless the wood is recycled or reclaimed, it's not considered sustainable.
Furniture made from environmentally friendly manufacturing processes are generally considered sustainable. Methods that make use of heavy chemicals or who do not properly handle waste are not considered sustainable. This one might take some digging, but generally, pieces that are heavily stained or coated are not good for the environment.
Use of clean electricity, like hydro or geothermal, is another good sign of sustainable furniture. A piece like a solid wood bookcase, which is generally made from a single tree, not treated with any chemicals, and is, at least when it comes to the Amish, usually made with hand tools, may fall into this category.
Furniture needs to get from where it's made to the buyer. In the process it usually ends up waiting in a warehouse and possibly a store front at some point. All that transport uses fuel and resources, which affect the environment. Buying from website wholesalers is obviously better because less fuel is used.
Increasingly, more companies are advertising that their goods are made and transported through environmentally friendly means. If a site advertises that, take it with a grain of salt. Look further into their processes and see if they're telling the truth. When it is, you can purchase knowing your furniture is not only made sustainably, but also transported that way.
This is more a matter of personal preference and taste. Sustainable furniture is generally used rather than just admired. When buying a piece, make sure it's one you can use for a while. You're probably doing that anyway, so just remember to keep it in mind when choosing furniture.
There's nothing wrong with having nice furniture, but quality and usability last longer than cheaper pieces. This is especially true with solid wood furniture, which can last for centuries if properly maintained.
As previously mentioned, as lot of brands are working to advertise if their products are eco friendly to better sell to more environmentally conscious demographics. Such methods of marketing include what are called cradle to cradle certifications.
These and similar statements are meant to showcase that the furniture is sustainable. The certifications are usually pretty trustworthy, as they come from third party sources and aren't just something the furniture store made up to look eco friendly. When that's the case, you can be assured that the furniture you are buying is sustainable.
This was touched on before, but, as part of air pollution and quality, sustainable furniture is not made with chemical sealers and the like. Not only do these sprays affect the air, the particles enter the atmosphere and become part of the water and air cycles, polluting the world as a result.
Generally, it's pretty easy to tell when pieces use such chemicals in their process, but it can take some research. When in doubt, don't be afraid to contact the company or ask a salesman more details about the sustainability of a particular piece. In an increasingly ecologically minded world, companies that produce sustainable pieces will have no problem stating such.
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There are a lot of factors that determine if a piece of furniture is sustainable or not. From construction to your home, it pays to research and know what it is that makes a given piece environmentally friendly. The materials used in construction, absence or chemicals, recyclability and reusability, and even how the piece gets from the manufacturing plant to your home are all factors to consider.
It might take some time and research, but you want a piece that looks good and will last. In today's world, you also want a piece that does its part to help the environment. Sustainable furniture helps ensure future generations can enjoy not only other furniture, but also your own.