Sustainable Furniture Materials

Material

Type

Problem

Solution

Solid Wood

Hardwood

Unsustainable logging, teak, mahogany

FSC certification, local woodlots

Softwood

Unsustainable logging

FSC certification, local woodlots

Panels

Plywood

Unsustainable logging, high grading

Appleply, Europly, Roseburg, PureBond, Green T

MDF/agriboard

Toxic adhesives, unsustainable logging

Arreis, ECO-gold, Medite II, Microstrand, Platinum, Vesta

Particleboard

Toxic adhesives, unsustainable logging

CollinsPine, EcoMaxx, Encore, Kirei Board, SkyBlend, Tafipan-Eco, Nu Green, Vesta

Composites

N/A

Dakota Burl

Veneer 

Wood/Fibre

Unsustainable logging

Green Gator-Backer, Plyboo, Teragren Bamboo

Edgebanding 

ABS

PVC edgebanding

GreenLine™

Plastics

PVC

Toxic polymer

Use subsitute

HDPE, PP, ABS, PS

Oil-based polymers

Use recycled, Smile Plastics (UK), Axfoil (UK)

Metals

Steel

Waste energy, air/water pollution

Use recycled

Aluminum

Waste energy, air/water pollution

Use recycled

Surfaces 

Linoleum

N/A

Forbo

Finishes

Water-based acrylic

Solvent-based finishes

Acrylacq, Adler, Akvatopp, Fuhr, Kem Aqua, EMTech

Water-based polyurethane

Solvent-based finishes

Diamond, Fuhr, EMTech

Fabrics

Cotton

Pesticides

Use organic, hemp (UK)

Synthetics

Toxic dyes, pigments

Carnegie, DesignTex, Tencel

Adhesives

Urea formaldhyde

Toxicity

Use soy-based

Packaging

Expanded polystyrene

Landfill disposal

Recycle (US)

Energy

Lighting

Old fluorescent tubes

Upgrade to T8 and electronic ballasts

(VCR welcomes to this list).
 

© Value+Created Review, 2011