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

MDF/agriboard

Toxic adhesives, unsustainable logging

Arreis, Medite II, Microstrand, Platinum

Particleboard

Toxic adhesives, unsustainable logging

CollinsPine, Encore, Kirei Board, SkyBlend, Nu Green,

Composites

N/A

Dakota Burl

Veneer 

Wood

Unsustainable logging

Plyboo, Teragren Bamboo

Edgebanding 

ABS

PVC edgebanding

GreenLine™

Plastics

PVC

Toxic polymer

Use subsitute

HDPE, PP, ABS

Oil-based polymers

Use recycled, Smile Plastics (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, Akvatopp, Fuhr, Kem Aqua, Oxford

Water-based polyurethane

Solvent-based finishes

Diamond, Fuhr, Oxford

Fabrics

Cotton

Pesticides

Use organic

Synthetics

Toxic dyes, pigments

Carnegie, DesignTex, Tencel

Adhesives

Urea formaldhyde

Toxicity

Use soy-based

Energy

Lighting

Old fluorescent tubes

Upgrade to T8 and electronic ballasts

(VCR welcomes to this list).