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green options >
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Sustainable Furniture Materials
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Material | Type | Problem | Solution |
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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, Vesta |
| Particleboard | Toxic adhesives, unsustainable logging | CollinsPine, Encore, Kirei Board, SkyBlend, Nu Green, Vesta, EcoMaxx |
| 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, 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, 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 |
Energy | Lighting | Old fluorescent tubes | Upgrade to T8 and electronic ballasts |
(VCR welcomes to this list).
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© Value+Created Review, 2009
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