How to Find Environmentally Friendly Furniture

After settling into your home, you’ll probably begin thinking about purchasing furniture. With that in mind, many homeowners are making wiser furnishing choices. This means choosing furniture that is environmentally friendly. Considering that, here are three great ways to find environmentally friendly furnishings.

1. Find Furniture Made from Reclaimed Wood
   
   Statistics show that wood accounts for nearly 20 to 30% of waste from construction and demolition projects. These are pieces of wood that end up being used to create environmentally friendly tables, chairs, and other wooden furnishings. As people are becoming more environmentally conscious, reclaimed wood seats and tables have skyrocketed in popularity. In fact, one study found that nearly 2.7 million tons of wooden pallets were recycled during 2015. By using reclaimed wood, you’re not contributing to the destruction of living trees.
2. Look for Furnishings Featuring Recycled Plastic and Medals
   
   It’s unlikely that every type of furnishing in your home will be made from wood. Considering that, you’re likely to need furnishings made from both plastic and metal. When purchasing these types of furnishing materials, look for those that have been recycled. These types of furnishings require fewer resources and materials than brand new furniture.
3. Stay Away from Particleboard
   
   While shopping for furniture, you might be tempted to look for deals. There’s certainly nothing wrong with trying to avoid spending large sums of money. Considering that, you might spot a few wooden tables or chairs with a shockingly low price tag. Unfortunately, you’ll tend to get what you pay for. In most cases, cheaper wooden furniture isn’t made from solid wood. Instead, these furnishings are typically made from particleboard which contains chunks of wood glued together. Not only is it far less sturdy than solid wood, but particleboard is also made with formaldehyde.

In closing, there are many ways to obtain environmentally friendly furniture. There’s no need to purchase items exclusive made from new wood. The average hardwood tree takes anywhere from 40 to 60 years to fully grow. Instead of trees being cut down, you could choose furniture made from reclaimed wood. For instance, reclaimed wood is often used to create environmentally friendly tables and chairs. In addition, environmentally friendly tables and chairs made from reclaimed wood are great types of rustic furniture.