Environmentally friendly materials in furniture production. Dangerous eco-furniture What clothes are safe for health
Wooden objects do not harm human health. Ecological wood furniture has an expensive appearance. It is practical and durable.
Furniture manufacture
Furniture is made from wooden panels - solid or glued from plates. The former are easier to deform, the latter are more durable. Therefore, glued furniture is more expensive.
Use wood with knots and without them. Knots reduce the quality of furniture and shorten its lifespan.
Decorative elements are made of metal, plastic, glass. Expensive interior items are decorated with carvings and forging.
Advantages and disadvantages of wooden furniture
The main plus of interior items made of wood is environmental friendliness. They do not harm human health and the environment due to the absence of toxic impurities. Allergies to plastic or synthetics are possible. The reaction is excluded if you have wooden furniture.
Wood products have several other advantages:
- expensive appearance;
- long service life with proper care;
- the possibility of restoration to its original form in case of wear;
- low thermal conductivity, due to which more heat is stored in the house.
Disadvantages of interior items made of wood:
- classic design does not fit into high-tech apartments;
- loses its appearance when exposed to direct sunlight, sudden changes in temperature and humidity;
- well absorbs aromas;
- it is difficult to work with wood, which is why objects have simple shapes;
- Difficult to transport due to heavy weight.
You have to pay for safety and quality. Wooden interior items have a higher cost compared to similar products made from other materials.
Care rules
The tree suffers under the influence of sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Varnishes that cover the item increase its stability. But even with them, the wood texture is damaged in an unfavorable microclimate.
The optimum temperature in a room with wooden furniture is 15 °C or higher. Humidity should not exceed 65%. Do not place wooden objects in direct sunlight.
Care rules:
- Wipe the wood with a damp cloth and then dry.
- The rag must be made of suede or other soft tissue. Do not wipe wood with hard sponges.
- Do not allow water to enter the cracks between the fibers of the wood. This will prevent sticking.
- Do not place interior items near heating appliances. Heat shortens the life of wood.
- Use wood care products. It is impossible to process the goods with solutions with ammonia and abrasive substances.
If your furniture tarnishes due to exposure to direct sunlight, wax it periodically. Such compounds are sold in any specialized store.
How to choose solid wood furniture
When choosing a material for interior items, pay attention to the structure of the tree. Softer wood is suitable for items that carry a minimum load. For beds, chairs, tables and cabinets, take hardwoods.
Soft tree species:
- cherry;
- pine.
Solid varieties include:
- ash.
Different types of wood have their own properties:
- Pine - light, soft.
- Birch - high hardness, strength and impact resistance, long service life.
- Beech is a rich red-brown color, it is not inferior to oak in hardness, it has a beautiful texture.
- Oak - durability and high decorative qualities, high cost.
- Ash - surpasses oak in hardness. More elastic, which is why it is used for the manufacture of bent interior items.
The hardness of the rock does not always indicate the strength of the furniture. When buying a product, pay attention to the presence of knots and layers in the array.
Buy items made from treated wood. In the manufacture of high-quality interior items, staining technology is used. This makes it more beautiful and more durable.
Cheaper furniture is covered with paint or varnish.
Wooden children's furniture
The growing organism of the child is most sensitive to the influence of toxins. The most dangerous of them is formaldehyde. Its vapors in the air provoke bronchial asthma, allergic reactions. Ecological furniture for children made of wood will protect the health of the baby, ensure its normal growth and development.
The following children's interior items are made of wood:
- arenas;
- dressers;
- cabinets;
- beds;
- tables;
- chairs.
The object can only be varnished on water based which is safe for children.
Disposal of wooden furniture
Although wood is an environmentally friendly material, it is not necessary to throw it in a landfill. It has a long decay time. And the compositions that cover the wood, with prolonged evaporation, pollute environment.
Special companies will take the furniture out of the apartment, and the wood will be recycled. The following materials are obtained from it:
- coal, turpentine and acetic acid - when processed by hydrolysis;
- Chipboard, pellets and briquettes for heating - with mechanical disposal;
- a mixture of gases that is used as a fuel for cars - processing by gasification.
Wood is mainly used for energy. New interior items, toys, building materials are made from waste.
A common method of wood disposal is burning. It is simple and economical. To carry out the reaction, cone-shaped furnaces equipped with a grate are taken. Heat is used for heating water, heating and so on.
Wooden furniture is an eco-friendly way to make the interior stylish and original. It does not harm human health, and when properly disposed of, it is safe for the environment.
From this article you will learn:
- What harmful substances can be contained in furniture
- How do they affect the human body?
- What materials are such furniture made of?
- What rules to follow when choosing furniture
- What is remarkable about such furniture for a nursery
The home environment has great importance to maintain and maintain human health. If floor and wall finishes, furniture or textile materials have been manufactured using harmful substances, they can exacerbate chronic diseases and also cause serious complications. Therefore, environmentally friendly furniture is so popular among buyers who care about their health. Many modern manufacturers focus on the manufacture of safe products, the features of which we will analyze in detail in this article.
We do not scare, but inform about harmful substances in furniture
Virtually any wooden piece of furniture that is not environmentally friendly releases a significant amount of free formaldehyde into the environment. Usually, when creating them, such raw materials as chipboard, MDF (fiberboard), plywood are used. They are produced using formaldehyde resins as an internal adhesive.
Another no less toxic substance is phenol. The fact is that in a short time it enters the body through the skin and upper respiratory tract, reaching the gastrointestinal tract. After that, this dangerous substance accumulates in the kidneys and liver, undermines the immune system, irritates the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, pharynx and gastrointestinal tract. The result of such a negative impact is a runny nose, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath, insomnia.
When phenol is inhaled, the mucous membranes are strongly irritated, and its contact with the skin is fraught with burns. If phenol poisoning occurs regularly, then the kidneys and liver are affected, and later a pathogenic change in the blood occurs.
Urea-formaldehyde resins are also very often used in the creation of wood products. They are especially noticeable in objects where fiberboard and chipboard are used - the main materials for applying plywood or veneer (in economical options, they can be replaced by a paper or plastic-based laminate).
The creation of the majority of all wood composite materials for furniture occurs by means of hot pressing of prepared waste. And in this case, a phenol-formaldehyde alcohol-soluble resin often becomes a substance for connecting raw materials. It is distinguished by a dangerous quality - the release of free formaldehyde, which is called "chronic toxin" in medicine. This volatile substance adversely affects human health.
Inhalation of formaldehyde vapors leads to irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat, and also adversely affects the skin and provokes a variety of allergic reactions. The result of prolonged inhalation of the vapors of this substance can be:
- Headache.
- Atypical fatigue.
- Insomnia.
- Depression.
- Asthma.
Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning:
- Dizziness.
- unnatural thirst.
- Nausea.
- Watery discharge from the nose.
- Cough, salivation.
- Irritation, infection of the sinuses.
- Sore throat.
- The appearance of a rash.
- Diarrhea.
- Nose bleed.
- Menstrual disorders.
- Chest pain, abdominal pain.
In many residential areas, the level of formaldehyde is above the norm. Instead of the established 0.04 - 0.06 ppm, its concentration reaches 0.07 - 0.09. Installing the necessary household items in a bathroom or kitchen alone can increase the level of this substance to 0.10 ppm or more. Therefore, in order to completely protect yourself and loved ones from such a dangerous impact, it is better to buy environmentally friendly furniture.
What are the features of furniture made from environmentally friendly materials
Environmentally friendly furniture sets are always made from natural wood (birch, ash, oak, pine, beech) using safe PVA-based glue.
The creation of environmentally friendly furniture from an array of natural species occurs due to high-quality wood processing.
For furniture upholstery, non-electrifying materials from organic fibers of flax, cotton, soy, bamboo, and silk are used. These plants are grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals.
Of all the options for eco-friendly sofas and armchairs, the most long term services are distinguished by leather products dyed with eco-colors.
Other quite popular modern material is a cork. It is light, pleasant to the touch and environmentally friendly. Cork flooring has the property of noise insulation and is widely used for floors and walls. Cork makes excellent environmentally friendly bedroom furniture.
For guard floor covering and improve the microclimate in the room, you can lay a mat (matting). It is woven from such environmentally friendly natural materials as reed, linen, coconut fiber.
Among environmentally friendly furniture for the kitchen are popular stone countertops. They are very practical. Such countertops are most often made of marble or granite, sometimes slate, limestone, travertine, onyx.
Ceramic, glass tiles, and mosaics are also environmentally friendly materials.
1. Selection of environmentally friendly products.
Furniture labeled or described with the word "organic":
- Sofas and chairs upholstered in natural organic fabrics filled with natural latex foam.
- Mattresses made using materials such as organic wool, natural latex, organic cotton. Often organic latex mattresses have a core wrapped in wool (flame retardant) or cotton, or a combination of the two. And some of them are completely wrapped in a combination of these materials. The best mattress covers are made from organic wool or organic cotton.
2. Bamboo products.
Although bamboo looks like a tree, it is actually grass. It grows very quickly, so pesticides are usually not used for it. Eco-friendly bamboo furniture is in high demand.
3. Transportation.
The quality and sustainability of environmentally friendly products also depend on how they were transported.
4. Beware of toxic materials.
The best way to protect yourself from toxins (like formaldehyde) is to choose environmentally friendly furniture made from safe materials that do not contain them. The best option are hardwood products, as they contain less paint. And the number of glass and metal objects in the room is best minimized.
5. Try to avoid:
- Upholstery labeled "stain resistant": These can be toxic.
- Inflatable and made of artificial leather products, vinyl covers. They may all contain PVC-based phthalate.
- Items made from chipboard, fiberboard, plywood - anything that may contain formaldehyde adhesives.
- All tropical hardwoods (mahogany and teak) and some Western cedars if not certified.
6. Give preference to local production.
Local producers and artisans can be found in newspapers, on the Internet, at thematic fairs.
7. Functionality.
Choose eco-friendly items, considering not only their appearance, but also convenience, functionality and durability.
- Multifunctional products should always be a priority.
- Durability is also important, as well-made items with a long functional shelf life prevent landfills from quickly filling up, thereby maintaining the health of the planet.
8. Vintage furniture.
Vintage and antiques are two of the most sustainable furniture options. There are no strict rules at what point objects become antique. For some, all well-forgotten old items fit into this category, while others believe that their age should be at least 20 years old.
Antiques are those items that were made 100 years ago. Most people refer to them as those made at the turn of the 20th century.
When choosing antique furniture, consider the following points:
- It must comply with current safety regulations. Make sure the items are not radioactive.
- Vintage painted items made before 1978 may contain lead. In the antiques of the early 19th century, it most likely will not be. The disadvantage of lead paint is that it peels off. At the same time, the appearance, as well as the value of the product, may suffer from the varnish coating. If there are kids in the house, you should think twice before purchasing such things. And best of all - to postpone their purchase until the children grow up.
- Finishing and restoration of antiques should be handled by experts. For example, if you want to varnish or repaint 20th century items, you should be aware that the paint may contain lead, and you should take the necessary precautions when working with it.
9. Recycling, recovery and repurposing.
You can come up with objects and accessories that will be one of a kind if you get creative with the reuse of various household products. In addition, it will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
10. Ecology certificate.
When buying environmentally friendly furniture, you can ask the seller for a certificate. It guarantees that the product does not contain harmful substances (for example, cadmium or lead).
11. New products that emit a pungent odor raise doubts about their environmental friendliness.
According to GOST, such a smell should disappear after a maximum of 2.5 months. However, this acquisition can turn into an unnecessary headache for you, since well-being depends largely on the air in the living room.
12. DIY furniture.
Perhaps you enjoy crafting or you know artisans. Then you can create exclusive items. It is best to work with wood extracted from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, old buildings. It is even more interesting to use a tree that has its own unique history. Then your furniture will definitely be special.
When choosing environmentally friendly furniture for children, first of all, the materials from which it is made are evaluated. The most environmentally friendly items are made from solid wood. They are large monolithic bars, for the production of which the least various toxic adhesives are used. After all, inhalation of harmful vapors exposes the child's body to the risk of developing a number of diseases.
For fastening parts, bolts and screws, manufacturers of environmentally friendly wood products use casein glue, which does not contain poisons. Companies specializing in the manufacture of furniture for children and adolescents do not use substances harmful to health (formaldehydes, phenols, resins) in their work. All varnishes and paints with which they cover wooden surfaces are safe.
Study the offers of suppliers, paying attention to the types of wood used in the manufacture of products. The most environmentally friendly furniture for children is one that is made of pine, birch, larch, walnut and beech. Such wood has tonic and healing properties. For example, pine is the most economical material, which does not stand out for any special decorative qualities, but in terms of ecology it is priceless. The unique antiseptic properties of pine can protect the baby from many diseases.
- "BELFAN" is a combination modern classics and the most fashionable trends.
We closely follow the novelties in the world of interior design and produce furniture in accordance with the latest trends. What you will see at the Milan Fair in April will be available in our store in autumn.
Furniture from the company "BELFAN" remains relevant and does not go out of fashion long years. Our clients do not have to regularly update the interior. It is enough to add new elements or swap modules (for example, if we are talking about hanging living rooms).
- Furniture from natural wood.
Our products are environmentally friendly and safe, thanks to the natural materials used in the production. You and your loved ones will certainly appreciate the health care. And the pleasant aroma and energy of natural wood in the apartment will fill it with an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility.
- Wide range of products.
Here you will find furniture for the living room, bedroom, hall, nursery, and you can also choose complementary interior items.
A ready-made interior solution will save your time. Moreover, with us you do not have to spend a budget on the services of designers. Our specialists will be happy to draw up a plan for arranging furniture that will meet all your requirements.
- Comfort every day.
In the manufacture of furniture, the company "BELFAN" uses the best modern fittings. You do not need to make any effort to open or close the drawer or door. Mechanisms made in Austria will ensure the absence of annoying sounds.
In addition, the inside of the drawers is upholstered with high-quality velor fabric, so you can carefully store your personal belongings.
- Decent quality at the best price.
We produce furniture at partner factories in Russia and Belarus, so we are ready to offer our customers comfortable prices.
Think about whether you are ready to overpay for foreign-made furniture. Our factories produce furniture from such a world-famous brand as IKEA, the quality of which is beyond doubt.
With us, you do not overpay for the brand, but get excellent quality for a reasonable price.
- Most items in our range are in stock.
And this means that by placing an order today, in a couple of days you will receive our furniture with home delivery. You don't have to wait for long weeks.
- The company "BELFAN" has been successfully operating in the market for 15 years.
We represent a federal network that produces furniture under several brands (BELFAN, Velij, Loft). The company's products are in great demand, which allows us to expand production even in times of crisis. They come back to us, they recommend us to friends.
High-quality after-sales service and the provision of a guarantee are two more undoubted advantages of cooperation with BELFAN!
Looking for the best furniture for your home? – Do not forget that it should be not only beautiful and comfortable, but also environmentally friendly! After all, only environmentally friendly furniture will benefit your home and preserve the health of your loved ones. This is especially important if you have children at home.
Not sure where to get these home furnishings? You have already found them. You can buy environmentally friendly furniture from us - at favorable price, and with quality assurance. Yes, you can choose and order from usbed Wiemann for only 27.7126 rubles to provide a healthy ecological environment in your bedroom, or for 29,159 rubles. Most other companies offer such furniture at significantly higher prices.
Why choose eco-friendly furniture?
As you know, furniture is made from various wood materials. It can be not only pure wood - very often semi-synthetic materials from wood chips are used, including artificial fillers. Such furniture has an attractive appearance and good performance. However, when in a closed room, it is capable of producing toxic fumes. And even if the percentage of their content in the air inhaled by a person is negligible, over time this can affect the health of those living in the apartment in the most negative way.
Such factors are especially detrimental to the health of children, causing them to have allergies, a tendency to diseases of the upper respiratory tract. And therefore, it is better to refuse to purchase such furniture in favor of options that are more suitable for a person.
Features of eco-friendly furniture
Eco-friendly furniture is made using natural materials, mostly pure wood. However, in the production of furniture, in any case, it is necessary to use various adhesives and varnishes - otherwise the products will not have an attractive appearance. In the production of sustainable furniture, the use of such substances is allowed, but with great restrictions. So, only those materials can be used that do not produce toxic fumes, and cannot harm human health when normal conditions exploitation in a different way.
We sell only such furniture. Many of our samples German made has a Blue Angel certificate, which indicates the highest degree of its environmental friendliness and suitability for use in any apartments and children's rooms. Such furniture has not only good external qualities - it will not harm your health or the health of the younger generation of your family under any circumstances.
Furniture - with health benefits!
You may not believe it, but using good, sustainable furniture can improve your well-being, and even your overall health. If you use just such furniture in the interior of your house and get rid of the old one, then the content of harmful substances in the air will drop sharply, and you will very quickly feel how much easier it is to breathe in the apartment. Allergy attacks will stop tormenting you, headaches will stop, and you will even catch a cold less often. Your children will delight you with increased academic performance, physical activity. After all, they will receive more oxygen, and much less harmful substances. And this is very important for their full development, both mental and physical. With such furniture, your children will grow up healthy, and you will not have to constantly take them to the doctors and look for the causes of another ailment.
Eco-friendly children's furniture is really important!
taking care of good health and the harmonious development of children, it is important not to lose sight of providing them with a healthy, environmentally friendly environment at home. Especially in the children's room. By purchasing eco-friendly furniture for a child, you will provide him with the opportunity to breathe clean air, and harmful substances will not enter his body. But if we talk about children, it is important to mention not only the fact that there are no toxic fumes, but also the safety of the material itself. After all, kids can allow food to come into contact with pieces of furniture, and even just try to taste them. At the same time, eco-friendly furniture will not harm them at all.
In addition, perhaps you yourself have repeatedly felt that products made from natural materials have their own warm aura, good energy. Children also feel this, but even more acutely than adults. They feel that such furniture is really alive, that it breathes and does not get cold. The child feels himself in a comfortable environment, feels a wholesome atmosphere, and can develop harmoniously.
The best furniture
Thus, eco-friendly furniture is superior to conventional furniture in many respects. And it will be useful in any apartment, bringing the joy of life to both children and adults.
The situation in a house or apartment plays a significant role in maintaining and preserving the health of a child: wall and floor decoration made of harmful substances, synthetic textile materials, low-quality plastic furniture can exacerbate chronic diseases and serious complications, therefore, when arranging a child's room, preference should be given to items furniture and accessories, in the production of which only environmentally friendly and safe materials were used.
Furniture items for children are bought for several years in advance, so even a small amount of harmful impurities and chemicals in varnishes, paints and materials can harm a child with prolonged contact. One of the most dangerous substances, which is nevertheless widely used in furniture production, is formaldehyde, a small concentration of which in the air can provoke asthma and allergies.
small children's bedroom design modern style: What should I pay attention to?
You can learn how to design a children's room for two children of different sexes in a detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
In today's article, the team styling room prepared for you a selection of photos of environmentally friendly furniture for children's rooms from the famous furniture company Kalon.
Environmentally friendly and safe playpens for the little ones
In the arena, small children spend a large amount of time playing and also sleeping. Design playpens from the Echo Crib collection are 100% made of natural, high-quality wood, coated with harmless water-based varnishes and paints. Stylish minimalist playpens have high strength and durability, perfect for decorating a children's room at home or apartment, made in any style and color scheme.
So, the photo below shows one of these arenas from Kalon. The playpen, made in neutral light shades, fits perfectly into the minimalist children's room, the walls, floor, ceiling and furniture of which are decorated in white tones, using light wood.
Stylish, environmentally friendly arena from Kalon.
In the photo below we see another environmentally friendly and safe playpen for children from the Caravan Crib collection. The piece of furniture is made of natural maple, coated with safe water-based dyes. The minimalist playpen in light, neutral colors goes well with the light wood furniture of the children's room and the snow-white floor, and also creates an interesting contrast with the dark gray matte walls of the room.
White minimalist playpen in a stylish nursery.
The stylish playpen in the next photo also belongs to the Caravan crib collection. The furniture is made of natural wood of light shades, and the rods of the arena are painted in classic black. Designers used a minimalist playpen to design a small children's room, the walls, floor and ceiling of which are made in neutral, light colors and shades.
Minimalist playpen in a small stylish nursery.
Kalon designers offer their customers not only playpens made in classic neutral colors, but also playpens in a variety of bright colors and shades, such as red, pink, blue, green, yellow. The Caravan Crib in the next photo is made from natural, high quality wood and the bars are painted bright blue.
Unusual arena with bright blue partitions.
Eco-friendly chests of drawers and wardrobes for children's rooms
The designers also released a collection of safe and non-toxic children's wardrobes and chests of drawers made exclusively from natural materials. So, in the photo below there is a small wooden chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection, which will go well with the playpen from the Caravan Crib collection, since Kalon designers used identical materials and colors to create both collections of children's furniture.
A small stylish chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection.
If you want to make your child's nursery bright, sunny and cheerful, then use rich furniture and accessories. yellow color. So, in the next photo we see a stylish minimalist dresser and playpen from the Caravan collections, made of natural light wood, using elements of bright yellow. Stylish, environmentally friendly children's furniture fits perfectly into the interior of a small room in a private house, made in neutral light colors.
Unique chest of drawers and playpen with yellow elements.
The designer chest of drawers in the following photo is from the IoLine Dresser furniture collection. Stylish, massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech is perfect for complementing not only the children's room, but also the bedroom of the child's parents or the living room. The chest of drawers is equipped with convenient drawers in which the child can put his things, toys, books, school supplies.
Massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech.
Unusual pieces of furniture and accessories for children's rooms
At the end of our article, we have prepared for you a selection of truly unique, unusual and original, and most importantly, environmentally friendly and safe pieces of furniture and accessories that will be an excellent addition and decoration to a modern children's room.
So, in the photo below, three wooden blocks from Kalon are provided, which can be used as shelves for storing things and toys, chairs, and also to create an interesting play space that your child will love. Wooden blocks do not take up much space, they can be placed, for example, in the corner, thereby filling the free, unused space of the room.
Unusual wooden blocks from the Kalon company.
The stylish wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection, which designers produce in bright red, yellow, green, blue and pink flowers. Wooden children's chairs at the international exhibition Salone del Mobile (2010) were recognized as the best product of the year, they are perfect for decorating a children's room and will appeal not only to children, but also to adults.
Colorful wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection.
Multi-coloured colorful chairs will perfectly fit into the nursery, made in neutral, light colors and shades, and they also go well with the chest of drawers and playpen from the Caravan collection.
A small nursery with environmentally friendly furniture from Kalon.
wooden chairs Hut-Hut Kids designers produce not only in a variety of color schemes, but also made from various materials. So, buyers can order chairs for a nursery from the following FSC-certified materials: bamboo, cork, maple, white locust, black walnut. Wooden chairs are highly durable and reliable, not only children but also adults can sit on them, so these chairs will also be an excellent decoration for a living room or veranda.
Doing repairs in one-room apartment? You can read about how to equip a stylish nursery in a one-room apartment here.
Room interior for a teenage girl: tips and tricks from real professionals.
Don't know how to decorate a children's room for two boys? Read the detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
Eco-friendly Hut-Hut Kids chairs in the living room interior.
Rules for choosing environmentally friendly furniture for children
When choosing furniture for decorating the interior of a children's room, you must be guided by the following rules:
- Give preference to natural wood furniture. So, children's furniture made of pine is light and sunny, has high strength, pine wood is rich in ascorbic acid. Birch furniture has a relatively high strength and hardness, dried wood for most mechanical characteristics similar to beech. Children's furniture made of solid beech has a red-brown color, is in no way inferior to oak furniture in strength and hardness, the beech texture is beautiful and has high decorative qualities. Oak children's furniture is beautiful and durable, and absolutely safe for adults and children.
Oak furniture has a very beautiful colour and texture, in order to give the wood high decorative qualities, it is often subjected to bleaching, staining or pickling (by staining, oak is kept in water for many years, from which the material acquires an unusual dark purple color).
- Please note that children's wooden furniture can only be coated with a harmless water-based varnish.
- The fabric used to cover the furniture should also be environmentally friendly and safe, the following materials are perfect: organic cotton, polar fleece, remy, sasawashi, sisel, silk, soy, lyosel, bamboo, linen. So, when growing organic cotton, pesticides and other chemicals are not used, the production of such material has international certificates OEKO-TEX, Organic Exchange or GOTS. Polar fleece is synthetic material, which is obtained from cleanly washed bottles. Furniture made of polar fleece is suitable for children from 3 years old, since babies from synthetics often experience overheating and sweating. Remy is a natural material that is made from a special plant native to western Asia. Sasavashi visually resembles linen, has hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties. Sisel is a cellulose, which consists of a natural polymer that retains living plant cells and seaweed fibers in its structure. Lyosel is made only from trees grown without the use of chemicals.
1. Choosing upholstered furniture
Let's start with home furnishings, where you can find the word organic on a label or in a product description.- Cushioned furniture: Look for chairs and sofas upholstered in natural organic fabrics and filled with natural latex foam.
- Mattresses: organic cotton, organic wool and natural latex are good alternatives to the materials used to make conventional mattresses. Most organic latex mattresses have a core wrapped in wool (naturally flame retardant) or cotton or a combination of both, and some are usually wrapped in a combination of these materials. Choose mattress pads made from organic cotton or organic wool.
2. Consider bamboo
Bamboo furniture is a good option. Although technically not a tree (it's a herb), it looks like a tree, and is usually grown without pesticides. Because it is growing so fast that resistance to renewal is not a problem for it. The only downside is the traffic trail.3. Transportation
Since transportation also uses energy, responsibility in transportation is also part of getting sustainable furniture.- Furniture must be transported efficiently without overcoming excessive space and energy during transport.
- Local furniture using only local production and raw materials has less.
4. Stay away from toxic materials and finishes
The easiest way to avoid toxins like formaldehyde is to buy furniture made from materials that don't contain them.Choose hardwood furniture that contains less paint. Rarely glass and metal furniture.
5. Try to avoid:
- Upholstery marked SPAIN RESISTANT, it may be toxic
- Inflatable furniture, faux leather and vinyl furniture covers. All may contain phthalate-based PVC.
- Furniture made from chipboard, fiberboard, plywood - anything that may contain formaldehyde adhesives.
- Avoid all tropical hardwoods (mahogany and teak) as well as mahogany and many western cedars, which tend to be made from irreplaceable old woods - unless certified.
Look for local furniture makers and artisans in local newspapers, craft websites, and craft fairs. Look for artisanal furniture made from salvaged trees and wrought iron, organic wool and cotton, and recycled fabrics.
7. Choose functionality
Furniture should also be functional and durable.- Opt for multifunctional furniture
- Durability also matters because well-made furniture with a longer functional shelf life contributes to the health of the planet without filling landfills.
8. Vintage furniture
Vintage and antique furniture are two of the most sustainable choices you can make for home furnishing. There are no hard and fast distinctions when furniture becomes antique; for some people it's all that well forgotten old, others argue that the items must be at least 20 years old.Antique furniture is technically anything made 100 years ago. Most people simply assume that these are furniture made at the turn of the 20th century. In any case, if it is old, it does not use any additional energy, water or other resources associated with production.
If you are choosing antique furniture, keep the following in mind:
- Furniture must comply with current safety regulations. Please note that the furniture is not radioactive.
- Vintage painted furniture made before 1978 may contain lead. Old antiques - early 19th century - most likely not. Lead paint is a problem, if it peels off, you can cover it with varnish, for example, but this can affect the look and value of the piece. If you have small children around, you might want to think twice before purchasing these items or wait until your children are older.
- Finishing or restoring antiques is also usually best left to the experts. If you're thinking about paintwork or repainting 20th century furniture, you will find that any paint contains lead and you should take appropriate precautions when working with them.
