Shopping for sustainable furniture means looking for items that are made to last. The lifetime is longer and the product is designed to be circular. It can be refurbished rather than thrown away to extend its life span.
Sustainable furniture is made from eco-friendly, natural and sustainable materials. Materials that can be replenished and that will not deplete natural resources. Materials that do not require a lot of water and energy to manufacture or process. Materials that are biodegradable and will not take ages to break down in landfill, or end up polluting land and sea.
Wooden furniture
One of the first materials that come to mind when thinking about sustainability is wood. Wood can be grown and cut using responsible forestry methods. Wood is biodegradable. And wood can be sanded down, repaired, resealed or repainted. Wood furniture can even be repurposed and made into an entirely new product.
Metal furniture
Metal is precious and is not sustainable unless it can be recycled and reused. Conscious designers and metalworkers will choose their metals carefully, source them ethically and make sure that as little as possible is wasted.
Soft furnishings
There is a lot to consider when making soft furnishings. Not only does the material for the base need to be sustainable wood or metal, but the stuffing and the fabric covering need to be eco-friendly. Examples of this are recycled cotton, linen or wool woven into upholstery fabrics.
There is more to sustainable furniture than the materials. Manufacturers also need to consider social and environmental concerns. Staff and working conditions need to be considered.
Energy efficiency, and using renewable energy whenever possible, will reduce the impact of producing products. Eliminating as much waste as is achievable is another aspect. And, of course, packaging for products needs to be eco-friendly. Transportation and delivery is a consideration.
Artisan makers
Artisan makers produce furniture in small quantities. Sometimes this is a necessity and restricted by capacity. At other times it is a conscious decision to keep operations small.
Using traditional handcrafts means that furniture cannot be made in bulk quantities. This can be a good thing. Making furniture in small quantities means that buyers might consider them as heirloom pieces and not throwaway items.
Source sustainable furniture
The House & Garden section of bluepatch’s sustainable business directory is a useful resource for finding sustainable furniture makers. They make furniture for every room in the home from kitchen cabinets and bespoke bookcases, toy storage, beds, lighting, sofas, dining tables and chairs, garden sets and benches for public spaces.
Making furniture sustainably requires consideration of various factors. Makers need to source materials ethically and sustainably. How energy is used and how materials are processed is important. Waste materials need to be handled responsibly and as much as possible must be reused and recycled. Post-production, eco-friendly packaging and low carbon transport need to be arranged. Manufacturers also need to be mindful of staff and employment packages. There is much to think about.
If you are a sustainable furniture maker, we want to hear from you. You can find out more about bluepatch and apply for membership on our application pages.
