Green Furniture

Being "Green" in our home is a conscious commitment to making greener choices and decisions in our life and in our purchases. We have many options for a green friendly environment but seldom do we see or hear how we can surround ourselves and our family with wise furniture choices for our home and still honor our green friendly commitment to being environmentally responsible. When most manufacturers advertise their furniture they reveal very little about how it is made or even where it is made. Until information is more readily available we can learn to make better choices when we select the furniture we live with every day. Black's Furniture is committed to helping you find the options that will enable you to make r environmentally responsible decisions.

For example, when buying furniture ask where it comes from. Do not accept a brand name that you recognize as being a valid endorsement of being green friendly. Today, many old and recognized brands are no longer made in the USA. Often these brands are simply importers of goods being manufactured overseas where very lax standards exist for the environment or people's health. Ask about the chemicals used to manufacturer the product. Is the furniture produced in a manner that avoids using hazardous chemicals that damage the earth or mankind? What fossil fuels are used to bring the product to the retail sales floor? Is the furniture made in safe working conditions?

Consider wood furniture carefully before making a decision. Ask if the wood itself originates from carefully managed forests or from renewable woods. Avoid species that are slow to replenish or from areas known for illegal logging and continued use of endangered forests. Look for water based finishes avoiding toxic petroleum or synthetic based solvents.

When purchasing upholstery such as sofas and chairs look for organic fabrics as a good choice. If choosing a synthetic fabric find out if it is manufactured in an environmentally responsible manner. Latex is a cushion option that utilizes natural rubber instead of petroleum based product. Again, where and how is the product made? Consider sustainability when choosing an inexpensive item that is not meant to have a long life. Would you be better off to purchase a better made product to use longer? At Black's Furniture we are committed to helping you find the options that work for your lifestyle.

The environment must be considered as well. Seek low toxicity furniture for your home. When furniture sits in a room it is "off gassing" (releasing substances into the air). Measured as VOC's (volatile organic compounds) furniture can negatively impact indoor air quality. The use of foam, glue and finishes should be certified as low VOC's to be an environmentally sound purchase. Also to be considered when selecting furniture is the carbon footprint on the environment. What fuel was used in the actual manufacturing process? If imported, consider the fuel used in long shipments to get it to the market place for your purchase.

Last, consider Black's Furniture's commitment to helping you find environmentally sound product to shop. Seek knowledge and the endorsement of agencies that monitor furniture manufacturing. The Sustainable Furniture Council endorsement is a good measure of active participation in being environmentally responsible. Ask questions, learn and make sound decisions when you shop to purchase GREEN FRIENDLY FURNITURE!