The term sustainability for the contemporary furniture designer /manufacturer, is actually difficult to define. It can mean many things such as social responsibility, use of non-polluting technologies, certified materials even employment fairness and more. To gain a clearer picture sustainable products must be viewed as a whole, analysing the whole production cycle of raw material aquisition, through to maufacture, end use and final disposal. I would however initially like to give some broad definitions of what green furniture is and what challenges I came across when I first started designing furniture.
Admittedly, I didn't know much about eco design when I first started out designing furniture. The coffee table below was the first piece of furniture I designed. It is made of MDF which does have a limited eco-friendly element in that it consists of wood chips. However after wanting to learn more about designing furniture, I found out through another New Zealand product designer, Christopher Metcalfe, that standard MDF has formeldehyde in it and it is more eco friendly to use non formeldehyde ( E0 grade ) MDF.
The table pictured below is one I designed using FSC certified gaboon plywood. However if I'm being completely honest with myself, I later found out that the plywood was harvested in West Africa and processed in France. Then shipped to New Zealand. Just because it's FSC certified, doesn't mean it's ok to clock up as much carbon mileage points with your materials as you like. I'm currently looking to have them made in either hoop pine or in New Zealand harvested pine.
Alternatively look to buy furniture made with reclaimed or recycled materials. In my opinion, furniture made from recycled or reclaimed materials is the most sustainable option albeit short term solution. This is also keeping in mind the production methods and processes also follow eco principles as well. For example, in regards to the below picture, I designed this coffee table for a staging job. I found this tyre dumped a long the side of the road. I painted it with some left over water based non toxic paint. The glass top was bought from an internet auction via a company who were selling it due to 'surplus to requirements'. If you're going to design and make products, at the very least, do it in an environmentally responsible manner that everyone will respect including the planet itself.
Ever bought a kitset piece of furniture or home accessory that took you an eternity to put together ? If at all possible, find out it can be easily assembled. Also try to look for products that are durable and can be fixed easily.
Ideally if you buy furniture new, check if the finishing has no or low toxicity levels or off gasing as it is called. That 'new carpet smell' you find is actually formeldeyhde, which can cause health issues. Choose water-based products so that any wooden furniture can be recycled or composted safely at the end of its useful life. Indeed, look for products that have either a 'cradle to grave' or 'cradle to cradle' cycle to it as well.
Buying vintage or antique furniture is another great way of being eco-friendly and can be an investment as well.
Where possible, look for Forestry Stewardship Council ( FSC ) certified wood if you are buying new furniture. Basically this certification will reduce the risk of the wood from being illegally or over harvested.
Always look to buy local, this also helps support your local businesses too. If you have no use for some of your furniture, sell it, give it away to family, friends or give it to charity.
My next entry will be a review on the latest product from a talented furniture designer from Wellington.
Please Note: There are forms of formal analysis that can help towards eco assessing furniture, for example a Life Cycle Analysis ( LCA ), however due to resourcing, costs and time this is not realistic for me to achieve. My assessment is based on published information available to the public. I may get information from designers/manufacturers directly to help with my assessment and rating.
