Nature.is

The Living Room - Furniture

Our furniture and interior is made of various chemicals from both the plant and mineral kingdoms, such as wood, metals, glass, plant fibers, minerals and synthetics. It is mainly the synthetics that we have to watch out for. Not only can the off-gassing of certain chemicals, such as formaldehyde, be harmful to human beings, but the overall environmental impact can be devastating. Of the more than 100,000 chemicals used for all kinds of production in the world today, many are not been sufficiently tested before they become part of the production process. As a general rule, chemicals which are harmless in small quantities are  harmful in larger quantities or in conjunction with other chemicals.

If we consider wooden furniture, as an example,from an environmental point of view, it matters whether the forest has been sustainably cultivated. Furniture marked as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is definitely not made of wood from a rainforest but rather from wood derived from sustainable forestry. Cork is one of the natural materials, considered environmentally friendly, especially if it is made from recycled materials. PVC-plastic floor material can however under no circumstances be considered healthy or environmentally friendly.

When the aim is to buy furniture like sofas and tables, it is generally advisable to buy a durable and solid product. As a buyer you have the right to know where the materials in the furniture originate, and how and where they were produced. Note that upholstery can contain toxins from fakeleather made with PVC. It is not rude to ask questions in stores about a product. In order to change the demand on the market, consumers have to start asking questions and making demands, otherwise nothing will happen.

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