As the world becomes conscious of its practices and our impact on this environment, there are improvements in almost every sector. From movements to let go of plastic to encouraging eco-friendly practices, eco-friendly furniture is also a new talk of the town. Moreover, since the number of workplaces is ever-increasing, and many organizations are now opting for remote work to fight the negative impacts of commuting to work and other crowd-borne issues, environmentally friendly furniture can also bring about a big change.
Sure, it might be the first time you are hearing about eco-friendly office ideas and learning about the best eco-friendly furniture. Still, if you search for the latest office furniture trends, you will see many modern workplaces following this good cause. Eco-friendly furniture materials are a popular pick because they offer many benefits over conventional plastic or metal furniture. This article will cover some of the most inspiring eco-friendly office furniture ideas you will love to have in the workplace.
Benefits of Eco-friendly Furniture
The idea of eco-friendly furniture is taking rounds in modern work practices for all the right reasons. Eco-friendly furniture is making workplaces a better and healthier setting and allowing the employees to work in happy work settings. Moreover, there are several benefits of eco-friendly furniture for our environment.
No Toxins Added
Eco-friendly furniture, unlike other furniture, does not have any toxins added to it. This has made furniture manufacturing much more responsible, but it also means you are less subjected to toxins daily.
Natural Materials
Knowing you have something natural and organic in your surroundings makes you feel great about choices. And eco-friendly furniture gives you one such satisfaction.
Longer Lifespan
Non-toxic furniture is not only better for your house, but it is also better for the environment. Extending the life of natural resources benefits the environment greatly. We are all better off if a material has a longer lifespan for any product.
Tips to Choose Eco-friendly Furniture
Eco-friendly furniture is not just about a bamboo desk or an eco-friendly office chair with biodegradable materials; it's about minimalism with your home office setup. Minimalism in the workplace is essential as it keeps the employees motivated and lets them think creatively.
The first rule when buying eco-friendly furniture is to think about bringing maximum versatility in the workplace with minimum expenditure. This practice also saves cost and space and is ideal for small home office setups.
The type of Wood
If you are talking about environmentalism but not paying heed to where your furniture is coming from, then you must recheck it. The whole idea behind environmentally-friendly furniture is not to harm the environment in any way. But, unfortunately, deforestation and other non-sustainable harvesting practices have been used to produce work furniture for a long time.
When shopping for environmentally-friendly furniture, seek pieces made from sustainably managed forests, tree farms, or recycled wood. Products that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to verify that the wood used was sourced responsibly.
Reclaimed Wood
Wooden furniture is an evergreen pick that doesn't age with time. You can opt for furniture made of reclaimed wood and enjoy a nice elegant touch in your home office. Another great benefit of reclaimed wood is that it is made from old buildings and plenty of recycled items, reducing the clutter from the environment. Reclaimed wood is also known for its strength and durability for years to come.
Avoid Toxic Materials
Chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) evaporate at normal temperatures. The majority of odors and fragrances you detect are VOC gases. Various materials (for example, wood panels) and surface treatments often employed in the furniture business include VOCs, which emit harmful chemicals into the interior environment.
VOCs evaporating in the air are typically responsible for the "new furniture" scent you get when you remove the box. However, they can be dangerous to you if they can build up in a poorly ventilated environment.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are the biggest solution to environmental trash and landfills. As recycling is given sheer importance, using recycled material for furniture is a big win-win. Make sure to choose from vendors that sell furniture material made from recycled material. These vendors may cost a little high, but you can use the Autonomous promo code to purchase from one of the most reliable manufacturers of eco-friendly furniture.
The Environmental Product Declaration
Examining furniture's Environmental Product Declaration is a quick and easy approach to determine its environmental credentials (EPD). An EPD is a clear and comparable document that conveys information about a product's life-cycle environmental effect that has been independently validated and certified. It calculates the whole environmental effect, from raw material extraction to factory gate out.
Bamboo Furniture
Bamboo is a very long-lasting material. It grows quickly, is long-lasting, and is simple to deal with. It's a highly adaptable material that may be used for both flooring and contemporary furniture. However, while it may appear to be the answer to making environmentally friendly furniture, it is not without flaws.
While working with bamboo, there are a few factors to keep in mind: The glue that holds bamboo furniture together can include harsh and dangerous substances like formaldehyde. In addition, while bamboo is typically cultivated, it does consume a lot of water and may absorb all of the minerals in the soil. Nevertheless, standing desks made from bamboo usually offer increased durability for your workplace, and you can also achieve a simple home office look with such products.
Toxic Properties
Here is a catch. Most of the furniture we see in the market these days is names to provide a certain characteristic, but instead, it uses chemicals to do so. This is very harmful to the environment as well as the health. The flame retardant property in the furniture is one such case.
Flame retardants slip out of upholstery rather than off-gassing like other chemicals. While flame retardants are supposed to keep you safe, there isn't much evidence that they do anything other than release hazardous gases as your sofa burns. Therefore, avoid foam-based goods and instead choose wool, natural latex, or cotton down. You can also inquire about the usage of flame retardants by contacting the manufacturer.
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