What is one of the toughest challenges to eco-living or Green living? Well, it lies very close to your home, in fact right inside your home – We’re talking about what we practically live with; among others here, we are explicitly indicating towards FURNITURE. As more and more people are getting eco-conscious, living in the world with the utmost responsibility causing minimal impact is no more atypical, but the everyday norm.

When it comes to furniture, you got to answer one question – http://annedickson.co.uk/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=http://annedickson.co.uk/books/teaching-men-to-be-feminist/ Where did your couch come from?

Nope, we don’t mean the literal shop/showroom location, but where did the wood, metal, and fabric that make up that couch come from?

Trust us the answer in most of the cases is deadly disappointing. There are hoards of furniture brands that rely on imported materials of questionable origin to produce their pieces. Sadly, they aren’t upfront about it, either. Today, we compile for you five sustainable furniture brands who prove an exception with amazing eco friendly furniture setting an example for the world.

What Makes An Eco Friendly Furniture?

Here’s a simple breakup of what makes eco friendly furniture:

• trippingly Materials – Low or ‘0’ environmental impact in terms of sourcing
• Production methods – Small carbon footprint, positive or neutral social impact
• Finishes – Low or non-toxic ingredients, which have minimal or no off-gassing of harmful fumes
• Life cycle – Product’s impact from cradle to grave, end of life—is it reusable, recyclable, biodegradable?
• Durability – Is the design durable? Are the materials and construction durable?

Simple isn’t it?

5 Brands Making Amazing Eco Friendly Furniture

Green furniture companies are sprouting up in response, producing furniture that is sustainable and eco-friendly for the environmentally-conscious consumer. Here are 5 amazing brands:

1. IKEA

IKEA is the go-to-giant for decent and cheap eco-friendly furniture. This brand has been working assiduously to make its business model and production methods much more sustainable. They have committed to use 100% renewable energy by 2020 which is going to save them a lot of money too. Along with furniture, they sell many energy-efficient and water-saving products, including showerheads, lighting fixtures, etc.

Website: www.ikea.com

2. West Elm

Indeed, one of the most well-known home décor and furniture brands across the globe – and now they offer a fair trade of eco friendly furniture too! On the West Elm website, there is a section called “Sustainably Sourced” which offers FSC-certified bedframes, desks, dressers, and tables. The company claims that 29 % of the wood it currently uses is sourced “sustainably”. West Elm offers hundreds of eco friendly options for those who love the environment.

Website: www.westelm.com

3. Crate and Barrel

This brand wants you to build a home that displays sustainability and respect for the environment in every inch. The ‘eco-friendly furniture’ section on Crate & Barrel’s website offers an assortment of FSC-certified pieces along with other hundreds of other responsibly-sourced products. Also, they offer a variety of products made of bamboo i.e. one of the most sustainable plants in the world.

Website: www.crateandbarrel.com

4. Saatva

Saatva uses recycled tempered steel, eco-friendly foams, and organic cotton coverings to produce their hybrid innerspring memory foam mattresses. In addition to four sustainability certifications, Saatva’s unique business model is planned to reduce its carbon footprint, also the company is totally paperless.

Website: www.saatvamattress.com

5. Etsy

Best known for their handmade and custom pieces, Etsy also offers one full section of pieces made with sellers who reclaim and upcycle furniture. Etsy is a B Corp certified company that puts people, planet, and profit as their triple bottom line. Etsy creates a thriving space for independent, small-scale craftsmen to sell their work, also it makes it easy for us to shop for recycled, sustainable pieces.

Website: www.etsy.com

Materia, VivaTerre, Urban Green, Urban Green, Clei, ABC Carpet & Home, CISCO Home “inside Green” line and Mio are few other sustainable furniture brands that are equally great. Sadly, very few are available in India.  

Good luck, and happy shopping!

Website: www.etsy.com

Materia, VivaTerre, Urban Green, Urban Green, Clei, ABC Carpet & Home, CISCO Home “inside Green” line and Mio are few other sustainable furniture brands that are equally great. Sadly, very few are available in India.  

Good luck, and happy shopping!

Read: Top 6 Categories Of IGBC Green Interiors Rating System

Authored by Building Experts from Wienerberger India

For an expert advice, drop a word at our email id [email protected]