Sustainable Furniture For Your House
What is sustainable furniture?
Sustainable furniture is characterized by the high quality of materials and workmanship such as furniture makers. They are therefore particularly durable and stable. The manufacturers of sustainable furniture only use natural raw materials that have been obtained and processed under responsible environmental and social conditions.
In doing so, you will come across a raw material that is often associated with ecological production: wood. In fact, the ecological balance of wood products depends on many different factors – and is not positive per se. Prefer products made from local woods that have been processed in Germany or Europe. The furniture should have a credible seal of approval. Prefer products made from local woods that have been processed in Germany or Europe. The furniture should have a credible seal of approval. The Naturland seal offers a very good orientation. Forestry and processing companies must meet strict criteria for this. Another option is products with the FSC seal are recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council. However, special attention should be paid to the fact that it is FSC wood from German forests. The Holz von Hier seal, which combines the criteria of FSC with regionality, is helpful. Basically, avoid products made from tropical wood. These contribute to the deforestation of the rainforest and are often produced under problematic environmental and social conditions – even if they are certified. The exact type of wood also plays a role: Real wood, solid wood, or solid wood have proven their worth, as they usually do not have to be coated with chemical additives and are more robust than chipboard, plywood, and co. Covers and upholstery for sustainable furniture should be made from natural raw materials such as wool, hemp, or organic cotton.
Where can you find sustainable furniture?
There are now many furniture stores that sell furniture made according to ecological criteria. Most of the “organic furniture” is handcrafted directly in Germany. A detailed list of organic suppliers can be found here. At first glance, responsibly produced furniture may seem more expensive than products from furniture discounters. In the long run, however, the investment pays off. Furniture made of solid or solid wood usually survives several generations – this compensates for the additional expense involved in purchasing it. Anyone who needs new furniture but does not want to buy it in stores can fall back on used products. Regardless of whether it is analog or digital: There are many ways to purchase second-hand products. If you are looking for smaller treasures, you can, for example, look around at flea markets, visit a second-hand shop or look for neighborhood advertisements. In addition, online second-hand portals offer a good opportunity to give old furniture a new home.
What to do with old or broken furniture
Has your old furniture been repaired or lend a hand before throwing it away? In this way, you not only save unnecessary waste, but also energy and labor that have to be used to manufacture furniture. Simply find out how you can repair scratches in the wood or replace broken hinges online or directly at your hardware store. Restoration can also be worthwhile for special pieces. Alternatively, you can sell the old pieces: on online second-hand portals, via neighborhood advertisements, or in the traditional way at the flea market. Old furniture rethought: upgrade old or broken pieces of furniture before you land on the trash. When the paint is literally peeling off, you can sand down the wood, clean it, and paint the furniture with new paint. The coating lasts particularly long if you touch up with clear varnish. If only individual parts of old furniture are in good condition, look for an alternative use for them. The broken door becomes a vintage dining room table and the old drawer becomes an individual wall shelf with a shelf on top.