What are some major players in the "sustainable furniture" industry? If I wanted to furnish my apartment with really eco-friendly stuff, where should I shop?
Asked by Shilpa Sarkar, '11, Stanford, Calif.
Our questioner asked specifically about major players in the sustainable furniture industry. Using the considerations presented in the Essential Answer, SAGE evaluated the sustainability of a selection of furniture stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. Several are national chains, and you’ll likely find local equivalents for the others near your home. This list is by no means comprehensive, but is meant to give some suggestions of where to look for sustainable furnishings, and how to weigh the costs and benefits associated with making eco-friendly purchases.
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It is hard to imagine anything you could buy at a thrift store being unsustainable. You are keeping discarded items out of landfills, and, at many thrift stores, most of the proceeds go charity. Plus, you are helping the planet and the people that live here; sounds like a win-win to us! Consignment stores are another option, and often have a bigger selection of upscale products. Many of these stores will pop up on Yelp or Google Maps if you search for “thrift stores” or “consignment stores.” They are everywhere, so just keep your eyes peeled during your daily commute. You might be surprised what turns up.
For those on a budget, IKEA furniture is certainly affordable. And, for affordable furniture, they have some impressive sustainability goals. As early as 1991, they banned tropical woods not originating from responsible forests or plantations. Much of their cotton is sourced from organic farms that require less water than traditional farms. They are working to increase energy efficiency in their manufacturing processes and are investing in renewable energy (see their 2011 Sustainability Report.) And while they do ship their materials and final products around the globe, at least they are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of all that transportation. Keep in mind that some of their furniture is made from low-quality, disposable materials like particle board, which is not able to be recycled or repurposed.
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Contrary to what the name implies, they also have beds, beanbag chairs and lamps. Their products use sustainably and organically grown materials, and their futons are produced locally, in a San Francisco factory. A futon is also a great choice because it has more uses than a bed or couch alone.
Like The Futon Shop, Eco-Terric is certified by Green America, a non-profit membership organization. Certified stores are “environmentally responsible in the way they source, manufacture and market their products, and run their operations and facilities” among other requirements. Eco-terric offers a wide range of products, from flooring to window coverings to kitchen tables from multiple eco-friendly manufacturers. Products ship directly from the manufacturers, eliminating unnecessary emissions from transportation to the store before your home.
Crate & Barrel has a modest selection of eco-friendly products that use renewable resources (such as bamboo), minimize petroleum-based materials, and use certified sustainable wood. Their energy initiatives focus more on their stores than on their manufacturing processes; you can read more about it here. While not as affordable as IKEA, furniture purchased from a more high-end retailer like Crate & Barrel is likely to outlast you, if you treat it well. So make sure you really like that new armoire you're thinking about buying.
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Like other custom design and build services, Heritage Salvage might run a bit on the expensive side. However, you are assured that the materials are have been repurposed, that the furniture was responsibly and locally produced, and are extremely durable (not to mention beautiful). You can also buy salvaged materials from them directly for DIY projects, keeping the cost lower. Handcrafted reclaimed wood furniture is definitely the way to go, if you can afford it.
Nicole Sarto, '13, is an earth systems major.
