It is essential to make sustainable purchases whenever possible, and that shouldn’t exclude furniture that is often coated with toxic chemicals to keep the fabric from wrinkling or staining. Of course, reusing old furniture and purchasing antiques is a great sustainable option, but if you would like to find new items, many brands use upcycled, recycled or natural materials. Here are a few brands worth considering:
1. West Elm
Photo: Instagram @westelm
The company has 15 Fair Trade Certified factories, uses organic cotton and FSC certified wood, amongst other sustainable initiatives. They are also the first retailer to use the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft, and they have kept 14M plastic bottles out of landfills through repreve recycled polyester. Their furniture embodies comfort, elegance and versatility.
2. Mater
Photo: Instagram @materdesign
Mater uses a combination of collaborations with established and emerging designers. The aesthetic of the brand alludes to Scandinavian minimalism and the furniture is made sustainably. For instance, they use mango wood which is a byproduct of the industry of mango fruits. The tree is then replanted every 7-15 years, which allows for a sustainable life cycle. Mater also uses FSC certified wood, and they upcycle and recycle materials to create new products.
3. Bolia
Photo: Instagram @boliacom
Bergo fabric is what Bolia uses, which is polyester made from recycled plastic bottles with no raw materials in the production process, and their furniture is only produced in Europe. They use recycled cotton, materials that are free of heavy metals (lead, chromium, nickel) and 100% wool.
4. Ekomia
Photo: Instagram @ekomiadesign
Organic solid wood is used in these objects, which is advantageous because it means the pieces are more durable, easily repaired, and less glue is required. The furniture packaging is also eco friendly because recycled paper and cardboard are used, preventing waste. They even tell you how many trees will be planted from your order.