Sustainability is avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.

It might be worth reflecting that the production of most products sold in the world today is generally not a truly sustainable process. Some products leave less of a “footprint” than others and some wear their “green” credentials more proudly than others. The level of sustainability in the contract furniture supply chain depends on a mix of factors including legislation, type of materials used, logistics and waste.

Different countries have different environmental protection laws, which are typically higher in developed countries. Europe has particularly high standards. China is known for its environmental weakness. Using factories in countries with strict environmental laws can minimize damage to the environment.

Lumber

Timber can be a completely sustainable material. Logging and replanting timber is a well-known process and much of it is regulated. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies that a product comes from sustainable, well-managed forests. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is the largest forest certification system in the world. The use of solid wood is actually a waste of wood since only about 25% of the original wood is actually used. Plywood is less wasteful than solid wood but requires glue. Wood can be recycled into MDF / chipboard etc.

MDF / chipboard / composite sheets

MDF uses chips and waste in a very resource efficient manner. However, the glue (about 10% of the content) is non-green formaldehyde, made from petrochemicals and cannot be easily recycled.

Metal

Steel is the most recycled material on the planet, more than all other materials combined. Steel maintains an extremely high overall recycling rate, which was 88 percent in 2012. The energy saved from recycling reduces the steel industry’s annual energy consumption by about 75%.

Plastics

Plastic is lightweight, which reduces transportation costs and fuel emissions. Molded plastic furniture, which is particularly strong, is easy to recycle; recycled plastic chairs have become more available.

Upholstery

There are many environmentally friendly options when it comes to upholstery. Wool is inherently eco-friendly as it is 100% natural and biodegradable. Leather is another natural upholstery that is 100% biodegradable. Other eco-friendly fabrics include harvested nettles, hemp, recycled polyester and jute.

“Green” Chairs

These usually include a main product, perhaps recycled or a waste product. For example, an Alhambra Eco Side Chair is made entirely from recycled MDF sawdust. Similar the Zartan Raw chair is made from a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to plastic: lignum made from wood pulp, mixed with natural fibers, wax and fish oil to create a “liquid wood” that can be molded in the same way as plastic.

Cardboard Packaging

Recycled cardboard is a high-quality material that can be used as packaging materials and boxes. Cardboard can be recycled many times without losing its strength. Corrugated cardboard containers used for shipping have a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Cardboard is easy to recycle. When we take packaging away from a site, it is always recycled.

logistics

Shorter supply chains are better for the environment; European furniture is better than furniture from the Far East. you can read more about where furniture comes from and why it’s important in our blog about the European furniture industry.

Secondhand furniture can be reused, a process that is sometimes facilitated by local councils. Secondhand stores and charities are an effective way to recycle furniture, although care must be taken that secondhand upholstered furniture meets fire safety requirements. Recyclable materials are only really useful if there is a facility to recycle them.

Let us bring you into the world of the future and be part of a chain that will inevitably lead to a marked improvement in the world around us and in our living conditions.