10-KEY FACTORS TO ECO-FRIENDLY FURNITURE
1. CHOOSE CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE WOOD.
Because trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, it cools the earth’s surface, and holds the soil in place. Wood furniture made from sustainable harvested forests and tree farms or from reclaimed wood is the responsible choice.

2 .FIND FURNITURE MADE WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS.
Some furniture is reclaimed from old homes; furniture or factory scrapes also from logs or reservoirs (which is forest areas submerged in creation of man-made dams or lakes)

3. BUY BAMBOO
Bamboo includes a fast growing, versatile grasses that can be flattened into flooring, molded into furniture, pressed into veneers or sliced to make window blinds, Most bamboo is grown in China, with few or no pesticides.

4. EMBRACE RECYCLED METAL AND PLASTIC
Furniture made from recycled plastics aluminum and other metals requires less processing and fewer resources, while supporting the market for recycled materials.

5. CHECK FOR EASY DISASSEMBLY AND RECYCLABILITY.
Echo-friendly furniture should be easy to repair, disassemble and recycle. Products certified through MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle protocol exemplify this principle.

6 .SEEK FURNITURE THAT IS DURABLE AND FIXABLE.
Tough repairable items are less likely to end up in the landfill. Although initially more expensive, they are more cost effective than cheaper products with a short time life than better quality products that can be passed along to others or resold or used for antique sales.

7. LOOK FOR LOW-TOXICITY FURNITURE.
Furnishings made of synthetic materials or treated with synthetic substances, such as flame retardants and formaldehyde, often off-gas toxic chemicals known s volatile organic compounds, or VOC,s. Studies show that indoor air quality is often worse than outdoors, due in part to VOC,s which have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption and cancer. They are a particular hazard to children and pets Check for Greengaurd product certification at (www.GreenGaurd.org) to ensure low toxicity. Look for furniture that is untreated with natural substances-natural wood finishes, naturally tanned leather or organic cotton.

8. BUY VINTAGE
Pre-owned goods can be the greenest of all. Vintage and second-hand furniture requires no additional resources to manufacture, is locally sourced (cutting transportation), is already off-gassed, and eases the load on the landfill. Note: avoid buying painted furniture from the early to mid-20th century, which may contain lead, or use a paint-testing kit from a hardware store.

9. BUY LOCAL
Just like food, parts of a piece of furniture might have traveled thousands of miles to reach us. Look for furniture made close to home to support the local economy and independent craft people, while decreasing the environmental costs of shipping.

10. GIVE FURNITURE A MAKEOVER OR FIND IT A GOOD HOME.
Furniture tastes and needs change over time. You can re-upholster the piece. Or why not repurpose or freshen furniture with a new finish or paint? If its time to discard an item makes sure it gets reused: sell it via Craigslist.org or ebay.com – the local paper or the next yard sale; donate it through freecycle.org or place it curbside with a “free” sign. No sturdy artifact should have to live for eternity in the landfill.