Just in time for our Green @ Home month is this question from concerned reader Timothy:
"Dear AT, I'm looking to furnish my new now empty studio apartment with a couple pieces of furniture thanks to my economic stimulus package (finally got it!). The one thing I wanted to make sure was whatever I purchased, it would be eco-friendly and manufactured according to some sort of standards that would give me some sort of assurance of its "green-ness". Is there some sort of list of green compliant manufacturers/stores I can refer to when shopping online or offline?"
Hi Timothy. Thanks for the great question. The Sustainable Furniture Council is a helpful resource to refer to when choosing eco-friendly furnishings. The requirements for the SFC designation include detailing the complete supply chain of how things are made and where supplies come from, a reduction of wastes and pollutants during the manufacturing process, and the reduction of emissions during their transport (like the offerings from NaturesCast shown at the top of this post). Here's a complete list of manufacturers and retailers participating in the SFC with more details about the identification program.
Also consider purchasing used furniture, a very eco-friendly decision and one that might save you a lot of money. Here's a great list of used furniture shops with unique offerings that run the gamut of traditional, ethnic and modern.
Los Angeles
gregory
July 1, 2008 05:00PM
