Sustainable Furniture and Fabrics

By JJ De Sousa

I have been recycling, re-using, and repurposing furniture and fabrics for as long as I have had my business, and even before then in my personal life, but it is really exciting to see the array of sustainable furniture that has been introduced into the home marketplace in the last few years. Using sustainable products and furniture used to be almost exclusive to commercial interiors. It used to be that the only green thing people did in their homes was recycle. Bringing sustainable materials into the home was just not something that mainstream America did. But that is rapidly changing.

Studies from the Sustainable Furniture Council have shown that the majority of consumers would purchase green products over others if given the choice and would even pay more to do so. To be honest, I am actually sick to death of the term “green.” It is so overused these days that it seems to have lost its spark and even its original meaning. But as I continue to research and buy for my own store, I have learned a lot about what is real and what is made up. I was also surprised to discover all the companies that have been doing the right thing the whole time have been right under my nose.

I believe that we are ahead of the game in Oregon — we recycle like fiends. We are known all over the nation, and the world for that matter, for having amazing vintage shops for furniture, accessories, lighting, and clothing. I recently read a few blogs about people coming to Portland from London specifically to shop at these stores and have their finds shipped home. I can’t tell you how many killer pieces I have found at local thrift and vintage shops to have reupholstered and repurposed.

The Rebuilding Center has been making furniture (ReFind) out of its deconstructed inventory for years. Some of the pieces they have created are amazing — and talk about green. I have also purchased pieces from ReStore — a Habitat for Humanity project — that were donated to them from the former Mallory Hotel. I had them reworked, recovered, and sold them in my shop. It was great to take vintage pieces with great bones and turn them into a brand new piece that will be treasured for 50 more years. Don’t forget about Rerun on Fremont, Lounge Lizard on Hawthorne, Craigslist, Goodwill and the Salvation Army — all with furniture and lighting treasures just waiting to be given new life.

Last week I was in High Point, NC, at the international furniture show, and discovered many manufacturers with green products and practices, so if you are looking at buying new pieces of sustainable furniture, accessories, or lighting, you have no shortage of choices. However, it is important to be informed as a consumer about what you are really buying. As I am sure you have noticed, there are manufacturers out there who tell us that their products are green or made using sustainable principles and practices. Not all of them are telling the complete truth, as greenwashing seems to be a huge trend right now.

So what exactly does sustainable mean? There is no one answer, that’s for sure. Sustainable furniture is made of material that has certain eco-characteristics. Generally, it means that a product is made out of eco-friendly new materials, recycled or re-purposed, renewable, and uses safer materials. There are new materials like bamboo, woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and soy-based foam cushions for upholstery and mattresses.

Nathan Anthony Furniture has a new line of furniture called ENVI that uses sustainable wood and soy-based cushions in its beautiful and durable pieces. It uses water-based finishes and fewer harsh chemicals. Fabric companies have also gotten into the game with bamboo fibers, post-consumer recycled polyester fabrics, and cork fabric. I have to admit, the cork fabric is my favorite. It is ridiculously sturdy and is fabulous to look at. I recently used a Kravet cork fabric on an ottoman and it turned out beautifully — so cool! Kravet also uses recycled metal for the springs in their furniture. One of the coolest pieces I saw was a dining table created from a reclaimed bowling alley floor by Noir Trading Company — beautiful and inventive.

Yes, these things come at a bit of a premium, but they are generally better made and will last longer — isn’t that a sustainable practice as well? If the product is made well and lasts longer, you’ll keep it longer and it is less likely to end up in a landfill. You can also consider having a multifunctional piece, like an upholstered ottoman, that can act as a coffee table and extra seating.

This is just a beginning conversation about sustainable furniture and home products, there is so much product and material out there. I am hoping to spark your interest and get you started on your quest to find just the right piece for your home and for the environment. The information is right out there in your local home stores — so off you go! Enjoy the process and have fun shopping.