Green Furniture

Green Furniture

Green Furniture - Most Recognized Green Furniture Certifications
By Manda Trevarthen - Ezinearticles

Choosing green furniture is one aspect of ensuring you have a green office but how do you know if your office furniture is environmentally friendly? As consumer demand for green furniture increases, manufactures are working to implement green practices in both production and operation. This has led to a range of environmental certifications that indicate the environmental impacts of your furniture. However each of these certifications looks at different aspects of furniture manufacture so it pays to know about the different certifications before you go shopping. Here are the more commonly recognized certifications you may see on green furniture and looking for products with these certifications will help you buy sustainably:

• Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International is a not for profit organization that has created a voluntary furniture sustainability standard which includes criteria for the evaluation of energy, natural resources, human and ecosystem health and corporate social responsibility impacts.
• The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is a non-profit coalition of businesses in the furniture industry. As well as standard membership, the Council offers exemplary membership at silver, gold and platinum levels for manufacturers that are using sustainable practices.

Aside from certifications specifically aimed at green furniture, other green certifications can also indicate the environmental impact of your furniture. The following four certifications evaluate particular aspects of products and buildings and also apply to furniture. These certifications can also help you make environmentally friendly choices:

• The Greenguard Environmental Institute is also a not for profit organization as well as an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer. Their certification concentrates on indoor air quality and determines whether products have low chemical and particle emissions making them suitable for use indoors.
• McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) is a private firm that provides a cradle to cradle certification which considers both the environmental impact of the manufacturing process and how the product can be disassembled and recycled at the end of its life. The manufacturing process and materials are assessed in five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility.
• The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a not for profit organization that provides voluntary certifications to show forests are managed sustainably and timber is sourced from sustainable forests.
• The LEED green building certification has a stream for commercial interiors where it is possible to earn credits for reusing existing furniture, buying furniture made from recycled content or rapidly renewable materials and choosing furniture made from FSC certified wood.

Green Furniture