There is a growing interest in “green” furniture among manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Unfortunately, there is an equal measure of misconception and confusion regarding this important topic. How are we to provide what consumers are asking for when we, and they, are working with a variety of definitions of what truly is green.
Part of the cause of confusion is simply because we, as an industry, are still perfecting what is to be called green and what cannot be called green. We are in the process of working through the discovery of what are truly the best practices. But we are trying and advancing daily as an industry.
There are three parts to the equation that we need to understand for ourselves and for our customers. The equation is a triangle. On one point is green. That does not necessarily mean that the product is recycled, but more that it is earth-friendly/earth-smart, and minimizes negative practices. Green is an attitude and the striving for a state that we haven't yet fully achieved.
The second point is sustainability. To us, the clearest way to see this is to visualize a landfill. If that item is not well-made or it is not made of materials that are strong. It will not endure and will quickly end up in a landfill. Sustainability is long-lasting and thus less likely to add to the landfill.
The final point of the triangle is the carbon footprint. By that I mean how much energy and fossil fuels are used to make the product. The amount of energy (whether it is from coal, oil, or hydroelectricity etc...) is basically the same for creating a well-made piece of furniture that will last as it is for making a poorly made piece of furniture that will not last. So if we define green as energy consumption, frequently replacing a piece of unsatisfactory furniture is a bad bargain. If the lifetime of a well-made sofa is 20 years, then the poorly made sofa might cost us four times more in energy costs as we might need to buy four of them to last 20 years. That makes the carbon footprint of the better sofa at only one fourth, of the poorly constructed one.
We need to apply the green triangle in order to get some perspective on the true meaning of sustainable when discussing furniture. Take cow manure particleboard as an example, oh yes, if you have not heard there is such a thing as cow manure particleboard! It is green and renewable, however, its carbon footprint might be more than wood chip particleboard because of the extra processing needed to make the cow manure particleboard. The downside to either one is in sustainability or lack of. It just isn’t as strong as solid wood. The average person moves eleven times in their lifetime. Just ask movers how they feel about handling particleboard furniture. It is simply too fragile. We believe that each of us has a story we could tell about that particular material.
Here is another way to apply the triangle. A well-made piece of furniture may last well beyond the previously stated 20 years. It can be handed down to loved ones, given to charitable organizations, or resold because it continues to last. However, if you need to replace a poorly made piece of furniture, that piece will inevitably end up in a landfill where it will begin to break down and decompose. While doing so, chemicals used in the particleboard, glues, foams, and stain resistant treatments begin to enter our water supply. This is the same water that farmers use to grow our food, the water that we drink, and that eventually flows to the sea.
Consumers are becoming more aware as well. One customer in five now asks about green furniture. Penny Mustard has and always will be concerned about carrying furniture with extreme sustainability/green, after all, our roots were in farming and with that has come a strong love for mother earth. It is our commitment to you that we not only build a great quality product, but to do it with the highest “Green” standards in mind. Following is the day-to-day normal “Green” standards that have always been in place at Penny Mustard:
- All furniture is constructed and joined in the highest quality manner, thus giving you heirloom furniture that will last a lifetime if not several. Landfills will not see this furniture for a long, long time if ever.
- Furniture travels short distances from builder to your home. This keeps the transportation fuel emissions low.
- Careful blanket wrapped deliveries from the builder means no need for cardboard, plastic, or foam packaging. Huge environment savings.
- Lumber from ethical forest management sources. Two trees are planted for every tree harvested.
- Furniture Made in America is built with a higher standard of reduced emissions when staining and finishing, than what other countries around the world require.
