Many of us have become more conscious of making sustainable choices when it comes to our wardrobes or daily waste, but our homes continue to provide plenty of room for improvement.
To take a more mindful approach to furniture and interiors, we round up five things to look out for when you’re shopping around.
Efforts to reduce waste
Look for brands that champion low-waste production methods. Carl Hansen & Søn, for example, proudly uses nearly every piece of wood they source. In fact, they take it beyond that by having any leftover scraps collected and repurposed as fuel in a district heating plant that provides warmth to more than 400 local homes in Gelsted, Denmark.
Credible certifications
Does the designer partner with organisations which uphold global sustainability standards? If so, you can ensure that social and environmental processes in the supply chain are adhered too. One example is the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) which has certified OYUNA, an artisan textile company creating beautiful pieces hand-spun by local Mongolian communities.
Long-lasting materials
Seek out natural materials known to withstand not just time but high levels of wear and tear. Generally, woods like teak, oak and walnut lead the way, but to go one step further, look for brands like Carl Hansen & Søn that ensure wood furniture is FSC-certified, meaning materials come from well-managed forests and/or recycled sources.
Trusted names
One of the simplest ways to shop for furniture sustainably is by choosing brands that are known for creating furniture built for decades to come. One talent that does this is innovative American interior designer Herman Miller, who has many classic products manufactured in the 1950s that are still in great shape today.
Upcycled alternatives
Be on the lookout for brands that are embracing upcycled and alternative materials. Last year, British designer Bethan Gray used her creativity to launch a sustainable collection that partnered with natural surface specialist Nature Squared. The result was pearlescent, statement furniture, including shelves and lounge chairs, made using leftover materials such as discarded seashells from seafood and farming industries.
Shop these brands and more items from Lane Crawford’s conscious home and lifestyle edit in the shop tab below.
