Furniture
The main issue is the sourcing of materials, largely timber and cotton. Other lesser issues are climate, animals (products of), workers (rights), tax (evasion) and company ethos.
Timber is potentially very sustainable but must be sourced responsibly.
Deforestation - Forests cover 31% of earth’s surface, but this is shrinking, although the shrinkage is slowing.
What is sustainable forestry?
Sustainable forestry balances the needs of the environment, wildlife, and forest communities – supporting decent incomes while conserving our forest for future generations.
Agriculture is the biggest driver of deforestation.
IKEA used nearly 1% of the world’s total timber. They claim that 99% of their wood is FSC certified, but Earthsight (an independent non-profit group) found they were using illegally-felled timber.
UK is the second largest importer of forest products.
(FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council, PEFC is the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Greenpeace is not overimpressed with either but say that FSC is the better)
Action
Buy secondhand
Try to buy recycled wood
If buying virgin wood, buy FSC-certified (In the UK, buy UK sourced wood).
Consult Friends of the Earth A-Z of Good Wood, https:// friendsoftheearth.uk/sustainable-living/different-types-wood-timber-az-good-wood. This was produced in 1997, so may be out of date in places. It lists the world’s woods, where they come from and whether they are critical, endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened.
The best scoring company for sustainable timber is Kingfisher (B&Q) who have a strong timber-sourcing policy.
The main issue is the sourcing of materials, largely timber and cotton. Other lesser issues are climate, animals (products of), workers (rights), tax (evasion) and company ethos.
Timber is potentially very sustainable but must be sourced responsibly.
Deforestation - Forests cover 31% of earth’s surface, but this is shrinking, although the shrinkage is slowing.
What is sustainable forestry?
Sustainable forestry balances the needs of the environment, wildlife, and forest communities – supporting decent incomes while conserving our forest for future generations.
Agriculture is the biggest driver of deforestation.
IKEA used nearly 1% of the world’s total timber. They claim that 99% of their wood is FSC certified, but Earthsight (an independent non-profit group) found they were using illegally-felled timber.
UK is the second largest importer of forest products.
(FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council, PEFC is the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Greenpeace is not overimpressed with either but say that FSC is the better)
Action
Buy secondhand
Try to buy recycled wood
If buying virgin wood, buy FSC-certified (In the UK, buy UK sourced wood).
Consult Friends of the Earth A-Z of Good Wood, https:// friendsoftheearth.uk/sustainable-living/different-types-wood-timber-az-good-wood. This was produced in 1997, so may be out of date in places. It lists the world’s woods, where they come from and whether they are critical, endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened.
The best scoring company for sustainable timber is Kingfisher (B&Q) who have a strong timber-sourcing policy.