Sustainable furniture is growing in popularity as more
individuals are becoming aware of the effects of consumerism on the environment.
With a growing number of furniture companies dedicated to creating eco-friendly
and sustainable products, Europe and the United States are two regions that
have achieved substantial success in this industry.
The global carbon impact of furniture production is substantial. An average piece of furniture produces 47 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents each year. This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions produced by burning 20 liters of petrol. In the European Union alone, 10 million tonnes of furniture are either burned or thrown in landfills each year. More than 12 million tonnes of furniture are discarded annually in the United States, contributing to the huge amount of solid garbage.
For a long time, the European Union has been at the forefront of environmental activities. Sustainable furniture is one of the European Union's most important areas of concentration. A certification program called the EU Ecolabel attempts to promote furniture and other items that are beneficial to the environment. Products must satisfy stringent requirements to prove their environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials through the disposal to acquiring the Ecolabel certification. Additionally, a lot of European furniture producers employ eco-friendly components, including natural fibers, recycled metals, and FSC-certified wood. The Dutch company Van Houten, which creates furniture from recovered plastic waste, is an example of a sustainable furniture manufacturer in Europe. The Swedish corporation IKEA has pledged to use only recycled and renewable resources in all its products by 2030. The company also adopted a circular business strategy, in which things are made to be recycled and recycled or reused rather than being disposed of. According to a recent research study by Mordor Intelligence, titled EUROPE SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2028), it is anticipated that the growing number of European sustainable furniture manufacturers would have an impact on the industry. Additionally, a substantial role is projected to be played by the expanding international trade in sustainable furniture between China, Germany, Italy, Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
Sustainable furniture is also growing in popularity in the United States. A non-profit organization called the Sustainable Furnishing Council works to promote environmentally friendly manufacturing in the furniture sector. The council offers a variety of services and tools to assist businesses in minimizing their environmental impact, including the "Wood Furniture Scorecard," which assesses the sustainability of wood used in the manufacture of furniture. Several US furniture manufacturers are dedicated to sustainability. For instance, the Michigan-based business Harmer Miller has established a "Design for the Environment" program that assesses the environmental impact of its products over the course of their useful lives. A "zero waste to landfill" policy, which strives to eliminate waste in all areas of the company's activities, has also been put into place. West Elm, another US-based company, has made a commitment to exclusively utilize wood that is obtained from ethically and eco-friendly materials in all their goods. To reduce its carbon footprint, the company also collaborates with regional suppliers and craftspeople. In its most recent corporate responsibility report, Wayfair made a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 63 % by 2035, most of which are produced and shipped by the company's products. According to a recent research study by Mordor Intelligence, titled US SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2028) , residential use dominates the market for sustainable furniture in the United States. Growing consumer awareness of sustainable furniture manufacturing had a substantial impact on the adoption of sustainable furniture in residential areas.
The concept of sustainable furniture is crucial to the sustainability movement, and both Europe and the United States are making significant progress in this direction. In the next years, sustainable furniture is projected to grow in popularity as eco-conscious buyers become more prevalent. Companies can reduce their influence on the environment and help to create a more sustainable future by encouraging sustainable practices in the furniture business.
