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Eco-friendly Furniture Eco-friendly furniture has been making big waves in the news lately and it's popularity is soaring. Eco-friendly furniture is often made from renewable or recycled resources, and contains very few harmful chemicals. Hidden problems of Conventional furniture Your family's health is at risk when you buy conventional furniture because most types of conventional furniture are sprayed with harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and lacquers that contain high levels of solvents that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Volatile organic compounds can irritate eyes, skin and lungs, and cause headaches, nausea, and in extreme cases liver and kidney damage. Many children are sensitive to formaldehyde and cannot tolerate it. Green furniture is better for your health unlike traditional furniture that is made from toxic materials. Many types of conventional furniture contain high levels of toxic halogenated fire retardants. Studies have shown that most Americans who are texted for toxins have halogenated fire retardants stored in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels. Infants and children are the most vulnerable to the effects of halogenated fire retardant chemicals, which travel through the placenta and breast milk. Levels of halogenated fire retardants in breast milk have increased 40-fold since the 1970’s. Buying Eco-friendly furniture When looking for wood furniture, consider purchasing reclaimed wood. Many companies use reclaimed wood from old houses, other pieces of furniture, factory scrapes, and sunken wood. Manufacturing from reclaimed wood saves trees, saves forest, and reduces the amount of energy needed to create a new product. Unfortunately, many types of eco-friendly furniture are more expensive than their conventional counterparts. However, you can still buy furniture that is not as harmful as newly manufatured conventional furniture.
When buying eco-friendly furniture, find out if it is FSC certified. If the wood product is FSC certified, it means that the forest it was cut from is managed in a way that is sustainable adn causes very little harm the planet. Bamboo has become one of the strongest materials used by eco-friendly furniture manufactures. Bamboo is stronger than oak, and it doesn't shrink or swell.
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