How To Go Green With Your Bedroom Furniture

‘Going green’ is the buzzword today and everyone wants to contribute and help conserve the environment. Some people have this misconception that conservation is for big corporate companies, NGOs, and governments, to consider. They feel their individual contribution would not really make a difference. But everyone knows the power of individual initiatives bringing about societal change and we have enough examples to substantiate them. For instance, in Israel there is a design company called Krooom which designs eco-friendly furniture for the home and office. They use waste cardboard material to produce furniture that is recyclable and environment friendly. Moreover, these ‘green’ products have innovative and attractive designs too. There are many such companies worldwide using renewable material and producing eco-friendly products. While on an individual level, you can either purchase ‘green’ products or you can make them yourself. If you decide to ‘go green’ and live sustainably, you need to understand that you can take from the environment only what can be naturally replenished. Companies must realize that apart from the material, it is also the process and manufacturing method that influence the environment. The best place to begin change is your home and what better place than your bedroom where you rest, relax, and let your guards down. One of the ways to begin is to introduce indoor plants to add freshness and greenery. You could also use green furniture in your bedroom to have an eco-friendly environment. Read on to know more about eco-friendly bedroom furniture.

Eco-Friendly Bedroom Furniture

Bedroom furniture includes dressers, bedside tables, chairs and tables. If it is made of wooden material like plywood, particle board, oriented strand board (OSB) or other composites; adhesives are used to hold them together. The adhesive used can lead to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can linger on for years.
To avoid this, you can choose green furniture that is made of organic materials. There are many options like hemp, bamboo, and other natural, renewable materials used by design stores as well as local companies and communities to make renewable furniture more accessible to the general masses.
The pillow is a common item taken for granted but is indispensible. Nobody realizes that people are breathing in chemical fumes and are exposed to toxins and other synthetic material. The process of manufacturing pillows involves heavy treatment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which can accumulate in the body and can have adverse health effects. Today in the market there are many varieties of green pillows and pillow cases available to reduce the harmful effect on the body and the atmosphere. One of the popular material is hemp which is similar to cotton and can be spun into the pillow packing.
Mattresses similar to pillows can be harmful if they are manufactured with materials and processes that have environmentally hazardous effects. They usually contain polyurethane foams and have gone through various chemical treatments. Some companies even use boric acid which is toxic when inhaled by humans. There are companies using processes that make ‘natural latex’ to manufacture green mattresses. The only obstacle is that these mattresses are expensive as they are made to order.
Carpeting is another major source of bad elements harmful to the environment. If it is not essential it is best not to have carpeting. But if it is absolutely required, then carpets should be cleaned with non-chemical agents or replace with green options like natural fiber woven rugs and carpets.
Essentially, it is important to buy or make furniture and furnishings that use natural materials which make the quality of the air in the bedroom and the environment cleaner, lighter and free from artificial harmful agents.

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