The air in Milan right now is thick with design innovation, the buzz of conversations echoing through the vast halls of Salone del Mobile. This iconic furniture show, a global epicentre of style and trends, underscores the furniture industry’s sheer scale and cultural significance. We furnish our homes, offices, and public spaces, creating the backdrops to our lives. But behind the alluring aesthetics and innovative forms lies a complex web of environmental considerations, often overlooked in pursuing the perfect chair or statement table.
Historically, the quest for beautiful furniture has left a significant footprint on our planet. The demand for precious hardwoods has driven deforestation, impacting biodiversity and climate regulation. Mining for metals used in frames and embellishments, the energy-intensive production of glass for tabletops and mirrors, and the vast quantities of textiles, including increasingly synthetic fibres, all contribute to environmental strain. Even seemingly innocuous elements like foam padding and fabric dyes carry their own ecological burdens.
What happens when that beloved sofa or elegant cabinet reaches the end of its lifespan? Proper waste management and the recyclability of furniture remain largely unaddressed. Landfills are filled with bulky items, often composed of mixed materials that are difficult and costly to separate and repurpose. The linear » take-make-dispose » model continues to dominate, with limited incentives for circularity.
Adding to this challenge is the rise of «fast furniture.» Mirroring the issues plaguing the fashion industry, a culture of disposability is being fostered, with mass-produced, often lower-quality items becoming the norm. While some ‘fast furniture’ companies have democratized design and affordability, the shorter lifespan of these pieces contributes to a higher turnover rate and increased waste compared to the more durable furniture of the past. Consumers, often captivated by style and price, are understandably less aware of these intricate environmental impacts than the more visible concerns surrounding food or fashion.
Furthermore, navigating the sustainability landscape in furniture is confusing for consumers. Some companies are making real efforts to source sustainability-certified materials, and individual components might carry certifications. However, how can we be sure about the entire production process? Were toxic glues used in assembly? What were the environmental and social impacts of the manufacturing and installation? The complexity of the supply chain and the multitude of materials involved make it difficult for individuals to make truly informed choices.
What is urgently needed is a transparent, trustworthy, and consumer-friendly way to identify genuinely sustainable furniture. Imagine a recognisable certification mark that signifies the sustainable sourcing of materials and responsible production processes, the absence of harmful substances, durability, and end-of-life considerations. Just as Friend of the Earth is gradually bringing transparency and credibility to the sustainable fashion sector, a recently introduced Friend of the Earth Sustainable Furniture third-party certification could empower consumers to make conscious choices and incentivize producers to adopt sustainable practices across their entire value chain. This would create a market pull for environmentally responsible furniture, driving innovation and ultimately leading to a greener and fairer industry.
Let’s move beyond Milan’s dazzling displays and demand greater transparency and accountability in the furniture we buy. The beauty of our homes shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet.
For more information on Friend of the Earth Certification for sustainable furniture write to info@friendoftheearth.org.
