ECOTECTURE is the "going green" in home furnishings and really isn't a trend but a lifestyle. Consumers have become more aware and educated on the effects that global warming has on the environment, resulting in the need to make changes in our everyday lives. The greening of home décor has become mainstream and eco-chic.
Still in its infancy, established only in 2006, the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is a non-profit balanced coalition of industry players created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike with a public tagging program to identify good choices. The sustainable practices include simultaneous performance improvements in economic vitality, ecological integrity and social equity. Members strive to use the Life Cycle Assessment and support the triple bottom line of: PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS.
Just like our foods are labelled with such things as fat content, furnishings will soon be labelled with their carbon-footprint rating, so we, as end users, can make more educated "green" choices. For more information, check out the SFC website: www.sustainablefurnishingcouncil.org
The eco movement spans many shades of green. Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint and finishes that minimize off-gasing, are standard practices with these manufacturers and contribute to a healthier home. Organic fabrics, soy-based foam & recycled polyester fibre have gained traction in the upholstery sector. While reclaimed wood or rapid renewables, like bamboo, are extremely directional for furniture and so much more.
Bamboo is the popular choice for many green products because it grows quickly. Some species grow a half-metre per day and do not need replanting, as bamboo has an extensive root system and naturally replenishes itself.
Some of the bamboo products we found are:
Area rugs that are soft, shaggy and luxurious and are naturally hypo-allergenic. The half-dozen, brilliant colours are created with non-toxic, azo-free dyes.
Bamboo office chair mats that meld beauty, style and function to create an alternative to the bland, utilitarian vinyl chair mat.
Bamboo bedding, that has the nickname of "menopause" bedding because of its superior ventilation and wicking that keeps the user cool and comfortable when hot and warm when cold, is not only exceptionally practical and comfortable but extremely silky and soft.
Reclaimed wood is being used to create new unique furniture pieces, lamps and accessories. Many of these scrap pieces were destined for the rubbish pile, until some creative souls injected new life into the litter. In photo 2, pieces of scrap wood make up the door fronts on this chest, creating a one-of-a-kind textural creation. Tropical vines make up room dividers (Photo 3), wall art and table bases that will make a statement in any room setting. A tree-root console (Photo 4) will be one of the most interesting and distinctive accents for your home. As many of these pieces are one-of-a-kind, never to be recreated again, these suppliers email their new options as they arrive and you must act quickly if you find something you want.
Another interesting product line uses natural scrap materials like dead bark, shrubs, fallen twigs, leaves and other agro-forest waste that are recycled to produce a varied line of hand-crafted products. These botanical scraps are shredded through a special machine and bonded together using an odourless water-based binder, then shaped into functional, eco-friendly, contemporary products by local artists. This product line creates architectural wall panels, furniture, accessories suited for both interior and exterior use.
Concrete, well-known as an eco-friendly product, was found in this line of furniture -- SLAB (Photo 1). Solid and bold, yet lightweight, SLAB makes a strong statement indoors or out. At the heart of SLAB is Eco Concrete, a reinforced natural fibre cement, consisting of a mix of cement, granite, stone, marble powder and natural fibre.
ECOTECTURE is EcoChic, lasting, and affordable furniture and furnishings that are simultaneously well-designed and environmentally conscious. Sustainability dominates every step of the manufacturing and distribution process -- from concept and materials to execution and retail delivery. So you can save the Earth with your furniture choices!
Kim Schroeder is owner of Charisma, the design experience.
Second in a series
Winnipeg Interior Designer Kim Schroeder attended the recent 2009 Las Vegas Furniture Show and is reporting on trends in interior design as seen at the show.
