Today’s consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever before. According to a report from BusinessWire, 85% of younger consumers prefer to purchase sustainable products because they see themselves as a major catalyst for change. As a response to shifting consumer preferences, businesses are also implementing more sustainable policies and practices.
Apart from attracting more customers, going green comes with benefits such as improved efficiency and tax credits. However, going green is often capital-intensive. So instead of completely overhauling their processes, many businesses would rather start small. Choosing to invest in sustainable furniture for their offices is one example.
Why should sustainability be a priority when choosing office furniture? Here are some of the top reasons.
#1. Sustainable Furniture Gives New Life to Discarded Materials
Most sustainable furniture is made from recycled, reclaimed, or low-impact materials. Here are some examples:
- Fabric made from ocean waste
- Sound or privacy panels made from recycled plastic bottles
- Wooden boards reclaimed from old buildings or boats
- Furniture pieces made from bamboo, a low-impact material that grows like grass but is more damage-resistant than hardwood
#2. Sustainable Furniture Reduces Your Environmental Impact
Processed products that undergo complex processes often require more energy to manufacture. They also release greenhouse gasses due to solvents, glues, and paints. In contrast, sustainable furniture pieces often use recycled materials. As a result, these pieces have a longer life cycle and won’t end up in a landfill after only a few years.
Choosing high-quality, durable furniture that can last for a lifetime means spending fewer energy resources and raw materials. It also means less pollution from the production, transportation, and disposal of mass-produced goods.
You are effectively abandoning the linear economy model hinged on single-use, low-quality products by purchasing sustainable furniture. Instead, you help promote a circular economy model which aims to optimize resources and maximize a product’s useful life.
#3. Sustainable Furniture Is Good For Your Brand Image
Research suggests that consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. As a result, many businesses proactively invest in sustainable raw materials and production processes. However, sustainability goes beyond a company’s products.
Outfitting your workplace with sustainable furniture shows your strong commitment to the environment. In addition, it sends a clear message to your customers and the rest of the world that your business takes sustainability seriously.
#4. Sustainable Furniture Is Better For Your Health
Before the exponential growth of the construction industry, furniture was primarily made of solid wood and pieces of metal. However, in the early 1950s, furniture designers and manufacturers started looking for inexpensive materials to satisfy growing consumer demand. As a result, cheap, processed furniture made from synthetic materials, plastics, and aluminum hit the market.
Particle boards contribute to indoor air pollution by off-gassing or emitting volatile organic compounds. According to the CDC, exposure to these compounds increases the risk of developing asthma, allergies, cancer, and other serious chronic disorders.
Today, many furniture makers are taking a stand to encourage and promote environmental awareness and sustainable development. They choose to process the materials close to where they were sourced to limit pollution caused by the transportation of goods. Manufacturers also purposefully select raw materials from sustainably managed forests.
#5. Sustainable Furniture Is Ethical
Sustainability goes hand in hand with social responsibility. For example, furniture makers that create sustainable furniture also typically ensure good working conditions and fair wages for their employees. So you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re not supporting cheap, inhumane labor and cut-price production by investing in sustainable products.
Planning On Going Green? Contact Us Today
From green, high-performance office design to eco-friendly furniture, our team at T2B Interiors can help you take a reasonable and responsible approach to sustainability. In addition, we will help you identify the best products for your space and budget.
Start the change today. Contact us now to take the first step towards a greener workplace.