Go Green with Your Office Furniture!

It’s likely that by now you’ve heard the term ‘green living.’  It includes recycling, using fewer disposable goods, composting waste and many similar habits.  But have you considered that certain office furniture pieces are more ‘green’ than others?  Most office furniture is made from solid wood or other types of composite and pressed wood.  While composite woods can give off harmful vapors called volatile organic compounds, the manufacture of solid wood furniture contributes to the destruction of rainforests and wildlife habitats.  Fortunately, if you are committed to creating a green office—whether at home or at your place of work there are a variety of things you can do when purchasing office furniture.  Just remember the three R’s:  Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

REDUCE:  Whether a piece of furniture is made from wood, metal, cloth, or whatever else, there are earth-friendly options.  When purchasing wood furniture, look for products manufactured from domestically-grown wood and have been logged according to forestry guidelines for sustainability.  These guidelines are designed to not deplete the forests and help to reduce the impact on the environment. Many furniture manufacturers are taking steps to make sure that all lumber and veneers used in their products are from sustainable U.S. forests.  Companies such as Fairfield Chair and Jasper Desk are committed to reducing the amount of negatively affected forests.

It is also important to think about the packaging that’s used to ship office furniture.  If packing materials end up in a landfill, the time it takes for them to break down more than a lifetime.  Manufacturers such as HON, Allsteel, and Jasper Desk have begun using cartons made of recycled materials and wrapping their furniture in reusable blankets instead of corrugated materials.

REUSE:  One of the most environmentally smart things that you can do is reuse.  Used furniture is great option because it encourages the reduction of waste.  Not only does it cost less, but buying previously owned furniture saves the resources and energy of manufacturing and transporting new furniture.  McAleer’s has the Gulf Coast’s largest selection of “experienced” office furniture.  These items consist of rental returns, scratch and dent, as well as previously owned furniture including files, desks, credenzas, swivel chairs, side chairs, and tables.  

RECYCLE:  You may also want to consider purchasing products which utilize recycled materials in their construction.  Recycled materials require less processing and fewer resources.  In making a decision to purchase this type of furniture, you are not only provided with quality furniture, but also have a positive impact on the environment.  Companies such as HON, Allsteel, and National Office Furniture use recycled materials in the construction of their products.