secondary species, such as sweet gum, madrone, and
California oak, which take pressure off the more-
endangered trees like mahogany and teak. If new is
more your style consider fast-growing wood. Bamboo
and mango woods from sustainably managed forests
can add a natural feel as well as reduce over-
forestation of trees that are less quick to regrow.
Look to Boda for a wide selection of bamboo colors.
Fabulous Eco-
Friendly Fabric
Consider two factors when you evaluate
fabric for furniture or drapes: the cloth
itself and how it's been colored. You want
your draperies and other fabric-covered
décor to be eco-friendly yet fashionable
and chic.
Fabric options stretch across the eco-
spectrum from rich and elegant to practical
and serviceable, depending on your tastes.
Cloths to consider are organic silk (without
the killing of the worms that spin the
silk), organic cotton, recycled polyester,
hemp and hemp blends, cotton twills and
brushed twills (made without chemical
finishes), and linen.
As for coloring, conventional dyeing
processes can be environmentally
damaging. Cotton is often bleached white
with chlorine and hydrogen peroxide, a
process that produces dioxin, a carcinogen
and potential hormone disrupter. Fabric
dyes often include heavy metals and,
worse, because cotton resists some
dyes, the excess is then discarded, which
pollutes the land and bodies of water.
Though its
difficult to find
organic and hemp
fabrics at most
retail outlets,
you can special
order through catalogs and magazines.
Visit Fabric.com or check out Natural Home
Magazine for organic and recycled fabrics
as well as eco-design tips.
Furnishings made from recycled, organic,
or sustainable materials can be more
expensive, but remember, your purchase
now can make a difference in the long
run by helping bring the price down; every
time any of us chooses a green option,
those choices become more affordable for
everyone eventually.
The Sustainable Furniture Council
Certification Systems for Energy-Efficient
Homes
