Eco-responsible furniture: buy less and better!

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Nateo CONCEPT

Quality furniture, built to last

Just like with clothing or food, buying furniture can be done in a more or less eco-friendly way. In an era where trends follow one another and options are numerous, adopting a more thoughtful consumption approach allows us to turn towards quality furniture and better respect the environment. It's about rethinking our entire approach to buying furniture to buy less and buy better. So, how do we go about making the right choices? What are the good habits to adopt? Discover all our advice for choosing eco-responsible furniture.

Prioritise wood above all

In the field of interior decoration, there are a multitude of materials for furnishing. You can find furniture made of metal, marble, or even plastic, but wood remains the most eco-responsible choice. Indeed, wood is a resource that constantly regenerates and can also be very easy to recycle. It is also a noble and durable material over time. Opting for wood for your eco-responsible furniture is therefore often the most environmentally friendly solution. However, you shouldn't choose just any wood and you should also take care of it.

Labels for choosing furniture with confidence

To make the most eco-responsible choice possible when it comes to new furniture, it is recommended to pay attention to labels. There are indeed labels such as PEFC (Pan European Forest Council) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) which ensure that the wood used for your furniture comes from eco-managed forests. This means that forest management is both responsible and controlled to minimize environmental impact. Therefore, opting for PEFC or FSC certified wooden furniture ensures you're making the right choice.

Maintaining wooden furniture

For furniture to be durable over time, it is also essential to maintain it. There are many solutions for maintaining wood with oils or varnishes that can give it a new lease of life, especially when it comes to garden furniture (more advice on how to properly maintain garden furniture here). For indoor furniture, a simple dusting is often sufficient. This avoids the use of products that can damage the material over time and are rarely eco-friendly.

Opt for trusted brands

The choice of brands and manufacturers is also important when you want to buy less and better. Indeed, some brands are more committed to the environment than others.

Avoid fast furniture

Just like the fast fashion phenomenon in clothing, we can also identify a fast furniture phenomenon in the field of decoration and furnishing. This involves producing poor quality furniture at very low prices and regularly offering new collections to attract customers. These pieces of furniture are often used only for a very short period and then thrown away, which is of course an ecological disaster.

As far as possible, it is recommended to avoid buying from this type of brand whose products are not durable over time.

Opt for made in France

Choosing made in France is a very good way to turn towards more qualitative and ethical manufacturing. Nevertheless, it is advisable to look at the brand's values to ensure they align with your own. It is also important not to be influenced by price. Just because a brand's products are expensive doesn't necessarily mean they will be of quality. What matters most are the materials, their origin, and the quality of furniture manufacturing.

While made in France often represents a slightly higher expense, it is entirely possible to find very interesting offers during sales, private sales, or promotional operations. With a little patience, you can certainly treat yourself to a beautiful piece of made in France furniture.

Be tempted by second-hand

Once again, fashion and decoration come together as we can perfectly opt for second-hand or even very old furniture. Indeed, today we find a multitude of second-hand items in the field of furnishing. At a garage sale, a flea market, at auctions, or via online classified ads or associations, there are many different places to find second-hand furniture.

Most often, the price is established according to the rarity of the product, its condition, or its quality, but there are many contexts where it is possible to negotiate. You can then take the furniture to use it as is or even personalise it by painting it and replacing the handles, for example.

However, it is important to opt for certain new furniture. For example, it is recommended to avoid buying second-hand mattresses, as well as items such as baby beds which must meet strict European safety standards. However, you can opt for a retro-looking baby bed like our VINTAGE baby bed for example.

Disposing of furniture properly

Finally, if even by buying less and better you need to get rid of a piece of furniture, remember to do it properly. If it's still in good condition, you can donate it to a charity or sell it. If it's too damaged, dispose of it properly by inquiring at a recycling centre.