I am a tree-hugger…sort of. I love finding outdoor furniture products that look good and are good for the environment. Having said that, sorting through all of the ways and reasons a product fits into that framework is a very different story. It is not a world of “green and green”, there are many shades of gray…and green.
First the easy answers: If you are looking to buy wooden garden furniture, always look for products manufactured by companies that practice sustainability-simply put are they replenishing the trees that are cut down to make that teak bench?
Plantation grown teak is a good example of one way this is being done. It could be argued that all of the teak processed and sold from plantation farms keeps the rain forest trees from being tapped. True reforestation cannot be duplicated on a plantation because it does not duplicate the variety found in the rain forests. So, in essence, buying from plantation grown teak sources protects the rain forest.
Checking for international accepted standards for logging practices and sustainable methods is another way to make sure that you are buying responsibly. One organization that is well known is the FSC Council but there are others. Different organizations are stronger in different parts of the world. Ask questions. There are many fine suppliers that own their own plantations in an effort to be able to control the entire process. There are other less scrupulous suppliers that do not follow sound environmental processes in their effort to be competitive at the low end of the market. Best price is not the same as best value.
This leads to a lot of other questions-If we are all about saving trees, should we be buying new wooden garden furniture at all? Shouldn’t we be focused on repurposed or vintage furniture?
Well if you love vintage, it’s a great way to go. But remember then you get into a whole other set of issues regarding refinishing products, low VOC paints and varnishes that also are considerations for the environment. On the flip side of that issue though, every saved piece of outdoor garden furniture kept out of the landfills is a good thing. Right?
My point here is, there are no hard and fast rules as to what makes a piece of outdoor furniture the right choice when looking at what is the environmentally responsible thing to do. It is complicated and multi-faceted.
If you love and want new wooden garden furniture, you can have it and know that you are acting responsibly. Select products from companies that recognize that sustainable practices are good business and good for the environment and you will be well on your way. I think we all have a little tree-hugger in us.