Furniture

Furniture represents a significant portion of the 20% of durable goods that end up in municipal landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its environmental impact extends beyond disposal, stemming from the materials and chemicals used in manufacturing. Many furniture products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can reduce indoor air quality and pose health risks.

Flame retardants are another concern; the Center for Environmental Health reports that these chemicals have been linked to long-term health and environmental problems, with little evidence that they significantly improve fire safety.

Today, however, many manufacturers offer alternative product lines that avoid these harmful substances, providing options that are healthier, environmentally responsible, and comparable in performance, style, and cost.

Policy and Goals:

King County’s Sustainable Purchasing Executive Policy (CON 7-22-1-EP),

• Reducing waste generation by choosing products that are durable, reusable, repairable, refillable, recyclable, compostable, salvageable, deconstructable, or made with recycled content or remanufactured parts;
• Ensuring performance, durability, and quality of products to maximize the useful life of assets;
• Lowering embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product’s manufacture, transportation and use;
• Minimizing pollutants to air and water, including indoor air emissions;
• Promoting transparency, including disclosure of environmental, health, economic, and social risks through the use of environmental certifications and ecolabels, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), and vendor sustainability ratings