Page 46 - Green Builder Sept-Oct 2016

Consumers
Drive Trend
Toward
Sustainable
Furniture
USING HIGH-QUALITY BUILDING materials
Increased awareness and ensuring proper ventilation and
about home dehumidification are all ways homeowners
furnishings’ impact can improve indoor air quality. However,
on indoor air quality furniture and other items brought into a
leads to higher home are equally important for a healthy
demand for indoor atmosphere. To be competitive,
environmentally today’s furniture manufacturers must take
friendly furniture. into account their products’ sustainability
throughout the entire lifecycle.
BY JESSICA PORTER
CONSUMER-DRIVEN
The movement to healthier indoor furnishings is driven largely by
consumers. Just like consumers are demanding more natural foods,
they also are demanding healthier products inside their homes. Most
consumers are less motivated by price and more motivated by the
materials and processes used to make their furniture.

“Conscious consumers are starting to ask where products are
coming from. Our furniture is pretty expensive, but it’s reasonably
priced considering the value,” says Corbin Clay craftsman in chief
for the Azure Furniture Co., a company that makes extensive use of
beetlekill pine to produce coffee tables, end tables, headboards, desks
and more (visit www.azurefurniture.com for more information).
“Consumers shouldn’t be asking why we’re expensive, they should

44 GREEN BUILDER September/October 2016 www.greenbuildermedia.com