Leading furniture manufacturers around the world are increasingly striving to use environmentally friendly materials in production. Tables and chairs, walls and cabinets, sofas and armchairs made from natural ingredients, or at least without toxic or harmful components, will bring peace and comfort to your home. We list materials that will not cause harm to human health and the environment.
Let's start with upholstered furniture. In upholstered furniture, the use of environmentally friendly materials; for example, natural fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, velvet) instead of synthetic ones in the upholstery of sofas and armchairs. , will last longer. Genuine, carefully crafted leather - the most prestigious and at the same time practical look coverings. At proper care it will retain its appearance for a long time. Nubuck is also environmentally friendly - it Genuine Leather, which was processed by special means, so that it acquires a soft and fleecy texture, reminiscent of suede. Let us dwell on nubuck in more detail, because this material has recently begun to be actively introduced into the production of upholstered furniture. Nubuck has high strength, as well as water-repellent properties, increased wear resistance, antistatic effect, and heat resistance. So, for example, to remove ink or grease stains from furniture made of nubuck, you need to moisten with water or a solution washing powder a napkin and rub the dirty area in a circular motion. Using a dry cloth, carefully remove any remaining moisture. That's all!
Let us remind you that the “specialist” in sofas and armchairs with leather and nubuck upholstery is the Keoma factory, which recently presented in Moscow at the iSaloni exhibition 2013, their latest new products.Separately, in the production of environmentally friendly upholstered furniture, it is worth mentioning polyurethane foam - it is often used in seat cushions, backrests and armrests. This high-tech material is also environmentally friendly, and at the same time it allows you to achieve maximum comfort in upholstered furniture: there are different degrees of hardness.
Products close to upholstered furniture are mattresses for beds. As for them, here you can also find options made only from natural fillers. These include coconut coir, natural latex (from the sap of the rubber tree), horsehair, sisal, seaweed. Natural ingredients usually more expensive, but they are no less durable than their synthetic counterparts, and, unlike them, are hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly.
Now let’s get back to cabinet furniture and the environmental friendliness of the materials used in its production.
Solid wood is certainly the most natural material in the production of cabinet furniture. Wood is used to decorate countertops and furniture facades. Typically, coniferous and hardwood types of wood are used for this - oak and beech, pine and ash, walnut and cherry, yew and larch. The coating is often treated with special compounds (stains, impregnations) to give it water resistance and a brighter color, or to create an unusual visual effect (patina, gilding). Paints, waxes and varnishes that are applied to the surface of an object undergo the most thorough examination. According to GOST, in furniture production It is recommended to use only compounds of the 3rd (moderately hazardous) and 4th (low-hazardous) classes. Solid wood furniture is considered the most expensive and elite. Here you can also name wicker furniture made of rattan and bamboo. Armchairs, stools, bookcases and other pieces of furniture from Indonesia can certainly also be classified as environmentally friendly and made from natural materials.
Veneer comes immediately after solid wood - it is practically not inferior to it in popularity and is just as environmentally friendly, but much more a budget option. This facing material is a thin sheet of wood, so it retains the texture of wood. In addition, veneer can be used to create plywood.
Chipboard (chipboard) is a material that you should definitely avoid in your home, although in Russia it is still used in the production of furniture: beds, tables, cabinets and other items. This material is the leader in the number of harmful substances. It contains phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, which are unsafe for health, which act as its binding component and provide strength. The intensity of formaldehyde release depends on the temperature and humidity in the room: the warmer it is, the higher the formaldehyde content in the air. Therefore, all chipboard products are glued protective film or veneer. Now chipboard is being replaced by other, more harmless modern compositions and materials.
MDF (fine fraction) is considered environmentally friendly pure material. It is created by pressing very small wood chips, and the binding element is lignin, a substance that wood releases when heated. No carcinogenic chemicals are used in production epoxy resins and phenol. Furniture made from MDF boards, is not susceptible to mold and other fungi, and this is another plus in its favor, especially in rooms where children are. MDF is durable and wear-resistant; it can be washed using cleaning agents.
In production kitchen sets HPL plastics are often used. This is a synthetic material, but it is also considered environmentally friendly. Decorative plastic consists mainly of cellulose and natural resins. It is famous for its resistance to moisture and abrasion, therefore it is suitable for cladding facades and countertops.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics can also be called environmentally friendly. They are light, strong and at the same time durable. At the same time, furniture made of plastic attracts dust, and plastic surfaces can act as sources of static electricity, which forces such coatings to be modified.
Provide bad influence Materials such as glass, aluminum and stainless steel are also not capable of affecting human health.
Furniture made from environmentally friendly, natural materials is usually sold at a higher price than its counterparts made from synthetic substances, the safety of which is highly questionable. However, to paraphrase a well-known proverb, we can safely say: this is the case when health can be bought.
Wood objects do not harm human health. Ecological furniture made of wood has an expensive appearance. It is practical and durable.
Furniture is made from wooden panels - solid or glued from plates. The former are more easily deformed, the latter are more durable. Therefore, glued furniture is more expensive.
Wood with and without knots is used. Knots reduce the quality of furniture and shorten its service life.
Decorative elements made of metal, plastic, glass. Expensive interior items are decorated with carvings and forging.
The main advantage of wooden interior items is environmental friendliness. They do not harm human health and the environment due to the absence of toxic impurities. It is possible to develop an allergy to plastic or synthetics. A reaction is excluded if you have wooden furniture.
Wood products have several more advantages:
Disadvantages of wooden interior items:
You have to pay for safety and quality. Wooden interior items have a higher cost compared to similar products made from other materials.
The tree suffers under the influence of sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Varnishes that coat an object increase its stability. But even with them, the wood texture is damaged in unfavorable microclimates.
Optimal temperature in a room with wooden furniture is 15 °C and above. Humidity should not exceed 65%. Do not place wooden objects in direct sunlight.
Rules of care:
If furniture becomes dull due to exposure to direct sunlight, wax it periodically. Such compositions are sold in any specialized store.
When choosing material for interior items, pay attention to the structure of the wood. Softer wood is suitable for load-bearing objects. minimum load. For beds, chairs, tables and cabinets, choose hardwood.
Soft tree species:
Solid varieties include:
Different types of wood have their own properties:
The hardness of the rock does not always indicate the strength of the furniture. When purchasing a product, pay attention to the presence of knots and interlayers in the solid wood.
Buy items made from treated wood. In the manufacture of high-quality interior items, staining technology is used. This makes it more beautiful and durable.
Cheaper furniture is coated with paint or varnish.
A child's growing body is most sensitive to the effects of toxins. The most dangerous of them is formaldehyde. Its vapors in the air provoke bronchial asthma, allergic reactions. Ecological furniture for children made of wood will protect the baby’s health and ensure his normal growth and development.
The following nursery interior items are made from wood:
The item can only be coated with varnish on water based which is safe for children.
Although wood is an environmentally friendly material, it should not be thrown into a landfill. It has a long decomposition period. And the compositions with which wood is coated, with prolonged evaporation, pollute environment.
Special companies will remove the furniture from the apartment, and the wood will be recycled. The following materials are obtained from it:
Wood is mainly used for energy. From waste they make new interior items, toys, Construction Materials.
A common method of wood disposal is burning. It is simple and economical. To carry out the reaction, cone-shaped furnaces equipped with a grate are used. The heat is used to heat water, heating, etc.
Wooden furniture – eco-friendly way make the interior stylish and original. It does not harm human health, but proper disposal safe for the environment.
There is no “organic” category for furniture, as is used in food and clothing labeling. Although some items may have the word organic in the product name or description.
Antique furniture is technically anything made 100 years ago. Most people simply assume that it is furniture made at the turn of the 20th century. In any case, if it is old, it does not use any additional energy, water or other resources associated with production.
If you choose antique furniture, keep the following in mind:
From this article you will learn:
The home environment has great importance to maintain and preserve human health. If floor and wall decoration, furniture or textile materials were made using harmful substances, they can contribute to the exacerbation of chronic diseases and also cause serious complications. This is why environmentally friendly furniture is so popular among health-conscious buyers. Many modern manufacturers place emphasis on the manufacture of safe products, the features of which we will examine in detail in this article.
Almost any wooden furniture that is not environmentally friendly releases a significant amount of free formaldehyde into the environment. Typically, when creating them, raw materials such as chipboard, MDF (fiberboard), and plywood are used. They are manufactured using formaldehyde resins as the internal adhesive.
Another no less toxic substance is phenol. The point is that he is a short time enters the body through the skin and upper respiratory tract, reaching the gastrointestinal tract. After which this dangerous substance accumulates in the kidneys and liver, undermines the immune system, irritates the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, pharynx and gastrointestinal tract. The result of this negative impact is a runny nose, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath, insomnia.
When phenol is inhaled, the mucous membranes are severely irritated, and its contact with the skin can cause burns. If phenol poisoning occurs regularly, the kidneys and liver are affected, and subsequently a pathogenic change in the blood occurs.
Urea-formaldehyde resins are also very often used in the creation of wood products. They are especially noticeable in items where fiberboard and chipboard are used - the main materials for laying plywood or veneer (in economical options, a paper or plastic-based laminate may be used instead).
The creation of the majority of all wood composite materials for furniture occurs using hot pressing of prepared waste. And in this case, the substance for combining the raw materials is often phenol-formaldehyde alcohol-soluble resin. It is distinguished by a dangerous quality - the release of formaldehyde in free form, called in medicine a “chronic toxin”. This volatile substance has a negative impact on human health.
Inhalation of formaldehyde vapor leads to irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat, and also has a harmful effect on the skin and provokes a variety of allergic reactions. The result of prolonged inhalation of the fumes of this substance can be:
Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning:
In many residential areas, formaldehyde levels are higher than normal. Instead of the established 0.04 - 0.06 ppm, its concentration reaches 0.07 - 0.09. Installing necessary household items in the bathroom or kitchen alone can increase the level of this substance to 0.10 ppm or more. Therefore, in order to completely protect yourself and your loved ones from such dangerous effects, it is better to buy environmentally friendly clean furniture.
Environmentally friendly furniture sets are always made from natural wood (birch, ash, oak, pine, beech) using safe PVA-based glue.
Creation of environmentally friendly furniture from solid wood natural breeds occurs due to high-quality wood processing.
For furniture upholstery, non-electrifying materials are used from organic fibers of flax, cotton, soy, bamboo, and silk. These plants are grown without the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
Of all the options for environmentally friendly sofas and armchairs, leather products painted with eco-dyes have the longest service life.
Others are quite in demand modern material is a traffic jam. It is light, pleasant to the touch and environmentally friendly. Cork covering It has sound insulation properties and is widely used for floors and walls. Cork makes excellent eco-friendly bedroom furniture.
To protect the flooring and improve the microclimate in the room, you can lay a mat (matting). It is woven from environmentally friendly natural materials such as reed, flax, and coconut fiber.
Stone countertops are popular among eco-friendly kitchen furniture. They are very practical. Such countertops are most often made of marble or granite, sometimes from slate, limestone, travertine, and onyx.
Ceramic, glass tile, as well as mosaic are also environmentally friendly materials.
1. Selection of environmentally friendly products.
Furniture that may contain the word “organic” on its label or description:
2. Bamboo products.
Although bamboo looks like a tree, it is actually a grass. It grows very quickly, so pesticides are not usually used for it. Eco-friendly bamboo furniture is in great demand.
3. Transportation.
The quality and sustainability of environmentally friendly products also depend on how they were transported.
4. Beware of toxic materials.
The best way to protect yourself from toxins (such as formaldehyde) is to choose eco-friendly furniture made from safe materials, which do not contain them. The best option are products made from solid wood, as they contain less paint. And the number of glass and metal objects indoors it is better to minimize it.
5. Try to avoid:
6. Give preference to local production.
Local producers and artisans can be found in newspapers, the Internet, and at theme fairs.
7. Functionality.
Choose eco-friendly items, considering not only their appearance, but also their comfort, functionality and durability.
8. Vintage furniture.
Vintage and antique pieces are two of the most eco-friendly furniture options. There are no hard and fast rules for when items become antique. For some, all well-forgotten old items fit into this category, while others believe that they should be at least 20 years old.
Antiques are those items that were made 100 years ago. Most people include those that were made at the turn of the 20th century.
When choosing antique furniture Consider the following points:
9. Recycling, remanufacturing and repurposing.
You can come up with items and accessories that will be one of a kind if you get creative by reusing various household items. It will also reduce waste going to landfill.
10. Ecology certificate.
When purchasing environmentally friendly furniture, you can ask the seller if there is a certificate. It guarantees that the product does not contain harmful substances (for example, cadmium or lead).
11. New products that emit a pungent odor raise doubts about their environmental friendliness.
According to GOST, such a smell should disappear after a maximum of 2.5 months. However, this purchase may result in an unnecessary headache for you, since your well-being depends largely on the air in your living room.
12. DIY furniture.
Perhaps you enjoy crafting or know crafters. Then you can create exclusive items. It is best to work with wood taken from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and old buildings. It's even more interesting to use a tree that has its own unique story. Then your furniture will definitely be special.
When choosing environmentally friendly furniture for children, the first thing to evaluate is the materials from which it is made. The most environmentally friendly items are created from solid wood. They are large monolithic bars, for the production of which the least number of various toxic adhesives are used. After all, inhaling harmful fumes exposes the child’s body to the risk of developing a number of diseases.
To fasten parts, bolts and screws, manufacturers of environmentally friendly wood products use casein glue, which does not contain poisons. Companies specializing in the manufacture of furniture for children and teenagers do not use substances harmful to health (formaldehyde, phenols, resins) in their work. All the varnishes and paints they cover wooden surfaces, are safe.
Study suppliers' offers, paying attention to the types of wood used in the manufacture of products. The most environmentally friendly furniture for children is considered to be that made of pine, birch, larch, walnut and beech. This wood has tonic and healing properties. For example, pine is the most economical material, which will not stand out with any special decorative qualities, but in terms of ecology it is priceless. The unique antiseptic properties of pine can protect your baby from many diseases.
We closely monitor new products in the world of interior design and produce furniture in accordance with the latest trends. What you will see at the Milan exhibition in April can be found in the assortment of our store in the fall.
Furniture from the BELFAN company remains relevant and does not go out of fashion for many years. Our clients do not have to regularly update their interiors. It is enough to add new elements or swap modules (for example, if we are talking about wall-mounted living rooms).
Our products are environmentally friendly and safe, thanks to the natural materials used in production. You and your loved ones will certainly appreciate the care for your health. And the pleasant aroma and energy of natural wood in the apartment will fill it with an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility.
Here you will find furniture for the living room, bedroom, hall, nursery, and you can also choose complementary interior items.
A ready-made interior solution will save your time. Moreover, with us you don’t have to spend your budget on designer services. Our specialists will be happy to draw up a furniture arrangement plan that will meet all your requirements.
When manufacturing furniture, the BELFAN company uses the best modern fittings. You don't have to force yourself to open or close a drawer or door. Mechanisms produced in Austria will ensure the absence of annoying sounds.
In addition, the inside of the drawers is lined with high-quality velor fabric, so you can carefully store your personal belongings.
We produce furniture at partner factories in Russia and Belarus, so we are ready to offer our customers comfortable prices.
Consider whether you are willing to overpay for foreign-made furniture. Our factories produce furniture of such a global scale famous brand, like IKEA, the quality of whose products cannot be doubted.
With us you do not overpay for the brand, but get excellent quality for a reasonable price.
This means that by placing an order today, in just a couple of days you will receive our furniture delivered to your home. You don't have to wait for long weeks.
We represent a federal chain that produces furniture under several brands (BELFAN, Velidzh, Loft). The company's products are in great demand, which allows us to expand production even during a crisis. People come back to us and recommend us to friends.
High-quality after-sales service and a guarantee are two more undoubted advantages of cooperation with the BELFAN company!
Looking for the best furniture for your home? – Don’t forget that it should not only be beautiful and comfortable, but also environmentally friendly! After all, only environmentally friendly furniture will benefit your home and preserve the health of your loved ones. This is especially important if you have children growing up at home.
Don't know where to get these items? home environment? – You have already found them. You can buy environmentally friendly furniture from us - at a competitive price and with a quality guarantee. So, you can choose and order from usWiemann bed for only 27.7126 rubles to ensure a healthy environmental environment in your bedroom, or for 29,159 rubles. Most other companies offer such furniture at significantly higher prices.
Why should you choose eco-friendly furniture?
As you know, furniture is made from various wood materials. This can be not only pure wood - very often semi-synthetic materials made from wood chips, including artificial fillers, are used. Such furniture has an attractive appearance and good performance characteristics. However, when in indoors it is capable of producing toxic fumes. And even if the percentage of their content in the air inhaled by a person is negligible, over time this can affect the health of those living in the apartment in the most negative way.
Such factors have a particularly detrimental effect on the health of children, causing them allergies and a tendency to diseases of the upper respiratory tract. And therefore, it is better to refuse to purchase such furniture in favor of options that are more suitable for a person.
Features of eco-friendly furniture
Eco-friendly furniture is produced using natural materials, mainly pure wood. However, in the production of furniture, in any case, it is necessary to use various adhesives and varnishes - otherwise the products will not have an attractive appearance. In the production of environmentally friendly furniture, the use of such substances is permitted, but with great restrictions. Thus, only those materials can be used that do not produce toxic fumes and cannot otherwise harm human health under normal operating conditions.
We only sell this kind of furniture. A considerable part of our German-made samples have a Blue Angel certificate, which indicates the highest degree of its environmental friendliness and suitability for use in any apartment and children's rooms. Such furniture not only has good external qualities - it will under no circumstances harm your health or the health of the younger generation of your family.
Furniture – with health benefits!
You may not believe it, but using good, eco-friendly furniture can help improve your well-being, and even your overall health. If you use just such furniture in the interior of your home and get rid of the old one, the content of harmful substances in the air will sharply decrease, and you will very quickly feel how much easier it has become to breathe in the apartment. You will no longer be tormented by allergy attacks, headaches will stop, and you will even catch colds less often. Your children will delight you with increased academic performance and physical activity. After all, they will receive more oxygen and significantly fewer harmful substances. And this is very important for their full development, both mental and physical. With such furniture, your children will grow up healthy, and you will not have to constantly take them to doctors and look for the causes of their next ailment.
Eco-friendly children's furniture is really important!
When caring for the well-being and harmonious development of children, it is important not to lose sight of providing them with a healthy, environmentally friendly environment at home. Especially in the children's room. By purchasing eco-friendly furniture for your child, you will provide him with the opportunity to breathe clean air, and harmful substances will not enter his body. But if we talk about children, it is important to mention not only the fact that there are no toxic fumes, but also the safety of the material itself. After all, kids can allow food to come into contact with pieces of furniture, and even just try to taste them. At the same time, eco-friendly furniture will not harm them at all.
In addition, perhaps you yourself have repeatedly felt that products made from natural material It has its own warm aura, good energy. Children feel this too, but even more acutely than adults. They feel that such furniture is truly alive, that it breathes and does not get cold. The child feels in a comfortable environment, feels a beneficial atmosphere, and can develop harmoniously.
The best furniture
Thus, eco-friendly furniture is superior to conventional furniture in many respects. And it will be useful in any apartment, bringing joy to life to both children and adults.
