If there is one good thing that came out from the fast-paced development and progress of technology, it’s that people are starting to think of endless ways to use it to make the world a better place. Whether it’s to reduce, reuse, or recycle, there’s no denying that if there ever is a time to make the green movement a real advocacy, it’s today.
This is the reason why more and more corporations are opting to go for the green path. It’s not just good for the environment, it’s a good PR, too- that’s like hitting two birds with one stone, figuratively speaking.
The demand for green furniture is experiencing an increase, pushing furniture stores and office space planning firms to finally make it part of their inventory. But right now, companies and furniture stores alike still tend to confuse the terms green and sustainable so we are here to finally clarify the difference between the two to help you decide what is best for your office, and for the world, at that matter.
So, what really is the difference between green and sustainable furniture?
Green office furniture are pieces designed to reduce the harmful impacts of particular materials in the environment and all that lives in it. But when we talk about sustainable office furniture, it basically revolves around the same idea but with one very significant difference- it takes resources into consideration.
Look at it this way, with green furniture, the end justify the means. Let’s say all your office furniture are made of oak wood; going for that instead of metal ones that go through a lot of paints, stains, and glues (which emit volatile organic compounds that are very harmful to the environment) is a green move for your company.
But if you do your research, Oak wood falls under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. Species that are tagged in this level commonly come only from particular countries in the world making it very difficult to sustain for continuous manufacturing. In fact, countries that are home to level 3 species are those that “voluntary requested to be regulated in order to help preserve the species in question.”
Simply put, sustainable office furniture are those designed with the idea of using only responsibly sourced materials and reduced energy. This means that an office furniture can be green but not sustainable. So if you really want to be a part of making the world a better place, it’s best to be green AND sustainable.
If you need help sourcing out new and used furniture to fit that criteria, click here, we here at SOI would gladly help you.