What is eco-friendly furniture? This question is asked to me a least 10 times a day, and unfortunately is not very easy to answer. Of every manufacturer of eco-friendly furniture or sustainable furniture, there is a different approach to solving the problem of unhealthy, toxic furniture. Some use reclaimed wood from deconstructed buildings or other pieces of furniture, yet a different manufacturer may use only FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified lumber. The approach is different but the finished product is the same, healthy, eco-friendly furniture.

The following would be questions that I would suggest any shopper ask when buying their next piece of furniture.

- Where does the wood come from? Is it FSC certified or reclaimed?

- Are the finishes low or non-voc finishes? What are the formaldehyde levels (hopefully none)?

- If it is an upholstered piece make sure the fabric is organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, linen, or wool (to name a few). Also, inquire about the padding, latex or wool would be a great start.

In your search you will notice that every manufacturer has a different approach to the same problem of eco-friendly furniture construction. The best are the ones that address the whole problem and that deliver a product that is not only eco-friendly in terms of construction, but also a quality product that will last a couple of lifetimes. There are many different solutions to the construction of sustainable furniture and eco-friendly furniture, so ask these questions and feel content with your purchase.