Sourcing Sustainable Home Furnishings: What You Need to Know

Many of us are looking to do our part to protect the environment, but it’s not just the world outside that needs attention. The furniture and décor inside a home, office or commercial space can have a major impact on the planet, too – and consumers are beginning to take notice.

According to Susan Inglis, Executive Director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, which provides information on environmental, safety and health issues in the home furnishings industry, 90 percent of furniture consumers want to buy eco-friendly products as long as they fit their budget and style preferences.

This shift to environmentally-conscious thinking can lead to massive results.

“Ours is a small industry but an impactful industry,” Inglis says. “When we source wood responsibly, we help ensure the health of the forests of the world. When we choose less toxic finishes, we help ensure the quality of our indoor environments and the cleanliness of our waterways.”

Dallas Market Center has been a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council since 2012. Inglis, who is also a judge for the annual ARTS Awards, where she oversees the Green Award category, says it’s time for the industry to get on-board.

“Unless we change course, future generations will not have the resources they need to live good lives,” she says. “In many parts of the world, people already don’t.”

Learning the correct terminology is an important place to start when sourcing materials for your projects. These terms will help guide you as you take steps to a more sustainable future. Visit sustainablefurnishings.org to learn more about the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

Carbon Footprint: An estimate of the carbon dioxide emissions contained in a product, business operation or household. This number usually accounts for production, distribution and use.

Fair Trade: Bought and sold with regard for what is just and fair in both the procuring and producing economies. Fair trade also considers what constitutes a living wage in the producer economy.

Natural: Derived from materials that occur in nature. This term is different from “all natural,” which means containing no synthetic ingredients.

Organic: Made of certified organic fiber. Alternately, a material that comes from a plant or animal source.

Reclaimed: Made from material that was previously used for something else. A reclaimed material may be altered, but remains in the same state as it was originally used.

Recycled: Made from feedstock recovered or diverted from the solid waste stream. This can occur during the manufacturing process (pre-consumer) or after consumer use (post-consumer).

Renewable Energy: Any energy source that is replenishable on a reasonable time scale. Renewable energy sources include, but are not limited to, wind, solar, heat from the earth's interior, oceans, rivers and eligible biomass.

Renewable Raw Material: Any material that is replenishable on a reasonable time scale. Renewable raw materials include, but are not limited to, wood, grass fibers, plant-based plastics, fuels and 100 percent recycled metals, papers, plastics and glass.

Responsibly/Ethically Sourced: Sourced in such a way that neither ecosystems nor communities are harmed in procurement or production.

Sustainable: Able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

Upcycled: Made from material that had a lesser value in its previous use. An upcycled material is not reprocessed but remanufactured.

Sustainable Sourcing: Names to Know

Though no overarching certification for sustainability exists just yet, many of the organizations below provide their own resources, tools and labels, so you can source your materials responsibly:

The Textile Exchange is a global non-profit working to drive industry transformation in preferred fibers, integrity and standards. The organization’s website offers information on many different materials. textileexchange.org

The Fair Trade Federation promotes organizations in the United States and Canada that are fully committed to fair trade. The organization maintains a directory of wholesale suppliers on and are an active member of the World Fair Trade Organization. www.fairtradefederation.org

The Global Forest and Trade Network, which is part of the World Wildlife Fund, is a resource for learning more about responsible wood sourcing. Their work includes a Wood Furniture Scorecard, which ranks the leading North American retailers of wood furniture on their current policies and practices. gftn.panda.org

The Green Science Policy Institute provides unbiased, scientific data on chemicals. Their Six Classes concept helps manufacturers make informed decisions about chemicals of concern. greensciencepolicy.org 

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute focuses on manufacturers of consumer products. The institute administers the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard, which looks at a product through five quality categories, including material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness. www.c2ccertified.org

Product credits:

1. 100% Recycled Throw, In2Green, Goetz, IHDC 1D202
2. Reclaimed Wood Sculptures, Phillips Collection, IHDC 1D106
3. Reclaimed Newspaper Framed Art, Uttermost, WTC 10021
4. Reclaimed Teak Wood Bed, Beyond Borders Imports, IHDC 1D202
5. Sustainably Sourced Jute Rug, Classic Home, WTC 530
6. Reclaimed Teak Wood Shelf, Beyond Borders Imports, IHDC 1D202
7. Reclaimed Wood Mirrors, Phillips Collection, IHDC 1D106