One thing that is super-exciting today is all the new materials being created. These new materials are eco-friendly and can make for great use as upholstery for your next sofa recover, or just to know about before you buy new furniture.
When you go shopping, you may want to ask questions such as whether it can be recycled, or if it is made from recycled materials. Plus, the most important question is whether it meets MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle principles or not.
Cradle to Cradle
The idea behind Cradle to Cradle is that for everything you make, you need to know how it dies. When it’s born, you need to know what materials and resources were used to make it, and when it dies, you need to know how it will be reused or disposed of in a manner that is the most environmentally friendly possible. You also need to know how it affects the environment while it is being used. To learn more, you can read the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
Highly Recommended Upholstery Options
* Organic Hemp – The great thing about hemp is the short growing cycle and the fact that you don’t have to rotate the crops, as hemp improves the soil. The only thing you to be concerned about with hemp is the way they grow it and the way they make it into the fabric. If you’re using the Cradle to Cradle idea, all that matters – not just that it says it’s organic hemp.
* Abacus – This is made from recycled soda bottles. It looks a lot like wool, but it’s not. It can be used like wool for upholstery as well as for other types of uses. The price range isn’t even that bad at about $54 per linear yard. It comes in a variety of styles in every color you can imagine. You’re sure to find what you like with this eco-friendly fabric.
* Sensuede – This fabric is made from recycled polyester fibers. It’s highly stain resistant and makes a very good fabric for furniture that will have lots of pets and kids on it. They are very careful during their process to avoid using toxic waste or dangerous solvents.
* Organic Cotton – You do need to shop around to find the best organic cotton that also uses sustainable growing and cleaning practices. Since cotton is a plant, there is a lot to control – such as the use of pesticides, water, and other natural resources – to ensure it’s the eco-friendliest version you can find.
There are numerous choices for eco-friendly upholstery that you can use to redo furniture you already have or to consider when you are buying new. The more you know about the process from idea to completion, the easier it will be to choose the right upholstery for your family and your needs. There should be no limit to what you can do with an eco-friendly upholstery product.
