Environmentally friendly materials in furniture production. Eco-friendly children's furniture: selection rules and best design options Eco-friendly children's furniture
The situation in the house plays a significant role in the maintenance and preservation of human health. Wall and floor decoration, furniture, textile materials can cause serious complications and exacerbations of chronic diseases if harmful components were used in their production. In the modern world, many manufacturers focus on the production environmentally friendly furniture, which is in ever-increasing demand among buyers who prefer a healthy environment for their homes.
Furniture items are bought for more than one year, so even a slight content of harmful impurities in the materials, varnishes and paints that were used in their manufacture can be harmful during prolonged contact with a person. One of the most dangerous substances used in furniture production is formaldehyde. Even a small concentration of it in the air can provoke allergies and asthma. Therefore, when buying furnishings, especially for a children's room, for a bedroom, it is important to purchase environmentally friendly products.
Why choose wood furniture
Giving preference to furniture made of natural wood is the right choice, because the tree contains beneficial phytoncides that stand out even when the product has served for several years. In addition, it is no secret that trees have positive energy. Do not think that solid wood furniture is not affordable for everyone. Domestic manufacturers make excellent products from inexpensive species - birch and pine.
In addition, the tree fits perfectly not only in, but also in almost anyone.
Vine furniture - an eco-furnishing option for home and garden
Beautiful and practical wicker furniture is in increasing demand. Initially intended for country houses, it successfully took root in city apartments. Graceful tables, cabinets, armchairs and rocking chairs, especially beloved, are made of rattan, willow or bamboo. There are also combined options with glass or steel. Such items, despite their elegance and apparent fragility, can last up to 25 years. They do not require special care, are easily cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and their only drawback is that they are afraid of rain.
How to check if furniture is environmentally friendly
- When buying, ask the sellers for an environmental certificate. Having a certificate guarantees that the product does not contain, for example, cadmium used in paints or lead.
- If new furniture emits a strong smell, you should think about its environmental friendliness. Despite the fact that according to GOST, the smell should disappear in no more than 2.5 months, such a purchase can turn into an unnecessary headache. After all, well-being largely depends on the air in the apartment.
- When choosing a bed or sofa, avoid products on foam rubber - over time, it decomposes, which leads to the release of harmful substances.
- Give preference to upholstery made of natural, non-electric fabrics.
Eco-furniture Furniture made from environmentally friendly natural materials (wood, stone, glass, leather, bamboo) that do not contain toxic substances harmful to human health.
Harm
Harmful substances in furniture
Almost all wood furniture sets, including solid wood, can emit significant amounts of free formaldehyde in the living areas of homes. Typical materials used in making furniture include chipboard, MDF (fibreboard) and plywood, which use formaldehyde resins in their production. For wood products, these resins are used as internal adhesives.
Phenol is extremely toxic. It is very quickly absorbed by the skin, through the upper respiratory tract it easily penetrates into the human body and its gastrointestinal tract. Phenol is concentrated in the liver and kidneys. It destroys the immune system, has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the mouth, nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract. Such exposure leads to a runny nose, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, vomiting, shortness of breath.
Inhalation of phenol causes severe irritation of the mucous membranes, its contact with the skin causes burns, and chronic poisoning leads to damage to the liver and kidneys, subsequently to a pathogenic change in the blood.
Most of the wooden furniture sold is made from wood-based materials using urea-formaldehyde resins. They are especially noticeable where fiberboard and chipboard are used - which are the main materials on which plywood or veneer is applied (or, in the case of inexpensive furniture, paper or plastic-based laminates).
Almost all wood composite materials are created by hot pressing of prepared waste. The binder in this process, as a rule, is a phenol-formaldehyde alcohol-soluble resin, which tends to subsequently release free formaldehyde, which doctors call "chronic toxin". This volatile substance can adversely affect human health.
Formaldehyde vapors irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract (nose and throat), have a harmful effect on the skin and all kinds of allergic reactions. Prolonged inhalation of its fumes can lead to:
- headaches
- insomnia
- Atypical fatigue
- depression
- asthma
Due to formaldehyde poisoning, the following symptoms appear:
- Mucous watery discharge from the nose
- Irritation and infection of the sinuses
- Bleeding from the nose
- Cough and salivation
- Sore throat
- A rash appears
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Chest pain and abdominal pain
- Menstrual irregularities
- unnatural thirst
In most apartments, the level of formaldehyde exceeds the norm - instead of the prescribed 0.04-0.06 ppm, its indicators are 0.07-0.09 ppm. Only bathroom or kitchen furniture can raise the level of formaldehyde in a living space to 0.10 ppm or more, especially if it is new.
Benefit
Environmentally friendly furniture
In the manufacture of environmentally friendly furniture, only natural wood (pine, beech, ash, birch, oak) and environmentally friendly PVA-based glue are used.
The production of eco-friendly furniture from natural wood is accompanied by high-quality wood processing.
Upholstery options for natural, non-electrifying textile fabrics - organic cotton, bamboo, linen, silk, soy. When growing them, pesticides and other chemicals are not used. The production of environmentally friendly materials of this textile must be certified by OEKO-TEX, Organic Exchange or GOTS, confirming that the material does not use harmful chemicals and azo dyes.
Leather upholstered furniture, painted with eco-friendly paints, lasts the longest.
Cork is a fairly demanded today, light and pleasant to the touch environmentally friendly material. Used for floors and walls. It perfectly absorbs noise, which is especially important for a child's room. Unlike wood, cork does not rot and does not burn, without releasing hazardous substances into the air.
You can lay a mat (matting) on the floor. It is woven from environmentally friendly natural materials - from reed, flax, coconut fiber. The mat not only protects the floor, but also improves the microclimate in the room.
A countertop is made of natural stone in the kitchen, which is very practical, but quite expensive. The most common materials are marble and granite. Onyx, travertine, slate, limestone are less common.
Also, ordinary ceramic or fashionable glass tiles or mosaics are environmentally friendly.
Eco-friendly materials for furniture
To protect yourself from the harmful effects of chemicals that harmful furniture evaporates, carefully inspect all your furniture - all scratches and cracks seen on it must be covered with PVA glue, or furniture varnish, polish or paint. Ventilate the rooms where the chipboard furniture is located more often. Disperse chipboard furniture so that it does not accumulate in one place - this can reduce the concentration of toxic substances in the atmosphere of the home.
In order to save money, unscrupulous manufacturers leave chipboard open in areas invisible to the eye (the bottom of countertops, internal partitions near cabinets, the inside of bedside tables, etc.). Manufacturers who are not indifferent to the health of their customers must cover all surfaces and edges of chipboard with a protective film or veneer, and seal all drilled holes, which at least partially protects against harmful fumes.
When choosing furniture made of chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, make sure that the veneer evenly and tightly covers the furniture around the entire perimeter. But even the highest quality chipboard tables and cabinets can crack and chip on the surface over time. Chipboard emits poisons for a very long time - at least 10-15 years. MDF furniture is considered safer. MDF is more expensive than chipboard by about 13-15%.
Formaldehyde is found not only in wood, but also in plastic furniture. Furniture made from plywood and solid wood, or entirely from solid wood, can also be a significant source of formaldehyde. In this case, they are used in the manufacture of oxidizing finishing (paint and varnish, etc.) materials containing urea-formaldehydes that are actively released into the environment, especially during the first six months after application. Once the bulk of the volatile formaldehyde has been released (typically a 50 percent or more reduction), indoor levels may be only a fraction of what they were when these products were new.
Furniture made of natural wood solid wood is 10-25% more expensive than MDF (including due to the laboriousness of production and the complexity of processing). In most types of wood, the natural content of formaldehyde is only slightly lower than in chipboard, but in some varieties it reaches up to 12 mg100g. In the production of solid wood furniture parts, glue, varnishes and stains are used, all of these materials contain formaldehyde, phenol and other chemicals.
Thus, the statement that natural wood furniture is absolutely environmentally friendly is not entirely true. Even solid wood furniture is a source of formaldehyde (it completely disappears only after 7-12 years). Although a significant decrease is expected, the problem does not disappear, as one might think. Significant continuous release of formaldehyde can occur as the polymer resin undergoes hydrolytic degradation. For this reason, the release of free formaldehyde from products with formaldehyde resins can occur for an indefinite period.
Many consumers believe that wood furniture is completely environmentally friendly and safe, but if natural wood processing technologies (alder, pine, etc.) are not followed, the quality of such boards leaves much to be desired, despite the natural origin. In this case, an alternative option for eco-furniture can be the manufacture of furniture boards yourself from wood (pine, beech, alder, birch, oak, etc.).
It can be concluded that in terms of environmental safety, MDF or chipboard furniture does not differ significantly from solid wood furniture, and is much cheaper at a price. The main difference is in what "emission class" of free formaldehyde they belong to. Chipboard and MDF have the same mechanical strength as natural wood. MDF can even surpass it in some mechanical properties, and retains its shape better in terms of variable humidity than solid wood products.
The ideal emission class for eco-furniture in terms of formaldehyde emission is considered to be zero (E0), but such furniture is difficult to find. A one (E1) is acceptable, a two (E2) is average, and a three (E3) is unhealthy.
When buying upholstered furniture, avoid products on foam rubber - over time, it decomposes, which leads to the release of harmful substances.
When buying eco-furniture, give preference to upholstery made from natural, non-electric fabrics.
Today, environmentally friendly furniture is quite difficult to find, but more and more people are doing eco-repair and are interested in materials that are safe for health, although the prices for eco-friendly furniture are an order of magnitude higher than for mass low-quality furniture that emits toxic toxic substances.
The situation in a house or apartment plays a significant role in maintaining and preserving the health of a child: wall and floor decoration made of harmful substances, synthetic textile materials, low-quality plastic furniture can exacerbate chronic diseases and serious complications, therefore, when arranging a child's room, preference should be given to items furniture and accessories, in the production of which only environmentally friendly and safe materials were used.
Furniture items for children are bought for several years in advance, so even a small amount of harmful impurities and chemicals in varnishes, paints and materials can harm a child with prolonged contact. One of the most dangerous substances, which is nevertheless widely used in furniture production, is formaldehyde, a small concentration of which in the air can provoke asthma and allergies.
The design of a small children's bedroom in a modern style: what you need to pay attention to?
You can learn how to design a children's room for two children of different sexes in a detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
In today's article, the team styling room prepared for you a selection of photos of environmentally friendly furniture for children's rooms from the famous furniture company Kalon.
Environmentally friendly and safe playpens for the little ones
In the arena, small children spend a large amount of time playing and also sleeping. Design playpens from the Echo Crib collection are 100% made of natural, high-quality wood, coated with harmless water-based varnishes and paints. Stylish minimalist playpens have high strength and durability, perfect for decorating a children's room at home or apartment, made in any style and color scheme.
So, the photo below shows one of these arenas from Kalon. The playpen, made in neutral light shades, fits perfectly into the minimalist children's room, the walls, floor, ceiling and furniture of which are decorated in white tones, using light wood.
Stylish, environmentally friendly arena from Kalon.
In the photo below we see another environmentally friendly and safe playpen for children from the Caravan Crib collection. The piece of furniture is made of natural maple, coated with safe water-based dyes. The minimalist playpen in light, neutral colors goes well with the children's light wooden furniture and snow-white floor, and also creates an interesting contrast with the dark gray matte walls of the room.
White minimalist playpen in a stylish nursery.
The stylish playpen in the next photo also belongs to the Caravan crib collection. The furniture is made of natural wood of light shades, and the rods of the arena are painted in classic black. Designers used a minimalist playpen to design a small children's room, the walls, floor and ceiling of which are made in neutral, light colors and shades.
Minimalist playpen in a small stylish nursery.
Kalon designers offer their customers not only playpens made in classic neutral colors, but also playpens in a variety of bright colors and shades, such as red, pink, blue, green, yellow. The Caravan Crib in the next photo is made from natural, high quality wood and the bars are painted bright blue.
Unusual arena with bright blue partitions.
Eco-friendly chests of drawers and wardrobes for children's rooms
The designers also released a collection of safe and non-toxic children's wardrobes and chests of drawers made exclusively from natural materials. So, in the photo below there is a small wooden chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection, which will go well with the playpen from the Caravan Crib collection, since Kalon designers used identical materials and colors to create both collections of children's furniture.
A small stylish chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection.
If you want to make your child's nursery bright, sunny and fun, then use rich yellow furniture and accessories. So, in the next photo we see a stylish minimalist dresser and playpen from the Caravan collections, made of natural light wood, using elements of bright yellow. Stylish, environmentally friendly children's furniture fits perfectly into the interior of a small room in a private house, made in neutral light colors.
Unique chest of drawers and playpen with yellow elements.
The designer chest of drawers in the following photo is from the IoLine Dresser furniture collection. Stylish, massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech is perfect for complementing not only the children's room, but also the bedroom of the child's parents or the living room. The chest of drawers is equipped with convenient drawers in which the child can put his things, toys, books, school supplies.
Massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech.
Unusual pieces of furniture and accessories for children's rooms
At the end of our article, we have prepared for you a selection of truly unique, unusual and original, and most importantly, environmentally friendly and safe pieces of furniture and accessories that will be an excellent addition and decoration to a modern children's room.
So, in the photo below, three wooden blocks from Kalon are provided, which can be used as shelves for storing things and toys, chairs, and also to create an interesting play space that your child will love. Wooden blocks do not take up much space, they can be placed, for example, in the corner, thereby filling the free, unused space of the room.
Unusual wooden blocks from the Kalon company.
Particularly noteworthy are the stylish wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection, which the designers produce in bright red, yellow, green, blue and pink colors. Wooden children's chairs at the international exhibition Salone del Mobile (2010) were recognized as the best product of the year, they are perfect for decorating a children's room and will appeal not only to children, but also to adults.
Colorful wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection.
Multi-coloured colorful chairs will perfectly fit into the nursery, made in neutral, light colors and shades, and they also go well with the chest of drawers and playpen from the Caravan collection.
A small nursery with environmentally friendly furniture from Kalon.
Designers produce Hut-Hut Kids wooden chairs not only in a variety of colors, but also made from various materials. So, buyers can order chairs for children from the following FSC-certified materials: bamboo, cork, maple, white locust, black walnut. Wooden chairs are highly durable and reliable, not only children but also adults can sit on them, so these chairs will also be an excellent decoration for a living room or veranda.
Doing repairs in a one-room apartment? You can read about how to equip a stylish nursery in a one-room apartment here.
Room interior for a teenage girl: tips and tricks from real professionals.
Don't know how to decorate a children's room for two boys? Read the detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
Eco-friendly Hut-Hut Kids chairs in the living room interior.
Rules for choosing environmentally friendly furniture for children
When choosing furniture for decorating the interior of a children's room, you must be guided by the following rules:
- Give preference to natural wood furniture. So, children's furniture made of pine is light and sunny, has high strength, pine wood is rich in ascorbic acid. Birch furniture has a relatively high strength and hardness; dried wood is similar to beech in most mechanical characteristics. Children's furniture made of solid beech has a red-brown color, is in no way inferior to oak furniture in strength and hardness, the beech texture is beautiful and has high decorative qualities. Oak children's furniture is beautiful and durable, and absolutely safe for adults and children.
Oak furniture has a very beautiful color and texture, to give the wood high decorative qualities, it is often subjected to bleaching, staining or pickling (staining means many years of keeping oak in water, from which the material acquires an unusual dark purple color).
- Please note that children's wooden furniture can only be coated with a harmless water-based varnish.
- The fabric used to cover the furniture should also be environmentally friendly and safe, the following materials are perfect: organic cotton, polar fleece, remy, sasawashi, sisel, silk, soy, lyosel, bamboo, linen. So, when growing organic cotton, pesticides and other chemicals are not used, the production of such material has international certificates OEKO-TEX, Organic Exchange or GOTS. Polar fleece is a synthetic material obtained from cleanly washed bottles. Furniture made of polar fleece is suitable for children from 3 years old, since babies from synthetics often experience overheating and sweating. Remy is a natural material that is made from a special plant native to western Asia. Sasavashi visually resembles linen, has hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties. Sisel is a cellulose, which consists of a natural polymer that retains living plant cells and seaweed fibers in its structure. Lyosel is made only from trees grown without the use of chemicals.
Wooden objects do not harm human health. Ecological furniture made of wood has an expensive appearance. It is practical and durable.
Furniture manufacture
Furniture is made from wooden panels - solid or glued from plates. The former are easier to deform, the latter are more durable. Therefore, glued furniture is more expensive.
Use wood with knots and without them. Knots reduce the quality of furniture and shorten its lifespan.
Decorative elements are made of metal, plastic, glass. Expensive interior items are decorated with carvings and forging.
Advantages and disadvantages of wooden furniture
The main plus of interior items made of wood is environmental friendliness. They do not harm human health and the environment due to the absence of toxic impurities. Allergies to plastic or synthetics are possible. The reaction is excluded if you have wooden furniture.
Wood products have several other advantages:
- expensive appearance;
- long service life with proper care;
- the possibility of restoration to its original form in case of wear;
- low thermal conductivity, due to which more heat is stored in the house.
Disadvantages of interior items made of wood:
- classic design does not fit into high-tech apartments;
- loses its appearance when exposed to direct sunlight, sudden changes in temperature and humidity;
- well absorbs aromas;
- it is difficult to work with wood, which is why objects have simple shapes;
- Difficult to transport due to heavy weight.
You have to pay for safety and quality. Wooden interior items have a higher cost compared to similar products made from other materials.
Care rules
The tree suffers under the influence of sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Lacquers that cover the object increase its stability. But even with them, the wood texture is damaged in an unfavorable microclimate.
The optimum temperature in a room with wooden furniture is 15 °C or higher. Humidity should not exceed 65%. Do not place wooden items in direct sunlight.
Care rules:
- Wipe the wood with a damp cloth and then dry.
- The rag should be made of suede or other soft fabric. Do not wipe wood with hard sponges.
- Do not allow water to enter the cracks between the fibers of the wood. This will prevent sticking.
- Do not place interior items near heating appliances. Heat shortens the life of wood.
- Use wood care products. It is impossible to process the goods with solutions with ammonia and abrasive substances.
If your furniture tarnishes due to exposure to direct sunlight, wax it periodically. Such compounds are sold in any specialized store.
How to choose solid wood furniture
When choosing a material for interior items, pay attention to the structure of the tree. Softer wood is suitable for items that carry a minimum load. For beds, chairs, tables and cabinets, take hardwoods.
Soft tree species:
- cherry;
- pine.
Solid varieties include:
- ash.
Different types of wood have their own properties:
- Pine - light, soft.
- Birch - high hardness, strength and impact resistance, long service life.
- Beech is a rich red-brown color, it is not inferior to oak in hardness, it has a beautiful texture.
- Oak - durability and high decorative qualities, high cost.
- Ash - surpasses oak in hardness. More elastic, which is why it is used for the manufacture of bent interior items.
The hardness of the rock does not always indicate the strength of the furniture. When buying a product, pay attention to the presence of knots and layers in the array.
Buy items made from treated wood. In the manufacture of high-quality interior items, staining technology is used. This makes it more beautiful and more durable.
Cheaper furniture is covered with paint or varnish.
Wooden children's furniture
The growing organism of the child is most sensitive to the influence 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 health of the baby, ensure its normal growth and development.
The following children's interior items are made of wood:
- arenas;
- dressers;
- cabinets;
- beds;
- tables;
- chairs.
The item can only be coated with a water-based varnish that is safe for children.
Disposal of wooden furniture
Although wood is an environmentally friendly material, it is not necessary to throw it in a landfill. It has a long decay time. And the compositions that cover the wood, with prolonged evaporation, pollute the environment.
Special companies will take the furniture out of the apartment, and the wood will be recycled. The following materials are obtained from it:
- coal, turpentine and acetic acid - when processed by hydrolysis;
- Chipboard, pellets and briquettes for heating - with mechanical disposal;
- a mixture of gases that is used as a fuel for cars - processing by gasification.
Wood is mainly used for energy. New interior items, toys, building materials are made from waste.
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 taken. Heat is used for heating water, heating and so on.
Wooden furniture is an eco-friendly way to make the interior stylish and original. It does not harm human health, and when properly disposed of, it is 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.
1. Choosing upholstered furniture
Let's start with home furnishings, where you can find the word organic on a label or in a product description.- Cushioned furniture: Look for chairs and sofas upholstered in natural organic fabrics and filled with natural latex foam.
- Mattresses: organic cotton, organic wool and natural latex are good alternatives to the materials used to make conventional mattresses. Most organic latex mattresses have a core wrapped in wool (naturally flame retardant) or cotton or a combination of both, and some are usually wrapped in a combination of these materials. Choose mattress pads made from organic cotton or organic wool.
2. Consider bamboo
Bamboo furniture is a good option. Although technically not a tree (it's a herb), it looks like a tree, and is usually grown without pesticides. Because it is growing so fast that resistance to renewal is not a problem for it. The only downside is the traffic trail.3. Transportation
Since transportation also uses energy, responsibility in transportation is also part of getting sustainable furniture.- Furniture must be transported efficiently without overcoming excessive space and energy during transport.
- Local furniture using only local production and raw materials has less.
4. Stay away from toxic materials and finishes
The easiest way to avoid toxins like formaldehyde is to buy furniture made from materials that don't contain them.Choose hardwood furniture that contains less paint. Rarely glass and metal furniture.
5. Try to avoid:
- Upholstery marked SPAIN RESISTANT, it may be toxic
- Inflatable furniture, faux leather and vinyl furniture covers. All may contain phthalate-based PVC.
- Furniture made from chipboard, fiberboard, plywood - anything that may contain formaldehyde adhesives.
- Avoid all tropical hardwoods (mahogany and teak) as well as mahogany and many western cedars, which tend to be made from irreplaceable old woods - unless certified.
Look for local furniture makers and artisans in local newspapers, craft websites, and craft fairs. Look for artisanal furniture made from salvaged trees and wrought iron, organic wool and cotton, and recycled fabrics.
7. Choose functionality
Furniture should also be functional and durable.- Opt for multifunctional furniture
- Durability also matters because well-made furniture with a longer functional shelf life contributes to the health of the planet without filling landfills.
8. Vintage furniture
Vintage and antique furniture are two of the most sustainable choices you can make for home furnishing. There are no hard and fast distinctions when furniture becomes antique; for some people it's all that well forgotten old, others argue that the items must be at least 20 years old.Antique furniture is technically anything made 100 years ago. Most people simply assume that these are 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 are choosing antique furniture, keep the following in mind:
- Furniture must comply with current safety regulations. Please note that the furniture is not radioactive.
- Vintage painted furniture made before 1978 may contain lead. Old antiques - early 19th century - most likely not. Lead paint is a problem, if it peels off, you can cover it with varnish, for example, but this can affect the look and value of the piece. If you have small children around, you might want to think twice before purchasing these items or wait until your children are older.
- Finishing or restoring antiques is also usually best left to the experts. If you're thinking about refinishing or repainting 20th century furniture, you'll find that all paint contains lead and you should take the appropriate precautions when working with it.