The term “eco-friendly” is becoming a cliché in furniture advertising. Nearly every furniture catalog incorporates a green leaf icon, but very few will actually describe to support the icon. As a procurement manager, designer, or facilities director, you should expect more than a buzzword from advertising. You should be able to differentiate sustainable contract furniture fabrics from conventional upholstery.
This guide is designed to help you differentiate sustainable contract furniture fabrics from conventional upholstery without relying on advertising lingo.
What is “Eco-Friendly Contract Furniture”?
The phrase “eco-friendly contract furniture” is very broad. As a general rule, it refers to furniture that has made a conscious effort to reduce its environmental impact at each stage of the product lifecycle. This would be from the initial raw materials that are sourced to the manufacturing processes to the disposal at the end of the furniture’s useful life.
When talking about fabrics, this generally would mean the fibers’ raw materials, the production’s excessive use of water and energy, the use of harmful chemicals for dyeing or treatment, and the disposal of the material (can it go to a landfill or is it recyclable or biodegradable).
What is Furniture with Recycled Fabric?
Recycled fabric furniture uses reclaimed fibers from waste (from consumers or industries) like wasting textiles or manufacturing scraps, instead of using virgin fabric. Recycled polyester is one of these fibers and is made from shredding PET plastic from plastic bottles and making fibers again.
This reduces the need for more petroleum-based fibers, while also sending less waste to landfills and oceans, which is a big help. There may also be other types of furniture made from recycled ocean plastics, reclaimed wool, and also recycled nylon, among others, like furniture with recycled fabric.
From a consumer standpoint, it’s important to know that just because something is recycled does not mean that the quality is worse. There are many recycled fabrics now that, in fact, surpass the traditional contract-grade textiles in durability, resist colour, and resist abrasion that are necessary for fabrics that will be used in high-traffic commercial settings.
How to Tell if a Fabric is Sustainable
Several green fabrics are not truly sustainable. Here are a few concrete indicators to help you assess sustainable seating materials:
- Look for certifications
It is important to look for established certifications, such as GREENGUARD, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, or Global Recycled Standard (GRS). These fabrics have been independently tested for chemical safety and the fabric’s recycling claims, which are not the fabric self-reporting.
- Water & Energy Use
Usually, conventional textile manufacturing consumes more time, energy, and water than sustainable textile manufacturing. Some manufacturers provide lifecycle assessments that quantify these improvements. Buyers get actual data rather than meaningless “sustainable” jargon.
- Chemical Treatments
Common treatments for stain resistance and flame retardants utilize chemicals that are detrimental to the environment and to indoor air quality. Many sustainable fabric lines provide treatments that are PFAS-free and provide the same performance without the chemical legacy.
- Durability & Lifecycle
How long a fabric lasts also constitutes a sustainable fabric. Less frequent fabric replacement tends to make a fabric more sustainable, and is also more environmentally favourable than a fabric that is “sustainable” but wears out quickly and ends up in a landfill within a few years.
Why This is Important to Contract Furniture Buyers
Based on the intended use, the choice of fabric for offices, healthcare, hospitality, and education can be a more critical choice than it may initially appear. Incorporating sustainable contract furniture fabrics allows organizations to meet corporate ESG objectives and green building certifications like LEED, while using fabrics that meet the commercial use and the demanding nature of the fabrics.
Sustainable sourcing is also becoming more prevalent in RFPs and vendor selections, especially in government, healthcare, and education contracts due to the increasingly environmental requirements integrated into procurement.
Questions to Ask Your Furniture Supplier
Don’t take it for granted that a fabric is truly sustainable. Consider asking your supplier a few straightforward questions like:
- How much of the fabric is recycled, and is the information third-party verified?
- What certifications does the fabric have?
- Will the fabric have PFAS and other harmful chemical treatments?
- What is the fabric’s expected lifespan given commercial use?
A producer of Recycled Fabric Furniture should be able to clearly provide answers to these inquiries along with the necessary supporting documentation.
Final Thoughts
Being “eco-friendly” should be a standard, not a marketing checkbox. It is important to know what is in Sustainable Contract Furniture Fabrics. This helps buyers see beyond the greenwashing to truly sustainable fabrics that lessen the environmental impact, while also maintaining the required performance and durability.
Aura Seating has built-in sustainability by working with certified sustainable and recycled fabrics throughout our Contract Furniture.
