Timber & Textiles
Deforestation
Trees can live for hundreds, even many thousands of years. Each individual tree is an eco-system in itself, providing habitat and food for different species, filtering pollutants from the air and filling it oxygen.
Holding a box of something as mundane as matches or toothpicks and considering their real cost can be sobering: vast ancient forests are falling prey to the logging industry each day to provide timber for such items. Many companies source their timber from the world's last ancient forests, which are the habitats of endangered species and which are absolutely crucial to combating climate change. 80% of the earth's forests have already been destroyed, and deforestation continues with alarming speed, reducing areas the size of 37 football fields to wastelands every single minute.
Choosing sustainable, eco-friendly materials for your home can be a challenge. Toxic chemicals and poor biodegradability of plastic used in furniture and home-ware mean that many of us look for natural materials such as wood.
The following certifications indicate that a product is made from timber sourced from responsibly managed woods and/or recycled wood/paper:
Holding a box of something as mundane as matches or toothpicks and considering their real cost can be sobering: vast ancient forests are falling prey to the logging industry each day to provide timber for such items. Many companies source their timber from the world's last ancient forests, which are the habitats of endangered species and which are absolutely crucial to combating climate change. 80% of the earth's forests have already been destroyed, and deforestation continues with alarming speed, reducing areas the size of 37 football fields to wastelands every single minute.
Choosing sustainable, eco-friendly materials for your home can be a challenge. Toxic chemicals and poor biodegradability of plastic used in furniture and home-ware mean that many of us look for natural materials such as wood.
The following certifications indicate that a product is made from timber sourced from responsibly managed woods and/or recycled wood/paper:
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) see logo here
- PEFC see logo here
- Soil Association Woodmark see logo here
Textiles
Home textiles such as curtains, bedding, rugs and towels are subject to the same health- and environmental hazards as clothing. Read our guide on reducing these risks under the section Clothing
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