Have you thought about starting a business but are concerned about the toll it will have on the environment? Here are some ways that you can start an environmentally sound furniture business.
The world needs to move towards environment-friendly and sustainable practices right now. Glaciers are melting, causing flash floods all over the world. This is more proof than we need that global warming is a very real phenomenon.
Any business being run today should be run responsibly, keeping in mind the environmental impact it will have. If you wish to start a furniture business, you must make sure it is eco-friendly. You must keep in mind factors like deforestation and carbon emissions that you may be contributing to. To help guide you on tips to build a business that is conscious of the current environmental crisis we have compiled some tips.
Look for Trustworthy Suppliers
To start a furniture manufacturing business, you need a regular supply of wood, cloth, foams, and metals. A lot of suppliers claim to have sustainable practices. This is not the case for all of them, however. Some suppliers simply put forward such claims to increase their marketability. You must make sure your suppliers are actually true to their words.
An easy way to make sure they comply with sustainable practices is to check for environmental laws and regulations in their country. It is not a good idea to import supplies from another country, however, we will come to that later. When you are choosing a supplier for woods, you need to make sure their practices involve zero deforestation. They should supply their wood from plantations.
Plantations are essentially making use of trees the same way one uses a wheat crop. In a dedicated area, trees are planted and allowed to grow. They are then cut down to be sold to different businesses that involve wood. New trees are planted in their place. This allows for natural forests to remain intact while a supply of wood is maintained. No area of forests should be cleared up to make room for these plantations as it defeats the original purpose.
Another thing you must keep in mind is the presence of harmful chemicals. Chemicals are sometimes used to give wood a stainless neat finish. These chemicals, however, can cause severe health issues to vulnerable individuals.
You can also decide if there is a better, more sustainable alternative to the material you want to use. For example, you might want to use rosewood or mahogany to manufacture your furniture pieces. These names are associated with expensive, classy furnishing.
However, in this case, you may want to opt for materials like bamboo, marble, stone, or porcelain. They are much more durable. So they are less likely to end up in landfills and contribute to the piling waste. They also require much less wood so fewer chances of deforestation.
Use Renewable Fuel Sources
In addition to your materials, you must think of what fuel you are using to manufacture your products. Coal is not a renewable resource and it produces harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere. It causes air pollution. Instead, you should try installing solar panels to power your factory. There is a high initial investment but when you have your own solar power, your electricity bills for the future are reduced significantly.
You can also try setting up a shop in an area near a dam. This way, your factory will be powered by water energy which is a great renewable resource. The same is the case with windmills. By adopting such practices, not only will your electricity bills be reduced in the long run, but you will be running a business responsibly. Keeping your factory’s carbon footprint in mind.
Vintage Furniture for the Win!
Another useful tip is to buy old furniture from junkyards or garage sales for small prices. You can refurbish it to make it long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing, and you can resell it. This model of business you can market under a completely different category. Reusing old furniture is one of the most sustainable practices that you can adopt!
Lighter Furniture is Better
You should try making your furniture pieces as light as possible while still being durable. This reduces the manufacturing and transportation costs significantly and burns less fuel. You can also use electricity-powered trucks for transportation, like the technology Tesla uses. You should also try to make sure your suppliers and consumers are located very close to you. This automatically reduces transportation costs.
You can also use materials like plastics to make your furniture. As long as the product is durable and long-lasting, plastic can potentially be an option even in eco friendly businesses. Companies use injection molding services to make plastic products. This is an incredible zero-waste technique.
Conclusion
A lot of companies are attempting to make some part of their manufacturing process sustainable. In addition to using solar, water, and windmills for electricity, rainwater is being collected and used in water-based processes. Biowaste from farms is being used to make fuel. For a furniture company, apart from the materials used for frames, linens used in sofas and seats are also important. Using a sustainable cloth such as rattan is a good practice. Recycling cloth to make the seating is another way to reduce waste to make sure they do not end up in landfills. All in all, small changes can drastically make a difference if everyone practices them. Plus this way you can build a business you are truly proud of!
In addition to your materials, you must think of what fuel you are using to manufacture your products. Coal is not a renewable resource and it produces harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere. It causes air pollution. Instead, you should try installing solar panels to power your factory. There is a high initial investment but when you have your own solar power, your electricity bills for the future are reduced significantly.
You can also try setting up a shop in an area near a dam. This way, your factory will be powered by water energy which is a great renewable resource. The same is the case with windmills. By adopting such practices, not only will your electricity bills be reduced in the long run, but you will be running a business responsibly. Keeping your factory’s carbon footprint in mind.
Vintage Furniture for the Win!
Another useful tip is to buy old furniture from junkyards or garage sales for small prices. You can refurbish it to make it long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing, and you can resell it. This model of business you can market under a completely different category. Reusing old furniture is one of the most sustainable practices that you can adopt!
Lighter Furniture is Better
You should try making your furniture pieces as light as possible while still being durable. This reduces the manufacturing and transportation costs significantly and burns less fuel. You can also use electricity-powered trucks for transportation, like the technology Tesla uses. You should also try to make sure your suppliers and consumers are located very close to you. This automatically reduces transportation costs.
You can also use materials like plastics to make your furniture. As long as the product is durable and long-lasting, plastic can potentially be an option even in eco friendly businesses. Companies use injection molding services to make plastic products. This is an incredible zero-waste technique.
Conclusion
A lot of companies are attempting to make some part of their manufacturing process sustainable. In addition to using solar, water, and windmills for electricity, rainwater is being collected and used in water-based processes. Biowaste from farms is being used to make fuel. For a furniture company, apart from the materials used for frames, linens used in sofas and seats are also important. Using a sustainable cloth such as rattan is a good practice. Recycling cloth to make the seating is another way to reduce waste to make sure they do not end up in landfills. All in all, small changes can drastically make a difference if everyone practices them. Plus this way you can build a business you are truly proud of!