Environmentally Friendly Consumers Are Influencing Manufacturing Globally
Water hyacinth - roots used to make water hyacinth furniture
Today’s guest article is indicative of how environmentally friendly consumers are ‘driving’ both the fashion and the home goods industries to make encouraging strides in conservation efforts.
These industries have embraced the public’s desires (and in some cases, their demands) for more eco-friendly products. [By the way, the video at the end has no sound.]
Image courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/3550287572/
A sustainable alternative for your interior decoration
It is widely acknowledged that making use of natural fiber (i.e.: rattan, water hyacinth, sea-grass, etc.) to make furniture has a very durable and beneficial effect on our planet. There are a lot of causes for this, here is a quick tour of the multiple reasons why you can take pride of being a sustainably oriented consumer when purchasing these items.
Normal fibers from rattan, water hyacinth and other plants
These fibers are available in substantial portions all over the world, they replenish on their own automatically and their use does not deprive their eco-systems of important nutrients. In the case of water hyacinth, these roots are actually a plague for the eco-systems they inhabit and collecting these roots to create furniture will truly lessen the invasion of rivers, lakes and various aquatic areas which are having difficulties to stay alive due to the toxic presence of this plant. It is in fact fairly remarkable to see the rare beauty of the furniture made from the roots of this plant in comparison with the disastrous effects its presence has on the living organisms which share the same environment with it. In this perspective, water hyacinth is the greenest choice among all other natural fibers (rattan, sea-grass, etc.).
Positive impact on employment rates in developing countries
The areas where these natural fibers are normally found are usually in destitute and agricultural areas where unemployment is rampant for the local populations. Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brazil are simply a few examples where native populations have been able to take up a trade and bring in an honest living in an often poor job environement.
Of course, when purchasing these items, it is advisable that you enquire about the working conditions and the regard of workers producing this kind of natural furniture.
A web page we have come across offers a huge collection of rattan and water hyacinth furniture. The company produces its items exclusively at factories that can garantee the respect of their workers and weavers (age, salary, etc.). It is a French site so don’t be amazed that rattan furniture is actually named canape rotin and that water hyacinth furnishings is meubles jacinthe d’eau . Just click on the British flag, you will be browsing their catalogue in Shakespearean style in no time.
Decreased carbon footprint when making natural furnishings
Manufacturing furniture from natural fibers is essentially a manual job involving little or no electrical power or synthetic materials at all. Most of the rattan furnishings are made from salvaged wood and salvaged plywood. Approximately 98% of all components are natural and non-toxic, excluding a few staples and the use of glue.
This site offers other types of furniture that are not necessarily made from natural fibers. Along the same idea, using natural materials, deserving of mention is their assortment of high-end and designer stone dining tables (table pierre in french) .
For individuals who love to live a natural lifestyle and enjoy getting as much time outdoors as they can, here is yet another interesting proposition by this French site. Old-world style doesn’t mean you won’t find modern designs. They have a sleek collection of outdoor kitchens (cuisines d’exterieur in French) .
The fashion and home goods industries are obviously paying attention to eco-friendly consumers. Buying ‘green’ is note a fad – it’s a movement. In fact, environmentally friendly consumers are definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with and catered to!
