Bamboo is today's revolutionary material.  According to the World's Resource Institute, more than 80% of our planet's natural forests have been destroyed by deforestation.  Bamboo, however, is just as durable and sustainable as most hardwoods and softwoods.  Because it is a grass instead of a tree, the stalk can be cut and harvested without causing any damage to the plant, allowing it to regenerate quickly.  While trees need 30 to 50 years to regenerate completely, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, with some species measuring to grow 4 feet in the span of one day.

Bamboo works great as a replacement for the wood bases of furniture.  Many eco-friendly companies utilize bamboo for their furniture. Because it is so durable, it lasts just as long as furniture made from hardwood while keeping that natural, earthy look.  Bamboo is great for sustainability, durability, and style.  It is, no doubt, the best replacement for most hardwoods and softwoods.

But bamboo isn't the only option for eco-friendly furniture.  Viesso  offers several different varieties of environmentally friendly furniture.  All of the springs used in their furniture are made from recycled steel, and they use recycled stainless steel legs.  Viesso uses FSC Certified Adler wood for their frames and legs, and uses natural organic latex from rubber trees and natural down feathers from birds being raised for food.

Why go green?

Non-organic furniture can be harmful to your health.  When certain glues decompose over time, they release off-gases such as formaldehyde.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen and has been linked to nasal and lung cancer, and with possible links to brain cancer and leukemia."¹ When shopping for new furniture, make sure they were built with water-based glues and stained and finished with green wood and sealants.  These produce fewer, and in some cases, absolutely no, off-gasses and VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to the central nervous system.  According to the EPA, VOCs cause "eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system."²

 
Nighttime is the right time to go green

Your bed is the most vital component to your bedroom.  Replacing your old, formaldehyde-producing bed with an all-natural one may drastically effect how you feel for the entire day.  An organic pillow would be a great replacement for a standard pillow, if you want to start small.  Organic pillows are noted to be more comfortable than regular ones, with shifting buckwheat hulls (if that's your pillow of choice) that allows for ventilation that keeps your pillow from flattening.¹

If you prefer to keep a down pillow and feather comforter, the Down and Feather Company  does not harm any animals while making their eco-friendly products. They do this by harvesting the geese's feathers during molting season, thus eliminating any harm to the bird.  Also, by replacing your mattress with an organic mattress made from natural rubber and flame retardants and your bed-frame with one made from bamboo or other eco-friendly materials, your sleep will be completely transformed.

 
What about other furniture?

Your bed shouldn't be the only piece of furniture in your home that is all-natural.  Everyone needs a place to just sit and unwind.  Viesso, my brand of choice, offers reasonably priced couches and uses natural materials.  At dinner, sit at a table made from bamboo on a chair made from the same materials.  And when doing some work or just surfing the web, sit at your organic computer chair, which you can find at Office Chairs, who offers chairs that are build with 75% recycled materials and desks made from sustainable wood.  In fact, all products made from wood, such as cabinets and bookshelves, should be made from either sustainable wood or bamboo.  Both these materials are durable and long lasting, and harvesting them causes limited to no damage to the environment.

 
How will this affect you?

The EPA has reported that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.  On an average, we spend about 90% of our time in homes and offices.³ If our homes - which should be the safest place in our lives - produce more harmful pollutions than the outside, then it's time to reevaluate our surroundings.

 ¹ U.S. Department of Labor.  "Occupational Safety & Health Administration."  Safety and Health Topics - Formaldehyde.  <http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/recognition.html>

² Environmental Protection Agency. "Indoor Air Quality." Organic Gases.  2008. < http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html>

³ Horn, Greg.  Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability. Topanga: Freedom Press, 2006.

4 Jemrose Inc. and The Pillow Company.  "Pillow Company."  The Shoppe For Natural Healing.  2002-2008.  <http://www.pillowcompany.com/>