Highest luxury, lowest impact
While you're choosing outdoor furniture that will last, why not help the outdoors last longer too? There's a blossoming industry dedicated to Earth-friendly furniture materials and practices, and nowhere does that make more sense than in outdoor patio furniture. Eco friendly outdoor furniture is the natural result of responsible stewardship mixed with reaping what you sow.
Friendlier fabrics
Where do all those milk bottles and plastic grocery sacks end up? Maybe in the landfill, or blowing across the countryside. Better, these polyresin plastics can be reused. It's among the easiest things to recycle, requiring only that smart people save their waste and creative companies reshape it. One of the most brilliant results is phifertex® geobella, the latest recycled fabric used in outdoor patio furniture. Geobella feels soft as cotton, but it doesn't hold moisture so it dries fast and doesn't mildew. Because it's poly-based, it is superior at holding the gorgeous new earth-tone color palette of golds, tans and muted browns. It doesn't fade and won't stretch out. It's so strong that manufacturers can create finer threads for intricate weaves like hounds tooth and herringbone, leading the trend for retro patterns. By leaving a little space in the fabric, it becomes as breathable as cotton. It's also fun to know that the material itself is recyclable, if you ever manage to wear it out.
Garbage in, furniture out
The same polyresin base is being used to create stronger, more durable outdoor furniture out of yesterday's plastics. Manufacturers like PolyWood create frames that look like wood, but they won't rot and never need painting. No maintenance means more time to relax, which is why you bought the outdoor furniture in the first place. People who love Adirondack chairs are clucking over how silky-smooth and splinter-free the recycled plastic Adirondack chairs remain, even after years of use.
If you prefer all-natural materials, you can discover smart choices like the eco-friendly Shorea wood. Like its more expensive cousin teak, Shorea is praised for its weather-loving qualities and natural resistance to pests. (We mean bugs, not your neighbors.) Best of all, it's carefully nurtured and regulated to be a sustainably harvested wood. Only mature trees are harvested, insuring a steady, sustainable supply. The wood grain is so dense and lovely it needs little finishing, which means less chemical waste.
Choosing green manufacturers
If the manufacturer uses eco friendly practices during construction, the result is a cleaner environment and a clearer conscience. Earth-loving outdoor furniture collections like Merida, Cabos and Dartmoor use sustainable woods that require little finishing and thus fewer chemicals. The result is more natural and durable. They buy through the Forestry Stewardship Council which manages long-term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the people who live off the forests. Using recycled wood in the drying kilns conserves living resources, and that means a smaller carbon footprint.
Earth-friendly benefits extend to you. While you're relaxing in the fresh air, your heart will be lightened knowing you were part of the growing movement to protect our natural resources. It's your future, too. Clear out your karma while enjoying the great outdoors by choosing eco friendly outdoor furniture.
