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For most of us the main criteria when purchasing new furniture, is price, style and practicality, however do we ever consider the environmental aspects?

Most of us are keen to help the environment and save the planet, but we do not always put this into practice especially not when we are looking for new furnishings, such as sofas, chairs or beds for our homes. For most of us the main criteria when purchasing new furniture, is price, style, practicality and availability, but is it possible to me more environmentally aware when making furniture purchases?

It is possible to buy furniture that is environmentally friendly, so called eco furniture is now becoming more widely available and most functional. No longer is eco furniture impractical, expensive and rare, it is still a specialist market but definitely a growing market. When buying the likes of a new sofa it is perhaps a bonus to think that the sofa is not too damaging to the environment but it is possible to purchase, attractive, stylish, reliable, comfortable and durable eco sofas.

Eco means of the environment and there is a growing awareness amongst furniture manufacturers that greener and more environmentally friendly production methods should be used. Eco sofas do not have to be weird or wacky, they can be practical and stylish. A true eco sofa will be produced in a manner that causes the minimum damage to the environment. The majority of eco sofas use organic natural materials that are sourced from sustainably managed raw materials. Many raw materials will be sourced through Fair Trade links. Most eco sofas will not use treatments that can cause damage to the environment or the individual but will still meet the required safety standards. Many eco sofas will be produced locally to keep transportation induced damage to a minimum and manufacturers will try to source local raw materials.

By their very nature eco sofas are designed and built to last, they should not need to be replaced for a long time and the materials should be recyclable. Packaging materials are kept to a minimum and because they are locally produced transportation costs are reduced. Eco sofas are as comfortable as traditional sofas, it is just that the raw materials and production methods are much more environmentally friendly, prices are also competitive when compared with non-eco sofas. Comfort and practicality can be found in eco sofa but it is still possible to find new and innovative designs that are perhaps bespoke pieces, these can be expensive. Potential purchases can see the long-term benefits to buying eco sofas and they will become more popular amongst the population.