Sustainability and doing something for the environment is not just something you can do when shopping for food at the local supermarket - a visit to the furniture store also offers this opportunity. Here, too, there are big differences in terms of the origin and processing of the raw materials - both in terms of nature and people.
The first indicator of the degree of sustainability is, of course, the price: people are certainly always happy about top offers, but we must not forget what makes these "bargains" possible. Apart from the fact that low-quality materials are usually used in the production of such goods, they are also often manufactured abroad at unfair wages and under catastrophic working conditions.
This yield can and should be put a stop to. And that doesn't mean that you automatically have to dig deeper into your pockets, as long as you take a longer-term view: if, for example, you have the choice between a cheap sofa for 200 euros or a similar but more expensive version for 400 euros, there is a good chance that the former will break much more quickly due to the cheap workmanship and will have to be replaced - which not only costs money again, but also time, as the bulky piece of furniture has to be transported and assembled.
But price isn't everything - you should also take a closer look at the company itself. There are now many companies that distinguish themselves by offering sustainable furniture from fair production. This is evidenced by certain seals of approval such as the EMAS certificate, which are usually clearly visible on the supplier's website.
Last but not least, when buying sustainable furnishings, you should also consider whether you really need them. Do you really need a new table again? Can that broken chair leg perhaps be repaired? If you replace your furniture every few years, you are creating waste and wasting resources. That's why it's important to consider carefully when choosing your furniture whether you'll be happy with it in the long term.
