MATERIALS

Consider materials that reduce your use of finite or virgin natural resources.

• Sustainably harvested
• Recycled
• Reclaimed
• Rapidly renewable
• Fewer materials

How do you know your materials are really green?
Look for third party certifications like The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and its partner organizations, which verify the sustainable forestry practices of companies around the world. Look for the FSC label when purchasing products made of wood.

THE LAZY ENVIRONMENTALIST RECOMMENDATIONS:

Outdoor Furniture
Reforest Teak's outdoor furniture is FSC certified, meaning that it's sustainably harvested. And beautiful. The point is that you can still have exactly what you want, provided it's sourced responsibly

Flooring
Smith & Fong produces high-quality, formaldehyde-free, rapidly renewable bamboo flooring and bamboo panels that it markets under the name Plyboo. Continuous innovation is a hallmark of this company. Plyboo comes in a number of styles and aesthetics and is a terrific material for flooring, cabinets, paneling, and furniture.

Sofas and Chairs
Viesso Furniture Sofas and Chairs offers FSC certified frames, natural latex (low VOC) cushions, and recycled content fabrics. All that adds up to great green design at a fairly affordable price.

Beds
Design Mobel has beds made from sustainably harvested wood using a "heli-harvesting" technique that removes by helicopter instead of cutting roads through the forest in order to minimize the footprint. It also offers natural latex mattresses as a comfortable healthy option, and even an iPod Bed (think of it as the world's most comfortable docking station).

More Eco-Friendly Home Essentials

Creating an Eco-Home
The Air Quality
Energy and Water Consumed
View Josh Dorfman video on Eco-Friendly Homes