I have not done much research about green furniture. I am sure I'll find that almost all furniture products contain lots of naughty things that are off-gassing in our homes. Maybe I'm stalling because ignorance is bliss.
However, I am trying to find a low, soft reading chair for the kids' play area. Something like a bean bag chair, but cooler. Modern. It needs to fit into a funny little corner about 41" x 31". Would be great if the chair could accommodate adult and some snugly kids for a book.
One that I found is called the Fatboy. It looks more stylish than the bean bag chairs I remember from the 60s and 70s. But I think I was lucky they mentioned what the chair is filled with. They use tiny EPS cylindrical pieces (Expanded Polystyrene Packaging.)
Wikipedia says that EPS is used in lots of packaging material. It is similar to, but not the same as, styrofoam. It is rated as plastic #6. It is not easily recycled. Not to mention that it is also highly flammable.
The company says the fatboy is made from, "Depending on the product, Fatboy® is made from either a Nylon or Polyester fabric and has a PVC coating to make them water resistant and stain resistant. The fatboy is filled with virgin polystyrene beads."
Yikes! I don't know if I should be more appalled by the virgin polystyrene or the PVC coating! I wonder if I would be this alarmed if I knew what was in all the furniture I already own.
But being a mom going green, I just can't knowingly buy something so blatantly bad for my family and the planet. I'm going to continue my search. I will try to find out the ingredients of all the products I consider and will share any good options I find. If you have any ideas please send them my way!
2 comments:
check out Nest for lots of cool, sustainable kid furniture.
http://www.nestplease.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=75
that's right! thanks, kik. the nest seat looks like an option:
http://www.nestplease.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=75
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