Furniture
Eco-friendly furniture materials
Manufacturing sustainable furniture not only implies that the environment in which it is made is respectful of the environment, but also that the materials with which it is made must be taken into account. These eco-friendly furniture materials must meet specific specifications, comply with regulations and favor the circular economy.
To design an environmentally friendly furniture, it is very important that the methodology used by the company corresponds to the basic requirements of eco-design or eco-design that collects the European standard. There is no point in saying that you have manufactured ecological furniture if you do not comply with the established guidelines.
In Pau we are aware of this, that is why all the materials we use when manufacturing our furniture are ecological: from the wood to the fabrics, favoring the respect for nature and taking care of the planet.
In this post we are going to tell you which are the essential eco-friendly materials in our sustainable furniture.
Sustainable furniture
During the manufacturing process of a piece of furniture, we must take into account the maximum respect for the environment and the lowest possible environmental impact: in this way we contribute significantly to the care of our planet.
Whether a piece of furniture is sustainable or not depends on its life cycle, its duration and the subsequent management of its waste, as well as the materials it is made of. The main difference between an ecological furniture and a conventional one is that during the manufacture of the ecological furniture the circular economy model is taken into account.
The circular economy is based on the use of resources, trying to reduce the use of raw materials as much as possible, as well as the generation of waste. Therefore, the aim is to reuse and recycle the materials of a piece of furniture as much as possible and that, at the end of its useful life, the materials can continue to be used for the manufacture of other furniture.
At Pau, our commitment to the manufacture of sustainable furniture goes even further. We currently have 103 solar panels in our production center that allow us to produce between 60 and 65% of the energy we use.
Eco-friendly materials for furniture
As we have mentioned before, when it comes to furniture manufacturing, not only the environment or the facilities have to be taken into account, but also the materials are one of the fundamental parts.
Next, we are going to see which are the essential materials we use to manufacture eco-friendly furniture in Pau:
Wood
Wood is one of the fundamental bases when it comes to making furniture. In the case of ecological furniture, the wood used for its production comes from sustainably managed forests, which promote the replanting of trees and do not contribute to the deforestation of ecosystems through illegal logging.
To ensure that the wood used is the correct wood, it must have the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) label.
Thus, we can find wood of:
- Pine: Pine wood is very flexible and strong and is used in the vast majority of furniture. For example, solid pine is used to make shelves, tables, chairs, beds or eco friendly couches.
- Oak: oak wood is characterized by being strong, hard, dense and resistant, which sometimes makes it difficult to work with. This wood is used to create traditional environments that reflect durability and solidity.
- Beech: beech wood is hard and heavy. It has a uniform texture that favors varnishing and polishing. Beech furniture is considered to be of very good quality. Such is the case of the Archie sofa by Pau, which is made of beech and pine wood from sustainable European forests.
- Hevea: hevea is the rubber tree and has become the substitute for the exotic woods that decorate some interiors. Thanks to its excellent characteristics, rubber wood furniture has become a very pleasant material to work with and has a very aesthetic result.
Vegetable fibers
Vegetable fibers come from organic plantations and no chemicals are used in the manufacturing process. Some of these fibers, thanks to their hardness, are used for the composition of furniture, while the rest are used for stuffing, upholstery and padding.
The most commonly used are:
- Wicker: wicker is characterized because it is light but sturdy at the same time, being ideal for furniture that is given a lot of mobility, such as patio or garden furniture.
- Rattan: its flexible nature allows it to be easily worked and it is widely used for the manufacture of outdoor furniture. It is a sustainable alternative thanks to its complete and natural recycling.
- Bamboo: bamboo has a hardness similar to oak and resists moisture very well. It also has a very special appearance thanks to the circular structure of its trunk.
- Cotton: cotton is a vegetable fiber used to stuff seats of sofas, chairs… although it can also be used in upholstery.
- Linen: is one of the strongest vegetable fibers and is characterized by its high strength and low elasticity. It is a great thermal conductor and its fabrics are usually fresh and light.
Animal fibers
Animal-derived fibers are sourced from organic farms and these are some of the most common:
- Wool: the most commonly used wool is sheep wool, although sometimes goat wool, for example, is also used. Wool easily absorbs moisture and gives an incredible feeling of warmth. It is mainly used for stuffing, although sometimes it can also be found in upholstery.
- Silk: Silk is a soft, light, lustrous fiber with high tensile strength but low elasticity. Silk has a spectacular natural luster and is one of the strongest and most resilient natural fibers.
Natural fabrics
All of Pau’s collections are characterized by the use of sustainable materials in the manufacture of their pieces.
We have three collections of fabrics for our products, although customers can send us their own and we adapt it to the production process. Our three collections are:
- Carlton: made of 100% linen with different colors.
- Ashai: 65% cotton and 35% linen.
- Delta: linen 25% and viscose 75%.
All are natural and organic fibers.
It is also important to take a good furniture care to extend the life of the product.
In addition, as part of our efforts to be more sustainable, all fabrics that are no longer used are sent to a foundation that converts them into new pieces and whose profits go to the AECC of breast cancer.
If you want to know more about the essential eco-friendly materials or the advantages of eco-friendly products of Pau’s sustainable furniture, visit our website now, we are waiting for you! Find out more about the textile trends this year.
