There’s no question, that commerce as we know it is turning green. With all the recent attention to climate control, greenhouse gases, carbon emissions and global warming, retailers and manufacturers have to change the way they do business. From hybrid cars to natural cosmetics, eco-friendly products are now a multi-million dollar business and there is no end in sight for these tree-hugging companies. One area which is already showing steady growth by demand is sustainable home furniture. While manufacturers of these eco-friendly products claim to be good for the environment, the question still remains: how are they helping combat the issues Al Gore confronted us with in 2005? What makes up an eco-friendly sofa set?

As with any trend, there are probably quite a few companies riding the eco-craze who claim to be environmentally conscious just to take advantage of the potential profits from consumers who seek a green way of life that have not yet been exposed. According to Positive Ripple, what makes a piece of furniture eco-friendly are as follows: Forest Stewardship Council certified, use of non-toxic glue (or no glues at all), use of non-toxic stains and finishes, use of organic cotton or other natural fiber, and limitations.

Although many companies propose some of the criterion in their furniture, not all do. It’s up to the consumer to research each company to make certain they are truly green.

One company who is truly environmentally savvy is Greener Lifestyle. They employ all rules of making truly sustainable furniture. Based in Seattle, WA, the company is dedicated to using all natural materials, including hemp and organic wool. Greener Lifestyle also utilizes recycling materials such as soda bottles to create beautiful material for their fabric covered furniture. If you have a sofa or chair you want to re-upholster, they offer an eco-friendly service to make an old piece look new without filling the land fills with discarded furniture.

Founded in 2003 by Aimee Robinson, Alicia Silva and Federico Alvarez, the company was formed by collaborative team of friends with a common vision, “We wanted to create a company that would bring together our passions,” said Robinson. “Between all of us we combined experience with furniture retail, passion for social and environmental issues and the commitment to working towards a creating better world. What resulted from that was Greener Lifestyles”.

Greener Lifestyle, then called Amada Luna, was on the cutting edge of the current eco-craze, “ ‘Green’ had not become main stream,” said Robinson. “Many people understood why eating organic was important but were not as aware of the importance of the health of their living environments. As green started to make its way into the general awareness, we changed our name to Greener Lifestyles, to better convey our message”.

Alicia left the company in 2006 leaving Aimee in charge of the entire operation, “I filled her position by those that were left at the store,” explained Robinson. “My mission in life has been to work towards improving our world and I saw in the Greener Lifestyles project the opportunity to explore ways to fulfill this mission. I chose to continue with the company to a place where beauty, design, and social and environmental responsibility, could be accomplished”.

With primary designer Lupita Avila, Greener Lifestyles approach to design is simple, clean, beautiful and functional. Their furniture is hand crafted by skilled artisans who love their art. Each piece is carefully built to the specifications of their clients and they offer the highest quality and design, “Our approach is to combine traditional techniques with creative use of materials, with the result of timeless pieces that will last a lifetime”.



Originally, the company had a partnership with a manufacture in Mexico. In 2006, Robinson decided to start manufacturing the furniture line in Seattle, “This time, I did not contract out. I started the factory very small and gradually developed relationships with a variety of suppliers, always seeking the most responsible materials,” explained Robinson. “My ultimate goal was and continues to be, to work with materials and suppliers that are not only environmental, but socially responsible”.

Greener Lifestyles is truly a pioneer in the green movement and encourage other companies to join in their effort, “As we have been around for a while, we have learned about the companies who are truly committed to the mission of environmental and social responsibility, and those who seek an opportunity to take part of a growing market,” said Robinson. “I believe that we are unique in our commitment to quality, design, and environmental responsibility and social change. We not only seek to offer beautiful, healthy products, but to promote our mission by building relationships with small producers, suppliers and manufacturers who care”.

With the current issues that face this planet’s survival, it may very well be time for everyone to rethink their purchases, including how we decorate our homes. While eco-home furniture is still on the pricey side, as it becomes the accepted norm, these price points should decrease. But don’t let this stop you from investing eco-friendly with your next furniture purchase, for now it’s a matter of responsibility.

>Written by d/visible contributor Tony Engelhart.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 11:36 am and is filed under Culture, Architecture, Art & Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.