I am grudgingly being pulled out of my “Xmas denial hole” and I am more than certain over the coming weeks going to blog about having a green christmas.  But rather than start with a vast long rant on the big environmental impact of consumerism, packaging, numerous unneccessary Xmas cards, etc I am going to start on an less anger inducing issue - the Christmas tree! 

I suppose the first question is real or fake?  In my opinion real wins hands down (in most cases, just a little disclaimer there!!).  The production of a plastic tree is not good from an environmental perspective as it traditionally made of steel, PVC and other nasty plastics.  Yes you may use it more than once - but at the end of the day it is going to more than likely end up in landfill.  How long an artificial tree lasts is also questionable?  Will you get fed up of a cheap looking tatty tree after it has been shoved away in the loft for year on year.  Added to this most trees are produced in China in less than perfect conditions and then we need to add on the environmental impact of the shipping/transportation.

SO there we go!! Keep it real!!  A real tree when growing plays an important role in reducing CO2 emissions.  However it is wise to look where your tree is coming from.  Where possible choose FSC plantations and/or check the Soil Associations website for approved growers.  We do not want trees that are not sustainably produced or have been subjected to chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

The other alternative is to literally keep it REAL by purchasing a living potted tree that you can use the following year.  This is what we did last year and the tree is outside in our porch waiting for another Xmas outing!

There are of course other more eco-friendly christmas tree options such as don’t have one, use a different existic plant, a recycled christmas tree made of paper.  I will maybe build on this in a later post.  In the meantime please share your ideas.

Speaking of green culture, eco furniture is one of the ‘all the rage’  things happening in home and office design. Eco home furniture offers different styles from the traditional solid wood designs, to quite hip, modern and modular furniture.

Environmentally friendly furniture does not only help a good cause, it is specially crafted (often by hand) in such a manner that it has minimal negative impacts on the environment. It is sourced from renewable resources with limited or no chemicals used that harm the environment. Herbal oils and polish  minimise the toxicity levels. Furniture which is crafted from recycled material and in turn can also be recycled falls under the same category.

Green living ensures that we do not place unnecessary pressures on the environment. It is easy to find great modern, traditional home designs in furniture that is unique, economical and as desirable as any other furniture made from ‘conventional’ sources. Green furniture has in the past unfairly been seen as boring and unexciting. But that is certainly not the case, it is possible to find many creative designers producing fabulous pieces of furniture for not just those who have a passion for environment friendly products but the wider ‘uninitiated’ who care less about their choices.

Certification : There are many different certifying bodies in this area which you should look out for when buying furniture like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and LEED certification. Also you should note other factors such as whether the furniture is sourced from renewable or recyclable sources and whether the furniture is recyclable, when you decide it is time for a change!!  This time does come eventually! Here are some points you may like to consider when making furniture buying decisions:

• The furniture can be made from rapid renewable or sustainable material such as bamboo. Also, recycled materials includes any material previously used such as factory scraps, salvaged or post-consumer material (old furniture or items people are disposing off). In addition, materials that have gone through very little processing - natural granite, stone, slate, and wood are also considered green, as little energy has been using during the manufacturing process.

• Non-toxic: The furniture should be free from harmful chemicals. The production process should reduce or better still completely eliminate the use of toxic chemicals for production.

• Packaging: Green products should be minimally packaged, preferably with recycled materials.

• There is a eco-friendly stream of building products that reduce the impact on the environment to create a healthy and green system. Bamboo for example is a fast growing grass and when used as a building material like flooring etc, can contribute in eco-friendly homes and construction.

There are some simple facts about environment-friendly furniture. We all can (even if only in a small way) contribute to the green culture that is not just in fashion, but also the correct/moral thing. As the designers follow trends and develop more creative and functional products path, we can all embrace green living.