The impact of quality wood furniture on climate change

Wooden furniture has a significant impact on climate change. The manufacture of furniture from wood requires less fossil fuel than non-wood alternatives such as concrete, metals, or plastics 1. Wood is composed of carbon that is captured from the atmosphere during tree growth. This means that wood products store carbon and can play an important role in combating climate change 2. However, it is important to note that not all wooden furniture is created equal. A lot of low-quality wood furniture contains toxic substances that can off-gas into your home, including arsenic and formaldehyde, which are suspected carcinogens that are used in adhesives, paints, and varnishes 3.

The use of wood in construction could triple the amount of carbon sequestration, according to a report by the United Nations 4. Some architects are therefore arguing for a return to wood as our primary building material. Wood from managed forestry actually stores carbon as opposed to emitting it: as trees grow, they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. As a rule of thumb, a cubic meter of wood contains around a tonne of CO2, which is similar to 350 liters of gasoline 4.

In conclusion, wooden furniture has a positive impact on climate change, but it is important to ensure that the wood used is sourced from sustainably managed forests and is free of toxic substances. By doing so, we can help reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.