What Is Sustainable & Ethical Home Décor

August 8, 2024

Quick glance at the history

The core concept of sustainability gained prominence in 1972, the British book Blueprint for Survival first used the term “sustainability” to discuss humanity’s future. The United Nations also adopted the term in a document in 1978, further popularizing it. Green brands, as we know them today, began to emerge.

Although it seems as a relatively many years ago we did not see as much ecological campaigns and companies that were branding in that direction. We could sense some concrete difference over the past few years when it comes to media coverage and new trends emerging in younger population.

There have been many academic and non-academic discussions about introducing a different design task. Concepts such as "eco-design", "green design", "environmental design" and "sustainable design" have emerged, looking for alternative ways to cause less damage to the environment.

Designers, whose work forms the  interface  between humans and science, technology, and business,  have  the  obligation  and  opportunity to be the ones who will be the wheel of change through education, different sources of information and data. They are the ones who have the power to make a historic revolution in the modern age of consumerism.

The suffering of the innocent

"The global leather industry kills over a billion animals every year and processes their skins and hides.1 Many of these animals suffer from the horrors of factory farming, such as extreme crowding and confinement, deprivation, and painful castration and, branding without anaesthesia. They also face cruel treatment during transport and slaughter."

Chrome-tanning is the most common method of leather production worldwide. However, this process generates hazardous waste that contains chromium, a toxic substance regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Tannery waste also has other harmful pollutants, such as protein, hair, salt, lime sludge, sulphides, and acids. This waste poses a serious risk to human health because it contaminates the groundwater near tanneries with high levels of lead, cyanide, and formaldehyde.

The production of food and leather from animals generates waste and pollution. Livestock farming consumes a lot of fossil fuels; producing one calorie of beef requires about 35 calories of fossil fuel, and producing one calorie of pork requires about 68 calories of fossil fuel.

Over the years, synthetic leather has been an easy sell to customers. Most people just haven’t thought about the connection between their furniture and greenhouse gases or animal abuses, but they also want to be sustainable and will choose materials like salvaged wood or organic cotton for their homes. 

"Realtor Eva Szczepanek, a committed vegan and member of the high-profile group Toronto Pig Save, says she only works with decorators who use vegan materials when they stage a home. “It makes everything lighter, more peaceful, and totally changes the energy,” she says. “It makes a big difference to live in a house where there isn’t anything that was made through harm or suffering.”

Different Approach By Brands And Companies

Today, greening is a "trend" and an opportunity for  companies for many reasons, such as achieving  competitiveness,  legal  regulations  or  corporate  social  and  environmental

responsibility. Many companies are thus trying to include environmental sustainability factors

in their product concept The consumption in the recent decades has significantly increased, today's consumers tend to over-consume and buy new products, although this does not need to be necessarily. This may be due to the new trends, the fact that repair costs are too expensive, or that people want to own new products and features.

Market Demands

We have identified the area of conscious and sustainable housing as a significant trend in the furniture industry. When looking for a better lifestyle, consumers are looking for options that are healthier for them and their homes. Proven sustainability, flexibility and various types of improvements will become crucial elements for furniture companies that want to achieve long-term success and competitive advantage.

What Is My Part In All Of This?

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