Going Green

There is not a current standard guideline for consumers to consult regarding “green furniture”.  At Gene Sanes & Associates, Inc., we have some suggestions as to what eco-friendly furniture should be.

1) Recycle your old furniture by restoring it.

The EPA estimates that 8.7 million tons of household furnishings end up in landfills annually.  Since the 1960s, a growing percentage of new furniture is designed to be thrown away after five years.  Call us to learn if your furniture is worth restoring.

2) Buy locally.

A “green” sofa manufactured in China and trucked or flown in from the west coast cannot be very “green”.  A majority of our vendors are within the tri-state area, boosting the local economy as well as reducing emissions.

3) Consider the materials inside your furniture.

In the last 40 years, oil-based synthetics have replaced natural materials such as cotton, jute and hemp.  Some manufacturers may use a “green” fabric, but then use a particleboard frame with synthetic cotton and burlap (Propylene), and call it a “green” sofa.

4) We recycle!

When your sofa is reupholstered at Gene Sanes & Associates, Inc., your old foam cushions are helping the local community.  A portion of the foam is donated to make dog beds for retired racing Greyhound dogs or turned into carpet padding.  Virgin foam scraps are donated to local art schools or centers for autistic children.  By initiating these programs, we have cut our dumpster use by 50%.