View Environmental Certification
Domestic standard certification: In China, the most common environmental certification is the China Environmental Label product certification (ten ring certification). The office furniture products that have obtained the certification meet the requirements of national environmental protection in the production, use and treatment process, and reach certain standards in the utilization of resources and the control of harmful substances. For example, the certification has strict limits on the amount of formaldehyde released from furniture products, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions, and so on.
International standard certification: Some international certifications are also worth looking at. Such as GREENGUARD certification, which is an internationally recognized indoor air quality standard certification. Greenguard-certified office furniture has an extremely low release of chemicals that help create a healthy indoor environment. There is also the European Eco-label certification, which assesses the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle, including the acquisition of raw materials, production process, use and disposal.
Focus on basic materials
Timber
Solid wood material selection: If choosing solid wood office furniture, preference is given to wood certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). FSC certification ensures that wood comes from sustainably managed forests, which not only benefits the environment, but also that this wood is often processed in accordance with strict environmental standards. For example, the more common solid wood materials such as oak and walnut, in the case of FSC certification, its environmental protection is more guaranteed.
Artificial board inspection: For office furniture made of artificial board (such as particleboard, fiberboard, plywood), check whether it uses environmentally friendly adhesives. For example, E0 grade and E1 grade artificial sheet is a more environmentally friendly choice, E0 grade sheet formaldehyde release does not exceed 0.5mg/L, E1 grade sheet formaldehyde release does not exceed 1.5mg/L, in line with the national standards for lower formaldehyde release requirements.
Paints and coatings
Advantages of water-based paint: Water-based paint is a relatively environmentally friendly paint, which uses water as a diluent and does not contain organic solvents or has a very low organic solvent content. When choosing office furniture, try to choose products that use water-based paint, which can reduce VOCs emissions. For example, office furniture coated with water-based paint will not emit a pungent smell during use like some traditional oily paint furniture.
Environmentally friendly paint labeling: Check the description of the furniture product to see if there is a label that meets the environmentally friendly paint standards. Some high-quality environmentally friendly coatings may also have antibacterial, mildew and other functions, which also help to improve the environmental performance and service life of office furniture.
Leather and fabric
The choice of natural leather: If the office furniture uses leather materials, natural leather may have more advantages in environmental protection and texture than artificial leather. However, when choosing natural leather, pay attention to whether its tanning process is environmentally friendly. Plant-tanned leather is a more environmentally friendly option, which uses natural plant extracts for tanning, reducing the use of chemicals.
Environmental indicators of fabric: For office furniture using fabric (such as office chairs, sofas, etc.), pay attention to the environmental indicators of the fabric, such as whether it has passed the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. This certification tests and limits harmful substances in the fabric (such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) to ensure that the fabric is not harmful to human health during use.
Inspect the production process
Environmental measures in the manufacturing process: Find out if the office furniture manufacturer has adopted environmental measures in the production process. For example, some advanced furniture factories will be equipped with effective waste gas treatment equipment to treat harmful gases generated in the process of painting, gluing and so on. Some factories will use advanced wood drying technology to reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution caused by the wood drying process.
Recycling of corner waste: Good furniture manufacturers will recycle corner waste in the production process. For example, the wood chips and scraps in the wood processing process are made into biomass pellets for energy regeneration, or the scraps of artificial panels are reprocessed into other small furniture accessories, which reflects the environmental protection concept and resource recycling ability of the enterprise in the production process.
Reference product smell
Preliminary odor judgment: When selecting office furniture, the degree of environmental protection can be preliminarily judged by smell. In general, furniture with good environmental performance will not have obvious irritating odor when it is just opened or entered the exhibition hall. If you smell a pungent odor, such as formaldehyde (with a pungent sensation similar to formalin), the smell of benzene series (with a fragrant taste), it is likely that the content of harmful substances is high.
Smell changes after ventilation: However, some furniture may have a slight smell when it is just produced, which may be due to the natural smell of new wood, new leather or new fabric itself. You can place the furniture in a well-ventilated space for a period of time to see if the smell dissipates. If the smell is still strong after a few days of ventilation, it is necessary to carefully consider its environmental protection.
Understand the brand’s environmental philosophy and reputation
The brand’s environmental protection concept: Check whether the brand has a clear environmental protection concept and related publicity. Some office furniture brands that focus on environmental protection will promote their environmental concepts on their official websites, product manuals and other channels, such as committing to the use of sustainable materials, environmentally friendly production processes, and reducing carbon emissions. This can reflect the brand’s attention to environmental protection from the side.
Consumer reviews and word of mouth: Look at consumer reviews and word of mouth to understand the environmental reality of the brand. You can check other users’ evaluation of the environmental performance of this brand of office furniture in the online furniture forum, shopping evaluation website and other platforms. For example, if multiple users report that a brand of office furniture does not have odor problems after use, and the content of harmful substances tested is low, then the brand’s performance in environmental protection may be more reliable.
Post time: Dec-11-2024