At first glance, you might wonder what the heck these roly poly round things are, but once you see them in action with kids, you’ll understand why your green playroom needs a few bObles. The colorful animals get eco-friendly accolades because they’re made from EVA foam that’s both toxin- and phthalate-free.

You could put these Denmark-designed pieces into the eco-friendly furniture category since they’re made to withstand the weight of a child sitting or laying across it. You could also call them sports equipment of sorts because balancing on the bObles can help kids develop their strength and sense of balance. Click here to read more

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When you have a new addition on the way, you want everything to be perfect. You’ve probably heard your fair share of the best ways to avoid BPA and the green diaper debate. But what about the big stuff for your green baby? Once that nesting urge hits, you’ll want the nursery to be the best and safest haven you can offer your little one.

The furniture you put in your nursery can have an impact, too. One green baby collection to consider is Muu. Like the Sam Changing Table shown here, Muu’s line is made from recycled wood fiber particleboard making it a more eco-friendly furniture option. Plus, you have to keep in mind that painted or finished pieces in your baby’s room can off-gas toxic VOCs into the air. This collection, however, uses a non-toxic finish.

What’s more, Muu’s line is based on lengthening the life of each piece. So the changing table, for example, can become a dresser later once the changing tray is removed. Or, with a conversion kit, the Sam Crib can become a toddler bed. Worried that your toddler, or even further down the line, your tween, won’t like what you picked out on day one despite the longevity of the line? Click here to read more

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Dine al fresco this summer and not only will you be able to enjoy the great outdoors, but also you can help lower your carbon footprint a bit. When you’re eating outside, you won’t need to use energy for lighting or air conditioning. Plus, if you cook outside on a grill, you can often get the job done faster and with less of a carbon cost than you could have inside.

So give your backyard space a makeover with eco-friendly furniture. This Tofino Table and Armchair set is made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifed wood. And the wood they chose is an eco-friendly choice too: eucalyptus. The fast-growing tree can be harvested frequently making it a sustainable material. What’s more, eucalyptus is  a hard wood and it’s as durable as the popular patio furniture material teak. The difference?  Click here to read more

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Working from home is an eco-friendly practice since you can cut down on unnecessary resources like transportation, but you can make it even more eco-friendly by buying an green office chair. Did you know that many traditional desk chairs are upholstered with fabrics that have been treated with stain-resistant waterproof finishes and fire retardants? It’s true, and those finishes can off-gas formaldehyde and other nasty volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Suddenly finding it hard to concentrate on your work?

Look for eco-friendly furniture options like the Steelcase Leap chair, which is made from up to 30% recycled materials. The manufacturing process uses powder-coated paints, water-based adhesives and it’s VOC-free. In fact, the chair is certified for indoor air quality by SCS Indoor Advantage. The cushioning is made from 50% post-consumer PET or recycled plastic soda and water bottles. When shipped, the chair doesn’t come in a box, it’s blanket wrapped instead to cut down on waste. The chair also has Silver Cradle to Cradle product certification from MBDC.

And about that concentration? Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #112

Crate&Barrel has finally acknowledged the direction in which furniture design is headed and launched a huge campaign to greenify its entire collection of home products.  From the top down, it has revamped its manufacturing process to produce more eco-friendly furniture in an environment that uses less energy and resources.  Its Jardin Chair, for example, was constructed using certified sustainable hardwood and upholstery made of soy- and plant-based polyfoam (away, petroleum-based foam!).  It’s FSC-certified and packaged in eco-friendly renewable fiber that contains post-consumer recyclable material.

In a nutshell, C&B lovers now have eco-options at no extra cost.  And if you’re an eco-consumer who has kept your love for C&B a secret all these years, you can proudly talk about its green campaign in the open now.  With mainstream companies like C&B going green, it’s only a matter of time before they all jump on the bandwagon!  If the ‘40s-style Jardin Chair tickles your fancy, order it for $799 at www.crateandbarrel.com/environment/

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