What’s the ‘Greenest’ Outdoor Furniture?
PORTERSVILLE, Pa. — Concerned Americans want to be sure they’re buying casual furniture that won’t harm the environment, say the folks at Adams Mfg. Corp. There are a lot of choices. Casual furniture is made out of steel, wrought iron, wood, and resin. Metal furniture is very hard on the environment. Ore has to be mined, refined, and smelted. Then, it has to be formed, polished, and usually painted. Each step in the process requires energy in transportation and processing. Additionally, airborne pollutants are produced every step of the way. Even more pollutants are produced when it has to be sanded, primed, and re-painted every couple of years. Those who like wooden furniture, like the classic Adirondack Chair, encourage the use of wood because it’s a renewable material, preferably from well-managed plantations. But, wooden furniture is rarely “stackable,” so shipping it generates a lot of energy use and wastage. And, like metal furniture, wood furniture also puts pollutants into the
