Take couches, for instance.  I’ve seen many unwanted couches left out for the garbage truck that look like they’re still functional.  There’s really no need to throw away furniture just because the upholstery is outdated, tatty, or simply doesn’t fit with your color scheme.  However, even the most eco-minded amongst us want our homes to look nice – which is where slipcovers come in.

Slipcovers are a simple and easy solution for hiding ugly upholstery or coordinating mismatched items of recycled furniture.  Yes, the greenest option would be to “make do” with an ugly couch, and of course each slipcover has its own carbon footprint.  However, when you consider that each slipcover that’s used can keep an old couch out of landfill and extend its useful life, this is surely a good thing for the planet.  Compared to the impact on the environment of replacing old furniture with new, slipcovers are a much greener alternative.  They are considerably cheaper than re-upholstery too.

A lot of ready-made slipcovers are made from cotton, which, as a natural fiber, is considered greener than synthetic polyester.  However, the truly green option would be to use a slipcover made from 100% organic cotton.

From my research I’ve found that Sure Fit offers a limited range of organic sofa and loveseat slipcovers.  I would imagine these will prove popular and hope that other companies will follow suit by introducing more lines of eco-friendly slipcovers.  Since slipcovers can be used on most types of seat, it would be great to see some organic covers for dining chairs and other styles of furniture.

If you decide to use slipcovers to give your furniture a makeover, bear in mind they come in standard sizes.  If your couch isn’t a “standard size”, with some creativity there are a few tricks you can try to get your slipcover to fit properly.  You may find your slipcover has a tendency to work loose if anyone sits on it, because it is slightly too big for your furniture.  In this instance, you could buy purpose-made plastic “grippers” to hold it in place, but I prefer to make my own.  Roll up some old magazines, secure them with rubber bands, and use these instead.  If you slide them into the cracks around the edges of your seat, they will help keep your cover neatly in position.

Old towels or blankets can be useful too.  They can be used to add padding to wooden or narrow arms before you fit a slipcover over the top.  They can also be fixed over vinyl or leather seats to prevent slipcovers from slipping on the shiny surface.

Using slipcovers is a green and easy way to breathe new life into old furniture that would otherwise be destined for landfill.  Just think how many ugly couches could be saved with a slipcover makeover.  Even if you can’t find a slipcover made from an organic fabric, using a slipcover is still a greener choice than buying a brand new couch just because yours looks tired or outdated.

Green living is all about minimizing our impact on the planet by making lots of small changes to our lifestyles. For those of use that try to be earth friendly in our actions, things like recycling and using reusable grocery bags have become green habits that we do as a matter of course. However, there are times when it’s not always obvious which is the greenest path to take. For instance, when it comes to furnishing your home, eco friendly furniture is still not widely available in stores and can be difficult to find. To help make your green shopping easier, here’s my guide to eco friendly bar stools.

To start, let’s look at some general points to consider, which apply when buying any “green” furniture. The materials a product is made from and how they are sourced is perhaps the most important consideration. For example, with regards to wooden furniture, the FSC logo is the eco symbol to look for. This certifies the wood is from a sustainably-managed source and not from old growth tropical forests or illegal logging. Items made from reclaimed wood are also good green choices.

The chemicals used in a lot of new wood furniture can off-gas and release toxic fumes into your home that can be harmful to health. So, also look for furniture with non-toxic, low VOC finishes. With regards to metal furniture, aluminum is considered a green option as it doesn’t off-gas and can be recycled.

Another factor to bear in mind is whether a manufacturer has a clear policy regarding social and environmental responsibility. Companies that make eco furniture tend to want to publicize their green credentials, so it’s fairly easy to see what steps they are taking to green their business practices. If in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask.

I’ve identified several bar stool manufacturers that are leading the way when it comes to environmentally friendly products. For example, Great American Bar Stools offers an eco friendly range of saddle seat bar stools, which are finished with non-toxic milk paint and water-based lacquer, and are made in the USA.

Knoll has a clearly defined sustainability statement and has demonstrated its commitment to the environment by producing a line of Greenguard certified bar stools, which are classed as low-emitting and therefore better for indoor air quality and health. The bar stools are made from 100% recyclable materials such as aluminum and beech wood.

The Italian furniture company Calligaris offers a range of designer bar stools. It places emphasis on the environmental sustainability of its raw materials, including FSC certified wood.

If you recycle your trash, it makes sense to buy bar stools made from recycled soft drink cans! Emeco uses a high percentage (70-80%) of recycled aluminum to make its bar stools.

Between them, these companies have produced a good selection of eco friendly bar stools to suit all tastes and budgets. It goes to show that, if you look, it’s entirely possible to find new furniture with a minimal environmental footprint.

First Global Xpress (FGX) is a global shipping company that is taking a greener outlook to shipping packages.  They claim they can cut the distance your shipment travels by 25% therefore reducing the carbon footprint of shipping your package by 30% or more.  FGX uses direct commercial airlines to remove the need for hauling packages through the central hubs of the big shipping companies like FedEx, DHL, or UPS.

FCX has a nice carbon calculator to show just how big the carbon footprint is for shipping a particular package.

If you are reluctant to switch your shipping just yet, check out their New Client Challenge and ship your products free for a week.  The company states, during this offer, your billing information will not be collected and if you are unhappy, you won’t be billed.

Transporting packages all over the world releases huge amounts of emissions, cutting even a portion of those is beneficial to the environment. This company looks to have a solid foundation and a great idea for limiting the impact of international shipping.