Using antiques and vintage for sustainability
The idea to repurpose material things is a hot trend right now. Taking the old, bringing new life to it and using it in our everyday world is certainly not new but it is being discovered by a younger audience and that is good news for the antique industry. With climate change being the main focus of numerous campaigns, from politics to advertising, going green has become a mainstream concept for everyone, not just hippies.
By going green, you can do your part to help save the earth. Using a mix of antique furniture and sustainably sourced pieces creates a wide range of unique design options. Buying responsibly-sourced home goods and antiques is an excellent and stylish way to do your part. In addition to environmentally conscious consumers, various industries are finding ways of reducing waste and their carbon footprint.
One of the latest industries to join this movement is the furniture industry and companies are responding to the newer generations’ desire to eco-conscious interior goods. However, compared to mass-produced items from big furniture brands, antique furniture has multiple benefits. Many see antique furniture as the best way to promote sustainable living and supporting future generations. Consequently, the antique industry is experiencing a surge in popularity, thanks to an environmentally conscious mindset.
Younger generations see antique furniture as unique. They want their homes to be different and therefore, recognize the personality that antique furniture has. Pieces have a history, a story to tell and many want to rescue them and revive them. This attitude toward antique furniture, coupled with the rise for more sustainable living, is leading more people to see antiques as the environmentally-friendly option and turning away from mass-produced pieces.
More people favor eclectic, one of a kind pieces to create their own, personalized homes. People are aware of the need for sustainable options and see eco-friendly furniture as a means of supporting green initiatives. There are many benefits to buying antique furniture. Some of them relate to the environment or the expression of individual style, but there are also other reasons.
Lower carbon footprint
Estimates put international shipping at 3-4% of carbon emissions caused by humans. Also, the carbon footprint for a mass-produced chest of drawers is 16 times more than an antique counterpart. Antiques still function just as well as new items but have more character.
Safer materials
Antique furniture isn’t just safer for the environment, it’s also safer for those who buy it since the risk of flashover is lower. Flashover describes the almost moment when fire catches in a room and begins burning everything around it. Most antique furnishings were made out of wood rather than synthetic materials, and wood burns slower.
Reduced deforestation
The world’s forests are being destroyed at a rate of 7.3 million hectares annually. The benefit of antique furniture is that it comes from natural resources from hundreds of years ago yet remains just as practical.
It’s an investment
In a throwaway culture, nothing has real value, which makes it easy to trash. The new generation of furniture consumers is responding to that attitude by purchasing antiques and sustainable furniture. Antiques don’t just hold their value, they become more precious over time.
Antiques last longer
The cabinet makers who made antique furniture centuries ago made enduring pieces that were made to last and passed down from generation to generation. Although maintaining the quality of antiques does require some work at times, the long-lasting materials have more longevity than particleboard and current materials.
