Ethical consumerism is more than just a buzzword. It’s about using your dollars to support causes you care about, while boycotting companies which don’t align to your values. With the wealth of readily available information online, consumers are empowered to make better decisions and can play important roles in shaping the world around them.

With a larger worldwide focus on environmentalism, sustainability, and labour exploitation, many are looking for ways to shop more responsibly. Wood products such as teak furniture in Singapore have recently come under the spotlight, as concerns arise over the impact activities like logging have on the environment. 

Furniture businesses have quickly recognised that consumer behaviours are changing. Many brands now offer ethically-sourced furniture options for people who want to promote better practices. Here are some reasons why ethically-sourced furniture is important and how you can join in the effort.

1. Preserving Ecosystems And Preventing Deforestation

Contrary to popular belief, wood is actually a great option for sustainable furniture. It is a renewable resource and the process of manufacturing wood and turning it into furniture has a very small carbon footprint. When done right, wood is also a sustainable material and can have a net positive impact on the environment by encouraging reforestation.

Purchasing wooden furniture from ethical sources means that you are supporting eco-friendly logging practices. Controlled logging involves the preservation of vast forests which harbour many different ecosystems within their boundaries. If consumers show a preference for ethically-sourced home furniture in Singapore, then there is an economic incentive to stop deforestation and protect the trees and wildlife contained within forests.

Learn More: Utilising Wood To Enjoy An Aesthetic And Functional Home

2. Stopping Illegal, Exploitative Practices

On the other side of the coin, illegal logging can be extremely detrimental to natural landscapes. Cutting down trees with no regard for the environment strips the earth of a precious resource, while also draining the soil of nutrients. Plants and animals that live and depend on trees to survive are also at higher risk of going extinct. Such biodiversity losses can be permanent and long-lasting. 

Illegal logging is also a human rights issue. It often destroys the livelihood of local communities and leads to labour exploitation in poorer countries. By choosing to buy ethically sourced solid wood furniture, you are voting down such destructive practices and encouraging businesses to switch to more sustainable methods of harvesting forests.  

3. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Climate change is a very real concern across the globe and efforts are underway to lower the emission of greenhouse gases. Consumers who purchase ethically-sourced wooden furniture actually contribute to this collective effort to combat global warming.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. This carbon is then stored in their trunks when they are cut down. Turning these trunks into wooden furniture means that the carbon is locked away and not released back into the atmosphere. Encouraging sustainable forestry practices ensures that felled trees are rapidly replaced to increase carbon sequestration.

Buying products that are good for the environment doesn’t have to be painful or difficult. Many ethically-sourced furniture pieces like wooden dining tables are high quality, durable, and designed with modern interior design tastes in mind. Wood itself is an excellent material for quality furniture as it’s timeless, low maintenance, and can last for years. 

At Soul & Tables, we don’t believe you have to compromise on your values for stylish wooden furniture. We take great pride in supporting ethical sourcing that preserves natural habitats and lifts local communities. Contact us today to learn more about who we are and the products we sell.