What is FSC Certified Sustainable Outdoor Furniture? Earth-friendly, Lasting Outdoor Solutions

 

Sustainability is a mindset that aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

 

What does sustainability mean when it comes to furniture?

 

For instance, in the case of sustainable outdoor furniture, it should be designed for reusability, able to be reused after disassembling or have a long lifespan. 

How can we determine if a piece of furniture is truly sustainable and eco-friendly?

 

This is where FSC-certified furniture comes into play.

 

What Does FSC-certified Furniture Mean? 

 

FSC-certified furniture, so-called FSC wood furniture, refers to furniture that is made from wood sourced from forests that are managed responsibly.

 

FSC is one of the most renowned certifications for sustainable wooden products. 

 

• What is FSC-certified Wood?
   

When you see FSC-certified furniture, it means that the wood used in its construction comes from a forest that is managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while also ensuring it sustains economic viability. 

 

This is determined by a set of strict environmental and social standards set by the FSC.

 

Therefore, while looking for sustainable outdoor furniture, remember to consider giving priority to FSC wood furniture!

 

• Who Certifies FSC-certified Furniture?

 

FSC-certified furniture is certified by FSC, which stands for Forest Stewardship Council, is an international, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world's forests.

 

FSC works hard to make sure that the harvest of wood is sustainable and responsible, and that the environment endures minimal impact of those activities and doesn't contribute to deforestation or harm to local communities or wildlife.

 

As a consumer, choosing FSC wood furniture helps contribute to global forest conservation, reduces your environmental footprint, and supports responsible forest management practices.

 

Want to buy sustainable patio furniture? How to recognize it?

 

Sustainable patio furniture typically exhibits the following features:

 

• Eco-Friendly Materials:

 

Sustainable patio furniture is often made from recycled materials, upcycled materials, and salvaged wood.

 

• Durability and Longevity:

 

Sustainable patio furniture implies that the pieces are durable and made to last.

 

Using materials that have extended longevity reduces the need for frequent replacements and thus reduces waste.

 

• Certifications:

 

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification is one of the most famous certifications of sustainable patio furniture in the world, which ensures the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. 

 

• Categories of FSC-certified Furniture

 

FSC-certified furniture can be categorized into three types: FSC 100%, FSC Mix, and FSC Recycled, based on the raw materials employed.

 

 

• FSC 100%:

 

Furniture with FSC 100% certification indicates that all the materials used originate from FSC-certified forests.

 

These forests must adhere to 10 core principles, including proper environmental practices, societal benefits, and economically feasible management.

 

Sintai is one of the furniture manufacturers that utilize FSC 100% certified wood to ensure that FSC-certified furniture is both environmentally friendly and socially beneficial.

 

• FSC Recycled:

 

Furniture with FSC Recycled certification indicates that recycled materials are utilized in all the wood or paper components.

 

• FSC Mix:

 

As the name suggests, FSC Mix certification implies that the materials used come from different sources.

 

Along with materials from FSC-certified forests and recycled materials, other materials, such as controlled wood, can be incorporated.

 

 

Although controlled wood is not sourced from FSC-certified forests, it is still subject to strict regulation by the organization. 

 

• Other Organizations that Certificate Sustainable Outdoor Furniture
   

Most sustainable outdoor furniture is regulated with strict standards.

 

In addition to FSC certification, consumers can also look for the following certification:

 

• Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE)

 

• Green Housekeeping Seal of Approval

 

• Green Label Plus

 

• GREENGUARD Certified

 

• Rediscovered Wood Certification, Rainforest Alliance

 

In contrast, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification focuses specifically on responsible forest management.

 

It verifies sustainable outdoor furniture is sourced from responsibly managed forests that meet certain environmental, social, and economic standards. 

 

FSC-certified Wood Furniture Offers Three Benefits Beyond the product itself

 

FSC-certified wood furniture offers several important benefits for both consumers and the environment.
 

• Benefit 1 : Sustainable Outdoor Furniture is Eco-Friendly

 

Sustainable outdoor furniture ensures the wood comes from responsibly managed forests.

 

These forests are managed according to strict environmental standards, including biodiversity protection, fire prevention, and measures to mitigate natural events' effects, such as floods and storms.

 

Choosing sustainable outdoor furniture helps support sustainable forestry practices and reduces the negative impact on the environment.

 

• Benefit 2 : FSC Wood Furniture is Society-Beneficial

 

FSC wood furniture considers social aspects of forest management. 

 

It ensures that the rights and welfare of local communities and workers in the forests are protected, including fair wages and safe working conditions. By choosing FSC wood furniture, you contribute to ethical sourcing and support better livelihoods for those working in the industry.

 

• Benefit 3 : FSC Wood Furniture Could Mitigate Climate Change

 

FSC wood furniture plays a crucial role in contributing to lower carbon footprints and maintaining healthy forests. 

 

FSC wood furniture has a low carbon footprint. 

 

When compared to other materials like steel or concrete, wood has a significantly lower impact on carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.

 

According to the American Wood Council, using wood in construction, such as in a five-story condominium with wood-frame construction, can help avoid more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

 

How to Buy Sustainable Patio Furniture? Things You Need to Know When Considering Buying FSC wood furniture

 

As more and more corporations have started to invest in manufacturing sustainable patio furniture, it wouldn't be too hard for consumers to find their ideal ones as there are various choices.

 

Before selling sustainable patio furniture to consumers, it's also important to understand the common problems that they might encounter while shopping for their sustainable patio furniture. 

 

• Price of sustainable patio furniture

 

In order to be FSC certified, manufacturers need to put in more resources to make sure that every part of the process, such as assembly line, label, and material storage, meets those requirements. 

 

Therefore, compared to outdoor furniture without FSC certification, FSC-certified outdoor furniture is usually 10-20% more expensive.

 

However, the exact price still varies according to the quality and materials of the FSC-certified outdoor furniture.

 

For example, the price of a modern outdoor dining furniture set could range from 900 to 2000 USD.

 

By looking up FSC-certified outdoor furniture made with different wood types, consumers can easily find affordable and FSC-certified outdoor furniture that fits their needs!

 

Three Key Questions When Buying FSC-certified Outdoor Furniture

Q1: Is FSC-certified wood real wood?

 

Both FSC-certified outdoor furniture and indoor furniture use real wood.

 

The Forest Stewardship Council certifies wood and wood products that come from responsibly managed forests.

 

The primary purpose of this certification is to ensure that wood products are sourced from forests that adhere to stringent environmental, social, and economic standards.

 

Q2: What is the best material for outdoor furniture in a rainy climate?

 

For a rainy climate, several materials stand out as particularly suitable for outdoor furniture:

 

• Teak Wood:

 

Teak contains natural oils that repel water, making it durable and an excellent choice for outdoor furniture in wet conditions

 

• Eucalyptus:

 

While teak wood is too expensive, eucalyptus is the second most durable wood, only weaker than teak.

 

Eucalyptus wood naturally contains oil, making it very resistant to water.

 

Eucalyptus FSC-certified furniture balances the quality and price, eucalyptus FSC-certified outdoor furniture is the best outdoor furniture in a rainy climate.

 

Q3: What patio furniture can I leave outside?

 

• Teak or Eucalyptus Wood Furniture:

 

High-quality teak or Eucalyptus wood is known to withstand outdoor conditions relatively well.

 

However, this kind of sustainable outdoor furniture might need regular attention for maintenance.

 

• Treated Wood:

 

Properly prepared wood sustainable outdoor furniture, especially when treated, can be left outside throughout the year.

 

Sintai, a pioneer in FSC-certified Furniture

 

It's been 30 years since Sintai was founded; the founder has always adored wood and has been studying wood for a long time. 

 

Noticing the importance of wood to the environment, the founder has also spent much effort on providing FSC-certified furniture, making Sintai one of the first manufacturers to provide FSC-certified furniture in China.

 

 

• Sintai develops FSC-certified furniture with hard work and high achievement

 

Materials used on Sintai's sustainable outdoor wood furniture are either FSC-certified or third-party laboratory-certified and can pass the quality standards required by their customers. 

 

In this industry, Target's internal certification system is regarded as one of the highest standards as it includes product risk analysis, first item inspection, incoming quality control, online quality control, and labor safety precautions, just to name a few. 

 

As mentioned, manufacturing FSC-certified furniture requires separate production lines from non-FSC-certified furniture; and because of this, Sintai needs to put in extra hidden costs of around $200,000 USD every year.

 

Sintai has devoted itself to producing quality modern outdoor dining furniture and continues to work on building a more sustainable business.

 

• FSC Wood Furniture of Sintai

 

 

Selection 1 : Rowan Lounge Chair

 

• Product Material: FSC 100% Eucalyptus + Rope

 

• Product Dimensions: 914 L x 850 W x 660 mm H / 36 L x 33-1/2 W x 26 inches H

 

• Product Features:

 

​​​​​​​a. Modern outdoor conversation lounge chair with vertical rope detailing and soft white cushions

 

b. The seat and backrest are upholstered (light gray)

 

 

Selection 2 : Braley_Side Chair 
 

• Product Material: FSC 100% White Oak

​​​​​​​

• Product Dimensions: 483 W x 585 D x 940 mm H / 19 W x 23 D x 37 inches H​​​​​​​

 

• Product Features:

 

a. Classic Farmhouse X-back chair made of solid wood

b. Slat seat and round tapered legs braced by stretchers

 

 

• FSC-certified outdoor furniture of Sintai

​​​​​​​

 

Selection 3 : Sutton - Wood Round Dining Table
 

• Product Material: FSC 100% Eucalyptus

 

• Product Dimensions: 1067 L x 1067 W x 762 mm H / 42 L x 42 W x 30 inches H

 

• Product Features:

 

a. Farmhouse-inspired round dining collection with tapered legs

 

b. Solid wood

 

 

Selection 4 : Marrin - Wood Side Chair 

 

• Product Material: FSC 100% Eucalyptus

​​​​​​​

• Product Dimensions: 742 L x 790 W x 762 mm H / 29-1/4 L x 31 W x 30-1/4 inches H

​​​​​​​

• Product Features:

​​​​​​​
a. Inspired by midcentury modern design

 

b. side x detail and added comfort with plush cushions

 

 

Choose Sintai for FSC-certified furniture  

 

 

To develop sustainably and provide a better future for our children, Sintai has been working on providing FSC-certified furniture since 2000.

 

By using FSC-certified materials, forests are better protected and fewer carbon emissions are produced. 

 

Sintai has also been working with famous retailers like West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel for a long time, providing them with sustainable outdoor furniture.

 

Those sustainable outdoor furniture is not only FSC-certified, but it also comes in all kinds of styles, and patterns.

 

Trying to provide your customers with better quality and sustainable outdoor furniture?

 

You can easily find FSC-certified furniture with Sintai!

 

Click here for the latest design