Environment

Sustainable products are not just those that are good for the environment, although that is an important component. They must also be safe and healthy for the people who interact with them; socially sustainable and economically sustainable. We look at the entire life cycle of our eco furniture and homewares...

What materials are needed to make the furniture? Are they renewable? How are the people who make them treated and paid? Are they exposed to any harmful substances? Is the environment exposed to any harmful substances? Where is the furniture made? Does it benefit the local community? Is the manufacturer engaged in responsible use of power and water? Do they recycle? How much energy has to be used to transport the furniture? How long will it last? When the furniture is thrown away can it be recycled? Is it biodegradable?

This cradle to cradle approach is how we find the best green products and fair trade gifts available in Australia.

All of our furniture, homewares and eco products meet at least one of the following criteria:

Renewable resources: A resource that can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than its rate of depletion. A great example of this is hemp products which are also grown without pesticides and using very little water.

Recycled and recyclable materials: Recycled products contain reused, reconditioned or remanufactured materials, as well as recycled raw material. Recyclable products include the reuse, reconditioning, and remanufacturing   of furniture or parts of furniture into a new product.

Non-toxic & non allergenic materials: Furniture made with and from materials that are not poisonous, harmful, or otherwise destructive to an organism upon exposure.

Made in Australia: By buying furniture and homewares made in Australia, you are benefiting the local community and the economy as well as reducing the energy consumed and carbon put into the atmosphere through transportation across the ocean, aka the carbon footprint.

Fair Trade certified: FINE aptly defines this as “a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade". It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers. Fair Trade organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade”. Most of our homewares make great fair trade gifts.

GECA Certified: Many of our green products are either wholly or partly made from materials that are GECA certified: “The Australian 'Good Environmental Choice' program provides to the community an environmental mark of recognition for a wide range of products and services. The Australian 'Ecolabel Program' is managed by a not-for-profit organisation utilising a national network of registered assessors. The program awards a mark of recognition for products and services that meet standards of high environmental, quality and social performance.”

Putting the sex appeal into sustainable furniture...

We know there is the demand for green products out there and that people want to spend their dollars responsibly, but we don’t think they should have to get a degree in environmental science or hunt around endlessly asking shops a million questions about each potential purchase.

Eco Chic does that work for you, scouring Australia and abroad for eco friendly and fair trade products and bringing them to you in a within a chic and easy shopping experience.

Picture this room...gorgeous white linen sofa, velvet accent cushion, mohair throw, all softly lit by a mango tea scented candle. It’s a stylistic decadence which traditionally requires third world factories and general planetary degradation... Now imagine this look if it comes guilt free: The sofa is made with CFC free foam, the accent cushion filled with recycled drink bottles and all illuminated by an organic soy candle...all green products. This is Eco Chic.

While we try our very best to vet all of our green products and suppliers, we certainly don't know everything and welcome any feedback or constructive criticism. Tell us what we can do better. We are always looking to improve our eco credentials.

Whether you are looking to furnish you entire home with our green furniture or maybe just searching for some eco friendly gifts for the holidays, Eco Chic is your one stop furniture and homewares store for eco friendly products. Your friends will be green with envy!