Most of us probably don’t buy furniture on a daily basis. That’s for the best; we don’t feel like we need five couches this week. Since furniture buying isn’t a quotidian part of our sustainable life, we might forget to include environmental responsibility in our quest for a new coffee table. However; green furniture is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your health. So what is it and where do you get it? Green furniture is defined by these characteristics:

Sustainable materials. Look for furniture made from wood that’s grown and harvested with sustainable forestry practices. Also, look bamboo. It’s a very strong material but grows practically as fast as grass.

Recycled materials. There’s a lot of furniture made from plastics and metals that have been used before. Keep it out of the waste stream, if you please.

Low toxicity. Believe it or not, a lot of furniture releases toxic gases or other emissions into your home. Find out what furniture is good for the Greenguard Environmental Institute certification for products with low toxicity.

Local. When it’s made and sourced locally, your furniture leaves a lower carbon footprint.

Durability. The more durable your furniture, the less likely you’ll need to buy more anytime soon. Duh.

Good places to find green furniture in Portland:

The Joinery, 4804 SE Woodstock Blvd, (800) 259-6762
IF Green, (503) 380-7002
ECOPDX , 2289 N. Interstate Ave, (503) 287-8181
Tropical Salvage, 2455 SE 11th Ave, (503) 236-6155
ReFind Furniture, inside The Rebuilding Center, 3625 N. Mississippi Ave, (503) 445-1756
Old Creek Wall Bed Factory, 220 NW 2nd St, Corvallis, OR (541) 754-6209