LET’S TALK ABOUT FAST FURNITURE
- What Is Fast Furniture? -
“Fast furniture” is a term that isn’t used too often or discussed very widely. Like it’s much more infamous clothing counterpart “fast fashion”, fast furniture refers to home goods that are mass-produced, readily available, and typically produced inexpensively (and unsustainably) to keep the consumer cost low.
This trend isn’t limited to the fashion or furniture industries – an unfortunate truth of the world we live in is that goods and services are often made more efficient through the perspective of profit, making the most important factor the maximum return for the lowest investment. In this formula, some of the first things skipped over are the quality and sustainability of materials used.
WHY IS THAT BAD?
In and of itself, trying to keep consumer costs low is not a bad thing. However, the problem is two-fold, as most of the world’s infrastructure for processing these goods at the end of their lifespan is insufficient or doesn’t exist at all.
In some regions, there are programs in place for recycling and garbage disposal, where these goods are actually taken care of and broken down to re-use the materials that can be! However, even in these instances, there is only so much that can be done. Unlike solid wood, the particleboard that most fast furniture pieces are made from is processed down and bound together with chemical resins and plastic laminate / veneer.
Not only do these materials not have the same durability, but the materials the compound is made from can’t be re-harvested for another use and are not biodegradable. This isn’t only limited to the woods used in these products -- any upholstery, dyes, adhesives, lacquer (etc.) are often heavily chemically processed and made from complex manmade materials that result in the same problems as the particleboard.
Basically, we can’t re-use it, and neither can the Earth. The end result of this is landfills filling up with materials that can’t be broken down or re-used, and that’s the current best-case scenario. In regions where there is no infrastructure in place for processing and recycling the materials that can be re-harvested, the entire furniture piece goes right to the landfill -- resulting in even more waste. Even in places where there are programs in place, a lot of the time materials that could be re-used are passed over and sent to the landfill anyways because of the labour-intensity or cost-effectiveness of processing the material for reuse.
With solid wood, a good percentage of it could be re-used, but this would involve removing it from the piece, sanding down or removing any finishes to expose the raw material, and sending it away to be re-used. Although it could be done, most waste management facilities are not allocated the budget or manpower to do so. Even before the end of its life, fast furniture has negative implications not only to the environment, but to our own health. A lot of the chemical compounds from the previously mentioned items aren’t only an issue in terms of disposal / recycling, but also have “embodied energy” in their production.
Embodied energy refers to the energy and environmental impacts associated with the harvesting, processing, and manufacturing of the materials used to create the product. Because of the heavily processed chemical compounds within them and factory production behind most of these products, the embodied energy of fast furniture has much heavier environmental implications than the handcrafted or solid quality furniture we knew before. Additionally, these compounds off-gas throughout their lifespan, meaning that after their production (as they sit in our homes), they pollute the air by emitting chemicals. Since the beginnings of mass-production and industrialization, there have been steps to reduce the toxicity of these chemicals that are readily pumped into the products we use every day, however, these chemicals are still pollutants and can persist in the environment (and in our bodies) for many years.
YIKES. OKAY. SO NOW WHAT?
You might be thinking that so far, this all sounds like a production and infrastructure issue (and you’re right, it is) – but that’s not why we’re writing this blog post. The larger issue lies out of our reach.
Until manufacturers (and governments) push to produce and recycle more sustainably, there is only so much that we (not only from our end as designers, but all of us as consumers) can do. However, the little bit that we can do is not insignificant! Here are some things that we can do to reduce the negative impacts of our purchases.
SHOP SMALL, SHOP LOCAL, SHOP VINTAGE. INVEST IN YOUR PIECES!
When shopping for furniture, try out a few smaller options before skipping straight to your favourite big-name store. One of the biggest things about fast furniture is that it is a huge departure from the way furniture used to be treated -- not only from the perspective of the manufacturer, but on our end as the buyer. Furniture used to be inter-generational. It had a larger price tag, but this is reflective of the care and passion behind its production, as well as the quality and longevity of the end product.
We’re sure everyone has pieces of furniture that have been handed down through their family for ages. They’re not always the cutest or most relevant to current design trends, but they always have a story, and a lot of these pieces are quite timeless. There are certainly larger brands (as well as local furniture stores) that prioritize the care and craftsmanship of their pieces, but of course, these will cost you more than any fast furniture piece. Dependent on your budget, we know that this is not always an option. However, there is also an abundance of second-hand stores and vintage curators that offer quality (used) pieces for a great price. A lot of the time, you’ll even be paying the same amount (or less) than you would have for a piece of fast furniture anyways. There is a little more work that goes into finding these pieces – and sure, they may have been used before – but you can find comfort in knowing that these pieces have already stood the test of time (and will continue to do so). Beyond that, nothing feels more rewarding than finding an amazing piece for a great price that you know will be unique to your space (rather than a reproduction of something in every other home).
High quality furniture (whether new or vintage) may be more of an investment than a piece of fast furniture, but it will certainly prove its worth over time. You may be paying more up front, but that won’t compare to the cost of replacing your fast furnishings every few years when they inevitably show the wear and tear that they aren’t designed to outlast. You’re in your home every day, and our homes play a huge part in our personal wellbeing. Like a good pair of shoes or a nice jacket, you should invest in the things you use the most! Even as designers, we do this too! It’s not all about the latest trends, the most important thing is finding pieces that fit the context of a project.
We often check with our local vintage dealers – and if you haven’t checked it out already, even Facebook Marketplace can be a surprising treasure trove of great pieces. Fast furniture is okay – just do your homework! Though we’ve talked quite extensively about the negative implications of fast furniture, we don’t deny that it undoubtedly has a place in our lives and in our society. “We want to make the best for the most for the least” is a quote from Charles and Ray Eames, powerhouses of mid-century design, and designers of countless furnishings that are recognizable as classic pieces. Their philosophy is the underlying thought behind fast furniture – making the most product for the least consumer cost.
Unfortunately, fast furniture now doesn’t hold the same quality as the Eames’ mass-productions, but the sentiment remains. One of the biggest things we can do as consumers is educate ourselves about where the products we buy are coming from, and the associated health & environmental implications. With so many styles and the convenience that comes with fast furniture, it can be hard to compete with. We would absolutely recommend higher-quality manufacturers or vintage pieces first, but sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for (and that’s okay)!
Fast furniture can be great as an accent piece or to finish off a room, and sometimes it’s all your budget may allow for. That being said, it is worthwhile to look into the brands or manufacturers that you buy from. Some manufacturer’s have started trying to implement more sustainable practices, recycling programs, as well as reducing waste that comes from shipping damages or replacement parts.
The bottom line is that fast furniture certainly has a place, but it’s important to do your research!