What is Fast Furniture?

Speaking about “Fast” terms, you might be familiar with fast food or fast fashion, but are you familiar with fast furniture? Recently, fast furniture has become a new environmental issue in the United States. If you are not quite familiar with that term, read this article until the end. 

What is Fast Furniture?

Fast furniture refers to cheap furniture quickly produced and designed to be affordable, trendy, and widely available for consumers. It also refers to products that are not durable for long.

When does it start?

The initial issue that arises is that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the United States, there are 12 tons per year of household furniture being discarded, and that doesn’t even include non-recyclable materials like glass, fabric, leather, and metal

Since the 1960’s, furniture waste has increased almost fivefold. The emergence of fast furniture has also contributed to the surge in garbage. Besides, the fabrics used in furniture also contain environmentally unfriendly materials such as formaldehyde, neurotoxins, and heavy metals, which are well-known pollutants. Even the foam used as pillow stuffing also contains toxins. All these chemicals can seep out over time and cause sick building syndrome. 

Why is fast furniture terrible for the environment?

• Deforestation

This industry causes the loss or reduction of forest area. Every year, around 7 billion trees are cut down, and sadly, these trees are not replanted. The long-term effects are climate change and the loss of protected wildlife and flora. 

• Water Waste

The manufacturing process requires a lot of water. Most of this water is wasted during the dyeing process, especially on fabrics. 

• Environmental Pollution 

Your sofa may contain polyurethane foam, which contains VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Fire-resistant materials, such as PDBE (Polybrominated Fire Retardant), are notorious for creating toxic dust.

Malasso is an eco-friendly furniture store that uses natural materials made by artisans in Bali. We also use high-quality materials so that the durability of the furniture will last long. Visit our collection by clicking here.