Sustainable Cafe Furniture: How to Choose Eco-Friendly Options

Over the past few years, public awareness of climate change has significantly increased, which means businesses now have to clearly demonstrate how responsible they are towards the environment.

Implementing greener practices in your café or coffee shop offers a solid way to future-proof your business, as customers are actively looking to engage with and buy sustainable products. And you don’t only have to display your green credentials through your service, as it can be embedded in the furniture and layout of your café. We explain more about sustainable café furniture below and how to choose the most eco-friendly options.

What are eco-friendly materials?

Eco-friendly materials are materials that have come from renewable sources and have minimal impact on the environment during the production process. The material is made from wood or recycled sources, provided by suppliers that use sustainable methods.

Another popular option can be biodegradable furniture. This is furniture made from materials that will naturally break down once they are disposed of. One of the biggest climate issue problems is dealing with waste made from plastics and other materials that can take decades, even centuries, to decompose. Once discarded, biodegradable furniture will break down much more easily once exposed to water, UV rays and the elements.

What are some eco-friendly materials used in cafe furniture?

Some common examples of recycled materials used in cafes include:

Recycled plastic

Recycled polypropylene chairs are a very common type of sustainable café furniture. You can purchase 100% recycled plastic chairs (that are made completely from recycled plastics) or 100% recyclable polypropylene chairs that have a low environmental impact and can be recycled rather than being thrown away.

Non-recyclable plastics such as composite plastic and polycarbonate cannot be recycled and are made using various chemicals, many of which are likely to cause harm to the environment.

Sustainable wood

Wood that comes from sustainably managed forests that promote the replanting of trees and do not play a role in the deforestation of the ecosystem through illegal logging is used in this type of furniture. There is no difference in quality or longevity of sustainable wood, with popular types such as pine, oak and beech all commonly used.

Recycled metals

Iron, aluminium and stainless steel are often used in recycled café furniture, whether it’s for small or large components. The modern industrial look is very much a key design trend at the moment, so exposed metal and pipe furniture is a popular option. This type of metal is just as durable as non-recycled metal, meaning the quality of your furniture won’t be affected.

Reclaimed or reused furniture

Vintage style has become huge over the past 5-10 years, encompassing everything from fashion to furniture. Reused or ‘vintage’ furniture is another term for second-hand, meaning it has a previous owner. This type of furniture is a cost-effective option that can help put together an authentic looking period design. Reclaimed furniture is simply furniture made from recycled materials.

What to consider when buying eco-friendly café furniture

Take the following tips into consideration when buying low impact café furniture:

Durability and longevity

When buying green café furniture (as in eco-friendly café furniture) one of your main concerns will be about its durability and longevity. The furniture will be used every day by large numbers of people, so you don’t want to have to keep buying replacements. If you are buying vintage furniture, try to get a good idea of its history and check its condition thoroughly before parting with your money.

Comfort and design

When it comes to the comfort and design of ethical café furniture, you should not really see any difference from non-sustainable furniture. When manufactured using recycled or approved materials, the process is the same, so it comes down to matching it with your café décor and ensuring it is suitable for use in a café setting. As we mentioned above, if you are buying vintage furniture, then you might want to inspect it closely to ensure it still has the right amount of back support and overall comfort.

Cost and maintenance

Buying sustainable furniture may require you to spend a little more compared to the prices quoted for fast furniture. However, when viewed as a long-term investment it can help save you money over time. Buying cheap furniture usually means that it has been made from low quality materials, which often sees it deteriorate faster, forcing you to spend more on repairs and replacements. Sustainable wood that has been treated, recycled plastics and biodegradable furniture is often very well made and pays of itself over time.

Sustainability certifications and standards

If you are buying wooden eco-friendly café furniture, look for timber that is FSC certified. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, and it is the best known certification scheme in the UK. There are two types of certified sustainable wood available: Forest management, which means the wood has been independently audited to verify its sustainability, and Chain of Custody, which means the timber has been checked at every stage of its journey from the forest to the factory. Look for labels with FSC 100%, FSC mix or FSC 100% recycled wood.

Eco-friendly furniture options for cafes

There is no shortage of recycled café furniture to choose from when buying for your establishment:

• Tables and chair
  Whether it’s round or square tables or benches for large groups and stools for window seating, you can buy recycled furniture in all shapes and sizes that will suit your café design.
• Outdoor furniture
  You can also buy bistro sets as natural café furniture which looks exactly the same as non-recycled products. It will stand up just as well to the outdoor environment, while providing the comfort and support your customers will need to relax.
• Lighting
  Recycled lighting includes products that are usually made from plastics of metals and can be anything from standalone lamps to spotlights and other fixtures. You should also consider switching to LED lightbulbs as this lowers your café’s carbon footprint and can save you money on energy bills.
• Decor and accents
  Investing in organic café furniture can give your service an edge while also ensuring you increase your sustainability. Use of natural stone can represent comfort and style, with wooden and cork chairs and recycled accent pieces that can help your café really stand out.

Final thoughts

It is more important than ever for cafés and coffee houses to be eco-friendly and aware of the fact that customers are responding to climate issues. In many respects it goes hand-in-hand with the nature of the products being offered to customers, so it makes sense to improve your green credentials on that basis alone. Whether you want to make wholesale changes or gradually switch over to more responsible café furniture, it’s a transition that the planet and your customers will appreciate.

Find the right recycled café furniture

Spaceist is an established recycled café furniture supplier that works with businesses and organisations in all types of industries. Whether you are refurbing an existing café or looking to build a brand-new space, we can help you find the right recycled café furniture to suit your design ideas. Take a look at our website or come and visit us at our 2,500 sq. ft. showroom. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.