| To get the best quality Asian furniture its | | | | furniture (and all wood products for that matter) |
| important to know how its made and what its | | | | from environmentally friendly furniture retailers |
| made of. Poorly made furniture constructed of | | | | and manufacturers. Make sure that the furniture |
| particle board and screws simply wont last and | | | | you select is either made from plantation grown |
| can look cheap. It is best to pick furniture that is | | | | or reclaimed wood rather than wood from |
| made of real wood and uses mortise and tenon | | | | rainforests. By looking into where the wood |
| joinery for not only durability but style as well. But | | | | comes from in the furniture your purchase you |
| alas, like all good things, purchasing Asian furniture | | | | will not only be helping out Earth but will also be |
| made from real wood has it draw backs too. | | | | ensuring that the furniture your buying is top |
| Many Asian forests have been over harvested | | | | quality! |
| and destroyed to be used as fuel, building | | | | High quality furniture manufacturers are more |
| materials and more. | | | | likely to be using sustainable materials such as |
| The good news is that the dramatic depletion in | | | | plantation grown wood or reclaimed wood. Cheap |
| tree populations throughout Asia has not gone | | | | furniture makers often use particle board or |
| ignored. Some excellent organizations such as | | | | illegally harvested wood, both of which are less |
| Rainforest-Alliance.org have been working to | | | | expensive materials. Reclaimed wood in particular |
| protect forests in Asia as well as world wide. | | | | makes for very high quality furniture pieces |
| Although illegal logging is still wide spread, many | | | | because most wood becomes denser as it ages. |
| Asian countries have cut down on illegal harvesting | | | | Reclaimed wood comes from old warehouse, |
| through stiffer timber industry regulations as well | | | | buildings, railways, bridges and more. Plus reclaimed |
| as the creation of tree plantations to | | | | wood has that antique appeal that many Asian |
| accommodate the continued need for wood | | | | furniture shoppers love! |
| You can help the efforts by purchasing Asian | | | | |