Offering Customers Earth-Friendly Fabrics & Foams

[TheHogRing]

So, in an effort to cut costs and be more Earth-friendly, Ford Motor Company is experimenting with new interior fabrics made from dandelions. Strange? Yeah. But not as strange as the Nissan Leaf - which is trimmed in recycled water bottles. Given recent trends towards "green" consumerism, I'm wondering how many upholsterers (auto or other) offer their customers green options - and what types of it? Soy foam? Bio-based fabrics? etc...

And if you are offering these materials, how is the demand for them and who are your suppliers?

For more on Ford's plant-based fabrics: http://www.thehogring.com/2011/05/10/upholstering-cars-in-plants-not-vinyls/

Thanks folks!

[kodydog]

We were talking about a smiler topic the other day on another thread
http://get-up-and-go.com/upholstery-forum/index.php?topic=9998.0

The advantage of offering earth friendly materials is not only to the customers but also the person handling the product. If anyone's interested here's some good sites.
http://www.livinghomefurniture.com/services/materials
http://www.design-char.com/first-steps-eco-design-your-interiors
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/seating-sofas-armchairs/10-of-the-best-green-upholstered-furniture-companies-125345
http://www.livinghomefurniture.com/services/redesigned-furniture
http://www.greenguard.org/en/faq.aspx
http://www.furnature.com/why-furnature.html

We're planing to add this as an option to our services. If you were the only shop to offer this in within say a 100 mile radios I think people would find you and bring their furniture to you.

[RandyOnR3]

   for us, the "green" hasnt hit the customers yet... its a boating industy which polutes the waterways, these 60 to 100 foot power sleds that romp through the delta waters ripping apart leveys leaving an oil slick atop the water arnt the poster children for green living..
   even this months "marine fabricator" rag bosts an article of "exotic hides offer high-end options".. Not really the industry to go green, not just yet anyway..

[Mojo]

I don't go out of my way to offer green products to my customers. Like the marine industry the RV industry has few greenies running around the country in fuel guzzling RV's. They tend to be more focused on quality and cost.

With Soy foam costing more then basic foam it probably wouldn't be an option my customers would select. But if I do have one ask for it I have no problem with supplying it ( with the additional costs applied of course).

I applaud the automakers for going green and hope in the long run that it helps to reduce the costs of the vehicles. We are about 1 year away from buying a new vehicle and with the costs of todays new rides it wont be a brand new one. I have gotten in the habit of buying slightly used and letting someone else take the beating on the resale value. :)

JMHO,

Chris

[emery4pierce]

But it will be not be easy to gain popularity in the beginning as customers are more prone to designer fabrics and foams. But it is indeed a great effort!

[TheHogRing]

This is all great feedback - thank you.

Kodydog, thanks for pointing me towards that other discussion thread. I've always wondered about how the toxins in adhesives and other chemicals we use affects those who handle it. We always keep the garage door open when we spray glue, but the smell still lingers. I pray that there aren't serious consequences to being around it.

Mojo and RandyOnR3 - I can see how your customers wouldn't be interested in green options. With the rise in popularity of hybrid, electric and flexfuel cars, though, I'm sure some auto customers would be interested. Also, folks into green living, may want earth-friendly options for their home furnishings.

Emery4pierce raises a great point: for auto and home upholstery, green options can catch on. However, it may take some time...

In the end, though, I guess it doesn't hurt to offer it as an option. It's not like you actually have to keep it in stock...

Great discussion guys. Thank you!

[alge]

I'm working on a commission at the moment that fits this brief exactly. The customer has asked for a retro 40/50's style corner unit using as low impact fillings as possible that comply with the Uk fire regulations on fabrics and fillings. We dont have the option of using any Bio-polymer foams here as the government haven't approved any yet so thats why most of my work is hand stuff and stitch (renewable fillings). In many respects you guys in the states are in a very enviable position, I've been looking through the organic fillings and fabrics list for the past decade, and in general wool is the main organic material we can use here and that primarily because the spinning process combined with weaving or felting means that oxygen cant transmit flames through to the underneath layers because the fibres are so tight, which means a chemical barrier is not needed.

If anyone wants to take a look at what we have to abide by or anyone in-fact that wants to import upholstery into the uk has to comply with follow this link and you can down load the regulations for free.
http://www.fira.co.uk/publications/flammability-guides

The use of cotton wadding (felt) is being restricted now as it will contain too much Boric acid to make it safe for humans to handle and comply with fire regs as stipulated by the European union. Test on rats found that at around 4% boric fertility was effected. to comply with regs cotton wadding needs to contain 10% which will then require all buildings vehicles and products containing cotton wadding that comply with fire regs. to carry a Hazardous Substance warning labels and be handled in a safe way. Uk manufacturers of the wadding are simply going to stop producing a fire retardant version as they cant find an alternative to boric that will meet the regs. so we will loose the chance to use it in the future. (a bit off topic sorry but an example where legislation here restricts what we can legally do in the Uk.)

Organic Upholstery sold legally is still a utopian dream here.  :(

Alex