HOW CAN WE BE MORE
SUSTAINABLE AT HOME?
When it comes to doing the right thing for the environment, Janette
from Verdant Living thinks we need to draw inspiration from what
our grandparents were doing. The days before crude oil was readily
available and made into everything from petrol & plastic to fabric &
medicines. The days when make-do-and-mend was a necessity due
to war or a lack of funds or resources.
Verdant Living’s focus in on making curtains, blinds, and other soft
furnishings that do not harm us, or the environment.
In the age of plastic and synthetic everything, it is certainly not an
easy road to take. Janette’s biggest development focus is on a
creating a circular economy within the industry. Creating products
that last a long time, but can also can be composted, or at the very
least, easily recycled at the end of their lives.
Janette says, “My customers are the driving force behind our
determination to change things for the better, even if it means
ruffling a few feathers!”
Here are a few tips about choosing your furnishings for your home:
Choose natural fibres
Natural fibres are the truly sustainable option when it comes to
fabrics. Linen, hemp, wool and cotton come from easily renewable
resources. These take only months to grow (or a year in the case
of wool). Synthetic fibres such as polyester, acrylic and nylon have
been derived from crude oil and coal that has taken millions of years
to be formed.
When it comes to cotton ensure you choose organically grown.
Conventional cotton uses huge amounts of insecticides, synthetic
fertilisers, and water. A much better alternative is to use organic
cotton, which is mostly grown with rain-fed cotton. Organic fibres
are grown in the same way as organic food, through practices such
as companion planting and growing healthy soil.
Verdant uses natural fibres wherever possible. These include NZ
designed and printed linens, NZ grown and woven wools and
Australasian printed hemps & organic cottons.
Fit your curtains and blinds correctly
The best insulation for curtains is achieved by having them touch
the floor. Fit them close to the window and ideally, make them go to
the ceiling or under a pelmet. This is because warm air rises up under
short curtains and goes out the window. Cold air from outside then
drops and moves in under those short curtains.
Curtains are more insulating than blinds, yet not always practical.
Blinds should fit close to the window and sit on the sill if possible.
Linings are best attached to a curtain rather than a separate track.
This creates a pocket to trap warm air, a bit like double glazing.
Verdant regularly uses a three-layer system of fabric and linings to
help insulate your windows. They can also establish the best fit when
measuring onsite.
Use good quality, washable curtain lining
There are many different curtains linings on the market, but not all are
created equal. At Verdant, they like to use ones that are easy care and
washable. Standard ‘Thermal’ linings are not always the best option
for curtains. They often grow mould and mildew; they can smell of
chemicals and cannot be easily washed.
Verdant has a selection of linings such as a woven dimout, perfect
for bedrooms with streetlights outside, for a baby’s room for a duringthe-day
sleep, or if you just want to sleep-in.
For the most sustainable and easy-on-the-planet option Verdant
recommends their hemp twill. A lovely thick fabric which is often used
for upholstery. Hemp is UV resistant, so will not break down in the
sunlight, and is also mould & mildew resistant. Best of all, the hemp
lining is bio-degradable and compostable at the end of its life.
Buy once, buy well
When it comes to buying furniture, make sure you choose well-made,
solid timber pieces that will last a lifetime. There is a significant
amount of cheaply made furniture out there. Often it cannot be
repaired and so will inevitably end up in landfill. Choose pieces that
can be repaired and easily recovered over time.
Verdant works alongside their upholsterer who has a range of genuine
mid-century and retro furniture. Pieces that were crafted well when
they were first produced. They regularly recover these and client’s
pieces using New Zealand grown and woven wool, or a good quality
European linen. Not only is wool a renewable resource, it is also very
hard wearing.
For more tips and a chat about sustainability in your home
you can visit:
Verdant Living and South Coast Collective at 93a Aro St,
Aro Valley, Wellington.
Or check out their website:
www.verdantdesign.co.nz