We started Q Collection Junior because there wasn’t a ‘green’ (Health is a big part of green for us; see my prior posts here) option for parents looking for quality furniture and bedding. My wife is pregnant and we are about to convert our son’s room (he is 3) into a room for two. ‘Green’ is something I think about every day and I thought it might be helpful to share some thoughts on renovating a nursery.
In thinking ‘green’ at Q Collection Junior we are focused on two things: 1) the health of kids and 2) the health of our planet. This post is focused on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) because kids spend so much time in their cribs and nurseries – a ‘greener’ space has a huge impact on their health.
Key items to focus on:
Furniture, mattresses, paints, rugs.
You can make great progress improving indoor air by getting these items right.
What to look for when shopping for these items:
Low or no VOC paints for walls.
If you do nothing else, use low or no VOC (more info here) paint and open the windows after painting! Standard paints can easily be the largest contributor to poor indoor air quality, so staying away from them is a great and easy first step.
Natural materials (solid wood, certified organic cotton, naturally dyed wool, etc).
In general, focusing on these materials will help avoid chemical additives and decrease the environmental footprint.
Water-based paints, stains & glues on furniture
Focus on water-based finishes & glues (if it’s made with water-based it will typically say so). This will help to avoid some very nasty chemicals (find out more here).
Products that are 3rd party certified (like Greenguard, Forest Stewardship Council, Oeko-tex, Control Union/GOTS):
This helps to ensure the products we buy are healthier and more sustainable (better for the planet) options.
Products that can prove they have eliminated Formaldehyde
What to avoid:
PVC/Plastic #3 (often in toys, shower curtains, flooring, rugs, rug pads, window treatments).
PVC contains many added chemicals that are well documented to be very bad for us and the environment.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds):
Always choose low or no VOC items when possible. Furniture and paints are the key culprits.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs):
Look for mattresses that are free of these chemicals.
Non profit resources for more info:
- Environmental Working Group (EWG): http://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth
- Healthy Child, Healthy World (HCHW): http://healthychild.org/
- National Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Green Living guides: http://www.nrdc.org/greenliving
