Preserving old-fashioned items is a sustainable practice that most people are unaware of. Antiques are valuable collectables that showcase the beautiful and quality craftsmanship from at least 100 years ago.
They are durable and sought-after items in the entertainment industry that bring back the unique and timeless pieces of the old to complement a storyline.
While antiques are regarded as valuable for theatre and drama, some are discarded because they are old. However, the need to build a sustainable society is raising awareness to prevent individuals from throwing old items away for new ones.
Nowadays, people are making sustainable choices to protect the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. The increased demand for casual household items takes its toll on the environment, from the extraction process of raw materials to the production line, the effect on the environment is huge.
Buying antiques is sustainable for the environment and a good choice for reminiscing.
What Is an Antique?
The word “antique” according to the Oxford English Dictionary refers to something old; with a long history and of great age, but valuable and collectable, especially furniture and household items.1
It’s often used to describe an old object worthy of aesthetic appreciation. It’s also described as a collectable object that has existed for at least 100 years2.
They may be old-fashioned items but they can be a beautiful addition to any home décor and furniture. Their durable pieces of quality craftsmanship of the past and have lasted through the years due to their sturdiness.
Buying antiques guarantees long-term use and whether you prefer items such as antique lamps, furniture, light chandeliers, or brass mirrors, it’s a good investment that is worth it.
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Why Buying Antiques Is Good for the Environment
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Increased global population means an increase in demand for new products and it all starts from extracting natural resources. To ensure sustainability, individual choices and general policies should be made to keep materials and products in circulation for as long as they can last.
The aim is to conserve natural resources and protect the environment for the now and next generation. Buying antiques reduces individual carbon footprint by reintroducing old items of value. Through this system circulation, consumer demand is reduced and environmental pollution is minimized.
From my personal experience, old-fashioned items seem to be more durable and last longer than items produced in this millennium. Increases in demand and competition among manufacturers are prioritizing quantity over quality.
I have seen a light switch that was installed in a house over five decades ago still functioning. But it’s hard today or almost impossible to find electrical appliances not just a light switch, that can last for even a decade.
This shows the importance of buying antiques—household items that have longer lifecycles because of their high-quality craftsmanship. Their manufacturing process, dating back decades, had little impact on the environment compared to what is used today to make a fine product.
Furniture Manufacturing Industry and Its Impact on the Environment
In Europe, the EU manufacturing industry is a major contributor to the continent’s economy. It creates over a million jobs in about 13,000 companies, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises and micro firms.3
It’s estimated that about one-quarter of the world’s furniture is manufactured in the EU. This means furniture companies will need to use more wood to keep up with consumer demand.
Nordic nations are known for their high-quality furniture with unique designs. Furniture companies in Finland rely on the country’s dense forests as a source for extracting resources. They use wood as their main raw material because it has good properties for modification and partly due to historical reasons.4
However, the EU is making an effort to prioritize the use of renewable materials. EU’s green public procurement guideline prioritizes the use of renewable materials by public authorities to reduce waste in furniture procurement and carbon emissions, protect water, and avoid loss of biodiversity.
Reduces Waste and Promoting Recycling
Buying antiques is sustainable and not everyone is aware of this. Being passionate about purchasing these timeless household items has an environmental impact as it reduces waste.
A common behaviour with today’s consumers is discarding items that are not too worn out or old to for new ones. It’s like a trend for consumers today not to use a particular item for too long. This may seem like a normal attitude for luxury but the truth is that more material waste is generated and a considerable amount is sent to landfills.
Opting for antiques shows individual eco-friendly conscious behaviour, one that prioritizes recycling and reusing items that were manufactured with the intent to last longer than what we have today. They may be old-fashioned, but sustainable and durable enough to last for decades.
Generally, some modern manufacturers are focused on making products for short-term use. A few years or more is just enough for the modern products we use today to start deteriorating. Furniture waste is a concerning environmental issue. I have seen furniture dumped in landfills and it was not looking like decomposition is happening anytime soon – not even in the next decade or two.
The furniture industry generates waste that pollutes the environment. According to a research study on waste minimization in the furniture industry, different types of waste are generated as by-products, and this waste can contaminate the soil, groundwater, and air.5
Furniture companies must consider the possibilities for waste reduction. Prioritizing and implementing sustainable measures to reduce waste generation is key to increasing efficiency and profit.
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Preserving Natural Resources
The word “furniture” mainly brings one resource to mind, wood. It’s not just wood, other natural resources are also extracted to finish a fine product through a production line that impacts the environment.
The demand for new wooden furniture causes a huge environmental problem with deforestation. Commercial logging causes rapid deforestation leading to loss of the natural habitat of wildlife.
Deforestation due to commercial logging affects the environment and causes natural disasters like flooding and erosion. For example, China had most of its forest destroyed in the late 1990s. The Asian largest economy has today become the largest importer of wood, taking resources even from illegal logging.
The country suffered from a devastating natural disaster when the Yangtze River flooded in 1998. China implemented sustainable environmental measures by establishing the National Forest Protection Project—an initiative that prevented the destruction of the country’s remaining natural forests.6
According to United Nations data, the export of wood to China doubled between 2001 and 2015—woods were imported from African countries into China, specifically from countries such as Cameroon and the Central African Republic. According to a report by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), their researchers found that the export correlated with a loss of tree canopy as viewed from satellite images.7
China also relies on wood imports from Eastern Europe, Russia, and the United States. China uses wood imported from these countries to manufacture low-cost furniture that is later shipped back to them.
Buying antiques sustainably preserves natural resources – it’s a good choice worth investing in, and at the same time, waste is reduced in the environment. Choosing antiques guarantees long-term use and promotes the conservation of natural forests.
Reduced Energy Consumption
Antiques are valuable and timeless pieces you should invest in. Whether they are on display in local, regional or national shops, it’s worth owning a piece with a longer lifecycle designed with durability in mind.
Buying these old-fashioned items locally directly reduces demand for brand-new ones. It makes a difference even when a few environmentally conscious individuals decide on only buying antiques.
Shopping for these beautiful and high-quality crafted items reduces carbon emissions. We talked about China earlier and their system of importing wood from other parts of the world and selling low-cost furniture back to these countries.
The importation of wood through large vessels contributes to global carbon emissions. Shipping luxury furniture from other countries also results in carbon emissions.
A piece worth its value for a long-lasting experience is an investment to consider. It rejuvenates the aesthetic with a touch of classics. Choosing antiques regards nature and reduces resource and energy consumption. It’s a sustainable practice to adopt as it does not support modern deforestation in any way.
Reducing Chemical Pollution
Manufacturing today is made possible with the use of toxic chemicals. Extracting raw materials for furniture production impacts the environment. The use of toxic chemicals in the production line poses a threat to the environment and human health.
PFAs are mostly used in most upholstery and fine leathers are often treated with formaldehyde, a colourless highly toxic and flammable gas at room temperature.
Other substances used in furniture production include arsenic, dyes, and pesticides. These are chemical carcinogens, and when they are improperly disposed of, they become toxic to the environment. They can leach into the soil and groundwater, polluting ecosystems and remaining as long-term contamination.
The solution to reducing chemical pollution in the environment is to choose a timeless piece over brand-new ones. Antiques are quality craftsmanship of the past designed for long-term use without using toxic chemicals in the production line.
So, choosing antiques reduces the demand for brand-new furniture made with toxic chemical spray. The possibility of environmental pollution is reduced when old-fashioned items are preferred over new ones.
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Antiques are of Higher Quality
Buying antiques is optimal as high-quality wood was used in manufacturing. This level of quality is hard to find these days because manufacturers are prioritizing short-term use products.
Opting for a timeless piece guarantees durability, an experience that is scarce in today’s fast furniture market. Your choice of vintage furniture comes at a lower price for high quality.
Owning a piece of higher-quality furniture means it will last long-term without the need for regular replacements. It’s profitable and sustainable as you invest in a high-quality piece while resources are conserved.
Longer Lifespan
Buying antiques is buying high quality for long-term use. The wood used in making these pieces decades ago is designed to last for the ages without deteriorating.
Investing in antiques is worth it.
Buying Antiques Supports Small Businesses
Local businesses will appreciate your support when you buy a timeless piece from their business. Buying from an antique shop or dealer is a way of supporting the growth of small businesses.
Some antique shops are owned by families who need your support to keep their businesses afloat.
Buying Antiques Is a Good Investment
Antiques are rare, making them a good investment choice to consider. Durable and guarantees long-term use, these old-fashioned items appreciate over time.
Some most sought-after items include antique brass mirrors and brass candelabras. There are valuable collectables you want to invest in.
A good investment choice is to go for antiques that are rare and hold historical significance.
Conclusion
Buying antiques guarantees long-term use and whether you prefer items such as antique lamps, furniture, light chandeliers, or brass mirrors, it’s a good investment that is worth it.
Choosing antiques conserves resources, reduces waste, chemical pollution, and energy consumption, and remains a good investment to consider.
Sources
- antique, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). ↩︎
- CURTIS, B. L., & BAINES, D. (2016). What Is an Antique? The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 74(1), 75-86. ↩︎
- Petar Antov & Tanya Pancheva: “CARBON FOOTPRINT OF FURNITURE PRODUCTS.” ↩︎
- Linkosalmi, L., Husgafvel, R., Fomkin, A., Junnikkala, H., Witikkala, T., Kairi, M., & Dahl, O. (2016). Main factors influencing greenhouse gas emissions of wood-based furniture industry in Finland. Journal of Cleaner Production, 113, 596–605. ↩︎
- Nikolić, N., & Gordić, D. (2010). Waste minimization in the furniture industry. ↩︎
- Ren, G., Young, S. S., Wang, L., Wang, W., Long, Y., Wu, R., Li, J., Zhu, J., & Yu, D. W. (2015). Effectiveness of China’s National Forest Protection Program and nature reserves. Conservation Biology, 29(5), 1368-1377. ↩︎
- Colgan, D. (2024, April 9). Furniture from China contributes to deforestation in central Africa — Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. ↩︎