Is rattan furniture an ethical choice?

Here at Chez Green we love to eat outside in the summer.

There’s nothing better than eating outdoors; for some reason the food tastes better!

But I’m not talking about firing up the patio heater, using disposable barbecues or sitting on furniture made from badly managed forests. There are plenty of ways to eat in comfort without having a negative impact on the environment. And one of them is to choose rattan garden furniture (like these from Internet Gardener).

When I first left home and had a tiny budget to furnish my house, rattan was my material of choice – it’s lightweight but durable, looks great and is cost effective.

Now I’m more aware of the ecological side of life, here are five reasons why rattan is an eco friendly choice:

Long lasting

Rattan furniture is hard wearing and built to last.

Some materials deteriorate over time, especially from rain and sun damage, but rattan looks good long after you’ve taken it home and is hard wearing.

Put simply; rattan is lightweight, durable and flexible.

Maintenance free

Rattan is virtually maintenance free. You don’t need to use varnishes or paints with rattan but you can stain it if you wish.

Simply dust with a damp cloth and protect from prolonged periods of direct sunlight.

Looks

Rattan has that lovely rustic and natural look which is complementary to the natural landscape of your garden.

It comes in a variety of styles and looks to suit every taste as it can be woven into intricate shapes to add individual styling to pieces of furniture.

Comfort

Add some thick, comfy cushions to your rattan sofas (some more suggestions from Internet Gardener) and you’ll enjoy comfort and style for years to come.

Search charity shops and antiques fairs or make cushion covers from remnants of material for an upcycling project of your own.

Renewable

Rattan is a type of palm native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.

It grows quickly, like a vine, at up to 6 metres a year. It renews itself quickly if it is harvested in an ecologically sound way and unlike hardwood trees, rattan matures in just two months.

What about you? Have you ever had rattan furniture?