Sustainability in our profession
Sustainability is a concept you encounter everywhere nowadays. But what does it really mean within the upholstery profession and within our webshops?
In this article, we explain how Meubelstoffeerderij Gebr. Meilink, and its associated webshops Pootendop.nl and ZelfStofferen.nl, approach sustainability.
What do we mean by sustainability?
The well-known definition of sustainability comes from the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations (1987):
"Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Within our field, this essentially means one thing: extending the lifespan of existing products.
Upholstery as a sustainable choice
Upholstery is inherently a sustainable craft. Instead of throwing away furniture, it gets a second life.
Especially classic upholstery – with springs and natural materials – excels here. In many cases, 60 to 80 percent of the materials can be reused. Think of springs, frames, and certain fillings.
This makes this way of working particularly sustainable.
The challenge of modern materials
With the advent of modern foams, this picture has changed.
Foam consists of small cells (air bubbles). As soon as these are damaged, they lose their resilience. Temporary solutions – such as "restoring" with heat – sometimes seem to work, but are rarely sustainable in the long term.
In practice, this means that foam often has to be completely replaced. In addition, foam is usually based on oil products and difficult to recycle.
There are developments towards organic or more biodegradable foam, but this is not yet central to the industry everywhere.
The reality in practice
Although we still master classic upholstery, we see that this method is chosen less often.
The reason is simple: it is labor-intensive and therefore more expensive. Many customers therefore opt for a more modern interior with foam.
Nevertheless, the result remains valuable: the furniture gets a second life. And that is always better than replacement.
Our webshops and sustainability
Within our webshops, too, we handle material use consciously, without immediately labeling ourselves as "sustainable."
What we do consider important is avoiding unnecessary waste.
- Packaging is reusable or recyclable as much as possible
- Boxes are plain and can be reused
- Filling material is made from recycled paper
- Many products are packed in resealable bags that can be reused
At the same time, we are realistic: a large part of our products consists of plastic or contains chemical components. Therefore, we do not think it is fair to simply label ourselves as sustainable.
Where is the true sustainable value?
The most important sustainable factor in our work... is you.
You make the difference when you:
- repair furniture instead of replacing it
- add new parts to extend the lifespan
- maintain leather or textiles
- choose to repair instead of discard
Every time a piece of furniture lasts longer, less is wasted.
Together we make a difference
Sustainability is not a label you give yourself. It is a result of choices made daily.
We try to act as consciously as possible in this regard. But ultimately, we do that together with you.
And for that, we sincerely thank you.
About the author
This article was written by Wout Meilink jr., an upholsterer since 1995 within the family business founded in 1938.
With years of experience and a strong focus on craftsmanship, he guides both professionals and DIY enthusiasts in restoring and renewing furniture. Together with his team, he has trained more than 15 apprentice upholsterers and helped countless customers give their furniture a second life.
His goal: to share knowledge and show that quality, craftsmanship, and longevity go hand in hand.
