My chest of drawers three chipboard

A mixture of wood chips, sawdust, particles, linseed, glue, all compressed at very high pressure , that should not be too much of a problem ... Except that it is impossible to know if the wood used is legal , since it is reduced to particles and the glue used to amalgamate the wood usually contains formaldehyde . But it is irritating to the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract. Since June 2004, it has been classified as a certain carcinogen for humans, in the same way as benzene, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (CIRC), which reports to WHO.

We play it eco-friendly ... by favoring particle boards containing natural resin or by falling back on furniture class N1 (standard NF EN 120), which guarantees a formaldehyde content of less than 8 mg / 100 g of panel sec .

My plastic chair

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is found in many materials ranging from household utensils to floor coverings. If this mixture of hydrocarbon, chlorine and phthalates (very toxic pollutants suspected of being hormonal disruptors) seems to be harmless once installed in the home, it must be admitted that it releases chloride (carcinogenic) at the time of its manufacture, that it emits dioxin when it is burned and that it rejects toxic substances (lead, cadmium, PCB ...) when it is buried. In short, not very green, all that.

We play it eco-friendly ... by going to materials that are already recycled rather than recyclable , because there are still too few recovery and treatment channels for our old plastics.

My wool carpet

Whether it's pure wool or 100% cotton, a new carpet is not always very healthy. As proof, the survey conducted in 2005 by Que Choisir magazine. Depending on the laboratory that performed the analyzes, the airborne concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the two days following the installation of the tested carpets was two to three times greater than what is acceptable for the test. organism (770μg / m3, against 200μg / m3). Formaldehyde, benzene, glycol ethers ... all identified chemicals that are classified as carcinogens. Some countries, such as Finland, Germany and Denmark, have introduced "low emission" quality labels for floor coverings. But with us, it still does not exist!

We play it eco . .. it is imperative to offer our carpet a stay outdoors. Two or three weeks minimum , to evacuate the chemical pollutants.

My wooden kitchen table

If it is solid wood , bingo! But for it to display a zero risk, it must ...

- Be cut in a wood from a legal market. 40% of exotic wood imports from Africa, Asia and South America would escape customs control. (Source: WWF)

- Be treated with "neutral" products . Impregnation with oil or wax implies less health risks (provided that they are not diluted in a White Spirit-type petroleum solvent) than a varnish which may include plasticizers, anti-corrosive agents and UV that release substances (alkanes, acetone, benzene ...) that can cause headaches, asthenia, nausea, vertigo.

We play it eco-friendly ... by tracking the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) quality label which, since 1993, guarantees wood from forests that are exploited with respect for the environment. By focusing on species that do not need any treatment (oak, chestnut ...) and, for maintenance, turning to natural resins such linseed oil, beeswax , to find in the specialized stores (www.naturalia.com, www.ecohabitat.fr, www.marche-equitable.com).

My cotton sheets

Are you ready to fall into the arms of Morpheus with confidence? Although fibers (cotton, linen, polyester, etc.) are rarely responsible for allergic skin reactions, the chemical treatments they undergo for printing, dyeing or priming are, on the other hand, potential sources of contact allergies (eczema, for example). The cause is formaldehyde-based resins and azo dyes used in 40% of textiles.

We play it eco . .. relying on textiles bearing the Oeko-tex label certifying the absence or reduced presence of harmful substances, or which display the logo of the European Ecolabel limiting the formaldehyde content (300 ppm for textiles other than clothing). Or slip into organic hemp sheets naturally dyed (www.couleur-chanvre.com).

My latex mattress

If it is natural latex, that is to say from the sap of rubber tree and therefore 100% plant, we can sleep on both ears! Unless the tick is anti-stain, anti-mite, anti-allergy, mildew ... because all these treatments designed for our comfort emit volatile organic compounds (VOC, including the famous formaldehyde) harmful to the respiratory tract and likely to cause irritation (ocular or cutaneous) and other allergies.

We play it eco ... by favoring natural padding such as horsehair and ticks in organic cotton (to avoid pesticides) or wool, a natural non-flammable.