In our last post we explored the topic of eco-friendly kitchen furniture. That was just the tip of the iceberg—there's a lot more to be written about the strides many dining room furniture manufacturers and sellers (e.g. Dinette.com) are taking to ensure that the environment is being kept in mind.

We mentioned the use of rubberwood to make dining room furniture. Rubberwood has become a much-used product in today's furniture market for a few key reasons:

• Potential for sustainability. Rubberwood takes a fraction of the time most trees take to mature (20 years vs. 50-70), and can be replanted as soon as it's harvested.
• Leading alternative to traditional woods. Rubberwood doesn't play second fiddle to more traditional woods—it competes head-on. It is similar to American oak but denser, allowing for excellent carving and shaping. And, of course, the good-lookin' factor is important—its natural light color and attractive grain are versatile enough to accommodate any dining room decor.
• Natural durability. Since it's grown in a tropical environment, rubberwood sustains moist environments better than other woods and has low resistance to shrinkage (however, it is intended only to be used for indoor furniture). This makes for stable and sturdy construction. Its denseness also ensures a high resistance to dents and scratches.
• No waste. The production of rubberwood serves a dual purpose. The tree's sap is used to manufacture latex, and trees are harvested only after they've reached the end of their latex-producing cycle.

In addition to using renewable resources such as rubberwood, dining room furniture manufacturers can also take environmentally conscious steps such as using water-based finishes on dinette sets. And let's not forget the wrapping: Using packaging made of recycled paper products goes a long way towards protecting our planet.