Defining true green in the world of interior design is also difficult. Like the early days of organic foods, there's still not much uniformity or reliability when it comes to certifying a product as green. Some companies tout furniture made with sustainably harvested wood, or wood that has been reclaimed or recycled, but it may be chemically treated or finished.
Some products may be nontoxic but are produced under conditions that exploit workers or the environment in Third World countries.
Some leaders in the design world, like Mayer Rus, design editor of House and Garden and the magazine's opinionated "Testy Tastemaker," warn consumers to beware of "greenwashing" - disingenuous claims of eco-friendliness by companies that really aren't but recognize the growing market potential of anything labeled green, like the early "natural foods" movement.
"The bad thing would if green were to be a fad that had a measurable shelf life. Green isn't like paisley or leopard print or red. You can't go into a store and just buy it. It won't be over in two years," Rus said. "It's going to take a long time for it to pervade every aspect of manufacturing and shipping. It's so much more complex than saying you're using recycled materials."
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