Most mainstream home furnishings manufacturers target the American throw-away consumer culture, which includes the vast middle class that is hoping to find acceptable quality at a reasonable price and those with more money to spend than time to buy mindfully. If you think even a little about buying an inexpensive import, consider life expectancy and the cost of replacement in the near future.

Most inexpensive sofas and tables tend to be transported from overseas, sometimes made under conditions we would not tolerate in this country, and often involve unregulated use of chemicals, finishes and glues. Not only do these chemicals cause harm where they are used at the point of manufacture, but very likely the fumes will be slowly dissipating in warehouses and home across the U.S. throughout the short lifetime as furniture, and the longer lifetime as waste in our landfills.

Here are some things to look for when you next purchase furniture for your home. Frames should be sturdy, providing lasting support. Traditionally, a thick and heavy kiln-dried solid hardwood frame was the benchmark for American manufacturers, but a stronger and lighter frame can now be made using a computerized router and layered plywood. With minimal waste, use of furniture grade plywood means fewer trees are cut and risks of failure from warping, splitting, cracking are fewer.

Wood glues used in plywood are improving, but the environmental effect of using some plywood versus all solid stock, renewable or not, is fairly obvious. Always inquire what frames are made of, where they are made, and what the warranty promises. American made frames, regardless of components, ought to be warranted for a limited lifetime (as long as the original covering remains intact all over the piece).

Springs have been made from recycled steel for decades, and recent green claims are bunk: market realities drove suppliers to recycled steel springs long ago, not eco-consciousness in the last 36 months. Better, stronger, eight-way hand-tied springs from a reputable manufacturer will serve many times longer and carry lifetime warranties, whereas “no-sag” springs tend to stretch, sag, or become detached from the frame within a few years with regular residential use.

Cushions of foam made from petroleum byproducts have become the standard because foam has proven most effective in providing even support while conforming to our bodies. Substitute materials have not yet proven cost effective or lasting, none are both. Always ask what the warranty is on the seat cushion cores, the density of the foam, and compare between offers. A quality seat cushion should be lifetime warranted.

Fabrics have the greatest chance to become greener, but the transparency of the manufacturers’ practices is likely to pose the greatest challenge to verifying claims of chemical-free dyes and processing. Production of yarns and fabrics are almost entirely offshore now, and because the textile industry has always been competitive and low-margin, fabrics tend to be produced in remote parts of the world where regulation and supervision are likely influenced by bribery and expedience. Make your wish to buy eco-friendly fabrics known to retailers, and e-mail the customer service folks at your preferred manufacturers, if their Web sites provide the opportunity.

How far do the goods travel from the manufacturer to the retailer before being delivered to your home? How much of the cost of an inexpensive piece of furniture from India or China went into fossil fuels burned as vehicles travel from factory to port, idling at port for hours next to freight ships burning filthy “bunker fuel” nearly 24/7, to stateside ports where the reverse scenario plays out (lots more vehicles idling diesel and bunker fuel).

Goods then need to travel to central warehouses from where they are shipped to retailers, if not directly to your home. The most direct and immediate path from factory to your home should be your goal – shortest distance and time. I wrote this last September, and it’s still true: feisty companies in North Carolina have changed manufacturing processes to deliver most orders to the retailer in two to four weeks. No Chinese or Canadian manufacturer can do that just for you.

Finally, think of the retail store where you might shop. You can usually detect much about the carbon footprint of any retail store, from the height of ceilings, use of lighting, and other visible efforts to minimize consumption and waste, including the products available. In our little store, we have seven to eight foot ceilings and double-paned windows, heat entirely with wood pellets, use mostly CFL bulbs and turn most off when no customers are in the store, and drive efficient vehicles with carefully planned delivery routes to conserve energy at every turn.

We recycle everything we can and have never had a dumpster service in over three years of operation – no small feat when you consider how much packing material is used in furniture transport. We also make every effort to help customers shop online and over the phone, stretching your available fuel money and time as best we can – even if it means sending you to another store.

Ultimately, if consumers demanded better quality and decided carefully on fewer items of better quality, we could see a drastic improvement in furniture quality and value in coming years. The few businesses that remain truly “Made in USA” might not go out of business, and emerge as the leaders in their industry.

For more information, visit Endicott Home Furnishings, LLC, 717 US Route One, Scarborough, call 207-883-3264, or visit www.condofurniture.com.