Homefront: Furniture keeps the earth and your health in mind

When Bridgitte Alomes' son was small, he had an allergic reaction to the toxic chemicals in one of the toys. It sent Aroms to a path she didn't expect. Wondering how many other children and their families are experiencing the same thing, she did a lot of research and conducted a lot of research on children's and classroom furniture in general, sustainable, consciously procured options. I found that there aren't many things available in this way.

Alomes foundedNaturalPod10 years ago — she's the CEO — made from sustainable (non-toxic) materials instead of fast Furniture intended to produce products.

According to Aroms, the most attractive thing about Natural Pod furniture to people is that it doesn't necessarily cost money to buy sustainable products that are good for the environment and health.

"You will be very surprised," she says.

Many of Natural Pod's clients are early learning centers, schools, libraries and other public spaces. The product is found in many local classrooms, day care, kindergartens, and neighborhood homes, including Union Gospel Missions in Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver.

The health pandemic has boosted interest in furniture. She says she celebrates the product as being locally made in a sustainable way, reflecting nature (made from natural non-toxic wood).

"Ultimately, for me, I want to take my kids outdoors," she says. Therefore, any way to connect your child outdoors (even if you use materials used indoors) is a win.

Aroms compares the growing interest in conscious furniture to resemble the movement of organic matter.

"People are asking someday, if not now," she says.

Natural Pod currently manufactures furniture for thousands of learning environments, from Canada and the United States to Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bahrain, India and Dubai.

Ten years after her son's case, Aromes shares similar values ​​and is interested in having a sense of connection with the elements of nature in the learning environment. She says she is partnering with people.

Natural Pod products are "heirloom quality" and can last for generations and eventually return to Earth undamaged, says Allomes.

Natural Pod recently formed a coalition with other British Columbia states. A brand that prioritizes sustainability and has a global positive impact on industries (furniture production) that are not known for environmental protection. These brands includeChopValue(recycle chopsticks),Unbuilders(demolition buildings and reuse materials),Halfmoon(yoga and Meditation products) are included, creating furniture and accessories collections together.

"The question is what can be done when we rely on important values, and what happens when we put our children at the center," says Aroms.

Children learn a lot through storytelling, she says. So when creating a learning environment featuring interesting furniture made of interesting materials, we create an opportunity to talk to them about the importance of where we get the materials and our health and environmental impact. , She says.

"Students ask where this Unbuilders table came from and the story begins," she says.