Going “Green?” Everyone is doing it. This is a subject that makes many antique dealers smile. Most of the more than 50 dealers at The Antique Store in Wayne have dedicated their lives to preserving artifacts for future generations. This goes hand and hand with reusing and recycling materials. Recently, I visited a “Green” web site where all products were made from 100% recycled materials. Think of the energy wasted in re-manufacturing, packaging and shipping these products made from recycled raw materials! It made me wonder why anyone would spend money for lessor quality, mass produced products when for a similar cost they could buy a truly 100% recycled, zero carbon footprint product, and support an independent local business at the same time. Volumes have been written on the environmental advantage of durable verses non-durable goods but we still continue to purchase merchandise from discount retailers.

In recent discussions with those interested in recycling, several people have mentioned that being environmentally conscious is a mindset. Frequently, we buy something newly manufactured and mass-produced because that seems most convenient. We purchase things and have them shipped to us from across the country, ignoring the enlarged carbon footprint due to transportation. Antiques are truly environmentally sound. When buying an antique, we can feel good about not depleting our natural resources because we are using products that have already served a generation or more. When we buy anything local we reduce the energy costs involved in transportation. How much more economical it is to reuse quality items, rather than dispose and replace simply because the quality of the new piece was poor to begin with. A quality piece of furniture does not need be a rare, expensive antique. Older furniture made from real wood will not cost any more than the imported, mass-produced, glue and formaldehyde stick furniture you will need to throw away in five years. (more…)