Sustainable Living:
Embracing a Greener Lifestyle

Karen Cundiff / / Sustainability
GROW in Wichita, KS embracing furniture rental sustainability.

Fast furniture has a dirty secret. It fills landfills, drains natural resources, and costs you more than you think. But there is a smarter way to furnish your space. One that looks great, feels good, and actually helps the planet.

At Abode, we believe the way you furnish your home is ready for a serious upgrade. Furniture rental is not just a convenience. It is a conscious choice for the circular economy, and it is catching on fast.

Read on to learn why renting furniture is one of the smartest, most sustainable moves you can make.

Challenging the Fast Furniture Phenomenon

Think fast fashion is bad? Fast furniture runs a close second. Cheap, disposable pieces have become the norm, and the numbers are staggering.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 12 million tons of furniture were discarded in 2018 alone. That is a mountain of sofas, tables, and bed frames heading straight to the landfill.

The buy-and-toss cycle depletes natural resources, drives up manufacturing emissions, and leaves a trail of waste behind. There is a better way.

(Source: U.S. EPA, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures, 2018)

Furniture filling landfills

Embracing a Circular Economy

The circular economy is a model built around one powerful idea: keep things in use for as long as possible.

Instead of making, using, and throwing away, the circular economy focuses on renting, reusing, refurbishing, and recycling. Furniture rental fits this model perfectly.

When you rent from Abode, that sofa does not end up in a landfill after two years. It gets cleaned, refreshed, and loved by the next person who needs it. Every rental extends the life of a quality piece and keeps it out of the waste stream.

(Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change, 2019)

The Benefits of Renting Furniture

  1. Minimizing Waste: Every piece you rent is a piece that does not get thrown away. Rented furniture gets a second life (and a third, and a fourth). You say no to the 12 million tons of furniture waste generated every year, just by making one smarter choice.
  1. Conserving Natural Resources: Making new furniture takes wood, metal, foam, fabric, and a lot of energy. Renting reduces the demand for all of it. Less demand for new furniture means fewer trees cut down, less mining, and a smaller footprint on the planet.
  1. Enhancing Energy Efficiency: Manufacturing and shipping new furniture burns a lot of energy. When furniture stays in circulation longer through rental and refurbishment, that energy footprint shrinks dramatically. Rental maximizes the utility of every piece that already exists.

The Green Impact of Abode (and Furniture Options)

Abode is a division of Furniture Options, a company that has been in the furniture rental business since 1985. With a network spanning 7 states, they have spent decades doing exactly what the circular economy calls for: keeping quality furniture in circulation, out of landfills, and inside beautiful homes.

Every piece that gets refurbished and re-rented represents a manufacturing process that did not have to happen. That adds up to real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and a genuine positive impact on energy use across the industry.

This is not a new sustainability trend for us. It is how we have operated for 40 years.

The Delight of Choosing Sustainable Furniture

Renting furniture is not just good for the planet. It is good for you.

Imagine being able to refresh your space without hauling anything to the curb. No listings on Facebook Marketplace. No awkward furniture sales. No buyer showing up three hours late.

With Abode, you rent what you love, swap when you are ready, and build equity toward ownership if you decide to keep it. You will never pay more than retail. And if you are ready for something new, it is as easy as a phone call.

Style that fits your life. No waste. No pressure. That is what sustainable living actually looks like.

Rental Chair from Abode Home

Embarking on Your Furniture Rental Journey

Embarking on your furniture rental journey is a breeze. Here’s a quick guide:

  1. Select Your Pieces: Peruse the online catalog and pick furniture that resonates with your style and requirements.
  1. Personalize Your Experience: Choose your rental duration and any additional services you might need.
  1. Relish Your Furniture: Once your order is confirmed, relax as the logistics are handled, ensuring a smooth delivery and setup!
  1. Enjoy Flexibility and Convenience: Need a change or an extension? The flexibility is yours. The goal is to make your furniture rental experience as seamless as possible.
  1. Embrace Sustainability: At the end of your term, opt to return or purchase the furniture and never pay more than the original retail price, continuing your journey of sustainable living.

Be a Part of the Sustainable Furniture Revolution

Choosing to rent furniture is a small decision with a big impact. Less waste. Fewer resources consumed. A home that looks exactly the way you want it.

At Abode, sustainability is not a marketing angle. It is the whole model. From our employee-owned team to our refurbishment process to our rent-or-own platform, everything is built around doing more with less.

Your space. Your style. Your planet. Own Less. Do More.

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