August is a great time to invest in long-lasting outdoor furniture that you can buy used or buy better. Enjoy it in September and know that you’ll have it to enjoy for future seasons.

Furniture has quietly become a high-volume waste stream — U.S. furniture and furnishings have been measured to send up to 12 million tons to landfills in one year alone. Outdoor furniture is especially troublesome to keep out of that stream, since it often combines plastic, steel, foam, fabric, adhesives, PFAS coatings, and fasteners in ways that make repair and recycling difficult.

Today we encourage you to buy less, maintain what you have, buy better, and engage in responsible wood sourcing to help keep forests standing.

THE BEST CHOICE IS USUALLY ALREADY MADE

The most sustainable furniture isn’t coming out of a factory this year — it’s furniture that was made to last in years past.

Care for what you have. Clean it, tighten bolts, replace missing feet, oil dry wood, and recover worn cushions.

Look for used before buying new. A secondhand set has already paid its manufacturing cost. Enlist family and friends to help you spot — and check out — good pieces.

CHOOSE FURNITURE BUILT TO SURVIVE

If you must buy new, durability is most of the sustainability game. A chair that lasts 15 years beats three that each last five, even if it costs more upfront. Look for:

• Mechanical fasteners — bolts, screws, replaceable brackets — rather than glue or plastic tabs that can break.

• Solid frames that don’t flex when you sit, lift, or drag them.

• Replaceable parts: cushions, slings, glides, feet, bolts, boards. Check whether the company sells replacements.

• Long warranties. A 10- or 20-year frame warranty signals the maker expects the piece to last.

Ask yourself: Can I imagine fixing this with normal tools? If not, keep looking.

KNOW YOUR MATERIALS

• Used/refurbished: A good secondhand frame is usually a win — but swap out PFAS-treated “stain-proof” cushions and be cautious with pre-2004 pressure-treated wood, which may contain arsenic.

• Wood: Choose bamboo or FSC-certified, reclaimed, or otherwise traceable wood. Skip uncertified tropical hardwoods — new teak is often tied to deforestation.

• Metal: Recycled-content, powder-coated aluminum resists rust, stays light, and is endlessly recyclable.

• Plastic: Recycled-HDPE “plastic lumber” is low-maintenance, won’t rot, and keeps waste plastic in use. Avoid vinyl and No. 3 PVC, which is toxic to produce and burn.

AVOID HIDDEN CHEMCAL PROBLEMS

• PFAS: Don’t buy stain-resistant or water-repellent cushions, umbrellas, or covers unless labeled PFAS-free, with an explanation of how.

• Arsenic: Wood pressure-treated before 2004 may contain CCA. Don’t burn or sand it, and don’t use it for food-prep or children’s play surfaces.

YOUR 10-MINUTE CHECKLIST

Before you buy, run through this list:

• Can I repair, borrow, or buy used instead of buying new?

• Will I still like this in 10 summers?

• Is the frame solid, with bolted joints and a real warranty?

• Can I replace parts with normal tools?

• Is new wood certified or clearly traceable?

• Are cushions and covers labeled PFAS-free?

• Can this be repaired, reused, or recycled at the end of its life?

YOUR ONE STEP THIS WEEK

Repair first, buy used second, buy durable new last. If you do buy new, choose FSC-certified or reclaimed wood, recycled-content aluminum, or recycled-plastic lumber — with long warranties, replaceable parts, and PFAS-free cushions. A patio set that lasts isn’t just a better purchase; it’s a small celebration of a more sustainable way of living.

Expand your positive impact on Earth by becoming a sustainable practitioner today: www.sustainablepractice.life.

Sustainable Practice empowers you to protect our planet in practical ways. Share this article with someone shopping for the backyard this August — to help one more patio set last a decade instead of a season.

Fred Horch and Peggy Siegle are principals of Sustainable Practice. You can pick up their new 2026 edition of “Your Earth Share: Seven Pathways to Sustainable Living” or any of their other publications at SustainablePractice.Life. Join their community of sustainable practitioners at that address for both benefits and books.