IKEA's inflatable A.I.R. furniture uses only 15 percent of materials required for conventional sofas, can be shipped in small packages, and is made of recyclable material. The institute's list focuses on products that do things such as maximize the use of renewable, recyclable or recycled material and that represent the producer's efforts to take more responsibility for the products it manufactures. Certain products have been kept off the list, such as those that represent only minor efficiency gains, that contain some fraction of recycled content but are otherwise like other products on the market, and pollution control devices such as water filters and composting toilets. Reduces replaceable parts to only 20 percent of a traditional machine and 95 percent are recyclable or reusable. It's especially useful for small businesses that don't have big design budgets but are interested in innovating.
Consumers can use the list to make more informed choices.