Buying advice

As things stand, it's up to consumers to satisfy themselves that what they're buying is the real deal. So if you're in the market for a new table, tallboy or TV platform but don't want to run the risk of taking home illegally or unsustainably logged timber, what are your options?

NZ made: Look for furniture manufactured in New Zealand from plantation timber - like pine, douglas fir, eucalypt or macrocarpa.

Second-hand: Buying second-hand furniture, or furniture made from local recycled timber, are other options. But watch out for recycled claims that can't be backed up. Claims that a bookcase is "made in China from recycled oak" are very hard to check.

Certified wood: If you're looking at imported furniture, ask what the timber is, where it comes from, and whether it's been certified by a recognised body such as the FSC. If the retailer can't provide any credible certification, then it may be difficult to know exactly what you're getting.

MDF health risks

Furniture manufactured from medium density fibreboard (MDF) is increasingly common. MDF is made from wood fibres bonded with an adhesive.

While the product is relatively inexpensive, the downside is that it produces chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are commonly found in floor coverings (like carpet and vinyl), paints and reconstituted timber products.

The Department of Building and Housing's Smarter Homes website points out that VOCs can have adverse effects on human health and have been linked to asthma. Some manufacturers are now producing MDF with low VOCs. If this issue is important to you, ask about low-VOC options.