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10 Easy Pieces: Natural, Non-Toxic Sofas

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10 Easy Pieces: Natural, Non-Toxic Sofas

August 21, 2024

In the vein of our post on natural mattresses, here we profile the top 10 non-toxic sofas that meet a few base requirements: no flame-retardants, polyurethane, or toxic treatments. If we sleep on our mattresses around 3,000 hours per year, we lounge on our sofas 1,000 hours or more per year. That counts, so too does the effect on indoor air quality resulting from non-natural materials. Here are the 10 non-toxic sofas that made our list, accounting for both health and design.

Safer Sofa Materials

  • Wool
  • Natural Latex
  • Cotton
  • Linen
  • Hemp
  • Mohair
  • Down and feathers
  • Water-based wood stains

Less Safe Sofa Materials

  • Toxic glues
  • Artificial wood with toxic finishes
  • Performance fabric
  • Polyurethane
  • Polyethylene

Third-Party Certifications from Trusted Nonprofits

CertiPUR-US: A certification that applies only to polyurethane foam mattresses to guarantee the materials are free of formaldehyde, flame retardants, prohibited phthalates, and heavy metals and contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Note that CertiPUR-US applies only to the foam portion of the mattress.

Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): benchmark in organic latex that is 95 percent or more organic

Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS): leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibers that are 95 percent or more organic and meet stringent environmental standards

GreenGuard: chemical emissions standards for healthier indoor air quality by measuring VOCs in various materials

[Editor’s note: While we’ve done our best to research the issue using credible sources, we are not scientists, doctors, or environmental toxicity experts. Details on certifications and materials used within mattresses change often and may have changed since this article’s publication date. We welcome any additional constructive insight in our comments section below.]

maiden home sofas are made with a cushion core from soy based foam, a material  17
Above: Maiden Home sofas are made with a cushion core from soy-based foam, a material that isn’t the safest, but in this case it is CertiPUR-US certified. Fabrics are free of flame retardants and formaldehyde and avoiding Maiden Home’s performance fabric options in lieu of mohair, Merino, and Italian bouclé make for a more natural sofa. Shown here is the Varick Sofa in Woolen Bouclé Cliff upholstery; $6,275 for the 80-inch width.
when i invested in my first quality sofa six years ago, i went with a cisco mod 18
Above: When I invested in my first quality sofa six years ago, I went with a Cisco model and opted for their Inside Green fill with organic, natural latex over polyurethane, that is wrapped in eco wool, or in our case, feathers. Their sofas are made with organic cotton and linen upholstery without toxic treatments or flame-retardants. Shown here is the Cisco Home Austin Sofa; contact Cisco for price and ordering information.
pure upholstery makes an edited selection of sofa models made with organic late 19
Above: Pure Upholstery makes an edited selection of sofa models made with organic latex with wool wrap, organic wool, and GreenGuard-certified water-based glue. They are made without topical treatments, without PFAS, and without flame-retardants. Shown here is the Chatham English Arm Sofa for $3,400 at Pure Upholstery.
with a small selection of sofas, the futon shop makes natural sofas with hemp a 20
Above: With a small selection of sofas, The Futon Shop makes natural sofas with hemp and organic cotton, without toxic glues and finishes, and have the option to upgrade to GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic wool. Shown here is the Organic 2 Arms Modular Custom Made Sofa starting at $4,904.96.
sabai sofas are made with certipur foam and without pfas, flame retardants, and 21
Above: Sabai sofas are made with CertiPUR foam and without PFAS, flame-retardants, and glues. The sofas have OEKO TEX-certified upholstery options and feature wood legs with low VOC stain. Shown here is the Elevate Sofa Recycled Velvet in Dusty Rose; $2,695 at Sabai.
eco balanza makes a small selection of natural sofas made with zero voc glues a 22
Above: Eco Balanza makes a small selection of natural sofas made with zero VOC glues and with organic sofa covers made of GOTS-certified fabrics. The fill is made with GOLS-certified organic latex, organic Merino wool, and organic cotton twill. Shown here is the Magnolia Sofa part of the Essentials Collection at Eco Balanza.
couch seattle makes a collection of sofas available with eco conscious options  23
Above: Couch Seattle makes a collection of sofas available with eco-conscious options including low VOC wood glue, water-based stains, and the option to swap polyeurethane foam with latex, swap standard poly batting for wool batting, and natural fabric upholstery. Shown here is the English Sofa from Couch Seattle; contact for price and ordering information.
sixpenny sofas can be customized for an optimal natural result. in general, the 24
Above: Sixpenny sofas can be customized for an optimal natural result. In general, their sofas are not coated in chemicals and made with the option of natural fabrics. One can opt for feather down over their vegan poly fill, if preferred, and avoid performance fabrics, recycled poly linen, and recycled faux fur options. Shown here is the Ziki Sofa in Jasmine Rice Medium Weight Linen; $2,999 for the 96-inch size with feather down filling.
american made green row sofas contain certipur us foam, natural latex, a wool a 25
Above: American-made Green Row sofas contain CertiPUR-US foam, natural latex, a wool and coir blend wrap and natural slipcovers and upholstery. The Hadley Slipcovered Denim White Sofa is $4,899 at Green Row.
medley makes sofas with the option for gols certified latex wrapped in wool. th 26
Above: Medley makes sofas with the option for GOLS-certified latex wrapped in wool. The frame is made with formaldehyde-free engineered wood with plant-based finishes, and OEKO TEX-certified fabrics. Shown here is the Lala Sofa in Natural Latex for $3,131.

For more on chemical-free home goods, see our posts:

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