Top 5 Affordable Eco-Friendly Sofas & Chairs

According to my understanding of fire retardant legal issues, all sofas for sale in the United States have to meet a strict standard, and will have to have layers of chemical fire-retardant materials, unless the company uses wool for the fire retardant layer. A sofa can be ecologically harvested, and have “soy-based foam,” but that foam may be soaked with chemical retardants that are toxic and unhealthy for many people. Pottery Barn would not tell me the chemical composition of their fire-retardants. Their salesperson said it is a “trade secret.” Crate and Barrel did disclose theirs — a representative kindly researched it and called me back a few weeks after my inquiry — and gave me the names of the numerous chemicals that are inside their soy-based foam. I appreciated the accurate information, but I do not want to breathe in any of those chemicals. I have given away all my toxic sofas, and now am looking for an organic wool upholstered one, which is the only kind that is both natural and legal to offer for sale, under the existing fire-retardant code in the U.S. A. I think we need new standards for labeling products in this country, a full disclosure of all ingredients, chemicals, and treatments clearly labeled in all consumer products, so we can make a choice.

Jennae,

Thank you. I realize also that fire-retardants can save lives. And everyone can’t afford to get wool for a natural fire-retardant layer. However, when I sit on a sofa or lie on a mattress that contains the modern chemical fire retardants, I literally break out in hives. When I go to furniture stores, I get sick (throwing up and worse) violently. It took me years to isolate the culprit — and it is furniture. I found a totally organic sofa from a company named Natura (they have many types of mattresses, but one line is called “Organic” and it has changed my life. Now I am searching for a similar sofa from a reliable company. I have written to Ekla Home, thanks to your recommendation, and when they reply, I will let you know what they say.

I just received this on buying green healthy furniture:
http://www.healthybitchdaily.com/2010/04/13/furniture/

I have a question! I just got the same response from Pottery Barn yet in addition they stated in each email (I was trying to get them to clarify) that they do not use chemical fire retardants on any of their products other than their children’s sleepwear (don’t get me started on this one). How is this possible???

Jennifer
Organic Baby University

I thought only California had to have the flame retardant in the sofas and mattresses ALL sold in USA had to have flame retardant (i have the mattress in a wool layer so its supposedly chemical free, there just arent any prices that are really doable for SOFAS!! I found one company that said it only treated its foam cores with halogenated phosphate esters but that seems toxic? not sure though? what do you all think?

Come see me at my green online boutique http://www.vintagerenewal.com for Indie Furniture Redesigns.

At Endicott Home Furnishings in Maine, we designed an entire line of nontoxic sofas and chairs. All our designs, including sectionals and sleepers, are bench crafted one at a time in the USA using materials containing zero flame retardants. Because we often customize to help elders stand without help, or to provide lumbar support with both feet on the floor for our petite consumers, we use frames made of sustainably harvested hardwoods combined with furniture grade nontoxic plywood (no added urea formaldehyde or toluene or other nasty chemicals) and many other materials made partly or completely of recycled materials. We completed our removal of carcinogenic flame retardants from all our designs before anyone was concerned, and in the middle of a recession, so we did so at our own cost, because we are our own customers, and have two small children. Our designs are very reasonably priced with a limited selection of USA-made OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified nontoxic fabrics, and we ship to all lower 48 states including California. Feel free to reach us for more info@condofurniture.com.

I really really like this sofa and chair. They are both really amazing. The color scheme is fantastic and the detail on the chair is eye catching. The mint color is great. I wish I could have this in my house. This definitely gives me some inspiration.

Great looking combination. Love eco-friendly solutions.

I’m very surprised that the zipper-stripe sofa is only just over $1,000. I’ve been wanting a light colored sofa like this one. I’ll have to hit a few furniture stores in my area to see if I can find anything like it!

Hi, It would be great if you use white fabric for a sofa that can reflect heat and reduce heating in living room for environmentally friendly. Thanks.

You have a nice range of reasons to label certain options green, from responsibly harvested materials, to organic materials, to soy-based materials, to recycled pieces, and more. The fact that one of your sources donates as well is an added reason to use these and similar resources for eco-friendly furnishings.