Why are sustainable sofas important? It might be a surprise to find that a sofa can be bad for both you and the environment. They can be filled or finished with toxic materials that are harmful for health. These toxins and the plastics they may contain are bad for the environment.
Un-sustainable sofas
It may not be obvious but the sofa you are sitting on might be bad for both you and for the environment. Cheaply made, mass produced sofas can contain toxic materials like polyurethane foam, synthetic fabrics or conventionally tanned leather.
Polyurethane foam releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere during production, on combustion and on disposal. They can release carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (Springer Open).
Synthetic fabrics can contain formaldehyde (a VOC) and heavy metals. In addition, some are petroleum-based e.g. polyester. Chemical fire retardants and stain guard fabric coatings can be toxic. They can affect reproduction, learning skills, and they can be carcinogenic (EWG).
Traditionally tanned leather and dyed fabrics can contain heavy metals like cadmium, chrome and lead (So Linen). All of them are highly toxic.
What to look for in a sustainable sofa
A sustainable sofa will use wood from responsibly managed forests, organic fabrics, recycled materials, veg tanned leather and be filled with a natural non-toxic material. Look for Oeko-Tex for chemical free fabrics and FSC certified for responsibly managed wood.
Slow Sofa, based in Yorkshire Dales, hand crafts sustainable sofas. They use hardy beech wood that is responsibly sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. They use non-toxic, low or zero VOC fabrics like linen, wool and cotton. Any polyester fibres are recycled. The foam free sofas use an eco-friendly, flame resistant and hypoallergenic padding material. It’s 100% recyclable. A plastic free alternative uses natural materials like rubberised coconut hair, wool or cotton.
Lorfords Contemporary make traditionally constructed and upholstered furniture in the Cotswolds. This includes sofas and chairs. The frames, components, fabrics and finishes are ethically and sustainably sourced. They aim to achieve the lightest environmental footprint possible. They are made with hardwood beech frames and hand tied coil sprung seats. The cushions are filled with feathers and down.
Buying a sustainable sofa
Finding the right sustainable sofa might take time, but it is not something that you will buy every day. Every ten to fifteen years according to FCI London. Ideally longer if the sofa is still fit for purpose and at least a decade.
To keep your family safe, look for a sofa that uses natural materials and finishes. For a sustainable sofa, look for one made from FSC certified wood. Find upholstery in non-toxic and biodegradable materials like linen, cotton or wool. Check the cushion filling material.
Find an ethical supplier who will be mindful of their production processes and sourcing pipeline. They’ll use production methods that eliminate waste, are plastic free, and use suitable textiles. If you make sustainable sofas, we’d love to hear from you.
The Blue Patch sustainable business directory has a furniture section with a list of ethical businesses to shop with.
