Furniture
Unfortunately the furniture industry has filled our homes with toxic pieces that will sit in landfills for years and years. Flame retardants and chemicals like formaldehyde found in furniture have been known to cause illnesses such as cancer. If that isn’t concerning enough the EPA reports that 9.8 million tons of furniture waste is produced each year. In 2020, California banned the use of flame retardants in certain furniture. Specific chemicals must not exceed 1,000 parts per million when tested, meaning a very small amount of chemicals is still allowed to be present in furniture. This is still a great step in the right direction towards safe, regulated furniture. Check out the legislation in your state or where you buy your furniture and if it isn’t up to par, talk to your local representative about changing that. You have the ability to voice your opinion and change regulations for the betterment of your health.
DIY
You don’t have to be a skilled craftsman to build your own furniture. Start with something simple like a plant shelf and once you learn the basics of wood working you can build bigger pieces. When you go to DIY a piece, look to youtube for tips and try to sustainably source your wood. The use of reclaimed wood reduces landfill waste and repurposes natural resources. Depending on where you live you may end up scoring some reclaimed wood from old barns and buildings. You can also find reclaimed wood at your local lumber store. Keep in mind you don’t need fancy equipment to do it yourself! You really only need nails and a hammer to get started.
Plants count as furniture/decor too!!!l Placing a few plants, or a lot if you are like me, in any room will remove toxins in the air, boost your mood, and add pops of color. You’ll be sure to get a compliment because if you haven’t noticed plants are all the rage. If you really want to DIY, skip the plant shop and propagate your plants from cuttings.
Once you have your plants you can build a shelf like I did (video on the right) to showcase them. I suggest using terra cotta because they hold moisture longer. The more plants the better!
Second-hand
Buying second-hand furniture is a great way to find pieces you want without contributing to the furniture industry. It is waste free since you are buying something that already exists and has been used. You can score big with second hand furniture, in some cases it’s practically a new piece. Making second-hand pieces your own style is really simple too. Just add a coat of stainer or paint to a piece and swap out the hardware for something more your taste. You instantly give used furniture a fresh look! Why even buy something new when you can reduce waste, customize, and save money by buying second hand?
Here are some places to buy second-hand furniture:
Facebook Marketplace
Offerup
Craigslist
Flea markets
Antique shops
Buy New
When buying new you need to keep in the mind the impact your purchase will have on not just the environment, but also on yourself. In the past, the furniture industry was dominated by toxic pieces full of chemicals, like formaldehyde, that cause illnesses. Now, there are so many companies that know how important it is to make furniture that is safe for you and the environment. Making these pieces out of natural materials is not very complicated, it just takes a dedicated and caring team to put it all together. The most important thing to read about when purchasing new furniture is the materials, the packaging, and the certifications. Here are some questions to ask: Are the materials organic and non-toxic?, Is the packaging recyclable, compostable, or waste free? Are the materials certified safe and good for the environment? There are so many great options you can choose from to fill your home with non-toxic furniture. Most importantly, remember that you are investing in something that will last forever, which reduces your furniture waste. Start creating your eco-ethical home now!
My Picks
Medley
Custom, made to order, non-toxic, eco friendly (the list goes on and on) furniture. Medley knows what’s up and they take their role in the furniture industry very seriously. For starters, they use zero harsh chemicals. Medley is a family business you can trust, who makes their pieces in Los Angeles to reduce their carbon footprint.
“More Trees, Please” Initiative: Medley plants three trees for every one tree that is used to make their furniture
FSC certified wood, CertiPUR-US certified foam, Global Organic Latex Standard, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 wool, Global Organic Textile Standards
Burrow
Rugs, tables, [plant] shelves, you name it Burrow makes it. Being made to order means Burrow’s furniture isn’t being made in surplus and waiting around to be bought. Wood is sustainably sourced, fabrics are not toxic and of course the pieces are stylish, sprucing up any room they are added to.
Sent in normal shipping boxes which reduces waste
Check out Burrow’s co-founder Stephen Kuhl talk about fast-furniture on the “Good Together” podcast
Avocado Green Mattress
Furniture made from reclaimed wood. You can buy a bed frame, a dresser, and even get your dog a matching bed! I mean who doesn’t want to match with their pets, especially with sustainable furniture. Their factories are even run on renewable energy!
Materials sourced from their own farm
Completely non-toxic
GOTS certified, Made Safe, Greenguard, FSC
Thuma
Bed frames are made from upcycled rubber wood and are a Japanese joinery design that requires no hardware. Thuma plants a tree for every purchase made and are carbon neutral on inbound shipping.
Green-guard certified
Recycled packaging
Gromeo
Your own living wall! Gromeo is a self-watering, growing wall that makes keeping house plants alive, really simple and looks super cool on your wall.
Baltic Birch wood
Growtex, geotextile made from 100% recycled HDPE (high density poly ethylene)
Avoid
synthetic fabrics
unsustainably sourced wood
packaging involving plastic
Chemicals
flame retardants
formaldehyde
benzene
acetaldehyde
Let’s Compare
I get it, the prices of sustainable pieces can seem daunting, but I think this comparison can change that. Check out these three different sofas, each 85 inches long.
Medley
Price: $2,207 *customizable
Leg Material: FSC hardwood
Sofa Material: non-toxic poly foam, natural latex, organic cotton
Made in: Los Angeles
ETA: 12-16 weeks
Burrow
Price: $1395 *customizable
Leg Material: Responsibly forested Baltic Birch or hardened steel
Sofa Material: scratch/stain resistent, non-toxic olefin fiber
Made in: North Carolina *handcrafted
ETA: 6-8 weeks
Wayfair/All Modern
Price: $2,399
Leg Material: Solid Birch Wood
Sofa Material: Polyester blend, synthetic fiber, down filled
Made in: China
ETA: 10-12 weeks
Check it out
Danielle Trofe
Making lamps from mushrooms? Yeah she does that! Danielle is melding together sustainable design and the science of living organisms to create unbelievably cool, biodegradable, grown lamps. Hear about her process here.
Bjarke Ingels
Bjarke Ingels, a Danish architect, is redefining how factories are built. His sustainable designs are reducing the carbon footprints of big factories. Vestre’s furniture factory is one example and its renewable energy systems allow for greenhouse gas emissions to be very low. Explore his projects here.
Modular by Mensah
Kusheda Mensah is a London based designer who is merging sustainability and unique designs to create one of a kind furniture pieces. Her work is shaped in a way that reflects the human form and connection. Learn more here.
Furniture Flipping Teacher
A youtube channel where Lauren teaches viewers how to flip second-hand furniture. She sells her flipped furniture to pay off her student debt. Her videos give you step by step instructions and great ideas. Watch her videos here.
sources:
https://us.fsc.org/en-us/certification#:~:text=FSC%20certification%20ensures%20that%20products,FSC%20US%20National%20Standard%20(v1.
https://www.fairtradecertified.org/why-fair-trade
https://shop.habitathorticulture.com/#:~:text=Handcrafted%20from%20Baltic%20Birch%20wood,made%20from%20100%25%20recycled%20HDPE.
https://www.vogue.com/article/designer-kusheda-mensah-sustainable-furniture-interview
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS126369713020110506
https://burrow.com/our-story
https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/pages/our-story
https://shop.habitathorticulture.com/pages/see-how-gromeo-works
https://medleyhome.com/pages/eco-friendly-furniture
https://www.thuma.co/pages/faq
https://www.rjo.com/publications/california-enacts-new-sweeping-ban-on-the-use-of-flame-retardants-in-certain-consumer-products-effective-january-1-2020/