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As you furnish a new space, or just invest in a new piece or two, you may be looking for non-toxic furniture brands to ensure clean indoor air and a safe environment for yourself and/or your loved ones.

Building materials and furnishings are one of the major causes of indoor air pollution, according to the EPA. So non-toxic furniture is a key aspect of creating a healthy home.

What is Non-Toxic Furniture?

If you’re here, searching for non toxic furniture, you’re probably somewhat familiar with the fact that most furniture contains either proven or potentially harmful chemicals and you’re looking for a better way. But what exactly is a better way?

Well, there’s actually quite a bit to consider, so here’s a quick list. (Scroll to the bottom for much more in-depth explanation on all of these elements!)

  • No Flame Retardants
  • No Formaldehyde (Many, though not all, composite woods that use adhesives contain formaldehyde. Some terms to look out for are plywood, particle board, engineered wood, or MDF.)
  • Free of Toxic Water Repellents or Stain Guards (These commonly contain Perfluorochemicals, otherwise known as PFCs)
  • No PVC / Vinyl (Common in fake leather or “vegan leather” fabrics)
  • Zero VOC finishes (Or low-VOC as a secondary option)
  • Uses Natural & Organic Materials (such as Dunlop latex instead of polyurethane foam, organic cotton, hemp, and linen instead of synthetic fabrics, and responsibly-sourced solid wood)
  • Non-Toxic Certifications (such as GREENGUARD Gold, which can help you find certified non-toxic furniture for your home)

Is All Eco-Friendly Furniture Non-Toxic?

A lot of eco-friendly furniture is also non-toxic, but that isn’t always the case.

Some furniture brands advertise their products as eco-friendly because they use engineered wood or particleboard made from repurposed sawmill or other wood waste. But, in many cases (though not all), the adhesives used in engineered wood can be toxic, off-gassing formaldehyde.

It’s also worth noting that engineered wood containing formaldehyde is actually not so eco-friendly, even if it’s making use of waste, as it’s polluting the environment and harming human health.

Is Secondhand Furniture Non-Toxic?

Secondhand shopping is a great avenue for finding sustainable furniture affordably, and I’m a HUGE fan of purchasing pre-loved.

While used furniture isn’t necessarily non-toxic (unless you find used furniture from a brand using natural and organic materials) products do off-gas over time, and so depending on how old the furniture is, you are likely going to be exposed to fewer toxic chemicals than if buying that same piece of furniture new.

Just be sure to find furniture that has come from a smoke-free home. (And potentially pet-free, if you have allergies/sensitivities). You may also want to clean the furniture with non-toxic cleaning products, especially if buying preloved furniture with upholstery!

[Related: Tips for shopping secondhand furniture & home goods]

Similarly, not all non-toxic furniture is eco-friendly. For instance, a brand might use natural materials that are irresponsibly sourced, such as harvesting wood from ancient or old growth forests. This guide, though, features brands that sell non-toxic and eco-friendly furniture.

Non-Toxic Furniture Companies To Know

These brands are leading the way when it comes to safe, organic, and non-toxic bedroom furniture, living room furniture, dining room furniture, and office furniture. There are even some brands who have certified non-toxic furniture, as an extra level of verification.

The price ranges of these brands vary, so you’ll find something that matches your needs — you’ll find everything from heirloom-quality premium furniture to affordable non-toxic furniture. Browse through this guide for some highlights and visit each brand’s website for further details.

This guide contains affiliate links and partners. As always, all brands meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands we love, that we think you’ll love too!

1. Savvy Rest

Categories: Platform Beds, Sofas & Chairs, Tables & Benches

Shipping: Ships within continental U.S.; Contact for shipping quotes for elsewhere

A leader in organic and natural furniture, Savvy Rest is a certified B-Corp with living room and bedroom furniture made from sustainably-sourced, safe-for-you materials.

Savvy Rest uses responsibly- regionally-sourced solid wood and zero-VOC stains (or leaves pieces unfinished). Their upholstered furniture is crafted from certified organic cotton and hemp fabrics, as well as Eco Institut-certified Dunlop and Talalay latex.

Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off!

Non-toxic bed from Savvy Rest

2. Made Trade

Categories: Stools, Beds, Rocking Chairs, Accent Chairs, Tables & Benches

Shipping: Ships within continental U.S.

Furnishing your home mindfully is about to get a lot easier with the help of the collection of sustainable furniture on Made Trade

This woman-owned, Climate Neutral Certified sustainable online store has earth-minded and low-VOC furniture made from recycled materials like aluminum and plastic bottles, responsibly harvested hardwood, and other natural materials like rattan and bamboo.

Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE for $20 off your first order of $150+

aluminum stools from Emeco - non-toxic furniture

3. Avocado

Categories: Bed Frames, Dressers, Side Tables & Nightstands, Benches

Shipping: Ships furniture within the contiguous U.S.

Another exciting brand in the world of non-toxic furniture is Avocado. This B-Corp creates wooden furniture using either 100% solid FSC-certified maple hardwood, solid walnut, or 100% reclaimed solid Douglas fir. The furniture is completed using zero-VOC finishes and safe fumeless wood glue — all of which are made in the United States.

Avocado also offers several certified non-toxic furniture pieces that have been GREENGUARD Gold certified for low emissions and Formaldehyde Free certified by UL Environment. And, each piece of furniture is made in Avocado’s own FSC-certified LA woodshop.

non-toxic light wood dresser from Avocado

4. Maiden Home

Categories: Sofas & Sectionals, Chairs, Beds, Dining Tables & Coffee Tables, Ottomans & Benches, Dining Chairs & Stools

Shipping: White glove delivery within contiguous U.S. for flat fee

This woman-founded direct-to-consumer furniture brand takes their commitment to quality and sustainability seriously. Each piece is individually handcrafted by upholstery and wood artisans in the North Carolina region using eco-minded materials like responsibly sourced hardwood and recycled steel springs.

Their furniture is free of flame retardants, formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals and their soy-based foam cushion cores are certified by CertiPUR-US®. Maiden Home also uses water-based, low-VOC glues and stains whenever possible. (You may want to inquire about a specific piece when ordering.)

sustainable wooden table from non-toxic furniture company Maiden Home

5. Medley

Categories: Sofas & Chairs, Bed Frames, Nightstands, Storage, Dining Tables & Chairs, Benches & Desks

Shipping: Ships from the U.S.; Contact Medley for a quote if shipping outside of the U.S.

Made-to-order from quality materials in LA, Medley’s non-toxic furniture for the bedroom, living room, dining room, and office is sturdy and sustainably made.

Medley’s furniture frames are made with FSC-certified domestically-sourced alder hardwood and their tables are crafted from FSC-certified solid walnut and maple.*

And the brand offers a few natural fabric options including hemp and OEKO-TEX 100-certified wool. For cushions, choose between organic Dunlop latex (non-toxic option) or CertiPUR-US®-certified poly foam.

cream colored non-toxic armchair from Medley

*(Note: some parts of Medley’s storage pieces are made using plywood. It is low-VOC CARB 2 compliant.)

6. Natural Home by the Futon Shop

Categories: Bed & Futon Frames, Dressers, Sofas & Sectionals, Side Tables & Coffee Tables

Shipping: Within contiguous U.S.; custom quotes for shipping elsewhere; offers free in-store pickup

As the name suggests, this furniture brand sells futons and futon frames, but they also offer other natural furniture, like side & coffee tables as well as non-toxic couches & sectionals.

The Futon Shop has Amish furniture handmade from solid wood (maple, walnut, oak, or cherry) that was harvested from sustainably managed forests and hand-rubbed with a no-VOC natural linseed oil finish. Each piece is handcrafted by Amish craftspeople in Pennsylvania with care, to ensure your piece lasts a lifetime.

natural bed from The Futon Shop

7. Healthier Homes

Categories: Chairs & Stools, Tables & Benches, Desks

Shipping: Within Contiguous U.S.

Healthier Homes offers a curated selection of non-toxic furniture crafted with quality and sustainability in mind. Their selections of seating, tables, and accent furniture is made from solid wood, natural fabrics and metal, all finished with eco-minded non-toxic finishes.

The non-toxic furniture company also sells non-toxic paints, including cabinet and furniture lacquer.

woven sustainable chair from non-toxic furniture brand Healthier Homes

8. Sabai

Categories: Sofa & Sectional, Ottoman, Chair & Loveseat

Shipping: Free shipping within continental U.S.; shipments to HI & AK incur additional fees

This affordable sustainable furniture company has a simple, yet sophisticated non-toxic sofa and other seating for your living space that is free of formaldehydes or toxic flame retardants.

Sabai uses FSC-certified wood for the furniture frames, domestically sourced maple for the legs, CertiPUR-US certified foam for the cushions, and recycled fiber fill for the pillows. For the upholstery fabric, customers can select between OEKO-TEX 100 Standard and Global Recycling Standard (GRS) certified recycled velvet or GREENGUARD Gold-certified upcycled poly.

Non-toxic blue ottoman from Sabai

9. Green Cradle

Categories: Dressers, Chests & Armoires, Bookcases, Nightstands, Cribs

Shipping: Ships within the U.S. and to Canada

Green Cradle crafts 100% solid wood, non-toxic dressers, storage furniture, and cribs in the United States.

The company sources local, sustainably-sourced woods, including maple, red oak, hard maple, cherry, and walnut and they use a zero-VOC finish (flaxseed/linseed oil) for all of their furniture. This oil is free of synthetic preservatives, heavy metals, carcinogens, polyurethanes, and other toxic chemicals.

And, as one of the only brands on this list with non-toxic cribs, Green Cradle is the place to go if you’re furnishing your little one’s nursery.

Eco-friendly wooden crib from Green Cradle

10. Masaya & Co

Categories: Beds, Sofas & Chairs, Shelves & Storage, Dining Tables & Chairs, Side Tables & Benches, Outdoor Furniture

Shipping: Within the U.S.

Masaya & Co is a sustainable furniture brand that not only commits to responsible wood sourcing, but is actively restoring forests in Nicaragua. The brand plants 100 trees for every product sold and to date, the company has planted 1 million trees.

The heirloom-quality furniture is made from locally-sourced solid tropical hardwood (teak, rosita walnut, and royal mahogany) and crafted in Nicaragua by skilled artisans. These hardwoods are dried in solar kilns on-site and each product is finished with a low-VOC natural oil or water-based poly finish.

Sustainable wooden bookshelf and chair from Masaya & Co - non-toxic furniture

11. My Green Mattress

Categories: Bed Frames

Shipping: Within U.S. and Canada

When it comes to your bedroom, you want your indoor air quality to be as healthy as possible. And My Green Mattress has a non-toxic bed frame to meet those needs.

The mattress brand has a simple and affordable eco-friendly bed frame made from untreated domestically-grown Poplar wood — in other words, it’s free from wood stains, adhesives, or any other toxic chemicals.

non-toxic simple wooden bed frame from My Green Mattress

12. VivaTerra

Categories: Sofas & Sectionals, Chairs & Seating, Benches & Stools, Cabinets & Chests, Desks, Shelves, Dining Tables & Chairs

Shipping: Within the U.S.

VivaTerra is a green lifestyle retailer that has a selection of eco-minded and non-toxic furniture and home decor.

You’ll find elegant pieces made from materials like sustainably-sourced solid wood, 100% reclaimed wood, flax linen fabric, seagrass rope, rattan, and sturdy metal. Much of the furniture is also expertly made by skilled furniture artisans.

Elegant cream table from VivaTerra

13. West Elm Greenguard Certified

Categories: Beds & Cribs, Dressers & Storage, Consoles & Hutches, Desks & Chairs

Shipping: Within U.S.; doorstep or white glove delivery available

Well-known furniture retailer West Elm has a strong selection of non-toxic furniture that is GREENGUARD Certified to be low VOC. This certification indicates that the furniture has been tested to meet strict chemical emissions limits.

West Elm also has other sustainability filters like sustainably-sourced (FSC-certified wood typically), Fair Trade (made in a Fair Trade Certified factory) and Contract-Grade (made to last).

mid century modern wooden non-toxic office desk and chair

14. What We Make

Categories: Bathroom Vanities, Desks & Office Furniture, Bookcases & Storage, Coffee & End Tables, Chairs, Stools & Benches, Dining & Pub Tables

Shipping: Within U.S.

What We Make is an impressive sustainable non-toxic furniture brand based in the Chicago area. They use reclaimed barn wood to make each furniture item made to order.

The non-toxic furniture brand finishes their pieces with an oil-based VOC-free finish that doesn’t contain hazardous chemicals.

15. Vermont Woods Studios

Categories: Beds, Storage, Side Tables & Coffee Tables, Dining Tables & Chairs, Desks & Bookcases

Shipping: Ships to all 50 U.S. states; international shipping

Founded by a husband-and-wife / woodworker-and-conservationist team, Vermont Woods Studios is committed to creating exceptionally high quality and sustainable furniture.

Vermont Woods Studio sources responsibly-harvested North-American hardwoods for their non-toxic bedroom, dining room, living room, and office furniture. The company also uses low-to-no VOC finishes, such as a GREENGUARD certified lacquer finish, linseed oil, tung oil, and carnauba wax.

Each piece is expertly handcrafted to order in Vermont by furniture craftsmen — their non-toxic furniture even comes with a lifetime warranty.

Solid wood non-toxic storage furniture from Vermont Woods Studio

More Information on Non-Toxic Furniture

Curious to learn more about non-toxic furniture? Here are some considerations on what to look for when shopping for non-toxic furniture for your space.

No Flame Retardants

There are hundreds of different types of flame retardants. Evidence shows that flame retardants are associated with harmful health impacts, such as reproductive toxicity, cancer, neurological function, impacts to the immune system, and adverse effects on fetal and child development.

Once commonplace to meet California’s fire safety standard, fire retardants are now banned by the state at certain concentrations and in certain products — and a growing number of states are also taking action against them to some extent.

So furniture without flame retardants should be considered a very baseline measure.

No Formaldehyde

As one of the 25 most abundantly produced chemicals in the world, exposure to formaldehyde is a common concern in furniture as well as a number of other consumer products.

The health impacts of formaldehyde exposure include:

  • “Corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract”,
  • Irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract
  • Malaise, headache, irritability, memory and dexterity issues, sleeping disturbances
  • Can cause skin disorders and asthma-like symptoms in those who’ve been previously sensitized
  • And formaldehyde has been determined to be a probable human carcinogen

And as the EPA states, the primary way you’d be exposed to formaldehyde is by “breathing air containing off-gassed formaldehyde”, often the formaldehyde that has “off-gassed from products, including composite wood products”.

No Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

If you’re familiar with the DuPont scandal, you’re familiar with PFCs. While typically associated with non-stick cookware, PFCs are also used to repel oil and water on a number of other types of products, including textiles like upholstered furniture.

Why are PFCs a problem? Well they’re persistent not only on products, but in the environment and in people and animals. PFCs can be released directly from manufacturing facilities into the air and water or they can be released from any products you have at home containing PFCs and into your indoor air.

Exposure to PFCs has been associated with several adverse health effects including cancer, liver toxicity, hormone disruption, developmental toxicity, and harm to the immune system.

No PVC (Vinyl)

Many fake leathers (which sometimes come with the euphemism “vegan leather”) are made from PVC. PVC is known as the most toxic and environmentally damaging plastic.

The chemical used to make PVC, vinyl chloride, is a known carcinogen, linked to increased risks of several types of cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Low VOC or Zero VOC Finishes

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, include a wide group of chemicals. Examples include: benzene, ethylene glycol, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, and xylene.

While each chemical will have different levels of toxicity and may cause different health impacts, VOCs have been connected to many health issues, including damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system; headaches, fatigue, dizziness and nausea; and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Some VOCs are even suspected or known carcinogens.

In an ideal world, you would be able to find furniture that is completely free of VOCs.

A common zero VOC finish is linseed oil, or flaxseed oil. This natural finish is food safe and free of harmful chemical solvents, heavy metals, or other toxic ingredients.

That said, budgetary limits, aesthetic preferences, and other values (such as local, ethically-made, etc.) are factors.

So, finding low-VOC furniture can also be a good option, especially if you’re able to off-gas it outdoors or in your garage for a few months before bringing it into your home.

Organic & Natural Materials

This is an obvious one! Preferable materials include organic cotton, hemp, linen, sustainably and locally sourced wool, responsibly-harvested wood (ideally locally sourced and native to the region), and Dunlop latex.

Some certifications to know are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), and OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

Other Non-Toxic Certifications

One common certification is the GREENGUARD certification, which are products that have been “scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards”.

The GREENGUARD Gold certification is the next level. It includes criteria for additional chemicals and requires lower total VOC emissions. It limits the emissions of over 360 VOCs and chemical emissions.

Your Non-Toxic Lifestyle Journey

There is a lot to consider when shopping for non-toxic furniture! Hopefully, this breakdown of elements and red flags to look out for was useful and this list of non-toxic furniture brands gave you a good starting point in your research.

Keep in mind that the journey to green living or non-toxic living is just that — a journey. So, don’t stress if you can’t convert 100% of your home to non-toxic decor and furnishings right away.

Less toxic furniture is still better than conventional super toxic furniture. And implementing air filters or just keeping your windows open each day for an hour can also do wonders. Don’t feel pressured into perfection. Take it slow and do what you can, based on your time and budgetary constraints.

You’re doing great — thank you for caring so much about your health, your loved one’s health, and the health of our shared environment.

Note: This curation is based upon publicly available information and while we do our due diligence, Conscious Life & Style cannot guarantee the claims of the companies featured. See our Website Disclaimer for more.

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Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Okhtapus Cofounder Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy Accelerates Ocean Solutions

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The ocean provides half the oxygen we breathe, absorbs 30% of our carbon emissions, and helps control the planet’s climate. By 2030, it’s expected to support a $3.2 trillion Blue Economy. Yet 70% of proven ocean solutions, such as coastal resilience, coral restoration, and marine pollution cleanup, never move past the pilot stage. These projects often win awards and get media attention, but then stall because funding systems don’t connect working ideas with the cities, ports, and coastal areas that need them. Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, co-founder and ocean lead at Okhtapus, wants to change that. Okhtapus, named with the Persian word for the octopus, uses a model that links what Stewart calls “the three hearts” of successful projects: innovators with proven solutions, cities and ports ready to use them, and funders looking for solid projects.
Stewart Sarkozy-Benoczy, Cofounder and Ocean Lead at Okhtapus.org, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.
The first Okhtapus Global Replicator will launch in 2026. It will bring groups of proven innovators to work on important projects in specific places, such as a single port city like Barcelona, where Okhtapus already has strong partnerships, or a group of Caribbean islands facing similar problems. The aim is to have enough successful projects that funders stop asking “where are the deals?” and start saying “we’ve got enough.” The platform focuses on late-stage startups and scale-ups, not early-stage ideas. Stewart calls these the “Goldilocks zone”—solutions that are proven enough to copy but still need funding and partners to grow. By combining several solutions for different locations, Okhtapus can offer investors portfolios that fit their needs and make a real difference in cities, ports, and island nations.
Stewart has spent 20 years working where climate resilience and policy meet. He was part of President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, led policy and investments at the Resilient Cities Network, and is now Managing Director of the World Ocean Council. “Ten years from now, if this is done fast enough,” Stewart said, “we should have pushed hard enough on the funders and the system to change it. What we don’t know is whether we’ll get to the solution status fast enough for some of these tipping points.”
To find out more about Okhtapus, visit okhtapus.org.

Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on December 22, 2025.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Okhtapus Cofounder Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy Accelerates Ocean Solutions appeared first on Earth911.

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Earth911 Inspiration: A Serious Look at Modern Lifestyle

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Today’s quote comes from Pope John Paul II’s message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1990. He wrote, “Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its lifestyle.”

Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.

Pope John Paul II quote from World Day of Peace message

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The built environment, particularly office buildings other urban facilities, are responsible for 39% of the global energy-related emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. About a third of that impact comes from the initial construction of a building and the other two-thirds is produced over the lifetime of a building by heating, cooling, and providing power to the occupants. Our guest today is leading a key battle to reduce the impact of the built environment. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation with Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at CBRE Group Inc., which manages more than $145 billion of commercial buildings, providing logistics, retail, and corporate office services across more than than 100 countries.

Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at the commercial real estate giant CBRE, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.

Rob cut his sustainability teeth at Microsoft, as its Chief Environmental Strategist for 11 years, as the company was developing its world-leading approach and collaborating with other tech giants to lobby for policy and funding to accelerate progress. He discusses CBRE’s Sustainability Solutions & Services for commercial building owners, as well as the accelerating progress for renewables, carbon tracking, and economic, health, and lifestyle benefits of living lightly on the planet. You can learn more about CBRE and its sustainability services at cbre.com

Take a few minutes to learn more about making construction and building operations more sustainable:

Editor’s Note: This podcast originally aired on April 15, 2024.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Making Billions of Square Feet of Commercial Space Sustainable with CBRE’s Rob Bernard appeared first on Earth911.

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