Connect with us

Published

on

As you curate or redesign your evening sanctuary, you may be wanting to limit your exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other potentially toxic chemicals. The EPA reports that many VOCs are 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors, and that these VOCs are widely used in household products, including furnishings. Thus the need for this guide to non-toxic bedroom furniture companies!

What is Sustainable and Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture?

I know it can be overwhelming to find out that there is relatively little regulation in the U.S. over the chemicals that are allowed to enter our home. If you’re looking for companies that are taking environmental and human safety seriously, there are several non-toxic bedroom furniture brands doing so. Here is some of the criteria I looked for when making this list.

Solid Wood is a Safer Bet

Composite wood products must be stuck together, and that’s typically done with glue that contains formaldehyde. There are some companies making composite wood products with more sustainable alternatives, but I would recommend either sticking to solid wood or looking for an explicit explanation of the alternative glue being used. (Ideally the composite wood product would also be tested by a third party. More on that in a moment.)

In terms of sustainability, look for wood that is reclaimed or responsibly sourced from well-managed forests and at the very least, not coming from old-growth or endangered forests.

Unfinished or Low VOC Finishes

Most wood furniture is finished with some type of finish. These can be natural oil finishes like linseed oil or they may also be polyurethane (plastic material). Generally natural oils and water-based finishes are recognized as emitting lower levels of VOCs. And I’m always a fan of avoiding fossil-fuel products where I can.

Some of the brands on this list even have unfinished wood options, which would be the safest bet.

Natural (or Even Organic) Materials

Synthetic fibers make up 64% of global fiber production. In other words, the majority of fabrics we see today — whether in clothes, home textiles, or upholstered furniture — are either fully or partially synthetic.

Look for materials like natural latex, organic cotton, and linen in your non-toxic bedroom furniture. Even natural materials often are colored with synthetic dyes, but we’re doing the best we can!

Third Party Certifications

To be clear, no certification is going to be perfect but there are several certifying parties adding an extra layer of protection to non-toxic related claims.

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): As is in the name, GOTS is a standard for organic textile processing and certifies the entire supply chain of a textile. It can be used to certify fiber products like fabrics, clothes and mattresses.

GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard): This standard certifies products, like mattresses, that are made from organic natural rubber latex.

GREENGUARD Gold Certification from UL: This is a globally recognized certification from the Greenguard Environmental Institute that verifies products for low emissions of VOCs indoors.

FSC-Certified (Forest Stewardship Council): The FSC certifies wood and other forest products to ensure that they come from forests meeting certain environmental and social standards.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: Tests the finished textile for harmful substances — this is a fabric-specific certification, so it covers things like sheets or upholstery fabric, not the wood frame or foam underneath it.

Fair Trade Certified: Verifies that a factory meets standards for fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical labor practices — this is a certification about how a product was made and by whom, not about the materials themselves.

Where to Find Sustainable and Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture

With those considerations top of mind, I’ve curated my top picks for sustainably-crafted furniture (and mattresses) for your bedroom.

1. Avocado

Best for: reclaimed wood bedroom furniture and non-toxic mattresses in one place

Categories: Mattresses, Crib Mattress, Kids Mattress, Beds, Bedding, Nightstands, Dressers
Price Range: $750 (Twin platform bed) – $7,999 (California King frame with headboard)
Shipping: Ships furniture within the contiguous U.S.

Conscious Qualities: GOTS and GOLS Certified USA Mattress Factory, FSC-Certified USA Woodshop, GREENGUARD Gold Certified Products

Avocado was first founded as a green mattress company, making GOTS-certified organic non-toxic mattresses that meet STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® standards. The brand has since expanded into bedding and furniture with the same high standards, using sustainably sourced wood, organic fabrics, and zero VOC finishes. But the highlight for me is that the brand makes their mattresses in their own GOTS-Certified facility in California!

mid-century modern sustainable non-toxic bedroom furniture

2. Savvy Rest

Best for: Fully natural, organic furniture and bedding

Categories: Beds, Mattresses, Pillows
Price Range: $400 (bedside table) – $5,899 (King split top mattress)
Shipping: Free White Glove delivery within continental U.S.; contact for quotes outside 48 contiguous states

Conscious Qualities: Organic & Natural Materials, Zero VOC Finishes, Unfinished Option, USA-Made

Savvy Rest uses the best of the best when it comes to non-toxic bedroom furniture and mattress materials. The beds are made from responsibly sourced Appalachian wood and finished with zero VOC linseed oil, zero-VOC stain or can be left unfinished. The mattresses are made in a GOTS-certified facility with GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified natural latex, certified organic wool and certified organic cotton.

The highlight for me is their adjustable bed and split top mattress —I haven’t seen a non-toxic bedroom furniture company offer something like this before.

*Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off

Savvy Rest non-toxic bed frame with non-toxic mattress on the top of a mountain

3. Medley

Best for: Natural latex furniture, from mattress to bed

Categories: Beds, Mattress, Dressers, Nightstands, Accent Chairs, Benches + Ottomans
Price Range: $795 (nightstand) – $6,595 (King bed)
Shipping: Contiguous U.S.

Conscious Qualities: FSC-Certified Wood, GOLS-Certified Latex, USA-Made

Medley’s specialty is contemporary sustainable and non-toxic furniture. Their eco-friendly bedroom furniture is made with responsibly-sourced wood, organic natural latex, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100-certified wool, and zero-VOC finishes. The brand also carries a mattress made in Illinois from 100% GOLS-certified latex.

Medley is at the top of my list because of their commitment to safe materials, sustainability, design, durability, and craftsmanship.

Non-toxic bedroom featuring upholstered beige bed and wood nightstand

4. Birch

Best for: award-winning organic mattresses

Categories: Mattresses, Kids Mattress, Beds, Bedding
Price Range: $199 (metal frame) – $4,498 (Cal King elite natural mattress)
Shipping: Ships to U.S. and Canada

Conscious Qualities: GOTS-Certified Factory, Fair Trade Certified Factory, GREENGUARD Gold-Certified Products

With “Best Organic Mattress” awards from outlets like CNN and Forbes, Birch’s popular mattress is made with quality natural materials like organic cotton, organic wool, and natural latex. Birch’s foundation is made with spruce hardwood and organic cotton; note that their bed frame’s upholstery option is polyester (plastic) fabric, so I would avoid that variant.

Oak non-toxic mattress, bed and bedding from Birch

5. Cisco Home @ Urban Natural

Best for: design-forward, made-to-order bedroom furniture

Categories: Beds, Dressers, Nightstands, Accent Chairs + Sofas, Benches + Ottomans
Price Range: $3,588 (Twin bed) – $10,979 (King bed)
Shipping: Ships within contiguous U.S.; white glove delivery available with fee

Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Furnishing Council Founding Member, FSC-Certified Wood, Organic Material Options, USA Made,

Cisco Home’s Inside Green collection is your ticket to sustainable and non-toxic bedroom furniture. From upholstered beds to benches, your selection will be made to order with FSC-certified wood, jute, hemp, organic latex, organic cotton and wool. Just note that their default furniture options don’t automatically include their best eco materials, which could be a little confusing, so I want to flag it. For the most eco-minded option, select “Organic Upgrade” on the product pages to get the Inside Green collection version.

Light fabric upholstered non-toxic bed and ottoman

6. Healthier Homes

Best for: natural material bedroom seating, storage, and accents

Categories: Accent Chairs, Dressers + Nightstands, Storage, Bedding, Decor
Price Range: $390 (nightstand) – $6,399 (cashmere mattress)
Shipping: Contiguous U.S.

Conscious Qualities: Solid Hardwood, Natural Fabrics, Non-Toxic

Founded by the “world’s first healthy home builders” Jenny and Rusty are on a mission to make non-toxic natural furnishings more easily accessible to their community. Healthier Homes is a destination for all things non-toxic home, from furniture and mattresses to decor and even paint. My favorite piece is their Mindi Organic Wood Bedframe, for a natural elevated boho vibe that showcases the wood’s natural grain without any toxic finishes.

7. Thuma

Best for: minimalist modular bedroom furniture

Categories: Bed, Dresser, Shelving, Bedside Tables, Mattress, Bedding
Price Range: $895 (Twin bed, frame only) – $2,595 (King bed with upholstery)
Shipping: Ships within U.S. and Canada (international customers can use freight forwarder)

Conscious Qualities: Upcycled Solid Rubberwood, GREENGUARD Gold-Certified Products

Everything Thuma sells is thoughtfully designed with functionality top of mind. Thuma’s dresser is modular and adaptable to varying needs with 7 different configurations (including a bedside table). The bed’s pieces are also configurable — buy just a bed frame or add on a headboard and/or cushion knowing that everything is designed to work together seamlessly.

With nearly 21,000 reviews averaging 4.9 stars, this is the brand in this guide I’d feel most confident recommending sight-unseen!

Dark wood non-toxic bedroom furniture from Thuma

8. My Green Mattress

Best for: organic mattresses for kids and babies

Categories: Mattresses, Kids Mattresses, Crib Mattress, Bed Frames, Bedding
Price Range: $399 (crib mattress) – $2,399 (Cal King mattress)
Shipping: Free shipping within U.S.

Conscious Qualities: GOTS + GOLS Certified Mattresses, USA Made, Zero Wood Stains

The certified organic mattresses from My Green Mattress are all made in their own factory in Illinois. These quality mattresses come with a year-long sleep trial and 20-year warranty so you can rest easy about your purchase. The Amish-made platform bed is made with the same commitments and is left unfinished with zero wood stains.

While the company has certified organic crib mattresses and kids mattresses, they don’t yet have a bed frame for kids. So you may want to head to Green Cradle for the solid wood crib.

Organic crib mattress made from sustainable materials

9. The Futon Shop

Best for: futons and natural wood bedroom furniture

Categories: Mattresses, Beds, Futons, Dressers & Bedside Tables, Bedding, Crib Mattresses, and even Dog Beds
Price Range: $375 (nightstand) – $4,649 (6-drawer dresser)
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. (custom quotes elsewhere) or free in-store pickup

Conscious Qualities: Organic Materials, Solid Wood Options, Zero VOC Finish Options

If you’re looking for a non-toxic futon frame or sofa bed mattress, The Futon Shop is just your place. The retailer offers organic cotton, natural Dunlop latex, and natural wool mattresses for both sofa beds and regular beds. Many of their futons and platform beds are made with solid wood. Look for the options like this one that say “Chemical Free” or “Natural” for non-toxic bed frames finished with linseed oil only. I also love that the company is women-owned — still a rarity among furniture companies.

Non-toxic light wood bed frame and mattress

Why Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture Matters

The EPA states that they “from an indoor health perspective”, they have “no authority to regulate household products”, which is concerning to say the least.

That said, the EPA does have the authority to regulate on certain chemical substances in the Toxic Substances Control Act which has protected us from chemicals like asbestos and lead-based paint.

And after California Air Resources Board issues requirements, the EPA released formaldehyde emissions standards for composite wood products, as formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. (The standards lower the maximum formaldehyde emissions a composite wood product can have, but does not require the emissions to be zero.)

Many states have their own regulations around VOCs. I won’t bore you with the details, but you may want to search for your own state’s stance on VOCs.

All this to say, while there is some regulation around toxic chemicals in our products the standards still allow for many toxic chemicals in what we bring into our home, like furniture. So I hope that this guide has supported you in looking for safer products for your bedroom oasis.

More Furniture Guides:

15 Best Non-Toxic Furniture Brands for a Healthier Home

11 Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Beds for a Sustainable Slumber

7 Best Places for Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands

The post 9 Sustainable Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture Companies for a Safer Sleep appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

9 Sustainable Non-Toxic Bedroom Furniture Companies for a Safer Sleep

Continue Reading

Green Living

9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads

Published

on

As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.

A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.

Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!

So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?

First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.

When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:

  • Responsibly Sourced Materials: most bookshelves are made primarily with wood. While natural, unsustainable wood sourcing can be a cause of deforestation, so we want to see that the wood was from responsibly managed forests or made from reclaimed or repurposed wood. Some bookshelves may feature metal, in which case recycled materials here are important.
  • High Quality Construction: sustainability includes longevity — how long will you be able to use that furniture piece before it goes to the landfill and gets replaced? Look for transparency around craftsmanship and woodworking processes. Another sign of quality is the length of warranty a company has for its products.
  • Ethically Made: this one is straightforward in theory — were the people making it paid fairly and working in safe conditions? — but is unfortunately not always easy to find information. In this category, I look for transparency in practices, what relationship the brand has with the manufacturer (some produce in-house which is the best case scenario for transparency!), where it was made, and how well the makers were paid.

Ideally a sustainable bookshelf would also be non-toxic — as toxic chemical fumes aren’t exactly sustainable! But this isn’t always the case. For example, if a company prioritizes upcycled materials, they don’t necessarily have control over what inputs were part of the original materials. And sometimes a company focuses more on ethical artisan partnerships and sustainable wood sourcing, more than, say, using non-toxic finishes.

But when it comes to non-toxic bookshelves, this is what I look for. (Note that non-toxic doesn’t necessarily mean safe for all chemical sensitivities. Nor does it mean zero potentially irritating chemicals.)

  • Solid Wood (where possible): MDF or pressed wood contains glue to stick the various wood pieces together, which can contain added formaldehyde. I prefer solid wood, or if it is engineered wood, I’d make sure the company is transparent around the type of glue used and/or they at least have a product certification like GREENGUARD. (More on that in a second.)
  • Low or Zero VOC Finishes: most wood furniture is completed with some sort of finish to provide a protection against scratches or moisture. Many of these finishes are synthetic, and some can contain high levels of toxic chemicals. Look for a natural finish like linseed oil or beeswax or a low VOC synthetic finish.

Relevant Certifications

You’ll see a few certifications referenced throughout this guide. Here’s what each one covers:

  • FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed; this is not a finish, foam, or textile guarantee.
  • GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold Certified = the finished product was tested for low chemical emissions, including VOCs, with Gold representing the stricter tier.
  • Fair Trade Certified™ = verifies that a factory meets standards for fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical labor practices.
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified (Gold) = evaluates a product or material across material health, circularity, clean air/climate, water/soil stewardship, and social fairness.

Where to Find Sustainable Bookcases and Shelving

I’m always a secondhand first proponent, and that goes for furniture, too. While your local thrift store might not have used bookshelves, check for dedicated furniture resale shops near you or estate sales. (I use EstateSales.net to find ones near me.) You can also find gently used pieces on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or AptDeco.

If you can’t find something you love secondhand, and you don’t want to DIY your own bookshelf, then the next best choice is to shop from one of the sustainable furniture companies below. (If you’re simply looking for a bookstand, I’d suggest browsing Etsy for a collection of solid wood, bamboo, and reclaimed wood book stands and cookbook stands!)

Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links which helps us continue to run this website and create resources like these. As always all brands meet strict sustainability criteria and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!

1. Medley

Best for: low VOC wood bookcases

Medley’s bookshelves are elegant and elevated, perfect for a living room. Each piece is made with 100% solid FSC-certified hardwood for the tops and sides, though low-VOC CARB 2 compliant plywood is used for the shelves.

Every eco-friendly bookcase is handcrafted in the US (California or North Carolina) and completed with a low-VOC wood finish.

Price: $2,395 – $2,995
Materials: White Maple, American Walnut Wood
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, US-Made, FSC-Certified Wood, Natural Finish

Eco-friendly bookshelf from Medley

2. Thuma

Best for: non-toxic modular bookshelf

Thuma’s eco-friendly bookshelf is made from upcycled wood sourced from rubberwood trees no longer being used to source rubber. The brand’s bookshelf is also GREENGUARD Gold certified.

What makes Thuma’s bookshelf stand out to me, though, is its modularity — their Pillar Bookshelf can be set in 10 different configurations. And if you start with just a few shelves but later decide you want a larger bookshelf, you can simply buy an additional shelf or two to add on to it!

Price Range: $550 – $3,300
Materials: Upcylced Rubber Wood
Conscious Qualities: GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Repurposed Materials, Adaptable

Upcycled wood bookshelf

3. West Elm GREENGUARD Certified

Best for: low-tox bookcases and bookracks for kids

This furniture retailer has plenty of adorable, but functional, bookshelves for a playroom or kids’ bedroom. From cubby bookcases to mid-century bookracks, you’ll find plenty of options that are not only GREENGUARD certified, but made in Fair Trade Certified™factories, and/or with FSC-certified wood. Note that the company’s bookshelves are made with engineered wood, though.

West Elm also has GREENGUARD certified bookcases large enough for the adults too!

Price: $399 – $2,897

Materials: Solid Wood, Reclaimed Wood

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, FSC Certified, and GREENGUARD Certified Options

Mid-century modern non-toxic Greenguard certified kids bookshelf

4. Urban Natural

Best for: a variety of eco-friendly bookshelves

This natural home retailer has sustainable bookcases in all shapes and sizes. From traditional bookcases to open-back asymmetrical shelving units, Urban Natural has options for any interior aesthetic. Each brand they carry values quality craftsmanship, responsible production, and sustainable sourcing.

Price: $1,099 – $5549
Materials: Solid Teak, Maple, Cherry, Walnut, Birch (varies by brand)
Conscious Qualities: FSC-Certified Options, USA-Made Options, Low VOC Finish Options (varies by brand)

5. MasayaCo

Best for: sustainably-sourced wood bookshelves

MasayaCo has a stunning collection of sustainable shelves and bookcases handcrafted by artisans in Nicaragua. Not only is each piece of furniture made from responsibly harvested wood, but MasayaCo plants 100 trees for each order — and has planted 1.3 million trees to date. Plus they keep 40% of the reforestation projects completely untouched, to ensure the ecosystems have the chance to truly thrive.

The company shares that with the right care, their teak wood pieces can last up to 75 years. Note, though, that the finishes used aren’t disclosed, so if that’s one of your priorities, this might not be the top pick for you.

Price: $675-$1,295
Materials: Teak
Conscious Qualities: Artisan Made-to-Order, Reforestation Projects, FSC-Certified

Dark teak wood sustainable bookshelf

6. Healthier Homes

Best for: affordable non-toxic bookshelves

With shelving options starting at under $250, Healthier Homes is a more affordable option for finding sustainable, non-toxic bookcases and shelving.

Most of their wood furniture is made from Parawood, rescued from rubber tree farms after the trees stop producing latex. And their wooden bookcases come unfinished, so you can have full control over the color and any chemicals used. (The company also sells zero VOC furniture paint.)

Price: $238 – $2,160
Materials: Repurposed Wood, Metal, Zero VOC Finishes
Conscious Qualities: Repurposed Materials

Natural wood non-toxic bookshelf from Healthier Homes

7. What We Make

Best for: reclaimed wood bookshelves

Illinois-based furniture company What We Make crafts non-toxic bookcases with a VOC-free finish.

The shop offers both modern Scandinavian styles (pictured here) using solid oak and industrial style sustainable bookshelves made with a stainless steel frame and the reclaimed wood salvaged from 100+ year old Midwestern barns.

Price: $2,025 – $5,055
Materials: Oak, Reclaimed Wood
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, Repurposed Material Option, Zero-VOC Finish

Oak wood non-toxic bookcase with open back

8. Greenington

Best for: bamboo bookshelves

Greenington is a furniture company with pieces crafted from sustainably hand-harvested Moso bamboo. Greenington sources mature bamboo — reached in just 5 years — for maximum strength and durability. And because bamboo is technically a grass, not a tree, it regenerates after being cut without any replanting.

The company uses every part of the bamboo culm, for zero waste production, winning the Sustainable Furnishings Council Green Ribbon Award in 2020.

Price: $809 – $2,139
Materials: Moso Bamboo
Conscious Qualities: Zero-Waste Production, Sustainable Materials

Dark Wood Open Shelving Sustainable Bookcase

9. Crate & Barrel FSC-Certified

Best for: certified responsibly sourced wood shelving

Crate & Barrel’s FSC-Certified collection features bookshelves made with materials like solid oak, mahogany wood, teak, and rattan. And you can find a range of styles and finishes in their collection, from natural oak to espresso and driftwood.

It’s worth noting that the company’s bookshelves do contain veneer and engineered wood as well. There are also select products that are also GREENGUARD certified, but not all of them.

Price: $1,399 – $4,949
Materials: FSC-Certified Wood, Some GREENGUARD Certified Pieces
Conscious Qualities: Natural Materials, Responsibly Sourced

FSC-certified sustainable wooden bookshelf

More Guides to Browse:

Sustainable Tables and Coffee Tables to Gather Around

The Best Non-Toxic Furniture Brands for a Healthier Home

Sustainable Storage Furniture: Dressers, Media Consoles, and More

The post 9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads

Continue Reading

Green Living

8 Best Sustainable and Non-Toxic Ottomans, Poufs, and Benches

Published

on

Put your feet up and relax with the eco-friendly and non-toxic ottomans, benches, and poufs from these incredible sustainable furniture brands.

What makes an ottoman, pouf, or bench sustainable?

There are a lot of considerations that go into making sustainable furniture. Some brands may meet more of these criteria than others, and some criteria may be more or less important to you.

You might also engage with sustainability differently depending on your lifestyle, budget, aesthetic preferences, among other factors. But here’s a general idea of what to look for:

Look Secondhand

Used ottomans and benches are going to the most sustainable option since these furniture pieces have already been produced! Plus you’re preventing that furniture from heading to a landfill. You could browse an app like OfferUp or check your local Facebook Marketplace.

You can also check secondhand furniture sites like AptDeco and Chairish

Shopping for new sustainably-made ottomans and benches? Check out the following tips:

Eco-Conscious & Durable Materials

With the rise of fast furniture, the quality (and the sustainability) of materials used in furniture has declined. I’m consistently blown away by the incredible condition of so much vintage mid-century modern (1930s-1970s) furniture out there!

A sustainable ottoman (or sustainable bench) would be made durably so it lasts and would be constructed from responsibly sourced materials such as FSC-Certified and/or locally sustainably-harvested wood, recycled fabrics and organic natural fabrics for the upholstery, and non-toxic — ideally zero VOC — finishes. This guide has more non-toxic furniture brands.

Responsibly Made

Look into where the brand is producing their ottomans, benches, and/or poufs. Is it in their own workshop or a nearby production facility? Is it in a fair trade artisan workshop? A brand should have full transparency and traceability of their supply chain.

They also should ensure workers are earning living wages and work in safe environments. (This is where the overlap with non-toxic comes in — when there are toxic chemicals used in furniture, supply chain workers are exposed to these toxins in far greater quantities than consumers.)

Circular Practices

The EPA estimates that 12 million tons of furniture are thrown out annually. Yikes. A brand selling sustainable benches and ottomans would ideally consider the following:

  • Quality construction so the furniture lasts a lifetime (or several)! If you’re moving a lot, it’s also worth considering how easy that piece of furniture is to move around and deconstruct/reconstruct if necessary. Though this probably is less of a concern with a smaller piece of furniture like a pouf, bench, or ottoman.
  • Repairability. Is that material repairable? Does that brand have replacement parts? Is it a material that could be refinished or reupholstered easily? For example “vegan leather” (typically plastic) is very difficult to keep up or repair.
  • Secondhand program or resellability. It would be incredible if the brand had a resale program for their furniture. Not many brands do, though. So you might also just think about if the style and quality of the piece would make it easy to sell again if you do think you might outgrow it.

Where to Find Sustainable Ottomans, Benches, and Poufs

Phew, that was a lot! But don’t worry: we’ve done the hard work of sifting through brands to curate the best options available right now. Check them out!

Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase which helps us continue to run this site. We only feature brands that meet strict standards for sustainability we love, and that we think you’ll love too.

1. Medley

Best for: non-toxic ottomans and poufs

Medley has sustainable poufs, ottomans (including storage ottomans!), and benches handcrafted in the US to the highest quality standards. To back up their claims, Medley has a lifetime warranty on frames, 10-year warranty on fillings, and a 5-year warranty on fabric upholstery. Their benches and ottomans are made from domestically-sourced FSC-certified Alder hardwood and non-toxic fabrics (including GREENGUARD certified fabrics and natural fabrics like cotton and linen.

Conscious Qualities: US-Made, Quality Warranty, Natural Materials

Price Range: $595 – $1,985
Ships: International

Sustainable white stripey pouf from Medley

2. Savvy Rest

Best for: organic ottoman made with all-natural materials

Savvy Rest has a non-toxic ottoman made from solid maple hardwood, GOTS-certified organic cotton and/or hemp upholstery, and Cradle to Cradle GOLD-certified Talalay latex. The brand also has a sustainable bench crafted by skilled woodworkers in Charlottesville, Virginia from sustainably-sourced maple. All of their furniture is available unfinished or with zero-VOC finishes.

Conscious Qualities: Non-Toxic, Organic & Natural Materials, Built In Virginia

Price Range: $1,149 – $1,498
Ships: Internationally

Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off!

white ottomans from Savvy Rest

3. MasayaCo

Best for: sustainable wood benches

Originally founded as a reforestation project, this sustainable furniture company is committed to responsibly-made furniture. They’ve planted 1.2 million trees to date!

MasayaCo’s teak ottomans and benches are handcrafted to order by skilled artisans in Nicaragua. Many of the pieces are suitable for outdoor use as well. Note, though, that MasayaCo doesn’t include information on the finishes they use.

Conscious Qualities: FSC-Certified, Reforestation Projects, Artisan Handmade to Order

Price Range: $295 – $995
Ships To: US States & Territories

sustainable wooden bench

4. Urban Natural

Best for: design-forward sustainable benches and ottomans

This sustainable furniture and home retailer has a beautiful selection of functional ottomans, cozy poufs, and elegant benches.

Among their selection are reclaimed teak benches from Ethnicraft and organic ottomans made with all-natural materials from Cisco Home (select “Inside Green”). You’ll likely be able to find whatever you’re looking for on Urban Natural, from an ottoman with storage to a swivel pouf.

Conscious Qualities: Eco-Minded Materials

Price Range: $419 – $5,595

Ships to: Contiguous US; contact for overseas shipping

Sustainable pouf in light beige

5. Sabai

Best for: repairable sustainable ottoman

Sabai’s sustainable seating and ottoman considers not only the production practices (like using recycled fabrics, FSC-certified wood, and CertiPUR-US certified foam) but also its use and end-of-life. The company offers replacement parts and has a buy back & resale program.

Conscious Qualities: Recycled & Natural Materials, Secondhand & Repair Program

Price: $425
Ships To: All US States + Canada

Beige fabric sustainable non-toxic ottoman from Sabai

6. Emeco

Best for: quality benches with lifetime warranty

Handcrafted in Pennsylvania from recycled aluminum and responsibly-harvested Accoya wood, Emeco’s eco-friendly benches are built to last. In fact, every product passes commercial grade standards — so you know it’s durable. Emeco’s benches are also Cradle to Cradle Gold certified and are free of VOCs.

Conscious Qualities: Recycled & Sustainably Sourced Materials, Durable, Made in the US

Price Range: $1,435 – $2,395
Ships to: US

Wood and recycled aluminum bench from Emeco

7. Natural Home

Best for: modular non-toxic ottomans

Natural Home by Futon Shop has non-toxic ottomans made from 100% natural materials. Their NBJ modular ottomans are crafted with natural Dunlop latex, coconut coir base, and wool upholstery. They also have a vegan ottoman made with potato-based PLA fiber. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can upgrade to organic latex fill for your custom ottoman.

Conscious Qualities: Non-Toxic, Natural & Organic Materials, Woman-Founded, Gives Back

Price Range: $699 – $2,125
Ships To: Contiguous US States

Non-toxic white ottoman from Natural Home

8. Loll Designs

Best for: sustainable outdoor ottomans

Loll Designs creates outdoor furniture (including an outdoor ottoman) from partially recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) — mostly from milk jugs – and the upholstery is made from Sunbrella acrylic, a long-lasting performance fabric. All of Loll’s materials are purchased within the US and the furniture is produced in Duluth, Minnesota.

Conscious Qualities: Recycled Materials, Made in the US

Price: $245 – $1,795
Ships to: US

Ethical outdoor white ottoman from Loll Designs

More Sustainable Furniture Guides:

Sustainable & Non-Toxic Sofas To Relax In

Eco-Friendly Chairs To Take A Sustainable Seat In

Gorgeous Sustainable Tables To Gather Around

The post 8 Best Sustainable and Non-Toxic Ottomans, Poufs, and Benches appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

8 Best Sustainable and Non-Toxic Ottomans, Poufs, and Benches

Continue Reading

Green Living

Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Curtains to Accent Your Space Sustainably

Published

on

Curtains are often an afterthought when styling your interior spaces, but the right window treatment can honestly bring the entire room together — or add the perfect unexpected accent. The importance of choosing sustainable curtains is equally important in my opinion for several reasons, too.

Why does choosing sustainable curtains even matter?

Toxic Chemicals:

As with any other type of textile, the curtain market is full of plastic curtains made and treated with toxic chemicals. Vinyl curtains are among the worst culprits as they’re typically made from PVC. Research has shown that these PVC curtains contain toxic chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) phthalates, and organotins.

And sometimes you can feel the impact: when my husband and I moved into our home, the previous owners had left their curtains. At first, we thought: score! Free curtains. But then the rooms that had windows with full sun kept reeking of burning plastic. My husband would complain of headaches when he was in his office (one of said full-sun rooms). At first, he thought it was all the computer hardware, but as someone who’s written about sustainable fashion and home for a decade, I had a feeling it was the curtains. Sure enough, the second we removed the curtains, the burning plastic smell was gone as were the headaches.

Materials:

The vast majority of curtains are made from synthetic fabrics like polyester. In other words, plastic. In fact when we went shopping for curtains at our local hardware stores, we found that 100% — and I am not exaggerating here — of the options sold on the floor were 100% polyester. Not only is this an unsustainable material, but I do not want the heat of the sun hitting plastic fabric in my house all day long (see above for why!).

Labor Issues

Just as fast fashion is often made in exploitative conditions, home textiles are just as likely to be produced in manufacturing facilities with little transparency by workers earning low wages, working long hours. Sweatshops, child labor, and even forced labor are a reality in the home goods industry as well.

So, what are sustainable curtains?

Sustainable curtains will ideally address these various issues. While every curtain has to be made by human makers from fiber, dyes, and other inputs, all of those elements can be more considered.

Materials:

When it comes to sustainable materials, I look for natural fibers first and foremost. Of course not all natural fibers are low impact, but linen and hemp tend to require fewer resources to grow than cotton. Certified organic cotton can be a better alternative that does not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides for production. That doesn’t mean conventional cotton is “bad” — a lot depends on how that cotton was farmed — but it’s a consideration to keep in mind. I would still always choose cotton over polyester, which releases microplastics when washed.

Dyes and Chemicals:

Most dyes today are also made from petroleum. (It’s depressing, I know.) But there are some brands prioritizing natural, organic dyes for their products — including a few in this guide!

You can identify if a product was potentially made with toxic finishes if the product description says something like “wrinkle free” or “stain resistant”. Water or stain-repellent products can contain PFAS (also called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or in your body).

This information isn’t always disclosed and frankly, the majority of dyes even from brands using natural fibers are synthetic. So I’d suggest looking for the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification which tests for over 1,000 hazardous and harmful chemicals. A product made with synthetic fibers and synthetic dyes can still hold this certification — it does not mean a product is natural — but it can be an assurance against avoiding the most widely known toxic chemicals in textiles.

Ethical Production:

This one is pretty straightforward. Were the people making these curtains treated fairly and paid well?

To ensure this, I look to see if the brand offers transparency into their production. Are they making the curtains themselves? Do they make the curtains in their own studio or production house? If they outsource production, how do they ensure fair wages and safe conditions, and reasonable working hours? One way this is done is through the Fair Trade Certified™certification. While no certification is perfect, this is an added assurance that the facility where that product was made upheld good conditions for workers, and that workers earned a fair wage.

Another approach, particularly for small businesses, is close partnerships with artisan cooperatives. In these arrangements, the cooperatives often set the prices to the brands, giving them financial agency in their work. That doesn’t mean artisan partnerships are always ethical, though. I still like to see transparency into what that relationship is like between designer or brand and artisan.

If you’re thinking: wow, that’s a lot to look for! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I researched and vetted dozens of brands to curate the best of the best for ethical and sustainable curtains. These brands use fair practices, source sustainably, craft with quality, and have beautiful designs, too.

Where to Find Sustainable and Fair Trade Curtains

Note that this guide includes affiliates. As always, all brands featured meet rigorous sustainability criteria and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!

1. Ichcha

Best for: artisan handmade curtains

Many curtains say “handmade”, but what makes Ichcha special is that each curtain is not just sewn by hand but printed by hand using carved wooden blocks and dyed by hand with natural dyes in Rajasthan, India. Natural doesn’t mean dull though — the brand’s collection is full of vibrant hues.

In short: the craftsmanship behind Ichcha is the real deal. Just keep in mind that with the handcrafted nature of these products, there will be slight variations in products.

Conscious Qualities: Natural Dyes, 100% Cotton, Artisan Handmade

Price Range: $54 – $86

Yellow naturally dyed cotton curtain hand blockprinted by artisans

2. Magic Linen

Best for: high-quality 100% linen curtains

I purchased a set of Magic Linen curtains for my home a few years ago and was quite impressed with the weightiness of the brand’s stonewashed linen curtains. The color facing the full sun window has faded, which is to be expected with lower impact dyes, so we just keep the faded side facing outwards.

MagicLinen makes all of their linen products to order locally in Lithuania in-house, minimizing waste throughout production, and shipping products in compostable packaging.

Conscious Qualities: 100% Linen, In-House Production, Made to Order, Compostable Packaging

Price Range: $55 – $217

Cinnamon natural 100% linen curtains

3. GreenRow

Best for: curtains with vintage-inspired prints

If you haven’t heard of GreenRow, you likely will soon. Part of the Williams-Sonoma network of brands, GreenRow was founded as a furniture and home company of exclusively sustainably-sourced pieces.

Their vibrant patterned curtains are among my favorite for their cozy meets vintage chic vibes. The natural fiber curtains are mostly linen/cotton blends, and several options are OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified and Fair Trade Certified™. (Check each product’s description.)

Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified and Fair Trade Certified™options

Price Range: $129 – $559

Floral printed natural fiber curtains

4. Linenistic

Best for: organic fiber curtains

Linenistic is one of the few curtain brands out there that has curtains made from GOTS-certified organic linen. The natural medium-weight curtains come in dozens of colors and customizable lengths and widths.

Styles include everything from Japanese Noren curtains and European-style café curtains to piped edge linen drapes and tie-up curtains ideal for a kitchen. You can also add on ruffles (a touch I love!) or add a second color if you choose.

Conscious Qualities: GOTS-Certified Organic Linen, Natural Dyes, Made to Order

Price Range: $35 – $128

Sage green linen tie up curtains

5. Rawganique

Best for: non-toxic curtains

If finding all-natural curtains is important to you, I’d steer you towards Rawganique. The brand not only uses top of the line sustainably-sourced materials like organic hemp and organic linen for the curtains, but even the thread is cotton, which from my experience in this industry, I know is quite rare. Further, the brand uses exclusively biodegradable organic dyes or leaves their curtains undyed for a natural look.

Rawganique also has the only fully plastic-free blackout curtain that I’ve seen on the market.

Conscious Qualities: Organic Fabrics, Non-Toxic Dyes & Finishes, In-House Production

Price Range: $79 – $249

6. West Elm Fair Trade Certified™

Best for: fair trade curtains

Home retailer West Elm has a sizable selection of Fair Trade Certified™curtains in plenty of pretty prints from floral to gingham. (My favorites are from the Emma Chamberlain collection.) If neutral solids are more your style, West Elm has plenty of more basic fair trade curtains as well.

Many of their curtains are made of 100% cotton or 100% linen and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Certified as well. (Though not all of them, so you may want to double check the product description if natural fibers are a priority for you.)

Conscious Qualities: Made in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities, Natural Fiber Options

Price Range: $39 – $838

Dark green Fair Trade certified curtains

7. Linden Studio

Best for: customizable linen curtains

Run by a sister duo who have long been passionate about designing and crafting, Linden Studio is a shop creating made to order goods from 100% European linen in their Maryland studio. Among their curtain collection, you’ll find unique detailing like ruffles and pompoms. While pictured all in white, the brand has 12 different colors like cinnamon and terracotta to choose from.

What really makes this option stand out to me though is their custom sewing services — you can send them unused fabric you already picked out. Or if you want to remake old curtains or bedding, you can contact them for a custom quote.

Conscious Qualities: 100% Linen, Made-to-Order, Ethically Made

Price Range: $79 – $164

White sheer 100% linen curtains from Linden Studio

You May Also Want to Check Out

Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Conscious Space

What is Sustainable Interior Design? Tips, Tricks, and Common Myths

Eco Friendly and Ethical Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic

The post Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Curtains to Accent Your Space Sustainably appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Curtains to Accent Your Space Sustainably

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 BreakingClimateChange.com