Image: Medley
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COMFY, SUSTAINABLE & NON-TOXIC COUCHES
Couches are some of the most used furniture pieces in most people’s homes. Whether we love sitting back and relaxing on our sofa to watch a movie with our loved ones or working from the comfort of our beloved loveseat, choosing the right couch is not an easy task.
Not only do we need to take into account the style, comfort level, size, and price, but we also need to find one that will not break or become highly uncomfortable after only a few months of use.
These days, most couches are mass-produced and not built to last. Their poor quality negatively impacts both the environment and our wallets, as we need to buy a new couch more regularly.
But thankfully, we can still find durable, eco-friendly couches on the market. Thanks to the sustainable brands selling them, we can make sustainability a priority without sacrificing comfort!
In this article, we have selected 10 eco-friendly brands crafting comfy, sustainable couches made to last for many, many years.
WHAT MAKES A COUCH SUSTAINABLE?
One of the most important things to prioritize if you want a sustainable couch is to buy one that is well-made and built to last. Try to only choose high-quality, durable materials that will not break or become uncomfortable after some time.
Also, prefer non-toxic and sustainable materials if you can find them. Most couches are made with lots of chemicals, like flame retardants, that can have detrimental effects on our health when exposed to them over time. A sustainable couch should not contain any of these harmful substances and should carry third-party certifications proving that it is healthy to use.
Where and how the couch was made also makes it more or less sustainable. Try to buy your sofa from a sustainable brand that uses ethical practices and manufacturing processes. And make sure the couch is made locally so that it does not have to travel across the world to arrive in your living room.
Finally, you cannot go wrong by choosing a second-hand couch!
WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
Sustainable couches usually have frames crafted from FSC-certified wood, meaning that it was sourced from sustainably-managed forests. Try to avoid frames made of plywood or any other types of pressed wood as these do not last and contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. Also, prefer brands that use low-VOC or zero-VOC finishes on their wood.
For the cushions, look for natural or sustainable fillers like GOLS-certified organic latex, recycled plastic, responsibly-sourced wool, or CertiPUR-US certified foam, which ensures the foam is free of harmful chemicals.
Some of the most sustainable upholstery fabrics are linen, hemp, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and recycled polyester. If you prefer a leather couch, try to find one that was vegetable-tanned as the tanning process is less toxic and more eco-friendly.
Bonus points if the upholstery fabric received the OEKO-TEX or Greenguard Gold certifications!
OUR TOP PICKS FOR Non-Toxic, SUSTAINABLE COUCHEs:
1. Sabai Design
Key Features: B Corp Certification, FSC Certification, OEKO-TEX Standards, Greenguard Gold Certification, GRS Certification, Recycled Fabrics
Price range: $1,295 - 5,645
Sabai Design is a sustainable furniture brand with a thoughtfully curated collection of sofas, sectionals, and loveseats, all of which are available in at least 10 colors.
Everything is produced sustainably using upcycled, recycled, or natural materials. As an example, the couch frames are built from FSC-certified wood, and the wooden legs are stained with a non-toxic water-based finish.
The cushions also contain CertiPUR-US-certified foam, which is completely free of flame retardants or formaldehyde. Sabai chooses all its materials to minimize toxic off-gassing, so there are no harmful chemicals in its couches.
As for the fabrics, they are made from Greenguard Gold-certified upcycled polyester, or recycled velvet carrying the OEKO-TEX and GRS certifications.
Sabai crafts its comfy couches on a made-to-order basis in ethically-run factories in the United States and ships them in 100% recycled corrugated boxes.
The brand is also a B Corp, and it sells all the replacement components you may need to repair your couch if an accident happens. It even has a buyback program allowing you to trade in your used couch or get one second-hand!
2. Burrow
Key Features: Durable Materials, Built-In USB Charger, Highly Customizable
Price range: $835 - 7,098
Burrow is on a mission to create innovative furniture that stands the test of time both in terms of durability and style.
The brand has a very large selection of sofas, sectionals, and loveseats, all of which are designed to be incredibly modular. They are all very easy to put together in minutes and without any tools.
You get to choose from beautiful designs inspired by American mid-century modernism and contemporary Scandinavian style.
The couches are all made with durable materials so that they can last for years and years. For instance, Burrow crafts its frames with sustainably-forested wood and strengthened steel hardware.
The brand also offers different fabric options, from top-grain Italian leather to upcycled fabrics designed to be stain and scratch resistant. They are easy to clean, pet friendly, and made with zero chemical additives or treatments.
You will love that some of Burrow’s couches come with a built-in USB charger, and many are highly customizable (from the leg finish to the fabric color to the armrest height!).
3. West Elm
Key Features: Handcrafted, Sustainably Sourced
Price Range: $600 - 3,500
West Elm is highly regarded by professionals in the interior design industry, and has a wide array of fair trade and environmentally conscious sofa and sectional options.
At Sustainably Chic, we love to see well-known brands offer more sustainable products, as it is a step in the direction of becoming the new norm.
Many of West Elm's couches are constructed using FSC-certified wood and natural materials, exemplifying the brand's commitment to sustainability.
You also have the option of an expansive customization process to create the perfect couch for your living area. Make sure to look for the little indicators "Sustainably-Sourced" and "Handcrafted" for the best conscious options!
4. Parachute
Key Features: CertiPUR-US Certification, Climate Neutral Certification, Recycled & Natural Fabrics
Price range: $3,600 - 4,500
If you are looking for anything cozy and soft for the home, Parachute is made for you! It offers a beautiful sofa, available in two sizes (84” and 96”) and many light, neutral colors.
“Inspired by the soft curves of California’s coast”, the couch has a modern aesthetic featuring clean lines, a versatile design, and a timeless style.
It has a subtly curved silhouette and a welt seam detail all along its armrests, back, and cushions.
Parachute handcrafts its couches in the United States out of engineered solid hardwood. The wood is sustainably sourced and assembled with mortise and tenon joinery, making the frame incredibly durable and long-lasting.
The Pillow sofa is also constructed with CertiPUR-US certified foam and has cushions containing down or down alternative fill. You also get to pick between two finishes for the solid wood legs.
Parachute has a large selection of fabrics to choose from: your couch can be made from linen, recycled polyester, or different blends of cotton, linen, and/or recycled polyester.
Each couch is made to order, and the brand is also Climate Neutral Certified!
5. Medley
Key Features: OEKO-TEX Standards, GOTS Certification, CertiPUR-US Certification, Greenguard Gold Certification
Price range: $2,232 - 11,279
Medley uses time-honored building techniques and sustainable materials to create durable furniture pieces in the USA, including comfy couches and sectional sofas. It offers different designs, all of which are modern and will elevate your living room. Some even fold out into a bed, which is ideal if you regularly have guests staying for the night!
The sofa frames are built with a blend of solid wood and engineered hardwood for added stability, and they come with a lifetime warranty against breaking, warping, or cracking. The wood is also domestically-sourced and comes from FSC-certified forests. The exposed wood bases are then sealed with a bio-based finish made of olive oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax.
Medley has different options for fabric, cushion filling, legs, and the type of foam used inside. For instance, some couches contain CertiPUR-US-certified foam, while others are made with plant-based latex foam and OEKO-TEX-certified wool.
Most of the brand’s upholstery fabrics are also Greenguard Gold, GOTS, or OEKO-TEX certified.
Plus, Medley plants three trees for every tree used to make its pieces!
6. VivaTerra
Key Features: Recycled and Natural Materials, Compliance With The Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Price range: $4,514 - 7,244
VivaTerra blends modern, eco-conscious design with global inspiration to create unique, sustainable goods for the home.
The brand works with talented artisan communities whose craftsmanship is exhibited in each of the products.
VivaTerra sells 2 regular couches and one sectional sofa, all of which are available in at least six different colors. Their clean lines and simple designs will match nearly any home decor style!
Made in the USA with high-quality materials, the company’s couches are made to last many years and are completely free of flame retardants.
Their frames are made with wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and stained with water-based finishes. They are topped with cushions containing filling produced with soy-based content or recycled plastic bottles.
The two Eco Linen sofas are covered with a beautiful linen slipcover, and the regular model comes with two comfy throw pillows to make it even more comfortable. The sectional is also incredibly versatile as its two-seat cushions are each the size of a twin mattress, so you can have guests sleep on them whenever you need extra beds!
7. Maiden Home
Key Features: CertiPUR-US Certification, Greenguard Gold Certification, Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standards
Price range: $2,175 - 9,975
Maiden Home designs modern luxury furniture with elegant, simple details. It has a large selection of sofas and sectional couches featuring gorgeous, minimalist designs.
We absolutely love their simplicity and they look very luxurious!
You can even have them tailor-made and customized to your preferences!
Each piece is handcrafted by artisans based in North Carolina who use heritage upholstery, tailoring, and woodworking techniques passed down from generation to generation.
Available in an assortment of neutral tones, the fabrics highlight the signature curvature of each piece, and they are rich in texture and visual interest. The brand uses fabrics such as merino wool, linen, mohair wool, and different stain-resistant performance fabrics that are free of PFOS and PFOA.
What’s more, all the couches are crafted without flame retardants, formaldehyde, or other potentially harmful substances. The frames are made of hardwood meeting the standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the cushion cores contain renewable, soy-based foam certified CertiPUR-US.
Maiden Home also uses water-based, low-VOC glues and stains whenever possible and springs made of recycled steel.
8. Savvy Rest
Key Features: B Corp Certification, GOTS Certification, Cradle To Cradle Certification, Sustainable & Natural Fabrics
Price range: $3,199 - 3,999
Savvy Rest is a sustainable, organic mattress and bedding company also selling a comfortable 3-seater couch and a cozy loveseat.
Both are hand-built by the brand’s skilled woodworkers in Virginia using only non-toxic, natural, and organic materials.
The frames are crafted with sustainably-harvested and regionally-sourced maple wood certified by the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, and embellished with a zero-VOC finish.
The cushions, which contain Cradle To Cradle certified natural Talalay latex foam, are wrapped in soft organic wool batting. Savvy Rest also uses other natural materials like jute and coconut coir, not to mention its GOTS-certified organic cotton and hemp fabrics.
The brand lets you choose the seat cushion firmness, wood finish, fabric color, and armrest height so the couch is designed according to your preferences! Also, neither of the couches contain flame retardants, formaldehyde glues, plywood, particle boards, down, polyester, or even metal coils.
To top it all off, Savvy Rest received the B Corp certification (among many others), and its three production facilities are all GOTS-certified. It also offsets its carbon emissions and regularly donates pillows to a local women’s shelter.
9. Kaiyo
Key Features: Second-Hand Couches
Price range: $225 - 12,100
Kaiyo is not the typical sustainable furniture brand you can buy couches from; it is an online marketplace where you can purchase and sell pre-loved pieces to keep them out of landfill.
This company is the best option for people who prefer buying things second-hand but are afraid to get a used couch (we know how difficult it is to clean it)!
Kaiyo handles everything for you, from the heavy lifting and delivery to finding the perfect piece and cleaning it! And of course, it makes sure each piece is in excellent condition.
The marketplace has hundreds of listings for couches, sectionals, sofa beds, and loveseats. You will be able to save up to 90% on many furniture brands like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, or Pottery Barn.
The filters on the website allow you to choose exactly what you need and want, including the brand, dimensions, color, price range, style, and many more.
Kaiyo has kept over five million pounds of furniture out of landfills so far, and it plants a tree for every order! Plus, you can resell your couch.
10. Inside Weather
Key Features: CertiPUR-US Certification, FSC Certification, OEKO-TEX Standards, Recycled Fill
Price range: $2,547 - 7,350
Inside Weather is a sustainable furniture brand with a business model allowing you to customize each piece according to your preferences.
It has everything you may need for your living room, from a huge 6-seater sectional with two ottomans to a small 2-seater sofa.
Each couch is made-to-order in California using high-quality, sustainable materials. For instance, its Bondi collection consists of sofas featuring a solid ash wood frame that is FSC-certified, and cushions containing a 100% recycled down alternative crafted from roughly 400 recycled plastic bottles.
Plus, each sofa is made with CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam, which is completely non-toxic and free of ozone depletors. The fabrics used are also OEKO-TEX certified and PFAS-free.
Other things you will love about Inside Weather’s couches are that the fabric covers are removable for easy cleaning, pet-friendly, and stain-repellent. Very modular, the sofas are also designed to evolve with you and your needs.
A final thing worth mentioning is that Inside Weather ships your couch in a recycled cardboard box filled with biodegradable sugar-based foam to protect the contents. The brand also plants two trees for every purchase!
About the Author
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
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Image: Inside Weather
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