A Healthy Home | Upholstered Furniture
Custom Upholstered Sofa at our Harbour Downtown Condo
“…indoor air quality is often 2-5 more times polluted than outdoor air quality.”
The environmental impact and importance of buying eco-friendly furniture is often overlooked. Traditional sofas, beds and other furnishings are major polluters of our homes. In the previous post I mentioned that indoor air quality is often 2-5 more times polluted than outdoor air quality, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Given that we spend 90% of our time indoors, purchasing furniture that’s good for the environment and our personal health is important.
“Given that we spend 90% of our time indoors, purchasing furniture that’s good for the environment and our personal health is important.”
Finding sustainable furniture all begins with research. Most sustainable furniture companies also focus on reducing the environmental impact of their item, such as using reclaimed materials or non-toxic furniture stains.
YOUR INDOOR AIR & VOCS
Everybody knows what “NEW” smells like right? Well, that “NEW” smell is often a sign that your item is NOT healthy for you. This smells is the result of manufacturers using unnatural and sometimes toxic substances, like solvent-based lacquers, to treat or finish a product. These contribute to the pollution in your home by emitting, (aka “off-gassing”) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like formaldehyde. You can also be exposed through a laundry list of household items including pressed wood furniture and cabinets, paint, wallpaper, and laminated wood flooring. In addition, cooking with gas and using your wood-burning or gas fireplace exposes you to formaldehyde.
“That “NEW” smell is often a sign that your item is NOT healthy for you.”
Most sofas contain petroleum-based polyurethane foam with toxic flame retardant chemicals, formaldehyde releasing frames, leather or fabric with toxic chemical residues or fumes, toxic glues or finish. However, there are companies that make non toxic sofas.
the healthy alternative
Water-based lacquers are a green alternative to finishing wood furniture. If you’re unsure if a varnish is solvent or water-based, check the label. Most varnishes will note if they have a low VOC, which is what you want.
Look for furniture that is certified by Greenguard or Oeko-Tex for low toxicity rates. Custom made goods like upholstered sofas are a great choice. These companies often used FSC certified solid wood for the furniture frame.
UPHOLSTERY FOAM - WHAT’s IT MADE OF?
Most often, foam filled furniture uses polyurethane foam which is petroleum-based. These polyurethane foam in the removable cushions of the sofa is infused with flame retardants. A flame retardant slows down the spread of fire and reduces its intensity. A large sofa can have up to 2 lbs of flame retardants in its foam cushions. Currently, 80-100% of the sofas in the market contain flame retardant chemicals.
“Flame retardants are very toxic and have negative health effects on us.”
Flame retardants are very toxic and have negative health effects on us. They are linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, delayed mental and physical development, advanced puberty, lower IQ, reduced fertility and learning problems. Flame retardants from upholstered goods like sofas can escape into the air and can attach to dust. Our family members including babies and toddlers can breathe the air or touch the dust on furniture and transport it to their mouth. (Flame retardants in consumer products are linked to health and cognitive problems)
“Our family members including babies and toddlers can breathe the air or touch the dust on furniture and transport it to their mouth.”
FOAM/FILLING FOR A NON-TOXIC SOFA
It used to be required by law in the US that all sofas contain flame retardant chemicals… however the good news is that some manufacturers started making sofas without flame retardant chemicals starting 2015 when the law was changed.
The healthy alternative
Some manufacturers use materials such as natural latex rubber, cotton, wool or down instead of polyurethane foam to avoid the use of flame retardant chemicals in their sofa.
Avoid Polyurethane foam wherever possible. Also polyurethane foam is petroleum-based, therefore, it emits VOCs (volatile organic compounds) even without flame retardant chemicals. VOCs cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. Therefore, it is best to avoid polyurethane foam.
Look for natural fibers / fabrics like wool, cotton, linen. (Fabrics are a whole other conversation we can have another time!)
