With the rise of green living, many furniture manufacturers are shifting towards sustainable design and production. This includes using organic materials and repurposing old furniture.
Whether you’re looking for a new couch, bed frame or office chair, there are plenty of options out there that are both stylish and eco-friendly. Here are a few to consider.
Medley
Increasing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional furniture manufacturing has encouraged companies to adopt sustainable production methods. This allows them to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their profits.
Medley is a California-based furniture company that uses sustainably sourced, eco-friendly materials to hand-build modern, well-designed sofas, sectionals, storage, accent chairs, dining and office furniture, ottomans, benches, and other pieces.
Their frames are made from kiln-dried alder hardwoods grown in the United States, FSC certified, and treated with non- or low-VOC waxes and stains. The cushions are certified organic Dunlop latex with responsibly sourced down filling, or CertiPur-US poly foam cushioning.
Burrow
If you’re looking for sustainable furniture options for your home, there are many online stores to choose from. But before you buy, it’s important to check out the company’s sustainability practices and any third-party certifications they hold.
For example, Burrow is a popular choice for eco-conscious consumers. They are committed to transparency, safety and sustainability, and use nontoxic materials like wood from sustainably managed forests and olefin fabrics by Revolution Fabrics that are free of formaldehyde’s, PBDs, flame retardants, ozone depleters, heavy metals and chemical fabric treatments.
Burrow offers three styles of sofas that are modular and customizable in a variety of ways. You can customize the style of the sofa, the color of the cushions, the height of the arms and legs, and more.
Blu Dot
Founded in 1997, Blu Dot offers design-forward furniture at competitive prices. They sell on popular retailers like Wayfair and other websites.
They offer a variety of modern dining tables, coffee tables and side tables with solid wood designs and specialty wood veneers, such as walnut. Some tables also feature metal accents and powder-coated finishes.
They also have a wide selection of benches with a range of metal and wood designs. Customers overwhelmingly like their selections with rare disagreements about materials.
Maiden Home
Maiden Home is a New York-based furniture company that designs minimalist pieces made with heritage techniques. The brand also strives to keep eco-friendly manufacturing practices in mind, working with partners who recycle wood waste and use CNC routing to reduce the amount of material they need to use.
Their Varick Sofa and matching ottoman are a perfect example of their craftmanship. The sofa sits low to the ground and features precise corners, allowing it to strike the perfect balance between sleek and cozy.
Room & Board
Room & Board is an award-winning furniture brand that prioritizes sustainability. It sources materials sustainably, uses recycled content whenever possible, and has a commitment to staff well-being and strong corporate values.
The brand has an exceptional selection of sustainable sofas and sectionals, in contemporary styles that are easy to customize with upholstery options like polypropylene, leather, or down/feather accents. However, some shoppers were disappointed with their durability and price value.
West Elm
West Elm is a popular home decor store that sells modern furniture, wares, and furnishings. It is a part of the Williams Sonoma company, and its target customers are design enthusiasts with a practical budget.
Their sustainable furniture collection includes products that are eco-friendly and ethically made. Many of their pieces are sourced from recycled wood and well-managed forests, and they partner with artisans around the world to produce a variety of products.
The company has a number of positive reviews online, but there are also some negative comments about their customer service and delivery issues. Fortunately, there are a few alternative options that offer similar modern styles at affordable prices.
IKEA
If you’re looking for furniture that is both eco-friendly and beautiful, IKEA is a good place to start. The company has ambitious sustainability goals and is on track to meet them.
It also has a huge focus on the circular economy, which means that its products are designed to be used, repaired, resold and recycled multiple times.
It’s also working to eliminate non-rechargeable alkaline batteries, which are one of the biggest contributors to global waste. The retailer plans to phase them out by 2020.
