Home & Garden Home The 13 Best Eco-Friendly Furniture Brands Haiku Designs is our top choice to make your home a sustainable sanctuary. By Starre Vartan Starre Vartan Writer Columbia University Syracuse University Starre Vartan is an environmental and science journalist. She holds an MFA degree from Columbia University and Geology and English degrees from Syracuse University. Learn about our editorial process Updated September 15, 2022 Home Green Living Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Wachirawut Priamphimai / EyeEm / Getty Images Furniture is one of those purchases that will have a long-term impact on your home, both aesthetically, and on the health of that home’s inhabitants. So, it’s worth doing some research on what best fits your style and who makes it in a more sustainable way. In the case of furniture, sustainability means fewer chemicals used in an item’s construction, as well as materials that are lower-impact on the planet. So you’ll see a number of certifications and eco-labels mentioned below, mostly focused on those two types of impacts: water, energy, and materials used in the furniture, as well as chemicals avoided or disallowed. Shopping for second-hand furniture is the most sustainable option, but if you've come up short and need to buy something new, we've found the most eco-friendly furniture brands. The Rundown Best Overall: Haiku Designs at Haikudesigns.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Large Selection: Pottery Barn Furniture at Pottery Barn (See Price) Jump to Review Best Splurge: ABC Carpet & Home Sustainable Furniture at Abchome.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Budget: Etsy Reclaimed Furniture at Etsy (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Handcrafted: Made Trade at Madetrade.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Minimalist: Floyd at Floydhome.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Secondhand: Kaiyo at Kaiyo.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Beds: Thuma The Bed at Thuma.co (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Couches: Sabai The Essential Sofa at Sabai.design (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Kitchen Furniture: Crate & Barrel Lanai Fliptop Dining Table at Crate & Barrel ($399) Jump to Review Best Overall Haiku Designs Courtesy of Haiku Designs View On Haikudesigns.com Haiku offers bedside chests, console tables, media cabinets, dining furniture, sofas, bed frames, and even magazine racks. The styles trend towards minimalist and modern. Depending on the piece, it holds at least one of two certifications (exceptions are clearly labeled on the website): E1 is the emissions standard certified by the European Union and it rates furniture on the chemicals used in manufacturing as well as VOC off-gassing. Haiku also carries furniture that’s International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) certified—which ensures that wood is sourced in a sustainable and managed way. They also carry bamboo hardwood furniture that’s been grown and harvested responsibly. The company offers a concierge who can walk you through the ethical bona fides of any specific piece to drill down into exactly what it does and does not contain and where its sourced. Shopping Tip When it comes to furniture, manufacturing processes and materials can change over time. But it's easy it is to talk to someone at a furniture company—they all offer chat, or provide phone numbers. So, if you are going to add a piece to your home, consider taking the time to reach out and get the update and ask all your questions before you buy. Best Large Selection Pottery Barn Furniture Pottery Barn View On Pottery Barn Pottery Barn offers over 250 pieces of furniture, including bed frames, bar and shelving, dining tables, chairs, sofas, and more in its Sustainably Sourced category. A range of styles are offered, including farmhouse, modern, traditional, and rustic. The pieces are made from a variety of materials, with the majority made from reclaimed wood. Others are GreenGuard Gold certified nontoxic, or Fair Trade certified. You can also find organic linens and recycled glassware. Pottery Barn is known for durable products, and this furniture has good resale value. Best Splurge ABC Carpet & Home Sustainable Furniture Courtesy of ABC Carpet & Home View On Abchome.com This NYC-based store has a huge variety of furniture and home goods, all of which is carefully vetted and held to high sustainability and ethical standards. That includes Goodwood pieces, which ensures furniture is made from wood from responsibly managed forests and/or reclaimed sources. Goodwood also protects old growth forests and the endangered species they include, and promotes a transparent supply chain model. Many pieces of furniture also have other eco-labels like handmade, non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic, or other considerations depending on materials. It also offers vintage and one-of-a kind antique pieces. ABC’s furniture can be searched by material so if you are looking for natural fibers like linen, cotton, or viscose, you can narrow your parameters that way as well. Best Budget Etsy Reclaimed Furniture Courtesy of Etsy View On Etsy Not every item in Etsy’s Reclaimed Furniture category is budget-friendly, but if you look around the site, there are some bargains to be found. The savings come from buying directly from the makers, and you're often supporting small-scale makers. You’ll have to read through each entry to find out the specifics of the materials and finishes used, however. There are low-impact materials like recycled barn wood used to make new pieces, but you’ll have to ask about non-toxic finishes if not detailed on the site. Since many of the items are made to order, you can often customize your order to meet your needs directly with the makers. Best for Handcrafted Made Trade Madetrade View On Madetrade.com If you love traditional craftsmanship and artisan home decor, Made Trade’s offerings of arm chairs, coffee tables, benches, and rugs will fit right into your home. This online retailer curates goods from sustainable and Fair Trade small makers around the world. We’re partial to the colorfully woven Masaya Manila Lounge Chair, which is handcrafted in Nicaragua and also plants 100 trees for each sale. Beyond furniture, the site also offers a wide selection of home accessories, gifts, and clothing. The brand’s site allows you to collect your favorite items into a gift registry or wishlist. Made Trade is a woman owned company that’s also Climate Neutral Certified, and is transparent about the story behind every product. Best Minimalist Floyd Floyd View On Floydhome.com Furniture maker Floyd offers one bed, sofa, and shelving system. Yet all these designs offer an elegant array of configurations or expansion options, to both fit your space now and let you expand (or downsize) in the future. The look is as paired down and streamlined as the selection, combining natural woods and powder-coated steel into easy-to-assemble pieces. They’re functional and made to last. We also like that Floyd is committed to carbon neutral emissions as of 2022, meaning they will offset the carbon pollution associated with all their products and operations. Best for Secondhand Kaiyo Courtesy of Kaiyo View On Kaiyo.com If you have ever tried to buy or sell furniture through online marketplaces like Craigslist, you know it can be a be a really hit-or-miss experience. For a better, smoother experience, you’ll want to check out Kaiyo, an online retail platform for pre-loved and secondhand furniture. What’s so special about Kaiyo is that they screen listings, inspect the furniture, clean it, and deliver it. So, there’s no coordinating with the seller’s schedule or lugging the furniture to your apartment by yourself. You can find great deals on the site from popular brands like Crate & Barrel, Rayomour & Flanagan, Stickley, and many more. Best for Beds Thuma The Bed Thuma View On Thuma.co Thuma’s eco-cred goes all the way down to the padded feet of the bed frame’s legs—which are made with low-impact, biodegradable cork. The frame is made from repurposed wood that’s GreenGuard Certified, and the extra-strong support slats are lined with an eco felt made from recycled plastics, which also help keep noises to a minimum. The padded headboard is filled with nontoxic CertiPUR-US foam fill, and while the cover is 100% polyester, that means it is easily washable and can be line-dried. The headboard is available in two neutral colors. The bed ships in three boxes, and requires no tools to assemble. Home Best for Couches Sabai The Essential Sofa Sabai View On Sabai.design This affordable sofa has it all: Comfort, style, and ease of assembly (it can be done by just one person). The sofa is manufactured in the High Point, North Carolina with fabrics made from natural fibers and polyester from recycled water bottles. The upholstery is available in five velvet color options, and three polyester colors. Plus, there are two finish options for the wooden legs. Frames are made with FSC Certified wood, covered with certiPUR-US foam, with recycled fiber pillows. The shipping materials are made from 100% recycled materials and minimal plastic is used in the packaging. If anything wears out in the future, replacement parts are available from Sabai, to help ensure you can get the longest life possible from your couch or loveseat. The 13 Best Eco-Friendly Furniture Brands Best for Kitchen Furniture Crate & Barrel Lanai Fliptop Dining Table Crateandbarrel View On Crate & Barrel $399 If you’re looking for bar stools, small eat-in kitchen tables, kitchen islands, bars, or dining room table sets, Crate & Barrel has a more-sustainable version of all of them, sometimes with several choices. Mostly, the company has focused on woods used in its products, many of which are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Council (FSC). Other examples include a kitchen island made with sustainable rubberwood, and stools are made from mango wood, which is harvested after mango trees stop producing fruit and would otherwise go unused. Best for Storage Medley Home Medley Home View On Medleyhome.com Medley handcrafts its solid wood furniture in California, and has a beautiful collection of credenzas, shelves, and dressers. The company uses Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, which is also low-VOC, as well as sustainably sourced solid bamboo. They’re sealed with a natural beeswax finish. The company also makes eco-friendly couches, ottomans, puffs, and sleeper sofas, which use CertiPUR-US foam (meaning it’s free from concerning chemicals) or Organic latex. The upholstery includes organic fabrics, and cruelty free wool that’s OEKO-TEX certified, and free fabric swatches are available. If you’re not sure about an item, there’s a 30-day trial period with free returns. You can also get free design advice from Medley via chat or email, or sign up for a one-on-one consultation session. Best for Home Office Joybird Furniture Courtesy of Joybird View On Joybird.com Joybird’s furniture is all handmade in Mexico where workers get a competitive salary and benefits, including medical care, according to the company. For every item purchased, more trees are planted than were used in the creation of the piece of furniture. Office options include desks, swivel chairs, desk chairs, and bookcases. Depending on the piece of furniture, it could include low-VOC adhesives, natural-fiber cushions, or other lower-impact options. For swivel chairs with fabric coverings, look for the Key Largo fabric option, which are brightly colored textiles produced in an environmentally friendly mill. Best for Kids Sprout Eco-Friendly Wooden Kids Furniture Courtesy of Sprout View On Sprout-kids.com These simple and relatively affordable pieces are work with almost any decor style, and are designed from the beginning to minimize manufacturing waste. They are all made from sustainably-sourced Baltic birch wood. The furniture is shipped flat to save money and resources. They are easy to assemble and dissemble (many without tools), so they can be moved or stored easily. The Baltic birch used by Sprout is CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant, ensuring that any off-gassing is at a safe level. Finishes are created with layers of a water-based paint and sealed with a “non-VOC 100% solids UV cured finish.” Final Verdict For outfitting your entire house with sustainable pieces, you can't go wrong with Haiku Designs. They even offer a concierge who can walk you through the ethical bona fides of any specific piece. If you enjoy hunting for a bargain, then Etsy Reclaimed Furniture may have your next treasure. What You Need to Know About Chemicals in Furniture There are quite a few chemicals used in the manufacture of furniture, including solvents, glues, sealants, coatings, and sprays. Many in this group of chemicals create a distinctive odor (that smell is often these chemicals offgassing), and they are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These chemicals have been linked to reports of health negative effects—sometimes specifically in relation to people who bought a new piece of furniture. In the United States the federal government doesn’t set standards for VOCs but the EPA looked at indoor vs. outdoor air reports that levels of these chemicals are typically two to five times higher indoors. The agency links that to “household materials and furnishings” as well as household cleaning products, and dry cleaning chemicals. The chemicals that could be in a new piece of furniture are too many and varied to list here, but some of them include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen (used in the wood treatment of couch and chair frames); and phthalates, a group of chemicals which have been outlawed for use in children’s toys, because they affect young children’s hormones. Short-term, VOCs and formaldehyde exposure have reportedly caused eye irritation, coughing, skin allergies, chest tightness and wheezing. Long-term, exposures can increase certain cancer risks and endocrine system disruption, but of course it depends on the dose received, other exposures, and other factors—which is what makes these chemicals tough to regulate. It’s not always easy to avoid these chemicals, since furniture doesn’t come with an ingredients list. But when you are furniture shopping you can look for furniture that promises it’s not made with VOCs, wood that’s not treated with formaldehyde, and for natural materials, like organic fabrics and solid wood. Consider Shopping Second-Hand To save both money and Earth’s resources, buying used or vintage could be your best option for new furniture. Even if a piece isn’t originally made sustainably, most VOCs will offgas in the first few years of life, so by the time you bring it home it will likely be relatively harmless. Buying used also keeps usable items out of landfill, too. You can try online sites like a Buy Nothing, Yard Sale, or Garage Sale Facebook groups associated with your town or neighborhood—search around on the site and join up to see what’s on offer. Before you trek there in person, consider following local thrift and antique stores on Instagram to get an idea of what they might have on offer. Of course, you can also check out Craigslist, which can be a goldmine of great furniture, and can be low-cost or even free if people are looking to get rid of stuff (if you are willing to take it off their hands quickly). For a more white-glove experience, we like Kaiyo's online marketplace. There’s also plenty of in-person vintage shopping too, from thrift stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill, (and other local charity stores) as well as secondhand or antique stores, which allow you to try before you buy. Why Trust Treehugger? To make this list, we researched brand that use sustainable materials, have robust third-party sustainability practices, and produce high-quality products that should be able to withstand the test of time and changing taste. Author Starre Vartan is an environmental writer with extensive experience reporting on science and green living. She is the author of “The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Live Fabulously Green.” The 6 Best Energy-Efficient Space Heaters