A Guide to Eco-Friendly Furniture - Part 1
Welcome!
If you are new around here, my name is Johanna and I help homeowners design their homes in eco-friendly ways. With my architectural & design background, I guide folks to more “green” design solutions so that their space aligns with their eco-conscious values.
Learn more here!
This post is part of a 4 week series where we’ll be taking a deep dive into the various “green” certifications that are assigned to home furnishings. Last week, I introduced the series and why it is important to have a better understanding of these labels.
You can read all about that here!
Today’s topic: Non-toxic
This is becoming a popular request as we learn what goes into our furnishings and how those materials impact our Indoor Air Quality (IQA). Many online retailers will label products as “Low VOC” or “Non-toxic” but it’s important to understand that on a surface level, these labels are quite generic.
Non-Toxic Furnishings
These generic labels are typically not indicative of the potential harmful chemicals that can off-gas in your space. When I am looking for non-toxic furniture or materials for clients, I am specifically looking for products that have received the GREENGUARD Gold Certification.
GREENGUARD Certified
What is it?
GREENGUARD is a voluntary third-party program that tests for over 10,000 chemicals and Volatile Organic Compounds. Products certified under this program bear the GREENGUARD Gold label which indicates that they are either low-emitting or non-emitting of these chemicals.
Why is it important?
It is important because selecting items that meet this certification have the ability to improve your Indoor Air Quality (IQA). The IQA is particularly important when designing for children, elderly, or those with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Why should we be concerned with our Indoor Air Quality?
Time Indoors
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors, according to the EPA.
Indoor Air Quality
Sometimes the pollutants of IQA can be anywhere from 2 to 5x higher than outdoors.
Indoor Concentrations
As buildings become more efficient & air-tight, indoor concentrations of pollutants rise.
VOCs
VOCs and other pollutants are known to poorly impact peoples' health.
How does non-toxic pertain sustainability?
Simply put, if products are off-gassing chemicals in your home, that means they are likely being manufactured in ways that are harmful to the environment.
How to search for products?
When looking at major online retailers of furnishings that advertise Low VOCs or Non-toxic, check for the GREENGUARD Certification. If they are using some other certification - do your research. If it’s certified by some other 3rd party, look into what chemicals they test for and what thresholds need to be met for certification. It can be time consuming but it’s worth it to become a more conscientious consumer.
Don’t have the time? Work with me!
One retailer that is doing a relatively good job at making “non-toxic” furnishings more accessible to consumers is the Williams Sonoma Brands - which includes West Elm & Pottery Barn. Be sure to check out their sites and look for products designated “non-toxic” (but check those descriptions & look for GREENGUARD Certified)!
Up Next: Sustainably Sourced
We’ll review what it means, why it’s important, and how to search for products that meet certain standards!
If you’d like to be notified when that post drops or hear about the LIVE webinar I’ll be hosting about sustainable furnishings, then please drop your email below!