Furniture is a product that can cause a lot of damage to the environment through the destruction of natural resources (especially those coming from the rainforests) and the consumption of energy during the production process.
When looking for a sustainable furniture company there are several benchmarks to follow:
- Uses few to no chemicals.
- Sources materials that have a lower impact on the planet.
- Furniture pieces are durable and long-lasting.
- Does not compromise on fair trade practices in the process of creating the products.
The goal is to shop smarter, finding sustainable stores that reduce any harm your lifestyle might cause the planet. Investing in eco-friendly furniture means it has been sustainably harvested and/or uses recycled materials. Shopping secondhand is always the first choice, keeping the circular economy going. Eco-friendly furniture brands are your next best bet.
Eco Friendly Habits (brings awareness to global sustainability issues and solutions, and focuses on eco-friendly tips, sustainable living guides, resources, and more) reports on “Best Sustainable Furniture Companies Reviewed And Compared 2022”. We’re listing their top ten here.
1. VivaTerra
- VivaTerra collaborates with fair trade furniture artisans who use eco-friendly materials and sustainable production processes that cause as little harm to the environment as possible.
- Based in the USA.
2. West Elm
- West Elm, though not a 100% sustainable company, produces beautiful and affordable eco-friendly furniture and is continuously making an effort to produce more sustainable furniture.
- Around 20% of its products are Fairtrade certified and working to increase this percentage up to 40%.
- 90% of its products are designed in-house.
- Continues to increase its number of handcrafted, organic, sustainably sourced furniture pieces.
- Based in USA and Australia.
3. Joybird
- JoyBird produces eco-friendly, mid-century custom-made sustainable furniture.
- The company manufactures its custom-made furniture in a workshop in Mexico and is handcrafted by artisans who get competitive wages.
- JoyBird plants more trees for every tree used to make their furniture pieces to preserve the rainforests.
- Based in the USA.
- The Citizenry manufactures high-quality handcrafted furniture in limited quantities.
- Uses sustainable wood such as hinoki and rattan vine.
- All furniture is created in a fair trade environment by artisans from all around the world.
- In addition to paying fair wages, Citizenry also gives back 10 percent of its proceeds to its artisan communities as entrepreneur development grants.
- Based in the USA.
- This Illinois furniture store produces timeless eco-friendly furniture that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-Certified.
- Furniture is made using responsibly sourced wood, including sustainable bamboo to make some of their kitchen and bath accessories.
- Based in USA and Canada.
- abc Carpet & Home champions sustainability making it one of the most well-known eco-friendly furniture companies in the USA.
- Sources its furniture responsibly from Europe and Asia, paying closer attention to women’s fair trade cooperatives in India.
- Based in the USA.
7. Thuma
- The brand’s bed frame is made from repurposed rubberwood sourced from a sustainable and closely monitored plantation.
- Thuma gives back to the planet by planting a tree for every purchase they make.
- Based in the USA.
8. Burrow
- Burrow features eco-friendly, pet-friendly, stain-resistant sustainable sofas, and sectionals.
- The company ensures its furniture is free from formaldehyde, flame retardant, and is designed with safety in mind.
- Ships its furniture in environmentally-friendly cardboard boxes.
- Based in the USA.
9. Chairish
- Chairish sells stylish designer brands that come in both vintage and contemporary designs.
- The company gives back to the planet by offering scholarships to students interested in pursuing design-related courses.
- Based in the USA.
10. Avocado
- Avocado is popular for its eco-friendly mattresses, bed frames, end tables, and dressers.
- Furniture is handmade using 100 percent reclaimed wood. This type of wood doesn’t contain retardants or chemicals.
- Avocado further shows its love for the planet by giving one percent back to environmental causes as well.
- Based in the USA.
Treehugger (a modern sustainability site that offers advice for both the eco-savvy and the green-living novice. With 2.6 million monthly users, Treehugger is one of the world’s largest information sites dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream) reports on:
“The 10 Best Eco-Friendly Furniture Brands of 2022”.
Best Overall: Haiku Designs at Haikudesigns.com
Best Large Selection: Pottery Barn Furniture (find gently used here)
Best Budget: Etsy Reclaimed Furniture at Etsy
Best for Beds: Thuma The Bed at Thuma.co
Best for Couches: Sabai The Essential Sofa at Sabai.design
Best for Kids: Sprout Eco-Friendly Wooden Kids Furniture at Sprout-kids.com
Best for Kitchen Furniture: Crate & Barrel Furniture at Crate & Barrel
Best Splurge: ABC Carpet & Home Sustainable Furniture at Abchome.com
Best for Home Office: Joybird Furniture at Joybird.com
Best for Secondhand: Kaiyo at Kaiyo.com
The Good Trade (a Los Angeles-based media brand for sustainable fashion and lifestyle content plus a trusted resource for tips on sustainability and slow living) reports on the “15 Eco & Sustainable Furniture Companies In 2022”. We’re listing the top ten here.
- Certified B Corp, which means it puts people and the planet at the forefront., and uses carbon-neutral shipping
- The company works with sellers who reclaim and upcycle furniture—from wooden wall art and headboards to pallet coffee tables and armoires.
2. Maiden Home
- Handcrafted in the USA, made-to-order, locally and responsibly sourced materials, CertiPUR-US® & GREENGUARD Gold certified pieces, eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
- Furniture pieces use responsibly sourced and non-toxic materials and come with a lifetime guarantee.
3. West Elm
- West Elm has fair trade and eco-friendly collections (gently used collections here).
- With FSC-certified pieces (from dressers to shelves), the brand is strong in its commitment to sustainability and forest conservation.
4. Sabai
- Made in North Carolina, Sabai uses FSC-certified wood and upcycled materials like recycled water bottles.
- The pieces are scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and modular.
5. Medley
- Commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly furniture is an integral part of its business model.
- Manufactures in California to reduce carbon emissions, and doesn’t use fire retardants or harsh chemicals.
6. Avocado
- This certified B Corp also offers reclaimed furniture.
- Handmade in California using 100 percent reclaimed wood (without retardants or chemicals) and certified renewable energy, Avocado furniture is sustainable through and through.
- The brand also gives back to environmental causes and is certified climate-neutral.
7. Burrow
- Sofas and sectionals are responsibly sourced and made.
- Shipped in 100 percent recycled cardboard boxes.
- Burrow’s furniture is free of lead, flame retardants, and formaldehyde, so it’s made to last with your safety in mind.
8. Made Trade
- Made Trade is a woman-owned one-stop-shop.
- Works with ethical and sustainable brands around the globe, including Masaya & Co, Emeco, and KAZI.
- Every product page shares its key values and facts about the maker.
- Once you purchase, each order comes with carbon-neutral shipping and gives back.
- Using a zero-inventory model, the Northern California company only makes what customers order.
- This means no middlemen, markups, or wasted materials.
- From couches crafted from upcycled plastic bottles to credenzas made with FSC certified birchwood, Inside Weather maintains a modern aesthetic.
- In partnership with the National Forest Foundation, a tree is planted for every order made.
10. The Citizenry
- The Citizenry partners with artisans from all around the world to offer quality handcrafted creations in limited quantities.
- Pieces are created start-to-finish in a fair and safe environment.
- Also invests 10 percent of its proceeds back into artisan communities through entrepreneur development grants.
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