Learn More About Organic Sofas

Click on bolded statements for links to research and more information.

What is the best organic sofa brand?

I have the best non toxic couches rated and ranked above, in order of healthiest to least healthy, material-wise, but of course the best non toxic couch for you may rely on other factors besides perfect health. So, how to choose a non toxic couch? If you’re looking for the most affordable organic couch, Medley’s Lala sofa is best. Or, if you’re looking for an even more affordable, less toxic couch with imperfectly healthy materials, Anabei couches start in the triple digits and are still healthier than standard. If sustainability is your first priority, any of the first 8 couches listed are a good choice, since they’re made by hand in the US with natural and organic materials— no shipping or pesticides involved. Sabai may also be a good choice for you; it’s an eco friendly couch brand, though it is not quite as healthy for people as the other ones listed. Finally, if you’re looking for a healthy couch but aesthetics are your priority, a custom-made version from Ecobalanza might be best; they can work with you to replicate certain designs and have broader repertoire than many other natural couches— which admittedly often have a similar, “California Modern” style. Finally, any couch you choose, no matter how healthy, is great— this website is not about perfection, but about informed decision!

Is an organic couch worth it?

Yes! The list of chemicals used to make couches is quite sobering— IKEA is amazingly transparent about what they prohibit and what levels of chemicals like BPA, formaldehyde, and flame retardants they do allow— see the list here. Most standard couch companies are not this healthy, nor this transparent, which is why this page and Interior Medicine exists! Sofas are materially complicated, and a high-touch surface, making a healthy one important. They’re arguably the most important part of a non toxic living room, since you’re likely spending time in direct contact with it every day. Read about each layer by clicking on the symbols below each brand above. This way, even if you don’t choose the absolute healthiest option (which can be quite an investment) you’ll be thoroughly informed about your decision and can mitigate any imperfectly healthy aspects of it.

What is an organic couch made of?

Typically, natural couches are made of solid wood frames and legs, screws and non-toxic glue that holds it together, springs, organic rubber latex wrapped in wool to act as a natural flame retardant, and an organic cotton or linen upholstery. Importantly, organic couches do not have the Flame Retardants, PFAS, lead, phthalates, BPA, or formaldehyde that standard couches do.

Why does my organic couch have a Prop 65 warning?

Very likely, this is for wood dust. Prop 65 considers the health of people throughout the entire life cycle of your couch, meaning not just you, but the people who manufactured it, too. Without proper protection, if a worker breathes in wood dust, it increases their chances of getting nasal cancer. Once it gets to you, this is not a risk. Prop 65 can be very, very confusing. I recommend reaching out to the manufacturer of your couch to learn more.

What is natural latex?

Natural latex is the same thing as natural rubber. It comes from the Hevea brasiliensis tree. It is a milky white liquid that can be baked to form a springy, foam-like substance. There are two types, depending on how it is processed— Dunlop and Talalay. Read about the difference here. FYI, natural rubber latex is often confused with synthetic (human-made) latex, which is made of the chemical mixture styrene-butadiene— but they’re obviously very different!

Does latex last as long as foam?

It lasts longer! Polyurethane foam is typically rated to last 8-10 years before it breaks down and needs replacing, whereas latex lasts 10-12 years.

Are foam couches toxic?

Yes. Polyurethane foam is made from two main building blocks, diisocyanates and polyols (see my 60 second video about what they are and how they’re mixed here).

Theoretically, they’re mixed together in a perfect ratio so they become permanently chemically bonded (“cured”). This means they stop reacting together, and the final product is an inert piece of polyurethane foam. If it were truly inert, it would be considered safe to humans because no off-gassing or further reacting is happening. However, this ratio is not always achieved, and the EPA is concerned that foam products being sold to consumers are not fully cured. Read about it here. 

Beyond just the 2 main building blocks, many chemicals are mixed into polyurethane foam to change its reaction speed, density, smell, fire resistance, or other properties. One such chemical is stannous octoate, a catalyst, that is a Reprotoxic 1B chemical that may damage unborn children (fetuses). This can also include antimicrobials and flame retardants, which are endocrine disruptors (cats get hyperthyroidism, an endocrine disruption disorder, due to flame retardant exposure!) Sometimes synthetic fragrances or formaldehyde scavengers are added to mask any off-gassing smells. And, other, undisclosed ingredients are added, too.

Is CertiPUR foam safe?

No. CertiPUR foam still has many toxic substances in it, including flame retardants and phthalates. Essentially, all foam made in the US can meet the loose requirements of CertiPUR foam, and I consider it a form of healthwashing/greenwashing. This is in part because CertiPUR is not a third-party certification. It is a second-party certification, meaning the synthetic foam industry itself created the standards and chose a lab to test its products for them. It prohibits the use of formaldehyde, heavy metals, some (but not all) phthalates, and some (but not all) flame retardants. Protecting the foam industry is in their best interest (valued at $43.7 billion in 2023) and consumers demanding healthier alternatives are a major threat. 

Until late 2023, stannous octoate (which can harm unborn children) was still permitted in CertiPUR foams. While it’s undeniably a good thing they’re not approving foam made with it anymore, this is an example that shows their stance on health is conservative and reactionary, rather than safety-centered and forward-thinking. Foam processing is chemically intensive, and the additives used are rarely disclosed. I would much rather see a long list of what is IN their foam, rather than a short list of what’s NOT in it. Their guidelines are very opaque.

I get very riled up about CertiPUR because people are buying products that appear healthier than they actually are.

What is the best couch for pets and kids?

5 options, from healthiest to less healthy:

• Consider an organic upholstery, but add a couch pad or cover.

• If you’re committed to getting a performance fabric, look for one made with OEKO TEX certified, PFAS-free, plant-based coatings.

• Or, if you’re committed to getting a performance fabric, select an OEKO-TEX certified olefin, polypropylene, or polyester fabric— these materials are plastic-based, relatively safe, and cannot absorb water, making them naturally stain- and water-repellant.

• Choose any olefin, polypropylene, or polyester fabric— even without OEKO TEX certification, they are still much better options than a natural fabric coated in PFAS for stain resistance.

• Sunbrella started phasing out PFAS in late 2023— if you choose one of their couch upholsteries, confirm with the company what year it was made or purchased.

Is soy foam non toxic? 

Typically, no. This is still polyurethane foam, with a small amount of soybean mixed in to give the illusion of a healthier product.

What does GOTS certified organic mean?

GOTS is short for the Global Organic Textile Standard. It is the gold standard 3rd party certification for organic fabrics made from natural fibers like wool, cotton, linen, and others. Fabric with the GOTS-certified organic label means that at least 95% of the starting fibers are certified organic, and ensures that the fabric remains healthy throughout the entire manufacturing process. This means the dyes and other chemicals used are safer for human and ecological health than standard fabric processing methods. No harmful finishes may be added to the final product.

What is OEKO TEX?

OEKO TEX certification applies to the finished product only, and is for both natural and synthetic textiles. Organic fibers, as well as man-made fabrics like polyester can both qualify, depending on what chemicals, and how much of them, are left in the final product. It does allow for some harmful chemicals, but in much lower quantities than are used in standard textile processing. It bans flame retardants in almost all cases, with exceptions for requirements like being added to clothing for fire fighting). You can see their limits and rules, which are updated annually, here.

What else is in my couch fabric?

Making fabric is a surprisingly chemically-intensive process. For natural curtains, if the fibers are grown conventionally, pesticides and fertilizers are used. Synthetic sheets (polyester, microfiber, etc) come from petroleum. Acids, scouring chemicals, and other processing agents used to wash fibers. Fiber-strengthening chemicals are aded to turn the fibers into sheets of fabric. Detergents, solvents, bleaches, acids, and enzymes are used to remove chemicals from previous steps, make the fabrics lighter, or prepare them to accept dyes in the next step. Pigments, binders, plasticizers, PVC, and other polymers (plastics) are used in this step, to make the dyes stick to the surface of the fabric. Finally, chemical treatments are added to make the fabric perform a certain way. Formaldehyde resins offer wrinkle-resistance, other resins work for anti-pilling, PFAS for stain-resistance, polyglycols for anti-pilling, acrylates or PVC with plasticizers for protective coatings, and flame retardants for fire resistance. Read more about this process and fabric in general in my Fabric Guide.

What is C0 DWR?

C0 DWR stands for Durable Water Repellant made with zero fluorinated carbon. It’s a finish applied to fabric to make it stain- and water- resistant. It does not contain PFAS, which are the fluorinated chemicals that are very water- and stain- repellant, but have caused so many health problems. C6 and C8 DWR are types of PFAS-containing finishes.

What is C0 DWR made of?

I don’t know, and neither do the couch companies above— yet. They buy their performance upholstery from manufacturers that make the fabric, and generally don’t have access to the exact ingredients.

Since the world has learned about the detrimental effects of PFAS, manufacturers have been scrambling to find something to replace them. There are several formulas used on fabrics now that are PFAS-free but still offer water- and stain- resistance. They are generally known to be plant- or seed-based and OEKO TEX certified, but that is all the information we know. Crypton Home has a Health Product Declaration for their PFAS free performance fabric, which is generally a good step toward transparency, but ironically, most of the ingredients in the stain repellency part are still undisclosed.

I do understand why— trade secrets and proprietary information are common when developing new technologies, especially now, when there is a lot of competition to be the best PFAS-free alternative. However, the lack of transparency is causing some people to worry about "regrettable substitutions" — and the possibility that in 20 years we'll find out these PFC-free options are just as bad or worse than PFAS in some unforeseen way. 

Encouragingly, I did speak to Medley on the phone about this, and they were not only in total agreement, but have asked their fabric manufacturers to disclose the ingredients, just without ratios, to protect their fabric formula while still providing transparency.

Is plant based stain repellant safe?

It might be! As explained above, the ingredients are still a tightly controlled secret. I am encouraged that they are plant-based, PFAS-free, and have OEKO TEX certification. If you are still concerned, I recommend using a couch pad or cover to minimize dermal contact, or, you can opt for a couch without performance fabric.

What should I do if I can’t afford a non-toxic couch?

• If you need to keep your current couch, dusting, mopping, and vacuuming weekly can pick up any sVOCs (like Flame Retardants) that come from couches invisibly shedding over time. You can ventilate by opening windows daily to help release any VOCs off-gassing from foam. And, you can consider an organic couch cover which may help protect you from anything nasty underneath.

• If you need a new couch, and can spend a moderate amount:

  • Consider buying a floor model from an organic couch company that sells them at clearance prices. Example of Couch Seattle’s clearance section here.

  • Consider buying a couch made with a mixture of materials— choosing regular foam but an organic or OEKO TEX certified upholstery can save you money.

• If you need to buy the most affordable non toxic couch, consider an IKEA couch and add an organic or natural couch cover to it. A cover may help in three ways: 

  • Reducing foam breakdown by reducing the amount of friction on the foam. Foam degradation releases semi-volatile organic compounds (sVOCs), which are relatively heavy molecules, meaning they don’t vaporize or off-gas into the air. An example of sVOCs are Flame Retardants, a very common foam additive in mattresses, which settle into dust. Having an organic and safe layer between your body’s movements and the couch containing sVOCs may help. 

  • Decreasing body heat in contact with the foam. Body heat in contact with foam is known to speed up off-gassing of VOCs. A couch cover should reduce the amount of heat transfer between your body and the polyurethane foam.

  • Protecting you from fabric finishes. Even IKEA, which is more health-forward than most standard couch companies allow some BPA and formaldehyde in some of their upholstery. A healthy cover or pad may protect you from direct skin contact.

• Finally, wait it out and play the long game— keep emailing companies with questions about their materials and asking for less toxic options. Continued consumer pressure on the foam industry and furniture businesses should drive more couch companies to make healthier options with natural materials, driving competition up and prices down, as we’ve seen with the mattress industry, where there are now many natural options at the same price as standard foam.

How do I check my couch for flame retardants?

Your couch should have a tag on the underside that states whether it meets TB117, a law that ensures the couch isn’t too flammable. If it says it meets TB117, with no other information, it very likely has flame retardants. This is almost a guarantee if your couch was made before 2013. If it has a checkmark next to “contains no added flame retardants” then you are in luck! The Duke University Foam Project has been tracking samples from couch foam for many years, and happily shut down in May 2024 because less than 10% of the furniture foam consumers were sending in for testing came back with flame retardants. We are headed in the right direction!