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Product Ratings

Learn what the little symbols mean below products that are rated for material health. Read more about the overall process, and reason for doing this, here.

Fabrics

Fabrics are rated on both the starting material and how it was processed. Textile processing is highly chemically intensive so third party certifications are taken seriously here.

Foams

Foams are rated on both the starting material and how it was processed. Learn about the difference between Talalay and Dunlop latex, as well as what CertiPUR foam is.

Adhesives

Glues are evaluated based on whether they are water-based or synthetic, and how much off-gassing they do.

Woods

Solid wood and engineered “woods” are rated on whether they contain added formaldehyde, and how they’re stained or finished.

Wallpapers

Wallpapers are surprisingly complicated. Here, they’re rated on what materials make up the layers, what kinds of inks and finishes are used, and whether or not they have adhesive backing.

Wood Stains

Wood stains are rated on whether they are based in water, plant, or synthetic materials, and how much off-gassing they do.

Paints

Zero VOC is the minimum consideration when it comes to evaluating paints. They’re also assessed on whether they’re plant based, or synthetic, and if they contain PFAS or other harmful chemicals that don’t off-gas.

Wood Finishes

Wood finishes are evaluated for whether they are made with water, plant, or petroleum-derived chemicals, and what kind of third party certifications they have.

Home Fragrance

Candles and other forms of aromatherapy for your house are rated on the quality of the scent itself, what the scent is mixed in with, and how it disperses into your room.

Air Purifiers

Excellent particulate matter capture is the minimum for air purifiers. The only rating system not based in material health, air purifiers are also evaluated for whether or not they capture VOCs, or emit ozone, excess noise, EMFs, or blue light.

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