Can you buy a sustainable sofa?
You want to buy a new sofa. You’ve looked at hundreds of sofas and you may have settled on a design and make. Sofas are expensive and a big investment, at the least they should last 10 years, ideally double that. However the sad reality is that many sofas get replaced after only 5 years and compounding this issue the disposal of used sofas faces new legislation as of January 2023. The majority of sofas made after 1950 contain toxic chemicals; POPs they must be treated as toxic waste and therefore incinerated.
Quite a few sofa manufacturers claim to offer sustainable alternatives to standard sofas. But can that really be the case? What are the key elements you need to consider when searching for an environmentally friendly sofa which has the potential to be disposed of in a non-toxic way.
The frame should be made from wood from a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved supplier. Feel free to ask for these details from the supplier, they should be happy to give you this information, if it is FSC sourced.
Condifrt the environmental impact of shipping, the majority of UK wood used in furniture production comes from European forests, most of the UK forests are too small, avoid any wood that is shipped from further afield.
The springs should be made from stainless steel, ideally UK manufactured, which can be recycled endlessly.
Fillings are usually a mix of firm foam type material with a softer wrapping material, in standard sofas these are synthetic materials like foam and dacron. A natural alternative wrapping material is latex, with some added graphene to make it fire resistant. Wool, horse hair and cotton are all excellent fillers and in their natural form are all biodegradable and naturally fire resistant. It’s important to check the wool and horsehair has been collected from the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) source or European Down and Feather Association (EDFA).
Choosing the outer covering is the fun part, the bit that makes the personal statement. Opt for fabrics made from natural fibers; linen, organic cotton or wool. While leather may seem like a natural choice it is fraught with animal rights concerns and the dying processes are very polluting. Recently many plant based leathers have come into the market and offer great alternatives like Pinatex made from pineapple leaves or Mylo made from mycelium.
The crucial element is choosing a covering fabric made from 100% organic materials to avoid the need for flame-retardant (FR) treatment. Chemicals used in FR treatments pose significant health risks, emitting toxic fumes when burned and releasing carcinogenic compounds into the air. While legislation addressing these concerns is underway, the onus remains on consumers to opt for organic fabrics free from such treatments.
Given all these considerations, finding a fully sustainable sofa may seem to be near impossible. However, the more knowledge people have and questions asked, the more we can drive transparency in the industry and advocate for change towards more sustainable products. A healthy sofa may be within reach!
Links: https://workinmind.org/2023/03/13/leading-uk-scientists-petition-indoor-fire-safety-chemicals/