Have you ever considered how your furniture choices impact the planet? With the rise of sustainable furniture options, creating an eco-friendly home is more achievable than ever.
Opting for furniture that has a minimal environmental footprint not only helps reduce waste but also promotes fair labor practices and sustainable forestry. To assist you in making responsible choices for your living space, here’s a roundup of some of the best sustainable furniture websites. Each site features unique designs and eco-conscious practices that align with your values.
1. Avocado Green
Avocado Green started as a mattress company but has grown into a sustainable home brand that emphasizes eco-friendly and health-conscious products. Their furniture line is made from FSC-certified wood, non-toxic adhesives, and organic materials. Plus, they are a carbon-negative company, offsetting more carbon emissions than they produce.
Best for: Organic mattresses, bed frames, and sofas.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Avocado Green uses certified organic and recycled materials and is Climate Neutral Certified. Their transparency about materials and sourcing allows buyers to feel confident in their choice.
Highlight: Each purchase contributes to reforestation efforts, making Avocado Green an excellent choice for buyers who want their investment to have a broader environmental impact.
2. Medley
Medley’s furniture combines modern style with a deep commitment to sustainability. Their products are crafted from non-toxic materials like natural latex and wool, alongside FSC-certified wood. Medley furniture is handmade in California, reducing the carbon footprint linked to shipping and supporting local craftsmanship.
Best for: Living room and bedroom furniture with a sleek, contemporary design.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Medley’s production is local, reducing waste and emissions. They also use low-VOC finishes, which are healthier for indoor air quality.
Highlight: Medley allows you to customize most pieces, so you can choose the materials, size, and color that suit your eco-conscious style.
3. Thuma
Thuma is a minimalist furniture brand with a specific focus on creating low-impact, stylish bedroom furniture. Their beds are crafted from reclaimed and repurposed wood and designed to be assembled without tools. Thuma aims to bring sustainability and simplicity together, creating high-quality pieces that are easy on the planet.
Best for: Simple, beautiful beds with a minimalist aesthetic.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Thuma uses upcycled wood and has a zero-waste mindset in manufacturing, meaning no wood goes to waste.
Highlight: Their assembly process eliminates the need for nails, screws, or adhesives, making setup easy and reducing the carbon footprint related to metal parts.
4. Sabai
Sabai is a leader in affordable, sustainable furniture. Based in New York, Sabai crafts sofas, ottomans, and sectionals using FSC-certified wood, recycled velvet, and water-based glues. They also offer an end-of-life program, helping customers extend the life of their furniture by offering replacement parts.
Best for: Budget-friendly sofas and sectionals with a high eco-conscious appeal.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Sabai’s entire supply chain is centered around low-impact materials, including recycled polyester fabric and CertiPUR-US certified foam.
Highlight: Their “Repair Don’t Replace” program makes sustainable furniture maintenance easy and affordable, supporting a long-lasting relationship with each piece.
5. Vermont Woods Studios
Vermont Woods Studios emphasizes American craftsmanship, offering heirloom-quality furniture made exclusively from sustainably sourced wood. They use hardwood from local forests, and every piece is handmade in Vermont, highlighting both artistry and sustainability.
Best for: Handcrafted wood furniture with classic appeal.
Why it’s eco-friendly: They use only FSC-certified North American hardwoods, ensuring sustainable sourcing and reduced carbon emissions from shipping.
Highlight: Vermont Woods Studios plants trees for every furniture piece sold, reflecting their commitment to forest conservation and sustainable practices.
6. Etsy (for Reclaimed and Vintage Furniture)
Etsy offers a vast selection of reclaimed and vintage furniture from sellers worldwide. Opting for vintage and reclaimed furniture is a great way to reduce waste by reusing existing materials and extending the life of unique furniture pieces. Many Etsy artisans create custom furniture from salvaged wood, making each item one-of-a-kind.
Best for: Unique, reclaimed furniture and vintage items.
Why it’s eco-friendly: By choosing reclaimed or vintage furniture, you’re participating in a circular economy, reducing demand for new raw materials.
Highlight: Etsy also has filters to help buyers search specifically for eco-friendly and reclaimed items, making it easy to find sustainable options.
7. Floyd
Floyd, a Michigan-based furniture brand, aims to reduce waste with durable and modular designs. Their products are built with replaceable parts, making it easy to repair rather than replace entire pieces. Floyd focuses on simple, timeless designs that prioritize quality and reduce the likelihood of ending up in a landfill.
Best for: Modular furniture like sofas, bed frames, and tables that adapt to different spaces.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Floyd uses FSC-certified wood and recyclable steel, plus packaging made from 70% recycled materials.
Highlight: Floyd offers a “Buyback” program where customers can sell back furniture to Floyd for resale, promoting a circular economy.
8. Burrow
Burrow combines style, comfort, and sustainability in its modular furniture designs. Known for its easy assembly, Burrow uses sustainably sourced hardwood, recycled fabric, and packaging materials. They are committed to creating versatile furniture that works in various spaces, reducing the need for replacements.
Best for: Modular sofas and shelving with a modern design.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Burrow’s commitment to low-impact materials, sustainable packaging, and modular designs supports long-lasting, eco-friendly interiors.
Highlight: Burrow’s stain-resistant fabric is free from harmful chemicals, making it safer for both the home and the environment.
9. West Elm
West Elm, a popular home goods retailer, is known for its commitment to sustainability and fair trade. They use FSC-certified wood, organic cotton, and recycled materials in many of their designs. West Elm is also a member of the Fair Trade USA program, supporting ethical labor practices worldwide.
Best for: A wide variety of furniture styles with a sustainable focus.
Why it’s eco-friendly: West Elm combines eco-friendly materials with a commitment to fair labor, offering a range of stylish and responsible products.
Highlight: Their extensive selection of fair-trade and handcrafted items supports artisans worldwide while adhering to sustainable standards.
10. Made Trade
Made Trade offers ethically made furniture from artisans around the world, featuring sustainable materials like bamboo, hemp, and reclaimed wood. Their commitment to transparency ensures that each piece aligns with fair trade and eco-conscious standards.
Best for: Handcrafted, globally-inspired designs with a strong ethical commitment.
Why it’s eco-friendly: Made Trade sources materials responsibly and promotes fair labor practices. They also prioritize low-impact and natural materials, which are better for the environment.
Highlight: Their artisans come from a diverse range of backgrounds, creating unique furniture that supports global sustainability efforts.
Choosing Sustainable Furniture for Your Home
When exploring sustainable furniture, consider factors such as materials, durability, and ethical sourcing.
Here are a few guidelines to help:
- Look for FSC-Certified Wood: This certification ensures the wood is harvested responsibly.
- Seek Reclaimed or Recycled Materials: These materials minimize the need for new resources and reduce waste.
- Check for Non-Toxic Finishes and Low-VOC Materials: Furniture made with low-VOC finishes is healthier for indoor air quality.
- Think Longevity: Sustainable furniture is often more durable, so consider how long you’ll want to keep each piece.
Conclusion
With sustainable furniture brands now offering a variety of styles, creating an eco-friendly home is accessible and rewarding. By choosing furniture that supports the environment, you’re contributing to a more sustainable future without compromising on style or quality. Each brand listed here has a unique approach to sustainability, so whether you prefer minimalist designs or vibrant, handcrafted pieces, there’s an eco-friendly option that suits your taste.