Looking for a Non-Toxic Couch? These Sofa Brands are Natural & PFAS-Free

What makes a couch toxic? Well, there are a lot of different things to consider, from the raw materials used to the additives applied to the foams and fabrics. Let’s break it down:

Stain- and Water-Resistant Sprays & Finishes

Many couches and other types of furniture are treated with stain-resistant treatments to help minimize the damage of spills and accidents.

While keeping stains at bay is a good idea not only for aesthetics but also for things like preventing mold growth, many of the chemicals used to make these finishes are known toxins.

Most of the time, these treatments are made using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS, aka “forever chemicals.”

(Update: These days, there are more PFAS-free stain-resistant treatments on the market, such as C0. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.)

You’ve probably heard about PFAS before—they’re the same ones used in Teflon. These harmful chemicals are linked to everything from cancer to reproductive problems, birth defects to immunity issues, liver damage to increased cholesterol and blood pressure, and more.

And unlike some other toxins like phthalates, this family of chemicals are bioaccumulative, which means they don’t break down but instead remain in our bodies and ecosystems forever (hence the name “forever chemicals”).

For more about this family of chemicals, check out documentary The Devil We Know and the movie Dark Waters. (Or, if you prefer to read, check out the book they’re both based off of: Exposure by Robert Bilott.) These two films tell the story of the shameful actions of chemical giant DuPont, who knew these chemicals were toxic but covered it up and kept manufacturing them anyway. Fast forward to today and they’re still doing it.

To make matters worse, recent evidence suggests that PFAS don’t even do a good job at preventing stains on furniture. This is a story we’ve heard before when it comes to flame retardants. (More on that in a minute.)

At this point in time, manufacturers are not required to label their products to let consumers know if they contain PFAS or not, so it’s very difficult to tell whether something is safe from these chemicals. Most of the time, you’ll have to actually reach out to the manufacturer and ask.

The good news, however, is that PFAS legislation is finally starting to change, with some states beginning to ban PFAS in certain products like clothing and cosmetics. It’s gotten easier to find PFAS-free couches even since I wrote the first version of this guide, and this landscape will continue to change over the next decade.

Flame Retardants

“The average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world. The toxic chemicals are present in nearly every home, packed into couches, chairs and many other products. Two powerful industries — Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers — waged deceptive campaigns that led to the proliferation of these chemicals, which don’t even work as promised.”

This quote comes from a Chicago Tribune investigation called “Playing With Fire,” which outlines a successful decades-long effort by the chemical and tobacco industries to put toxic fire retardants in a multitude of everyday products despite the fact that they don’t even slow down fires! (There is also a documentary based on this story as well, called Toxic Hot Seat.)

There are a lot of different kinds of flame retardant chemicals, and Toxic Free Future has a great resource if you want to dive deeper into each type. These chemicals are linked to things like cancer, thyroid disease, hormone disruption, fertility problems, decreased IQ, other developmental problems, altered neurodevelopment, and more.

Flame retardants are most often added to polyurethane (PU) foam (which we’ll talk more about it in a minute) due to its increased flammability. In the past, safety regulations in the U.S. required flame retardants be used on things like sofas (despite the fact that, as referenced above, there wasn’t any indication that these flame retardants actually increased safety in the unfortunate event of a fire).

The primary way these flame retardants actually get into our bodies is through dust. The flame retardant molecules slowly break off a piece of furniture, float into the air, and eventually land on surfaces where they collect with the dust and then are eventually ingested. (This is why regularly cleaning your home and using an air purifier can help decrease the amount of toxins you and your loved ones are breathing in!)

Similar to PFAS, most of these flame retardants stick around in the environment. They can also be bioaccumulative (which means they build up in an organism’s tissues), and they can biomagnify (which means they move up the food chain).

Flame retardants are basically everywhere these days—they’ve even been found in the tissues of polar bears, killer whales, and sea otters around the world.

There is some good news on this front, though. In 2014, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission updated its regulations and flame retardants are now no longer required by law. The following year, California instituted a law requiring that any couches with flame retardants sold in the state have a label that tells the consumer they contain these toxins.

(The next time you buy a piece of furniture, look for a TB 117-2013 label, which will tell you whether or not it contains flame retardants.)

In 2018, California went even further and actually banned flame retardants in certain products at levels above 1,000 parts per million. (The law passed in 2018 but actually went into effect in 2020.) This regulation applies to children’s products, mattresses, and upholstered furniture. Other states have also passed similar legislation in recent years, but California is the only one to ban ALL flame retardants in these products (whereas other states have only banned specific ones).

Because of the fact that California is such a large economy, these steps have certainly had a positive effect on the industry as a whole. Companies like Ashley Furniture (which as of a few years ago was the largest furniture manufacturer and retailer in U.S.), Crate & Barrel, and Williams Sonoma (who owns Pottery Barn and West Elm) have stated they’ve either completely banned and/or nearly eliminated flame retardants in their furniture.

While regulation changes and an increase in label transparency is certainly very good news, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re in the clear (yet?). A lot of sofas and other types of upholstered furniture is still made using flame retardants.

Some furniture companies may not even be aware that their products contain flame retardants if they’re sourcing polyurethane foam from manufacturers that add it to the materials earlier in the supply chain.

So although we’re making a lot of good progress in this area, it’s still important to shop carefully and ask brands if their furniture is flame retardant free.

The Problem with Secondhand Sofas

This brings us to the potential issue of buying secondhand couches. On one hand, buying secondhand is usually the more sustainable choice. It keeps furniture out of landfills and helps decrease the amount of resources needed to manufacture and ship a brand new piece of furniture. It’s also more affordable.

However, there are a couple of issues with secondhand sofas to consider. First, couches made before 2014 definitely contain flame retardants since it was required by law. These couches also will not have a label informing you about the presence of those flame retardants.

Secondly, furniture containing polyurethane foam can actually get more toxic as it gets older. As the foam ages, it slowly starts to dry out and break down. As this happens, more of the flame retardants that were originally added to the foam are released into the air.

The exception to this is vintage furniture that was made prior to the mid-1970s, which is when flame retardants first started being added. (Of course, if it’s been re-upholstered or re-cushioned since then, it might not be safe.)

If you do want to purchase an older (post-1970s) couch, you may want to consider replacing the foam and re-upholstering it with new foam and fabric that is free from flame retardants. Check out Two Sisters Textiles—they offer great natural, PFAS-free upholstery options, many of which are built for high durability.

The reality is that sometimes there is no perfect choice. Ultimately, you have to weigh everything out and make the best decision you can (even if it is not the most ideal). That’s okay! Just do the best you can.

Synthetic Fabrics like Polyester

Another thing to consider when shopping for a couch is the fabric with which it’s upholstered. Most ‘conventional’ couches are made out of synthetic fabrics like polyester or faux leather.

Most of these fabrics come with various concerns. Most synthetic fabrics are just plastic, which are petroleum derivatives. Big picture, these materials aren’t great for human nor environmental health. They don’t biodegrade and they can potentially contain toxins such as heavy metals.

Polyester, which many couch brands use, can be contaminated with toxicants like antimony and BPA.

That being said, there are some synthetic fabrics that are safer than others. Olefin, for example, is a type of fabric that is made from ones of the ‘least-bad’ types of plastic. You’ll see that I have chosen to include some brands that use some of these safer synthetics below.

Keep in mind that even a “natural” fabric like organic cotton can still be treated with toxic additives. I would argue that it’s safer to go with a synthetic fabric that’s free from PFAS and flame retardants than to go with a cotton fabric that contains these harmful chemicals.

Plus, furniture made with synthetics like polyester can be more affordable, too. Again, I would say that getting a PFAS-free couch (even if it uses PU foam and polyester) is still a great step in the right direction.

Foams

Like synthetic fabrics, polyurethane foam (PU) is derived from petroleum and often contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde.

Many of these VOCs are known carcinogens and when you have them in your home, they slowly leak out into your air over time, contributing to indoor air pollution (this is commonly referred to as “off-gassing”).

PU foam also contains things called isocyanates (like toluene diisocyanate a.k.a. TDI and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate a.k.a. MDI), which are powerful irritants and sensitizers.

Some types of PU are more stable and less toxic than others… The problem is that it’s almost impossible to know just how safe (or unsafe) the PU foam in your couch is.

We’ll talk about what to look for in safer foams in a minute.

Engineered Wood

Considering that wood is used in almost every kind of furniture, we’ve talked about it a lot (with regard to bed frames, desks, dressers, and more).

Although you might not really think about wood when it comes to your couch (since you often can’t see most of it), it’s still an important factor to keep in mind. Along with the legs, much of the internal frame of your couch is made using wood.

You want to look for couches and sofas that are made from solid wood, as opposed to engineered wood (which includes MDF, plywood, and particleboard).

This is because engineered wood is actually just made out of pieces of wood (think sawdust and wood chips), which are glued together to look like real wood. That requires quite a lot of glue, which usually contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, a carcinogen. These VOCs can off-gas into your home over time, contributing to indoor air pollution.

That being said, there are ways to make engineered wood in safer ways these days. So if you do go with a brand that uses engineered wood, look for CARB II and/or US TSCA Title VI compliance. These regulations ensure that formaldehyde levels are minimal.

RELATED: What is Fast Furniture?

Alright, now let’s talk about what to look for in a safer, healthier, non-toxic couch.

Zero Flame Retardants

Luckily it’s gotten much easier to find couches without flame retardants in recent years. Considering that flame retardants don’t actually work when it comes to fire safety, there is absolutely no reason to spray these toxins all over the furniture we spend so much time on.

So, go for a sofa that is completely free of flame retardants.

Zero Stain and Water Repellants (PFAS-Free)

Be wary of products that have labels like “water-resistant,” “stain-resistant,” or “spill-safe.” It usually means they’ve been sprayed with toxic “forever chemicals.”

That said, some fabrics (both natural and synthetic) are more water- and stain-resistant than others, even WITHOUT these added chemicals (which can make these labels confusing at times!). If you’re ever unsure, don’t be afraid to reach out to the company and ask if they add any PFAS or other finishes to their fabrics.

Additionally, scientists have found ways to make couches more stain-resistant using vegetable-based treatments that are free from PFAS. Burrow and 7th Ave, for example, use a PFAS-free treatment called C0.

I’m slightly hesitant recommending products that use C0 because I haven’t actually been able to get anyone to tell me what exactly it’s made out of. How can we be sure it’s totally safe if we don’t know what’s in it?

BUT, I obviously really like that it’s PFAS-free, so I would still recommend it over something with PFAS in it any day.

Solid Wood

As mentioned above, engineered wood like plywood and MDF are filled with glues, which contain lots of formaldehyde and other VOCs. So look for brands that use solid wood for their frames and legs.

Natural & Organic Fabrics

Natural and organic fabrics like cotton, linen, hemp, and wool are great options for your upholstered furniture because they’re better for human and environmental health.

One thing to consider when it comes to cotton, however, is that it can be more likely to develop mold compared to other fabric options. If you have kids, tend to make a lot of spills on the sofa, and/or are sensitive to mold, you may want to consider a safer synthetic fabric, such as Olefin.

Also keep in mind that even healthy fabrics like organic cotton can still have added flame retardant chemicals and PFAS (although it’s definitely less likely).

What About Leather & Fake Leather?

As with almost everything else, leather has its pros, cons, and nuances. For people with kids and pets, leather can be an appealing option because it’s easy to keep clean. Leather can also be more durable and last longer than couches made from other types of fabrics.

But if you’re going to go with a leather sofa, you’ll want to choose vegetable-tanned leather. Most of the time, leather is chrome-tanned, which involves lots of toxic chemicals, including heavy metals (like lead), formaldehyde, cyanide-based dyes, and more.

Vegetable-tanned leather, on the other hand, doesn’t use all of these toxic chemicals. So if you’re going to buy leather products, you should choose veggie-tanned leather whenever possible.

The downside is that vegetable-tanned leather tends to be a longer and more expensive process. Because of that, it’s uncommon for larger things like sofas to be made from it. If you really want a leather couch, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask the company for more information about the leather they use and how it is sourced and processed. So far, EcoBalanza is the only brand I’ve found that actually offers non-toxic and vegetable-tanned leather couches.

If you’re a vegan or are trying to decrease the amount of animal products in your life, you might go for vegan leather. And while that might seem like a good idea at first, it’s important to keep in mind that faux leather is almost always plastic. It’s made from things like PU and PVC (which is the most toxic kind of plastic).

Not only that, but in 2012, the Center for Environmental Health started testing fake leather products for lead, and the results have not been pretty.

Of course, there are now plant-based vegan leathers on the market that utilize things like pineapple, apple, and mushrooms—but no one is making a couch out of those yet!

No- or Low-VOC Glues, Stains, and Finishes

The stains and finishes that are typically used on wooden furniture are heavy on the VOCs. So look for brands that are made with natural finishes like linseed oil, walnut oil, or low/no VOC synthetic finishes and glues.

Alternatively, you could look for a couch with legs that are unfinished. Then you can either leave them as-is or finish them yourself with a natural and non-toxic finish of your choice.

Better Foams

If you can, it’s best to avoid synthetic PU foam completely and opt for natural foams made from organic latex or kapok instead.

Several of the brands below use these natural materials for their cushions.

But if you do end up going with synthetic foam cushions, look for certifications like CertiPUR.

Although it’s definitely not perfect, CertiPUR-US® foams are free of:

• PBDEs, TDCPP, or TCEP flame retardants
• Formaldehyde
• Ozone depleters
• PBDEs, TDCPP, or TCEP flame retardants
• Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals
• They’re not necessarily completely free of phthalates, but they do have certain phthalate restrictions

Another better foam to look for is soy foam. These foams are also not perfect. For one, the soy industry comes with its own environmental problems. And secondly, “soy-based” foams aren’t necessarily completely plant-based and/or biodegradable as they might still have petroleum-derived foams mixed in. Still, they’re probably better than just plain PU.

Other Third-Party Certifications to Look For

Most certifications have pros and cons, but they all provide a certain level of accountability for brands to test their products against a certain set of safety criteria. In addition to CertiPUR certified foams, here are a few other labels to look for:

• The GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold certifications by UL are focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These labels look at the product as a whole and verify that a couch has no or low levels of a list of VOCs.

• OEKO-TEX certifies that an end product is free from a long list of toxic chemicals. This certification is most commonly applied to fabrics.

• Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) means that at least 95% of the latex used in a product is organically grown and sourced. This standard also looks at the impact on human health, safety, and welfare along with the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

• Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS) is very similar to the GOLS certification, except that it applies to organic cotton.

• Wood that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified means it has been responsibly sourced from sustainably-managed forests.