According to the EPA, building materials and furnishings are one of the major causes of indoor air pollution—which is why buying from non-toxic furniture brands is a thing; and a much safer way to spruce up your home.
Before replacing your furniture though, let’s pause for a sec and consider how we navigate this.
Toxin-free furniture typically includes no flame retardants, formaldehyde, stain guards, toxic water repellents, PVC/vinyl, off-gassing polyurethane foam, toxic paint, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Ideally this will be backed up with relevant certifications and important sustainability credentials like responsible raw material sourcing, fair and transparent supply chains, green business practices and charitable giving. This is what we’ve aimed to achieve in pulling together this list.
Note: Our brand rating system assesses brands based on multiple sustainability-related criteria, including things like chemical use, and customer safety. Brands need to opt in to be rated so look out for those safer furniture brands below and find others in our directory.
Related Guides: Non-Toxic Living, Non-Toxic Bed Frames, Non-Toxic Mattresses
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
The Best Non-Toxic Furniture Brands That Have Us (Off)Gassed (As Rated By Us)
MasayaCo offers beautiful living room furniture designs made mostly from solid FSC Certified teak grown predominantly in their own regenerated forests. Their teak furniture is finished with a low-VOC, GREENGUARD Gold-certified, water-based acrylic. See the full rating.
Avocado boasts several safety related certifications to ensure your furniture is free from chemicals like formaldehyde. Their furniture is made of reclaimed wood or FSC-certified wood, and is sealed with zero-VOC finishes. See the full rating.
Canada-based, Omba makes their non-toxic bookshelves and bookcases from FSC-certified hardwoods in their Vancouver studio and finishes their pieces with a GREENGUARD Gold certified and 0% VOC hardwax oil. See the full rating.
Index: Safe Furniture Brands
- MasayaCo Jump to brand
- Avocado Jump to brand
- Omba Jump to brand
- Sabai Design Jump to brand
- Medley Jump to brand
- Burrow Jump to brand
- The Futon Shop Jump to brand
MasayaCo
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.
Made To Order
Products can be made to order, thus limiting unnecessary production
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Traceable Supply Chain
Brand is able to fully trace their entire supply chain from end to end.
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
FSC®
FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures that wood, paper, and other forest-based materials come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Products bearing the FSC® label support biodiversity, protect the rights of forest communities and workers, and promote sustainable forestry practices.MasayaCo handcrafts beautiful wood furniture using sustainably sourced materials and responsible production methods. Their range includes chairs, rockers, stools, benches, tables, shelves, consoles, desks, bedroom furniture and outdoor furuniture.
Their designs are predominantly made from solid teak grown through their own regenerative reforestation efforts, as well as other FSC certified sources in Nicaragua. The indoor furniture is finished with Sher-Wood® EA Hydroplus™—a low-VOC, GREENGUARD Gold-certified, water-based acrylic. While some designs incorporate handwoven polyester cords, their all-wood options are ideal for those avoiding synthetic materials.
There are some products kept in stock, but most pieces are crafted to order in Nicaragua, with full transparency across the supply chain thanks to their vertically integrated “Seed to Seat” model.
MasayaCo’s FSC®-certified teak is processed in solar-powered kilns, and the brand minimizes emissions by limiting shipping to the U.S. and Central America.
MasayaCo has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Avocado
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
1% for the planet
B Corp
Certified Vegan
eco-INSTITUT
EWG
FSC®
GOLS
GOTS
Green America
Greenguard
MADE SAFE®
OEKO-TEX®
PETA
RWS
The Climate Label
USDA Organic
1% for the planet
Certified Environmental Giving — Businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Certified Vegan
The Certified Vegan logo, managed by the Vegan Awareness Foundation (Vegan Action), ensures that products contain no animal ingredients or by-products and have not been tested on animals. It’s one of the most recognized vegan certifications, helping consumers identify items that meet strict vegan and cruelty-free standards across food, cosmetics, clothing, and household products.eco-INSTITUT
The eco-INSTITUT certification, issued by the independent German testing body eco-INSTITUT Germany GmbH, verifies that products meet rigorous standards for low emissions and pollutant-free materials. It’s commonly used for mattresses, furniture, flooring, and building materials, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals like VOCs, formaldehyde, and heavy metals, and are safe for indoor air quality.EWG
The EWG Verified® mark, issued by the Environmental Working Group, identifies products that meet the organization’s strictest standards for health and transparency. To earn the label, products must avoid ingredients of concern, fully disclose all ingredients (including fragrance components), and follow good manufacturing practices.FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures that wood, paper, and other forest-based materials come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Products bearing the FSC® label support biodiversity, protect the rights of forest communities and workers, and promote sustainable forestry practices.GOLS
The GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certification ensures that latex products contain more than 95% certified organic raw material and meet strict environmental and social criteria throughout production. Managed by Control Union, GOLS verifies that latex is sourced from organically managed plantations without harmful chemicals and that processing facilities uphold fair labor practices and sustainable manufacturing standards.GOTS
The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification is the world’s leading standard for organic fibers. It covers every step of production, from harvesting raw fibers to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, and prohibits toxic dyes, GMOs, and harmful chemicals. GOTS also enforces fair labor practices.Green America
The Green America Certified Business seal recognizes companies that meet high standards for social and environmental responsibility. Administered by Green America, the certification evaluates businesses on their commitment to fair labor, environmental sustainability, community impact, and ethical business practices.Greenguard
The GREENGUARD Certification, issued by UL Solutions, ensures that products meet strict chemical emissions limits to help reduce indoor air pollution and exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Commonly applied to furniture, mattresses, paints, and building materials, it verifies that products contribute to healthier indoor environments.MADE SAFE®
The MADE SAFE® certification is a comprehensive non-toxic seal that verifies products are made with safe ingredients not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems. Overseen by the MADE SAFE nonprofit, it screens every ingredient against a database of toxicological and environmental science criteria.OEKO-TEX®
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures that every component of a textile product (threads, buttons, zippers, and fabrics) has been independently tested for harmful substances. Managed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, it guarantees products are safe for human health, meeting strict global limits for chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and PFAS.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.RWS
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a global certification that ensures wool comes from farms that protect animal welfare and practice progressive land management. It also tracks the certified wool through every stage of production to maintain transparency and traceability.The Climate Label
The Climate Label certifies companies that measure and publicly disclose their greenhouse-gas emissions, set a financial commitment (a “climate transition budget”) tied to those emissions, and allocate verified funding for projects that reduce or remove emissions from their operations, supply-chain and beyond. Unlike a simple “carbon-neutral” claim, the label emphasises actual investment in the transition to a low-carbon future, not just offsets, and is designed to increase transparency and credibility for climate action by businesses.USDA Organic
The USDA Organic certification, regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP), verifies that products are made with ingredients grown and processed according to strict organic standards. It prohibits synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, and harmful additives, while requiring practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare.Price range: $329–$2,799
They may be best known as a mattress brand, but that’s just the skin of this Avocado. In addition to the highest independently rated mattresses and bedding, they offer a whole range of formaldehyde-free bedroom furniture, including end and accent tables, dressers, and solid wood bed frames.
The wooden furniture is made of reclaimed solid wood or FSC-certified wood, sealed with zero-VOC finishes.
Manufacturing of their products takes place in Avocado’s GOTS and GOLS organic-certified factory in Los Angeles. Living wages, comprehensive medical care, paid volunteer days, remote work opportunities, and access to mental and physical health improving tools are guaranteed to all employees.
This Certified B Corp is one of several brands to be a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and is an avid supporter of industry transformation from the inside. This certified toxin-free furniture brand became the first mattress company to become The Climate Label Certified.
They have also achieved the Zero Waste to Landfill verification from UL solutions. Avocado is a member of 1% For The Planet and donates to several environmental organizations.
Avocado has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Omba
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its life
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at homeEthical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.Made To Order
Products can be made to order, thus limiting unnecessary productionNon-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 peopleSustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
FSC®
Greenguard
FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures that wood, paper, and other forest-based materials come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Products bearing the FSC® label support biodiversity, protect the rights of forest communities and workers, and promote sustainable forestry practices.Greenguard
The GREENGUARD Certification, issued by UL Solutions, ensures that products meet strict chemical emissions limits to help reduce indoor air pollution and exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Commonly applied to furniture, mattresses, paints, and building materials, it verifies that products contribute to healthier indoor environments.For handmade non-toxic furniture that’s as safe as it is beautiful, Omba makes their solid wood bookshelves and bookcases from FSC-certified North American hardwoods in their Vancouver studio.
Each piece is finished with Rubio Monocoat hardwax oil, which is GREENGUARD Gold certified, 0% VOC, and food-contact safe, making it one of the healthiest wood finishes available for your home.
Omba’s toxin-free furniture is designed to last a lifetime, with every element (from materials to finishes) chosen by their founder, Daniel Marks, to protect your indoor air quality and lower your furniture’s environmental impact.
Omba has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Sabai Design
Sabai Design has not been rated.
Price range: $195–$5,795
Sabai has a mission to design affordable furniture including sofas, coffee tables and décor. All products are made-to-order and fully customizable over a two-week creation period that’s worth the wait.
Sabai’s sofa and chair frames are made using FSC-certified wood and assembled using VOC-free water-based glue. You have a choice of upholstery fabric, including OEKO-TEX and GRS-certified recycled velvet made from 100% recycled water bottles, 100% upcycled Greenguard Gold-certified olefin polyester, cactus leather or hemp. Their fabrics are stain-resistant, scratch-proof, and filled with recycled materials or CertiPUR-US®-certified non-toxic foam cushions.
Coffee tables are made with some combination of recycled steel, carbon smart (fallen tree) solid ashwood from baltimore, cherry carbon smart wood, FSC certified white oak, and VOC free oil stain.
Sabai products have no Proposition 65 warnings and they are a Certified B Corp. Furniture is made in a family-owned factory in High Point, North Carolina that’s committed to safety, quality, and living wages.
Sabai offers carbon-neutral shipping and customers are encouraged to repair rather than replace, and individual replacement parts are available.
There is also a buyback program called Sabai Revive where refurbished sofas can be bought for up to 50% off.
Medley
Medley has not been rated.
Price range: $995–$7,135
Medley founders, Travis and Ryan got into the furniture business by aptly selling furniture from their living room. Their focus is to push the furniture industry forward and they offer a whole medley of affordable chemical-free furniture including sofas, sectionals, accent chairs, storage, dining room furniture, beds, and more. Everything features clean lines, simple functionality, and minimalist vibes.
Medley offers kiln-dried alder solid wood furniture frames and solid walnut and maple for tables and other hard goods. Component parts of storage pieces are crafted with FSC-certified, low-VOC CARB 2-compliant plywood.
Two kinds of cushions are used: CertiPUR-US®-certified foam and natural Dunlop latex, both of which meet updated emissions and durability standards without added flame retardants and formaldehyde.
The latex is made from the sap of rubber trees and is naturally mold-resistant, and antimicrobial. Natural fibers used are Greenguard Gold, GOTS, and or OEKO-TEX certified, such as their OEKO-TEX wool that’s free of APEO, NPEO, pesticides, carcinogenic colorants, and heavy metals. Synthetic fibers are used in some pieces, several of which incorporate plant-based water repellents. All are certified free of harmful chemicals.
They use plant-based finishes, like non-toxic furniture polish made of natural beeswax, carnauba wax, and olive oil. It’s odorless, zero VOC, and water- and heat-resistant.
All furnishings are built in the US.
Burrow
Burrow has not been rated.
Price range: $195–$7,090
Burrow is a furniture brand with a focus on setting new standards in terms of providing a modular platform, providing function and style, and investing in community and experience.
It’s managed to separate luxury sofas into modules, which allow customers to expand their furniture to suit changing needs. Simply add a seat to a loveseat to make a sofa. Or add shelving units that let your furniture grow with you.
Sofas aside, Burrow offers a complete range of bedroom furniture (bed frames, dressers, nightstands), shelving units, coffee and end tables, and outdoor furniture.
Burrow use steel hardware and Baltic Birch frames, and the brand’s sofas feature a choice of wooden legs sourced from responsibly managed US forests or recyclable plated steel legs. Other furniture contains sustainably-sourced solid hardwoods and veneered plywood.
In the upholstery department, materials used include eco-leather, velvet, contract-grade polyester, and upcycled olefin. Olefin is polypropylene, but its sustainability credentials are upgraded because it’s created from upcycled polymers. The processing uses no PFCs or chemical additives.
CertiPUR-US certified foam cushions add comfort and are made with no ozone depleters, heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde, or flame retardants. There are minimal VOCs.
Burrow furniture is made either domestically in a workshop in North Carolina, or by one of their partners in Poland, Vietnam, India, and Mexico. Wood is sourced from suppliers bearing sustainable forestry certifications by the American Tree Farm System, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The Futon Shop
The Futon Shop has not been rated.
Price range: $280–$7,990
The Futon’s Shop Natural Home collection is a safe place to start for some bedroom furniture ideas. As you might guess, their range includes some of the most natural futons, but this formaldehyde-free furniture brand is more than just a one-hit-wonder.
You’ll also find mattresses, side and coffee tables, non-toxic sectionals and couches, and platform bed frames.
USDA organic cotton and GOLS-certified organic latex makes up Natural Home’s futon cushions and mattresses, along with select GOTS-certified organic wool, OEKO-TEX-certified coconut or hemp coir, and cashmere, horsetail, and camel hair.
While all bearing OEKO-TEX certification, we’re not certain about ethical sourcing of these latter three animal sourced materials, so we recommend avoiding those.
100% FFC HARD pine is used for the futon and bed frames, and no glue and no finish ensure you’re purchasing furniture without formaldehyde or toxic chemicals. A farm-to-furniture manufacturer, materials are mostly harvested locally, instead of traveling thousands of miles. Their handmade VOC-free furniture has been crafted in a San Francisco factory since the 70s.
US material sourcing and domestic manufacturing mean transportation emissions are kept lower. Each product has a 20–30 year life expectancy.
Why Non-Toxic Furniture & What To Look For
Conventional furniture finishes (paints, stains, and polishes), adhesives, and fabrics are treated with a host of toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that lead to furniture off-gassing. This in turn causes indoor air pollution.
These carcinogens, heavy metals, and neurotoxins are doing untold damage to human health—hence the need to look for low-VOC or no-VOC furniture.
Formaldehyde from furniture is especially concerning, as it can lead to organic toxicity, reproductive problems, and cancer.
To achieve better non-toxic living, we also want furniture without fire retardants, as these have been linked to disruption of the endocrine, thyroid, immune, and reproductive systems.
For the safest living room furniture (and for all other parts of the home), look out for these Toxicity Related Certifications, Memberships and Accreditations:
How We Found The Best Non-Toxic Furniture
After reading all that, you might be wondering, is all wood furniture toxic? Fortunately, no; you just need to know what to look for in between the couch cushions.
Looking for the best non-toxic furniture can be a challenge—especially since “non-toxic” is a broad, unregulated term.
But as with most home guides, from non-toxic cribs to non-toxic rugs, we turned to the following considerations to steer us toward safe, healthy furniture for everyone involved.
Materials:
Wooden furniture is always our first choice, because it’s natural and durable. However, the wood should come from responsibly managed forests (like FSC-certified wood).
Things get more complicated when talking about foam cushions and upholstered furniture, so we look for natural and organic materials (organic cotton, hemp fabric, and organic natural latex).
Seeking non-toxic furniture materials means these also need to be free of flame retardants, formaldehyde, and heavy metals with low-VOC emissions. This generally means looking for solid wood instead of composite woods (like plywood), which often utilize off gassing glues and toxic chemicals to bind the layers together.
- Certifications: Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), CertiPUR-US, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Greenguard, OEKO-TEX, MADE SAFE®, Global Recycle Standard (GRS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), eco-INSTITUT®, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
Supply chain and labor practices:
The furniture producers mostly make their products in the US, which generally has higher labor and wage standards.
But because US manufacturing is no 100% guarantee for ethics (especially given varying state minimum wages) we still like to see transparency and manufacturing certifications.
- Certifications: International Labor Organization (ILO), B Corporation, Fair Trade
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Handcrafted furniture production methods use less energy and lower emissions. Custom-made is even better because pieces are made to order, lowering levels of deadstock and waste. Beyond that, more ways to reduce carbon emissions include localized sourcing and manufacturing, carbon offset programs, and use of clean energy.
Community & charitable endeavors:
A big thumbs up to all the companies large enough to give something back. It’s even better when they go above and beyond to support communities across the other side of the world or give back to environmental organizations.
Final Thoughts On Toxic-Free & Low VOC Furniture
If you spend most of your time indoors, what your furniture is made from matters. Many conventional pieces are still coated in high-VOC finishes or made with synthetic materials that off-gas harmful chemicals for years.
Brands like the ones above are proving there’s a better way, using low or zero-VOC finishes, natural solid woods, and safe, natural materials that keep your indoor air clean.
So if you can choose to support non-toxic furniture brands that focus on making products that are free from toxins, kinder to your health, and built to last, why settle for anything less?
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
where can i buy a non toxic recliner? I can’t seem to find one
NIKKI