Most traditional home furnishings are made with unsustainable (and toxic) materials that may pose a risk to you, your family, and the environment. So if you do need to buy new furniture, this list of more sustainable furniture brands will help limit those risks.
It’s our goal to lighten the load by compiling this list of sustainable furniture companies for low-impact lounging and sustainable snoozing. We focused our search on brands who make high quality, durable furniture from responsibly sourced materials, such as FSC-certified wood or reclaimed timber; use low-VOC or VOC-free finishes; manufacture ethically; and take extra steps to reduce their negative impact.
You’ll also notice “rated brands” on our list below. This means we’ve taken a much deeper look at their sustainability credentials across 22 criteria including things like chemical management, biodiversity impact, waste management and climate action. Brands need to opt in to be rated so look out for these and find other rated brands in our directory.
Related Guides: Sustainable Outdoor Furniture, Non-toxic Furniture Brands, American Made Furniture
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 Sustainable Furniture Brands (As Rated By Us)
The following brands have been rated by us on their sustainability related credentials, providing us with a deeper level of transparency and comfort:
MasayaCo offers a wide range of beautiful, minimalist teak furniture, made from FSC®-certified teak grown predominantly in their own regenerative tree farms. The brand champions biodiversity and uplifts local communities through fair employment. See the full rating.
US-based Sonoma Restorations offers rustic reclaimed wood furniture pieces made from wine and whiskey barrel wood. They use low-VOC and plant-based oils and are made by artisans in small workshops across the U.S. See the full rating.
Omba is a Canadian brand specializing in solid wood bookshelves and bookcases. Their ethically made furniture is handmade in their own studio from FSC-certified North American hardwoods and finished with a GREENGUARD Gold–certified hardwax oil. See the full rating.
Certified B Corp, Avocado makes a wide range of eco-friendly furniture, from dressers to beds to coffee tables. Their furniture pieces are made from FSC-certified hardwoods and are finished with non-toxic waxes, stains, and oils. Avocado also have a zero waste furniture range made from upcycled wood. See the full rating.
Index: Best Eco-Friendly Furniture Brands
- MasayaCo Jump to brand
- Sonoma Restorations Jump to brand
- Omba Jump to brand
- Avocado Jump to brand
- Cisco Home Jump to brand
- Medley Jump to brand
- Etsy Reclaimed Furniture Jump to brand
- What WE Make Jump to brand
- Sabai Design Jump to brand
- Urban Wood Goods Jump to brand
- Emeco Jump to brand
- Maiden Home 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.For minimalist and multi-functional pieces that scream “sustainable style” turn to MasayaCo. Their furniture range includes accent chairs, armchairs, rocking chairs, stools, benches, beds, tables, and outdoor furniture.
Responsibly-harvested solid teak, finished in different looks with low-VOC natural oil is what you’ll come home to with environmentally friendly furniture from MasayaCo. FSC-certified, their locally sourced hardwoods are mostly sourced from their own forests and are dried in solar-powered kilns. Their Seed to Seat business model is helping to reforest land depleted by cattle farming.
MasayaCo was originally founded as a reforestation project but grew into a furniture company thanks to the talent of the artisans in the area. Their furniture is handcrafted in Nicaragua, helping to support craftspeople and designers in the region.
MasayaCo has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
My Personal Review of MasayaCo’s Zapatera Shower Stool:
“I personally love the versatility of our Zapatera Stool. Living in a tiny house, I’m super limited on how much and what kind of furniture I can have, so things that have multiple uses like these are so appreciated. I use the stool as guest seating, a portable coffee table, a storage surface, and more, just depending on the season and need. Plus, the quality of the wood is truly top-notch, and the natural finish gives a smooth and shiny surface that goes so well with almost any type of home aesthetic.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Sonoma Restorations
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 lifeEthical 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.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
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
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.
Upcycled
Products have been upcycled from an unusable or undesirable form into new products.
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
Sustainable Furnishings Council
1% for the planet
Certified Environmental Giving — Businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.Sustainable Furnishings Council
The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a leading industry organization dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of the home furnishings sector. Member companies commit to advancing sustainable practices through education, transparency, and collaboration across their supply chain and operations.For handcrafted furniture with character and a story to tell, Sonoma Restorations offers rustic pieces made from reclaimed wine and whiskey barrel wood. Their USA-made reclaimed wood furniture collection includes chairs (including Adirondack and rocking chairs), bar stools, benches, coffee tables, side tables, and outdoor furniture.
Each piece is crafted from upcycled materials including wine and whiskey barrel staves and heads, reclaimed oak flooring, barn siding, and even leather saddles. Finishes are primarily low-VOC, plant-based oils like natural tung oil. Any virgin wood used is FSC-certified, and the brand prioritizes reclaimed materials sourced directly from regional wineries and distilleries.
Sonoma Restorations products are made by artisans in small workshops across the U.S., with materials sourced as close to each maker as possible. All furniture is designed to be repairable with replaceable components and durable hardware, and comes with a 5-year limited warranty for indoor pieces.
The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet and the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and has received top scores on the Wood Furniture Scorecard from the National Wildlife Federation and Sustainable Furnishings Council.
Sonoma Restorations 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-freeSmall 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.Omba is a Vancouver-based, family-owned brand that makes thoughtfully designed, solid wood furniture pieces like modular bookshelves, open shelving towers, storage units, and step-style bookcases.
Each piece is handmade from FSC-certified North American oak and walnut and finished with a GREENGUARD Gold–certified, 0% VOC, food-safe hardwax oil. Omba’s commitment to sustainability runs deep, from its plastic-free packaging and reuse of wood offcuts to its partnership with One Tree Planted to support reforestation.
Omba was founded by Daniel Marks to challenge the disposable furniture model. Their sustainable bookcases are made-to-order in their Vancouver workshop by a small, highly trained team of craftspeople who prioritize precision, quality, and safety.
Omba 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.For sustainably made furniture that ranges from affordable to luxury, Avocado has you covered. Their collection includes solid wood dressers, nightstands, credenzas, coffee tables, benches, bed frames, and minimal platform bases. Their wood is either reclaimed or FSC-certified and includes hardwoods like walnut and maple.
Each piece is built in Avocado’s GOTS-certified, solar-powered Los Angeles factory using non-toxic finishes. These finishes include Walrus Oil® 100% Pure Tung Oil and ECOS® wood stain. You can see exactly which stain, finish, and glue was used in their spec sheet at the end of each product listing.
Their Zero Waste Furniture Collection turns upcycled offcuts and salvaged wood into classic, minimalist furniture, keeping usable materials out of landfills and achieving an independently validated 89% landfill waste diversion rate.
Avocado is The Climate Label Certified, a Certified B Corp, and member of 1% for the Planet. They also hold numerous safety certifications.
Avocado has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.
Cisco Home
Cisco Home has not been rated.
Price range: $850–$30K
Cisco Home offers made-to-order furniture that blends classic, heirloom pieces with a strong focus on comfort. Their range includes sofas, sectionals, chairs, benches, ottomans, beds, and more.
They use only FSC®-certified, reclaimed, or repurposed wood, and partner with vendors who are Certified Fair Trade. They have set their own standards of responsibility for suppliers.
We would recommend their “Inside Green” options when choosing filling and fabrics which include organic latex and organic textiles respectively. Finishes are water-based and low-VOC. Their broader textile collection also includes leathers which we would personally avoid.
Every piece is built start to finish by skilled artisans in Cisco’s Los Angeles workshop, where makers earn liveable wages, and health insurance.
Cisco is a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and a top scorer on the Wood Furniture Scorecard. They give back to their community through two non-profits that they founded.
Medley
Medley has not been rated.
Price range: $995–$7,135
Founded by two brothers, Medley is on a mission to give the furniture industry a sustainability overhaul. They offer timeless and durable furniture for every room in the house: sectionals, accent chairs, sleeper sofas, beds, ottomans, benches, accent tables, dining tables, and storage pieces.
Medley sources FSC-certified wood like kiln-dried alder, solid walnut and maple, and low VOC plywood (used only for backs and drawer bottoms). The wood is finished with USDA organic natural furniture polish made with beeswax, carnauba wax, and olive oil. For cushions, choose between CertiPUR-US®-certified synthetic foam and GOLS-certified organic latex.
Other eco materials include OEKO-TEX cruelty-free Eco Wool (in their mattresses), natural jute webbing, GOTS-certified organic cotton upholstery lining, and either recycled or Greenguard Gold-certified synthetics. All the pieces are free of VOC adhesives, fire retardants, fluorocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, preservatives, phthalates, formaldehyde, and azo dyes.
Everything is ethically handcrafted in Portland, Los Angeles, or Chicago. Their alder hardwood frames are backed by a lifetime warranty and mattresses with a twenty-year warranty.
Etsy Reclaimed Furniture
Etsy Reclaimed Furniture has not been rated.
Price Range: Various
Etsy is also one of the best places to shop for affordable sustainable furniture. With a near-constant influx of new designs and shops, there are plenty of unique pieces, from reclaimed barrel wine holders to coffee tables made of salvaged driftwood.
Our favorite Etsy eco-friendly furniture stores include Reclaimed Wood USA and Urban Billy (pictured), both of which specialize in using reclaimed materials to make rustic, farmhouse-inspired furniture.
There’s no end to the innovative upcycled materials individual makers use in some seriously creative ways. Common materials include wood (from salvaged lumber, antique barn wood, fallen logs, and palettes) and metal (upcycled iron, copper and iron piping, and chicken wire).
What WE Make
What WE Make has not been rated.
Price Range: $425–$5,755
Chicago’s What WE Make is a master in handcrafted, customizable, reclaimed wood furniture. With sleek, contemporary lines and minimalist silhouettes, the timeless pieces will suit any modern home. Choose between tables, seating, eco-friendly bedroom furniture, bathroom furniture, storage items, media stands, home office pieces, and more.
Reclaimed old-growth hardwoods (at least a century old) and sustainably sourced hardwoods finished with no or low VOC finishes are used across WWMake’s collection of sustainable coffee tables and more. They also use hand-welded metal and durable, special-blend concrete.
This family-owned and operated brand hand-makes the furniture in Algonquin, IL. Each durable furniture piece is made-to-order with quality craftsmanship, and any scrap wood and sawdust is donated locally to be used for fires and agriculture.
Sabai Design
Sabai Design has not been rated.
Price range: $195–$5,795
Sabai Design creates stylish, sustainable furniture with a focus on affordability, circularity, and low-impact materials. Their range includes made-to-order sofas, coffee tables, and home décor.
Their sofa and chair frames are built using FSC-certified wood, and upholstery options include GRS-certified recycled velvet made from post-consumer water bottles, upcycled Greenguard Gold-certified olefin, hemp, or cactus leather alternatives.
Sabai is a Certified B Corp and their furniture is produced in a family-owned factory in High Point, North Carolina, where the company ensures fair wages and safe working conditions.
Customers are encouraged to repair rather than replace, with replacement parts readily available. Their Sabai Revive program extends product life even further by refurbishing and reselling pre-loved pieces at up to 50% off.
Urban Wood Goods
Urban Wood Goods has not been rated.
Price Range: $845–$7,960
Urban Wood Goods began with one bench that female founder and CEO Erin True made for herself (following inspiration from a DIY salvage magazine article). Today, the furniture company specializes in reclaimed wood tables of all sorts and sizes, from desks to conference tables to quaint two-seaters for your breakfast nook.
If you can’t get enough of the dichotomous metal and wood aesthetic, upgrade your home storage with reclaimed pipe shelving units and commission custom pieces.
Unless otherwise noted, all lumber is reclaimed barn wood and centuries-old “Old Growth” lumber complete with original warps, nail holes, textures, and other character elements. The wooden table tops are combined with salvaged metal pipe accents and American-made steel structures.
This company has a team of 20 craftsmen working in their very own Chicago woodshop. All reclaimed lumber is salvaged from local sites, and other materials come from nearby USA suppliers.
Emeco
Emeco has not been rated.
Price Range: $330–$4,785
Emeco was initially commissioned to make non-corrosive, fire-resistant, and torpedo-proof chairs for the US Navy almost a century ago. Today, they are still challenging the unsustainable furniture industry by creating chairs, stools, benches, tables, and shelves, all made out of recycled materials and built to last 150+ years.
Their first eco-friendly chair, the classic 1006 Navy Chair, is still available today. Each piece is understated enough to use indoors and durable enough for the outdoors.
90% of Emeco’s line uses recycled furniture materials. Recycled aluminum and a VOC-free anodizing finish is their golden (er… metallic) boy. They also use cork, locally reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, and recycled PET. Emeco is also pioneering its own sustainable materials, including Reclaimed Wood-filled Polypropylene (made from leftover plastic from the factory floor mixed with sawdust) and Eco Concrete (made from recycled glass bottles and calcium sulfoaluminate cement).
Emeco hand makes their recycled material furniture in a LEED-certified family factory in Hanover, Pennsylvania, using an intensive 77-step process. Because their expertise is metal, they rely on nearby Amish woodworkers to craft their sustainable wooden furniture.
Maiden Home
Maiden Home has not been rated.
Price Range: $500–$9,895
With minimalist timeless pieces, handcrafted using heritage techniques, Maiden Home is “slow furniture” at its best. Whether you’re looking for sustainable bedroom furniture, living room, or dining furniture, they offer plenty of different designs.
All hardwoods (like the solid oak used in many pieces) bear certifications from the SFI, and any steel is recycled. Their cushions feature CertiPUR-US®-certified soy-based foam.
They use several different upholstery materials, including 100% performance linen, a cotton and linen blend, Merino wool, Mohair and leather. There’s not much detail available on their ethical approach to animal-derived fabrics so we’d recommend sticking to the linen.
Some of the collections feature down and feather-filled cushions, but a down alternative (micro-denier, an ultra-fine synthetic fiber) is available on request. Low VOC, water-based glues and finishes are prioritized, and all furniture is free from flame retardants and formaldehyde.
All pieces are handcrafted to order by North Carolina artisans who use heritage techniques to slow craft the pieces.
Why Choose More Environmentally Friendly Furniture
Shopping for furniture can feel overwhelming, not least because there are a ton of styles, materials and finishes to consider but also because of the different environmental, social, and health-related impacts, including:
- The furniture industry is one of the largest consumers of wood globally. This high demand contributes significantly to deforestation which accounts for ~12% of man-made greenhouse gases, and also drives habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
- The rise of “fast furniture”—inexpensive, low-quality items designed for short-term use—has led to a significant increase in furniture waste. In 2018 alone, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that 12.1 million tons of furniture were discarded, with the majority ending up in landfills.
- Many conventional furniture pieces are manufactured using synthetic glues, varnishes, and finishes that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions contribute to indoor air pollution and can pose health risks, including respiratory issues and other ailments.
How We Choose The Most Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Furniture Brands
Since you’re probably sitting on a piece right now, there’s an important question to ask: what is sustainable furniture and what type of furniture is the most sustainable?
Hint: it’s not Ikea furniture…
But it is many of the same things that make for sustainable and ethical fashion and home textiles like eco-friendly bedding and eco-friendly shower curtains.
Materials:
What is the most eco-friendly material for furniture? Solid wood furniture that’s been responsibly sourced is #1 among sustainable furniture materials, not least because it’s biodegradable. Hardwoods (like beech, maple, and oak) can take hundreds of years to reach maturity. That’s why virgin hardwoods aren’t ideal. If the hardwood is reclaimed like that offered by Sonoma Restorations or at the very least, sustainably-sourced, then it gets a thumbs up. Otherwise, it should be certified by sustainable forestry certifications like FSC.
We advise avoiding plywood and particle wood—AKA composite woods—as they aren’t as durable and typically include toxic adhesives and formaldehyde treatments. We also look for finishes and glues that are non-toxic, organic, or no/low-VOC (volatile organic compounds).
For upholstered pieces, it’s best to avoid synthetic fabrics (unless recycled) and opt for natural fabrics like organic cotton, linen, hemp. Foam cushioning is best when it’s made of natural latex.
Relevant Certifications: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), GREENGUARD, OEKO-TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), MADE SAFE, Global Recycle Standard (GRS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), CertiPUR-US®, eco-INSTITUT®
Supply chain & labor practices:
We love affordable sustainable furniture companies just like anyone else, but not when laborers are making up that low cost. Many of the brands on our list make their furniture products in small workshops in the USA, meaning a stricter labor standard baseline.
Otherwise, we look for third-party manufacturing certifications that help ensure fair and safe working practices.
Relevant Certifications: B Corporation, Fair Trade, Fair Trade Federation (FTF)
Carbon commitments & green practices:
When it comes to sustainable design, furniture should also be efficient and functional. Handcrafted sustainable furniture means less energy and fewer emissions than machine-made furniture. Custom-made is better still because it requires the piece to be made-to-order, which prevents unsold stock.
Beyond that, we also look for companies committed to reducing their carbon footprint through renewable energy, carbon offset programs, and low-waste packaging.
Community & charitable endeavors:
We love when ethical furniture companies go above and beyond to support their artisan communities or give back to social or environmental organizations.
Final Thoughts On Ethical Furniture Brands
Whether you’re kitting out your home for the first time, replacing that cheap Ikea flat pack you bought after college, or finally upgrading your home office with a new non-toxic desk, investing in sustainable furniture is worth the effort.
Remember only to buy new furniture when you really need to. The most sustainable furniture is the furniture you already own, followed by secondhand furniture.
Know someone who needs an upholstery upgrade? Instead of passing them an Ikea catalog, pass along this article on the best sustainable furniture for a greener, healthier home.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in May 2020 and has been updated several times since. The November 2025 revision includes newly rated sustainable furniture brands, ensuring our recommendations remain accurate, transparent, and aligned with our current brand rating system. In January 2026, we added Sonoma Restorations as a newly rated brand.
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.
Thank you so much for sharing this! As a mom, I want to support brands that have green business practices. Happy to learn about these brands.