How Does The Sustainable Furnishings Council Make It?

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) is a coalition of manufacturers, retailers, and designers dedicated to raising awareness and expanding the adoption of sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry. The council provides guidance, resources, educational programming, and marketing support to help companies reduce their environmental footprint. The “What’s it Made of?” initiative is an environmental health initiative that encourages the elimination of dangerous substances commonly included in furniture production. The initiative was launched with a free webinar hosted by SFC on March 16, 2017.

The “What’s It Made of?” initiative encourages stakeholders in the home furnishings industry to ask what is in the materials used to make home furnishings, many of which contain harmful chemicals most commonly found in furnishings. The goal is to encourage companies to avoid the hazardous chemicals that are most often found in furnishings products, such as flame-retardant chemicals. Sustainable furniture should be made from renewable and nontoxic materials, such as natural wood, bamboo, or recycled materials.

In October 2006, a group of eco-conscious individuals and companies gathered at the High Point Market in North Carolina, US, to form the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC). With the growing demand for sustainable options, several brands have emerged as leaders in eco-friendly furniture. The “What’s It Made of?” initiative is designed to help consumers learn about and specify sustainable, non-toxic materials.

What are sustainable couches made of?

Sustainable sofas and furniture are made from renewable, recycled, or reclaimed materials, reducing their environmental impact. Renewable materials like cork, hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, and jute are harvested without harming trees and can be regrown within a few years without pesticides. Recycled materials, such as polyester, leather, cotton, and foam can, are made from waste that would otherwise go to landfills or oceans.

Furniture frames are created using recycled or reclaimed wood, pallets, or scraps, and metals. In the UK, 90% of the wood used for furniture comes from European forests, which grow by approximately 661, 000 hectares a year.

What fabrics are sustainable interior design?

The most sustainable fabric is hemp and linen, which grow naturally and require no additional water. They can be grown in poor soil and are resistant to pests, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals. The most biodegradable fabric is plant-based, untreated fabrics like linen, hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, abaca, ramie, and jute. Animal-based fabrics like leather and wool can also be biodegradable, but not if heavily treated.

What is sustainable furnishings?

Sustainable furniture is a cost-effective and durable option that prioritizes quality and durability over low-cost and replaceable options. It is designed to last and conserve resources, avoiding landfills. Sustainable furniture is easy to dismantle, making it a hassle-free fix for any issues. This is similar to how we replace tires on bicycles, as furniture qualifies for the same treatment. Traditional furniture, however, doesn’t receive the same treatment, leading to the landfilling of nearly 10 million tons each year and the furniture industry’s projected spending of over $125 billion on new furniture in 2022.

How do you know if furniture is non toxic?

Choose furniture with FSC certification, GOTS, GOLS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and Greenguard Gold certifications. Avoid upholstered furniture with chemical flame retardants or stain-guard fabric coatings, as these chemicals release into the air and accumulate in dust. EWG studies show higher levels of flame retardants in young children compared to mothers, likely due to children frequently putting objects in their mouths. Choose furniture without added flame retardant chemicals.

What fabric is not sustainable?

Polyethylene, acrylic, rayon, nylon, and cotton are the least sustainable fabrics. Polyethylene is non-biodegradable and can take up to 200 years to break down in landfills. The energy-intensive process used to produce polyester can be dangerous in areas with water scarcity, reducing access to clean drinking water. Acrylic fabric, used in sweaters, hats, and gloves, is not environmentally friendly due to the use of toxic chemicals and the potential for acrylonitrile to enter the body through skin contact or inhalation.

When washing clothing made from polyester or other synthetic materials, microfibres are shed, causing plastic pollution in water sources. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of these environmental concerns when purchasing and using these fabrics.

What is the toxic chemical in furniture?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shift from traditional office spaces to work-from-home environments, exposing people to harmful chemicals. These chemicals, including PFAS, antimicrobials, VOCs, and PVC/Vinyl, can easily escape furniture and enter the environment, leading to various health issues such as cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and reproductive disorders. The benefits of these chemicals are often minimal or nonexistent.

With 90% of us spending time indoors, and the demand for office furniture is expected to rise, it is crucial for individuals and businesses to choose safer alternatives that do not pose a health risk.

Is 100% cotton a sustainable fabric?

Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to conventional cotton, reducing landfill waste and pollution. It is grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizer, and toxic chemicals. The USDA and FTC oversee organic certification in the US, while third-party certifications like Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and GOTS cover the process of turning organic fiber into textiles. However, the label “organic” may not be enough; products may still be treated with harmful chemicals like bleaches and formaldehyde or dyed with toxic inks containing heavy metals. Therefore, it is essential to check for Oeko-Tex and GOTS certification when promoting organic cotton textiles or fabrics.

What is eco fabric made of?

The textile industry is a major contributor to environmental issues, with its production processes causing pollution and toxic effects. Natural fibers like hemp, wool, organic cotton, soy silk, bamboo, jute, and corn fiber are considered eco-friendly due to their natural availability and lower cost compared to synthetic fibers. However, the textile industry is considered the most ecologically harmful, with issues such as bleaching and dyeing causing toxins that swell into the ecosystem.

The use of rayon for clothing contributes to depleting forests and petroleum-based products are harmful to the environment. To protect the environment, an integrated pollution control approach is needed, and more substitutes are available.

Textile chemical processing is shifting to undeveloped countries due to low-cost labor and minimal eco-restrictions. This shift is due to the awareness of health hazards among workers in developed countries and the need for low-cost labor. While these measures may benefit employers, they are unsafe for society and require control. Major factors for eco-friendliness in the textile industry include:

1. Reduced waste and production waste\n2

Is inside weather furniture non-toxic?

Our sofas are certified nontoxic and eco-friendly, using OEKO-TEX® Certified fabric options. We use a 100% recycled down alternative, using approximately 200 plastic bottles to wrap sofa frames, seat cushions, and accent pillows. The upcycled plastic bottles are sterilized, ground into tiny flakes, remelted, and extruded into polyester fiber. This material helps keep plastics out of landfills and oceans, providing comfortable, sustainable products that are uncompromisable for both Mother Earth and your comfort.

What is a sustainable fabric?

Sustainable textiles are fabric made from eco-friendly resources like sustainably grown fiber crops or recycled materials. The manufacturing process determines the sustainability of these fabrics. To identify sustainable fashion materials, read labels on clothing racks, such as those labeled as “sustainable” or “recycled”. These labels can help consumers make informed decisions about purchasing eco-friendly products.

What is sustainable fabric made of?

Sustainable fabrics on tags include bamboo, industrial hemp, recycled polyester, wool, TENCEL, soy cashmere/silk, and sustainable cotton. Organic cotton, grown and manufactured in a way that minimizes environmental impact and supports livelihoods and communities, is a popular choice for ethical shopping. Cotton is completely biodegradable, as it is a natural fabric that is completely sustainable, as it is grown and manufactured in a way that minimizes water, pesticides, and land use.