Just want to pass along to you a link to the first in a series of posts about choosing a quality, toxic-free sofa.
It’s written by the sisters at OEcotextiles, who know their stuff about organic natural fabrics. But this series goes way beyond fabrics, explaining in detail the different parts of a sofa and how to choose one that will last. (I’ve had my custom-built all-natural sofa for more than 15 years now and it looks like new).
Here’s the link to the sofa shopping blog post: Sofa Shopping.
And here’s a link to a radio interview I did with them on Toxic Free Talk Radio: Fabrics That are Nontoxic, Ethical, Sustainable…and Beautiful.
Hello Debra,
I came across the website (http://www.leeindustries.com/about_natural#) that sells eco-friendy sofa’s and the following options of cushion filling are under the link:http://www.leeindustries.com/downloadit?id=17
These are the back cushions: http://www.leeindustries.com/downloadit?id=18
Could you please tell which filling is best for me starting from more-toxic option to least toxic listed in order? I do not worry about the softer/firmer part as long as it is not toxic. I also do not know what 100% regenerated fiber means and if that is toxic too. Also, I am not sure if they are any good since I an new to all of this and do not know how to read this eco- material well. Thanks!!
Well, this is rather complex.
NaturalLee is offering a number of different materials for you to choose from, few of which are natural.
NaturalLee offers these materials. I’ll put them in order from least to most toxic as you asked. Keep in mind these are NaturalLee materials and names may not apply to other brands or generically.
Feathers/down are the natural covering of birds.
Ingeo fiber is a trade name for polylactid (PLA) , a biopolymer made from corn (this particular brand is GMO).
Regenerated fiber is made by dissolving the cellulose part of plant fiber in chemicals and then making it into fiber again. Rayon and bamboo are examples of this type of fiber. It’s used as a filling material in their sofas.
Downproof Ticking is 50% cotton/50% polyester, without flame retardants.
100% recycled micro denier fiber allergy-free down replacement…they don’t say what this is made from but typically this is made from polyester
BiOH HR Poly Core is a high resiliency polyurethane foam with 30% replaced by soy.
THe polyester covering materials are used so the sofa passes the flammability law requirements without using flame retardants. It’s a step in the right direction, but there are 100% natural sofas that also pass the flammability test.