Question from Donna L
I’m in the market for a new sofa and want one without PBDE’s. The most affordable one I can find is at Ikea, but the frame of the sofa is made with particleboard, fiberboard, plywood and polypropylene. Ikea’s website states that they use strict guidelines governing formaldehyde and other VOC’s in their products, but I am still unsure about this sofa. Do you think I should keep looking? I have found other sofas, but they are so expensive. Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
Ikea does have policies concerning toxic chemicals in their products. As an international company, they are aware of regulations and programs in the European Union, which are stricter than what we have here in the USA.
You can read more about Ikea and their chemical policies at:
There are now many materials that are being made with chemicals that are less toxic than before. This doesn’t mean that they are as toxic-free as you or I might want them to be. This is where we need to look a policies and see how stringent they are.
At this price level, a sofa from Ikea just might be less toxic than others of a similar price and less toxic enough for you. Every bit of toxic exposure we reduce helps, even if it isn’t 100%.
