Sustainable sofas are becoming more and more popular as people become more conscious of the impact their furniture has on the environment. Eco-friendly furniture is made from materials that have a lower environmental impact throughout its life cycle, from production to disposal.
To be considered sustainable, sofas must made from recycled or recyclable materials, such as recycled leather or bamboo or from renewable materials, such as wool or cotton. If they are made from traditional materials such as wood, they must be sourced from sustainably managed forests.
So, whether you’re looking for a new sofa for your home or you’re simply curious about sustainably-built furniture, purchasing a sofa from the following companies is a great way to make a difference.
1. Burrow
Sustainability Practice: Made locally using sustainably sourced hardwood and recycled fabrics.
Our Pick: Range 2-Piece One Arm Sofa
Price Range: $835-$4600
One of the greatest things about Burrow is their furniture is built to last. With their unique, modular design, you can upgrade your couch in stages and wind up with an entire lounge set piece by piece. The sofas are pet-friendly and come in all shapes and sizes. Burrow was set on making a difference in the furniture industry – they were tired of shoddy craftsmanship and minimal customer service – so they evolved!
2. West Elm
Sustainability Practice: Hand-crafted, prioritizing Fair Trade and using low-impact materials
Our Pick: Harmony Modular Sofa (82” – 92”)
Price Range: $650-$6000
West Elm is the only furnishings retailer on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies list – and they have been on it for the last 5 years! These hand-crafted sofas are made with low-impact materials that reduce waste and prioritize circularity. Not only are their sofas sustainable, but their all-cotton bedding and bath towels are all sustainably sourced and organic. West Elm was the first home retailer to join Fair Trade USA, and they ensure fair wages for workers, healthy working conditions and community development.
Read more about their fantastic sustainability practices!
3. Joybird
Sustainability Practice: One Tree Planted
Our Pick: Hopson Sleeper Sofa
Price Range: $806-$7756
Joybird partners with a non-profit organization called One Tree Planted. This NFP is focused on global reforestation and creating habitat for biodiversity. With every purchase, Joybird contributes to one of One Tree Planted’s various reforestation projects. For a full list of projects they have contributed to, click here. Joybird’s handcrafted sofas, charitable donations and 90-day return policy will make sure you are comfortable physically, financially, and ethically.
4. Maiden Home
Sustainability Practice:
Our Pick: The Muir Sofa
Price Range: $2025-$3925
This cleverly named company (Made In-Home/Maiden Home) is based in North Carolina. Each piece of furniture is hand-made to order, significantly reducing waste and storage space. This also means the product has fewer miles to travel to get to you – assuming you live in the U.S. – than if it came from China or Vietnam like many big box stores. They also use leathers that are ethically sourced by Moore + Giles, and have extensive explanations of each type of fabric they use for their furniture. Maiden Home enables American artisans to create sustainable, long-lasting, quality furniture.
5. Folke
Sustainability Practice: Upcycling and Furniture Restoration
Our Pick: Santa Cruz Sofa
Price Range: Custom Pricing per Order
Folke is a unique furniture company that specializes in restoring old pieces of furniture into beautiful, custom-made pieces. Founded in 2019 by a husband and wife team with a passion for furniture restoration, Folke has quickly become known for their attention to detail and commitment to sustainable sourcing.
Each piece of furniture they make is made-to-order, ensuring that each customer gets exactly what they want. In addition, the company uses only sustainable materials, ensuring that their products will last for years to come. Whether you are looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture or simply want to give new life to an old piece, Folke is the perfect choice.
6. From the Source
Sustainability Practice: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Our Pick: Circuit Modular 4-pc Sectional
Price Range: $1325-$9580
FROM THE SOURCE is committed to using sustainable, eco-friendly materials in all of their products. They work with a variety of partners to source reused, repurposed and recycled materials, which they then use to create unique, one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories. Their Lancar, Pele and Grasshopper collections are made entirely from used materials, and each piece is carefully handcrafted to ensure the highest quality. They believe that it is important to do their part as manufacturers to help reduce emissions and waste, and they are proud to offer sustainable, stylish furniture that makes a positive impact on the environment.
7. Sabai
Sustainability Practice: Sabai Revive
Our Pick: The Essential Sofa
Price Range: $1395
Sabai is a fantastic furniture manufacturing and restoration company. At Sabai, they believe in closed loop furniture. That means that every part of a sofa’s life cycle is accounted for. When you’re done with your sofa, you can trade it in for a new one, or buy one secondhand, and when it’s finally time for your sofa to be retired, they will take it back and recycle it into new materials. It is all part of their commitment to sustainability.
Sabai wants to make sure that your furniture lasts for years to come, and that it does not end up in a landfill. With Sabai Revive, you can be sure that your sofa will have a positive impact on the environment, from start to finish.
Shopping for sustainable sofas is a great way to furnish your home in a way that is environmentally responsible. Each of these sofa purchases helps to support the furniture industry’s transition to more eco-friendly practice, and, as more and more people shop for sustainable sofas, the demand for these products will continue to grow, encouraging even more furniture manufacturers to adopt environmentally-friendly practices.