Interior furniture and fittings

Guidance from the Healthy Building Network on selecting safer products for interior furniture and fittings.  The guidance looks at wood and composite materials, including glues and resins contained with these products.

"What's it Made of?" is an environmental health initiative which encourages the elimination of dangerous substances commonly included in furniture production. The initiative involves a simple pledge for manufacturers to ask their suppliers about the substances in their materials and products. "What's it Made of?" was launched in 2016 and instantly gained over 300 signatures, which continue to grow through the efforts of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

This report gives a summary of a research project which aimed to identify and assess environmentally safer chemical alternatives to flame retardants commonly used in furniture foam.

At face value, cabinetry may seem to be made of one type of wood, but its construction is much more complex. Many prefabricated cabinets are built using a combination of three or more wood composites and veneers, which typically use toxic glues containing formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.

By comparing the material contents and construction in prefabricated cabinets, we created a spectrum that indicates the relationship between affordability and health. We typically consider the health effects during all phases of product development, but these diagrams are focused on the health effects during installation and inhabitation.

Currently, prefabricated cabinets are composed of 5%-30% healthier materials. Designers can increase this percentage by requesting manufacturers to build with NAF (no added formaldehyde) composite woods. This often comes with an increased price. Our Composite Wood Product and Spec Guidance gives a range of healthier substitutions.