Updated in 2026
The only leather I can personally fully endorse as eco-friendly and non-toxic is chrome-free, vegetable-dyed leather.
This is made without the toxic metals and other harmful chemicals used in conventional leather.
The second best option is leather that is at least chrome-free.
Only a few brands in North America meet these standards.
One reason there are not more brands that use this natural non-toxic method is that the leather is not as uniform as we are used to expecting. It’s also not cheap.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What to Look For in Eco-Friendly Leather:
- Vegetable-tanned with tannins found in vegetables, leaves, tree bark, and other natural plant-derived sources (instead of chromium). (If a brand doesn’t specify vegetable-dyed then it’s mineral-dyed).
- No chromium/chrome tanning!
- No phthalates in the coating.
- Dyes free of heavy metals.
- No azo dyes that produce amines classified as carcinogenic.
- Free of biocides including dimethyl fumarate.
- PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)-free. (Note: PFAS can be added to any leather type).
- Certified by Oeko-Tex (no PFAS and more), Red List Free (no PFAS and more), the European Naturtextil IVN, or Cradle to Cradle GOLD
Greenwashing:
“Water-based pigments” – says nothing about the safety of the dyes, treatments, or coatings.
“Aniline leather with a coating” – this is not a true aniline (aniline has no coating, semi-aniline has a coating). It also doesn’t say anything about the safety of the dyes or topcoat. Aniline can have PFAS.
Oeko-Tex Leather Standard
In the Oeko-Tex Standard for Leather (sofas fall under their “decoration” level), they:
- Limit formaldehyde, limit two pesticides, limit chlorinated phenols
- Limit heavy metals, including tin (but it can still be chrome-tanned); lead, mercury and cadmium are severely limited
- Allow for plasticizers like phthalates
- Limit bisphenols
- Limit allergenic and carcinogenic colorants
- Ban flame retardants
- Limit solvent residues, limit PAHs
- PFAS should not be intentionally added
- And more
The chemicals in conventional leather are covered at the end of the brands list.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Brands of Non-Toxic Leather Furniture
Medley
Medley makes leather upholstered sofas, sectionals, chairs, and ottomans.
They also have leather headboards for the bedroom.
They offer different leather options.
In 2025, they offer a leather which is vegetable-tanned with olive leaves. Go through the fabric selections and look for Milo.
It is a mineral-free, totally natural tanning process that uses less energy and is much safer than chromium tanning.
A+ from me.
They offer both aniline and semi-aniline.
All of Medley’s leathers are Red List Free and therefore PFAS-free.
See a first-hand review of Medley here!
Shop Medley.com
EcoBalanza
EcoBalanza also goes all the way to make sofas that are as pure as they get from the foam to the textiles and everything in between.
I go into more detail on what’s inside their sofas in my furniture post.
They make their leather sofas with EcoPell leather which is unsealed, vegetable-tanned, free of chromium, heavy metals, biocides, and every other unnecessary chemical.
You can see the whole process on the EcoPell site.
It is tested for frequently occurring contaminants including heavy metals, carcinogenic aromatic amines, and formaldehyde.
Mamavation testing one of their Ecopell swatches for PFAS, it came in at 30 ppm organic fluorine, though this does indicate that they are not adding PFAS as the coating, we do not know the source of this fluorine contamination (which could be from machinery potentially?)
Based in Seattle, EcoBalanza ships throughout the US and beyond.
See my furniture post for more details.
The Futon Shop
The Futon Shop offers some leather sofas in a few styles.
One of their leather types, the Elmo leather, is chrome-free.
After talking to someone higher up at The Futon Shop I was able to find out that Elmo is also the only one they said was PFAS-free in late 2025.
It’s a semi-aniline leather.
Herman Miller, Including Eames
Herman Miller leather is chrome-free which is the most important attribute I would look for in a better leather.
The individual pages for the individual leather types I looked at say: PFAS-Free Textile, PVC Free, No Prop 65 Warning, FR {flame retardant} Free, LBC Red List Compliant.
It does not have topical coatings.
IKEA
All leather used in IKEA products is chrome-free (chrome VI) since 2017. This puts it in the next best category.
IKEA also says: “In 2016 we completed to phase-out PFAS in textiles”. So the leather should be PFAS-free as well.
Steelcase, Haworth, and Kimball
These three companies are suppliers for commercial projects.
Steelcase uses chrome-free leather on select pieces. You will see them labeled as chrome-free and PVC-free on the website.
They do mention in some sections of the website that they also use a vegetable-tanned leather.
Haworth is another company supplying office and other commercial furniture to businesses.
They also use chrome-free vegetable tanned leather.
Kimball is similar to the other commercial suppliers. They create modern office furniture for businesses with a chrome-free leather option.
Volvo
Not a furniture company, but Volvo uses chrome-free leather for its leather car seats.
Note on Pottery Barn: Pottery Barn’s leather sofas come up high in the search results when searching for non-toxic leather sofas. Their leather is semi-aniline or aniline (which means it has a topcoat), there is no reference to it being chrome-free. At least some are GreenGuard Gold (though this only certifies VOCs, it does not address chrome, phthalates, PFAS etc.) Due to laws in Minnesota it’s likely free of intentionally added PFAS.
PS. Non-toxic leather conditioning oils that won’t do long-term damage are here.
Convention Leather Production
Tanning/Dyeing
- Chromium/”chrome” is used in the tanning of leather.
- Chromium-tanned leather is the most common and the most toxic.
- “Mineral tanning” can include chrome tanning.
- Mineral tanning (the opposite of vegetable tanning, and the default tanning if a brand doesn’t specify vegetable tanning) can also include aluminum sulfate (“alum”) and sodium or potassium sulfate, zirconium (complex aluminum compounds), and titanium.
- Alum for white tanning, as well as zirconium, are used rarely, only for specific types of leather.
- Formaldehyde can be used in the tanning.
- Heavy/toxic metals used in the dying can include cadmium, cobalt, copper, antimony, cyanide, barium, lead, mercury, and nickel.
- Some “azo dyes” produce amines classified as carcinogenic.
Three Types of Dyes
- “Aniline dyed” means the leather is dyed through and through without a topcoat.
- This can refer to vegetable-tanned leather and chrome tanned.
- So while this doesn’t help to distinguish between those two types, this is usually preferable to a leather with a top coat dye.
- This should not have a protective layer or coating on the surface if it’s true aniline.
- Semi-aniline, also referred to as “Aniline Plus”, is dyed with a penetrating aniline dye and also contains a topcoat of polymer and dyes.
- Pigmented leather is the opposite end of aniline.
- It has a full coating on top. The natural grain is removed by buffing the leather grain surface.
- Then it is coated with multiple layers of pigment and a finish. It is embossed with a leather grain pattern in the final stages.
Coatings on Leather
- Leather, if not aniline, is often coated with polyurethane.
- Coatings can include cancer-causing hydrocarbons and organotin (a form of tin).
- Phthalates can be used in the coating.
- PFAS can be used in a coating and these coatings are invisible so could be used on any type of leather.
- Though as of 2025 Minnesota has banned PFAS on upholstered furniture, and Maine requires disclosure of PFAS so it’s a lot less likely you will find PFAS-treated leather in the US now.
- Oeko-Tex also means it’s PFAS-free.
Other Additives in Leather
- Preservatives/mildewcides can include pentachlorophenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dimethyl fumarate.
- Though they are banned in many countries.
- Biocides like chlorinated phenols can also be used.
VOCs from Leather
In one study they looked at the VOCs that came off different types of leather.
The test results show the measurement of more than 40 types of VOCs released from the leather samples, including several types of
aromatic substances, aldehydes, terpenes, and chemicals typical from natural leathers, including: propylene glycol 1-methyl ether, Propylene glycol; dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether .
The highest concentration of 1-Methoxy,2-propanol was found from chrome-plated leather with preservatives at measurements after 1 day in amount over 184 mg/m-3.
The highest concentration of Butoxy-Ethanol was found from tanned leather with preservatives.
The highest TVOC values were recorded in a measurement taken after one day from chromium-plated leather with preservatives in the amount of 383 μg.m-3, followed by the values of TVOC concentrations emitted by chrome plated leather without preservatives.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
Sources
instyle.com.au/choosing-the-right-leather-aniline-semi-aniline-corrected-grain
Josie
Hello Corine. Am I wrong to assume that you approve of aniline leather?
My husband likes a leather sofa by Ashley’s furniture but I’m very concerned about the chemicals used.
The salesman told me that it has Aniline according to USA standards.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Aniline doesn’t tell us what chemicals are used. The article goes over chemical composition and the terms used.
Carla Henderson
Hi Corrine, I have a leather chair and ottoman that is about 15 years old in mint condition. Assuming it’s chromium dyed, does the toxicity offgas over all this time or would you still be concerned about the materials in the chair that are still toxic?
Tx
Carla
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
hi, it’s a metal so it doesn’t off-gas but it could potentially rub off or leach out.
Lynn
Hi, we recently bought a leather sofa, and the smell bothers me. Potentially, how toxic is leather? I used my Temtop air quality monitor next to it, and it doesn’t register a rise near the sofa. Does this mean the smell is not harmful?
Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
the articles goes through all the potentially harmful chemicals in leather. In terms of what does it off-gas, I will add something to the article about that. A lot of people are sensitive to the smell of conventional leather and some people are bothered by the natural smell of leather even.
Shannon
It looks like the website link provided for Medley is not pulling up any leather sofas with the name you provided for them.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
they still offer vegetable tanned in their upholstery selections (called Milo)
Holly
I’m in the process of selecting a leather for a pair of Hancock & Moore recliners. We bought a sofa by them in 2018 with a grade 4 pure aniline unprotected full top grain German leather & it’s been great & I’m very sensitive. It never had a smell & no metallic/glittery bits in the leather.
I selected a different grade 4 leather for the recliners that’s a pull up leather also full top grain & pure aniline no protective coating but the cutting for approval has a leather odor & has glittery like metallic particles throughout when viewed under bright light. What would this be & would you select a different leather because of this?
I wanted unprotected/uncoated leather because I like to see the natural characteristics of the leather & it’s better quality hides but also much more expensive. I know they also offer some Moore & Giles leathers I could check out.
The other option is to go much cheaper with a grade 1 or 2 “protected leather” which is still aniline but with a protective coating which is likely a polyurethane coating.
Your opinion please?
Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The things I would look for are outlined in this post but if you want to just go based on sensitivities/smell that is perfectly reasonable. There are lots of chemicals used in leather outlined in the post that can be used on aniline leather.
Debi Lindstrom
What leather furniture has no DMF, which my husband is allergic to.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
You’d have to ask the companies. However leather made in the EU or UK would fall under the banned area for dimethyl fumarate.
Debi Lindstrom
THANK YOU!!!
Katrina Hachinsky
Have you looked at Poly Bark leather?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
looks conventional
Debi Lindstrom
What manufacturer name sells poly bark leather?
Christie Johnson
Hi Corinne,
We recently purchased an Ekornes Stressless semi aniline Paloma leather couch from Norway. Of course I assumed real leather wouldn’t be toxic or even have heavy metals although I didn’t equate dye with being similar to tattoo ink and heavy metals (former eyebrow micro blade recipient and have heavy metal toxicity). After reading your leather furniture article, I’m interested to learn more since I found limited information on their site at https://www.stressless.com/en/inspiration/materials/leather/howtochoose. Have you looked into this brand yet? I’m trying to find additional information and will also check into Ecobalenza since I live in Washington State.
Thank you for your articles and research. These topics fascinate me as a person with Lyme, CIRS and MCAS. Learning to seek nontoxic items where possible!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
by default it probably has chrome, though you’d have to ask. i would also ask if the topcoat has BPA or phthalates.
Cat
Hi, for the medley leather options, is the Tomo Leather also a comparable option to the Milo? It is: “100% Top Grain Leather, Semi-Aniline, Pigmented”
https://medleyhome.com/collections/swatches
Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
different, it has a coating and is not vegetable dyed
Yuliya
Also I’m curious if there is major difference between vegan leather and distressed vegan leather?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Distressed is not likely a problem it’s probably just a color differentiation
Yuliya
https://edloefinch.com/collections/sectional-sofas/products/albany-corner-sectional-distressed-vegan-leather?_gl=1*96tps6*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsZLLs52uhgMVFkH_AR04-wlJEAAYASAAEgKNAfD_BwE
Would you consider this one a healthier option? It’s PU but it’s vegan leather.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
PU is great
Audrey
Did you purchase this? I really like the style and it’s priced so nicely!
Gabriel
I have to me honest, this is so stressful for me. I chose to purchase a set of two leather love seats and a leather couch from Costco probably about 9 years ago because I read leather held up better especially with kids and required fewer flame retardants because leather doesn’t catch fire the way typical upholstery fabric does. We literally cannot afford to replace our furniture. Even if we returned the couches to Costco and got our money back it would cost us probably triple the amount to replace the furniture with non toxic pieces. I try so hard to make safe and clean choices for our family (quality food, clean skin care, non toxic house hold cleaning products, non toxic mattresses, etc), but the reality is that with our income in this economy I simply cannot afford all the changes and replacements it seems I would need to make in order to have a non toxic home.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
just do your best with what you can do and surrender the rest. I don’t have everything non toxic, especially because im in a furnished rental right now.
Han
I don’t understand why you will keep the toxic furniture. You do not have to own a couch. Just put some cushions on the rug for the kids. Is it more important to have a living room that looks a certain way, or to have cancer-free children?
Mariam h.
Hello, i am looking at two sofas, one is 100% full grain, aniline dyed leather and the other one is vegan leather but its 48% polyester and 52% polyurethane. which one would is say is moe safe than the other
Mariam h.
the vegan one says Polyester Wrapped Cushions
Mariam h.
sorry for not asking all questions at once, both of these sofas are from potterybarn
Thank you in advance!!
Corinne
This post goes over what you will typically find in regular leather so it’s up to you if that is acceptable for you. I would prefer polyurethane faux leather to a conventional leather.
Mariam H.
Hi Corinne. Thank you so so much for the reply and for your time! It’s greatly appreciated
Valerie
Thank you so much for your research.
Would you happen to know a brand which makes quality non-toxic vegan leather modular sofas?
Many thanks in advance, I have been wanting to replace my large L-shaped sofa for a while, but conventional leather is no longer something I want to invest in for ethical purposes and there is a lot of crap in the vegan leather world still……
Corinne
Any vegan leather made of polyurethane (PU) I would consider safe.
Wendy
Greetings from Australia, as someone with a petrochemical sensitivity I greatly appreciate your information.
I’m in the process of getting a recliner built for me, but I’m unsure what cover fabric is best?
Is PU vinyl better than OekoTex 100 certified fabric? I’m not sure which to select, I have me/cfs and will spend a lot of time in the recliner, what do you recommend?
Corinne
PU is polyurethane faux leather, it’s not a vinyl/PVC product. You should test both PU and natural fabrics (and maybe synthetic fabrics as well) to see what you do best with.
Jack Murphy
Do you know of any U.S. companies that make fabric (not leather) sofas and recliners without DMF? I went to La-Z-Boy, and the manager said (with a smirk) “We use DMF packets in everything. It’s even in our packaging for home decor, lamps and other furnishings.” When I said that DMF has been banned in other countries, the manager became irate and said, “So what, a lot of countries haven’t banned it.”
Laura Couvillon
I appreciate you so much!!! I am in the deep research of buying new living room furniture. I called Medley to ask some questions. As of Jan 2023, the rep told me their leather comes from an Italian company named Crest. They do use chromium in the tanning process. However, they have “leather archives” from which you can order. There are several options in the archives that are vegetable tanned with olive leaves.
Just wanted to share! Thank you again for your amazing, incredible website!
Inna
What are your thoughts about IKEA leather couches? (e.g. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/morabo-sofa-grann-bomstad-gray-green-metal-s09317858/#content). They say that they are chrome free, but otherwise it’s hard to tell what dyes were used etc.
Thank you for all this immensely helpful information!!!
Corinne
IKEA never reveals more than what is on their website. I added them to the post for being chrome free.
Susan
PLEASE.. can you Help my husband and I find a brand within our budget. Had to send back Upholster furniture now 14 months ago! it was closing my throat and smell was in my bedroom, our skin and even in my car! I hoped it wasn’t my mattress because it’s the best I’ve had & I’m 64! After 2 weeks the smell was Completely Out! We lost close to $600 in shipping ..but our health is much more important. I don’t care for Burrow or Medley. They’re not what we’re used to having. We want to go leather and that’s in our price range Sofa & love seat.
Thank You and Happy New Year, Susan & Jeff
Kelley
Medley is so expensive!!!! Seems like your average millionaire can’t create a clean non toxic home. my goodness.
Kay
Hi Corinne, great article! Have you heard of Quince’s leather sofa? I reached out to the company and they said their leather is PFAS free, fully aniline, and oeko Tex 100 certified. Would you consider this leather to be better than oeko Tex PU faux leather?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
just added a section on oeko tex leather standard
Greg
Thank you for this article. Do Natuzzi Editions top grain leather sofas meet your “toxic” definition? The sales people don’t know & their website doesn’t specify. Thanks.
Jo
Corinne,
I have an invalid husband who is very chemically sensitive. He lives in a recliner including sleeping in it. His is now broken and we’re suffering! He’s a big guy and I live in a very small coastal city in NC. Any suggestions for where to get a recliner for him?? Thanks and God bless.
Jo
Corinne
there are some recliners in the main sofa post
Jess
I’m wondering if 100% nylon faux leather with polyurethane topcoat is more or less toxic than semi-aniline leather?
Corinne
Polyurethane faux leather is great, very benign. Much better than a conventional real leather. On par with one of the naturally treated leathers imo.
Kate
Thank you for this article. What about Natuzzi editions leather sofas? Thank you
Mariane
Hi Corinne,
Do you have any info on Z gallerie leather couch? We have one and it has no added flame retardants and they state it complies with prop 65. It’s also made of half PU foam. Should we worry about kids and baby around the couch? My baby did lick the couch without me seeing it but usually she won’t ever do that.
Kelley
Your baby is going to lick a lot of stuff. It’s okay. We can’t live in a vacuum.
Zachary
Corrine, thank you so much for your highly informative articles you are a true gift to the human community.
Corinne
thank you so much
Skye
Hi, thank you SO much for the incredibly helpful info. Do you know if faux leather or vegan leather is less toxic than normal leather? Do you have any vegan leather nontoxic reommendations/links? Thank you so much!
Corinne
Hi yeah in the sofa post I talk a little about PU leather which I really like. I would say it’s less toxic than the highly treated leather for sure.
Rajat Bhardwaj
You did a great job on this article. Keep posting content like this.
C.b.
I recently bought furniture which is supposed to be leather supposedly made in America I never got a booklet with it I don’t know what it is beyond what the storekeeper said it’s supposed to be top grain leather but I don’t know how it was processed the brand name on it is cheers. Trying to figure out what it was processed with I do have a lot of allergies that’s why I didn’t buy polyester I’m allergic to polyester. If this thing is toxic I will find a way to return it and start over it was very expensive. Please help thank you
michael moffett
Return it right now.These furniture stores hide everything.Sales people just want the sale I have gone though 4 so called leather They were so fast returning my money well you know what I mean then trying after buying the 5000,00 sofa well lets go fabric
2000.00 its all natural.I now have a single mattress by MY green mattress so far no
odor read website if your ever looking for a mattress Now I am looking for a non toxic
daybed frames and headboard this is such a sad way to live
I enjoy designing very good at it ,love antiques and art I’ve lost all my joy. With mutable chemical sensitivity it builds the more things your are exposed to the more issues you have. we all love leather feels like its safe last ten are so years they have changed they even use what on the floor clue it dye it and let us suffer.its hard doing you homework very..I can not trust anyone this site just tonight I thought well she get a payback from
store well so be it as long as no fevers are done them paying more to be listed first our other
Thank you for allowing me venting its lonely drains your money lough at your crazy
one more thing never ever use dryer sheets of any kind full of chemicals that never leave your clothes Im sure you never use new clothes with out washing the twice first with detergent then wash with water thanks again..can you tell my state of mind I just keep trying Michael Moffett
Corinne
Medley doesnt pay to be at the top of the list, they are the best option if they still have the vegetable tanned leather. The next two options are *very* expensive so not in reach for most people, and not what most people are looking for. The next two after that are not as good options, and then the next ones are commercial only.
Adrian Catarzi
I bought a new leather recliner and after a month, I developed a rash (Hives) which my dermatologist believes comes from the chair; i.e., I’m allergic to whatever was used to initially treat/tan the chair.
Is there any treatment that will “rid” the leather of its toxic (in my case) nature?
Thanks.
K
Having been recently diagnosed with a chromium allergy, I can answer this. No. the allergens are there to stay. I’d use a throw on top of it, or make sure your skin does not come in contact. An allergist can easily diagnose and help you narrow down your allergen.
Louise Locker
Hi Corrine,
Can you buy EcoPell Leather to re-do a chair? The website for it is not available or working anymore.
Thanks for being the lifesaver you are.
Louise
Albert Müller
I would like to give some short coments on what has been said about leather so far:
What would you like to do with the hides from the meat industrie? Recycling?Leather?
Most dyes in Textil and Leather are AZO dyes – that does not mean, that they are canceroganic! There is a list about the cancerogenic amines – 28 out of a few hundred listed in Textil and Leather!!!
Vegetable tanning – worst water treetmant in terms of BOD and COD. Mimosa the most used vegetable tanning agent comes from south america where a three is cut fore. Some also comes from south Africa. Try to explain the carbon footprint and the impact on nature. Of course all with OEKO – TEX certification. Coconut oil? thats realy funny if you look to wat happens with the forest in asia. Sorry, I have to stop here this drives me crasy!!!
Mark
Thank your for this. Very informative!
Sandra Elam
Corinne – Thanks for this very useful article. I’m going to use this information when I buy a new leather sofa. I wanted to buy you a coffee, but the link does not seem to be working. Blessings, Sandra