Non-Toxic Eco Rugs: The Top Natural and Organic Options
There are only a few companies that have gone the extra mile to fully disclose what is in their rugs.
These are the top companies making green healthy rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home.
Those avoiding chemicals should avoid area rugs with synthetic latex backing, glues, moth treatments which is a pesticide – usually permethrin (on wool), and other topical treatments such as stain guard treatments.
For those very sensitive to chemicals, you may even want to avoid rugs treated with detergents, bleach, or dyes (possibly even the eco dyes).
Wall-to-Wall Carpet is Covered Here
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1. Earth Weave (Wool)
Earth Weave – Earth Weave rugs are made out of wool, with no mothproofing and no other chemical treatments. The dyes are organic.
The rugs do contain natural latex. Custom sizes are possible.
You can order them through Green Design Center.
A 4 x 6 rug is $418
2. DMI (Seagrass)
DMI makes rugs out of their carpet material. These are seagrass rugs with no dyes, insecticides, or chemical treatments. They do contain natural latex in the backing.
They also make wool rugs.
Contact Green Design Center to choose the custom size.
3. Novica (Wool)
Novica – has a number of Mexican Zapotec 100% wool rugs dyed with natural dyes. They do not contain any other treatment, they claim, such as mothproofing, stain-resistant coatings and natural latex.
A 4 x 6 wool rug is about $390.
4. Loloi Rugs (Wool/Mixed)
Urban Natural – carries Loloi rugs that are 100% wool as well as ones that are wool/jute. They use vegetable dyes and do not use adhesives.
You can buy samples of the Loloi rugs from Urban Natural.
A 4 x 6 rug is about $220.
5. Hook and Loom (Wool or Cotton)
Hook and Loom – is a great choice because of how forthcoming they are, and the fact that they used untreated wool.
The wool rugs are made from undyed natural wool, no detergents, no pesticides, no flame retardants, and no latex.
A 4 x 6 wool rug is around $245.
They also have cotton rugs that are made from recycled cotton with some polyester.
A 4 x 6 is around $90.
6. Organic Weave (Wool & Cotton)
Organic Weave – Another top pick – these are one of only two GOTS certified organic rugs out there. Their hand-tufted rugs are made from wool and cotton and dyed with all-natural GOTS certified dyes.
They claim no chemicals in the cleaning of the raw material and the dyeing of the yarn or in the final cleaning of the rugs.
No synthetic moth treatments or chemical flame retardants are used. The wool rugs do have latex.
They deliver to Canada and the US without import duties.
A 5 x 8 rug is around $2,400
7. Lorena Canals (Cotton)
Lorena Canals – What I like about these rugs is that they are washable. That might suit some people more than the other options. They are 97% cotton and made with “eco dyes”.
A 4 x 5 rug is $230.
8. Cali (Bamboo, Cotton, Jute, Bamboo, Wool)
Cali Bamboo – carries some rugs that are undyed and unbleached but I did not hear back from them with the full specs (mothproofing, etc.)
They carry a number of lines: rugs are made of various materials from wool mixes, jute, bamboo, PET (polyester), nylon, and cotton.
Rugs made out of denim scraps usually retain the chemical fabric treatment of the blue jeans or might be recycled.
Bamboo rug pictured is $135 for 4 x 6.
What About Conventional Jute Rugs? I like IKEA because they go much further than most companies to create healthy products in many areas. They don’t go to the extent that companies on this list go to, but I would certainly consider IKEA’s jute and other natural rugs to be the most non-toxic conventional option.
9. Rawganique (Hemp or Hemp/Wool)
Rawgnique – makes wool and hemp mix rugs out of 50% wool and 50% hemp.
They are 100% natural and organic. They contain no rubber, no synthetics, and they are not treated with any chemicals including pesticides.
The hemp is unbleached and dye-free, the wool is natural and eco-dyed.
A 4 x 6 rug is $229.
10. Libeco (Linen)
Libeco – Libeco is a company that makes linen in Europe. All of their linen is either organic or usually grown without pesticides (only on the odd occasion are they used). It is all Oeko Tex 100 which certifies no chemical additives to the rug.
When the linen is in its natural color it does not have dyes.
Technically they are dry clean only, but you can hand wash them and dry them flat or hang them in a way that they won’t wrinkle.
A 4 x 6 rug is $415.
11. Under the Nile (Cotton)
Under the Nile makes simple 100% organic cotton (GOTS Certified) rugs.
The dyes are low impact – no harmful effluents or toxins are used, no azo dyes. Everything that goes into the making of the colored fabric is bio-degradable.
No bleach, no chemical fabric treatments, and no flame retardants.
They are machine washable.
A 4 x 6 rug is $125.
Bonus, Plastic Woven Rugs
For folks who are highly sensitive to mold, dust, and allergens often plastic woven rugs are preferred. These are some brands that sensitive folks have done well with:
- Polypropylene rugs from The Company Store.
- Nylon washable indoor/outdoor rugs from Pottery Barn (which do have rubber latex on the backing).
- Washable polyester and polyurethane rugs with a backing that is made from polyester and rubber from Ruggable Rugs. (They do have a Prop 65 warning for trace methylene chloride).
- 100% polypropylene rugs from World Market (some have said they also like their natural fiber rugs, even though the company does not divulge a lot about how they are treated).
- (Those with severe chemical sensitivities generally do well with polypropylene (PP). PP does not have added BPA or added phthalates (though some PP contains trace phthalates). Like other plastics, it can leach chemicals into food/drinks with heat, prolonged contact, and acidity but I would not expect these conditions to be met with a rug. (Source, 1, 2, 3)
- Polyurethane when made into a flexible plastic (not a foam) is also highly tolerable for chemically sensitive folks with minimal offgassing that doesn’t go on for long.)
Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.
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Sue says
Hi! Great information. Thank you.
Just a quick comment. I recently bought an all cotton rug, washable and was supposed to be organic. However, I reacted and it had an odor. I learned that while it was untreated, no dye (and it was beautiful) it was stored in a warehouse in NJ. So, I hope that merchandisers of such wonderful products may think about what conditions they might have in their storage areas. It can easily destroy the items which would otherwise be bio-“perfect”.
Corinne says
Thanks Sue. yes i agree pesticides, mold and cleaning products in storage or transport can really be a problem for some very sensitive folks. This got worse during covid (the cleaning product part).
Stefany says
Hello Corinne! I’m still having difficulty finding some good rug pads for my basement wool and jute rugs that cushions falls other than natural rubber (which as told are mold prone :(. Do you recommend any brands? Thank you!!!
Natalie S says
Are Flor tiles (mostly nylon with vinyl backing) safe, non-toxic, low-VOC?
I have a set of their tiles nearly 10yo and was considering another purchase, but then read we should really avoid vinyl at home.
Thanks so much.
Corinne says
FLOR is covered here https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2020/07/the-healthiest-non-toxic-carpet-brands.html
Lindsey Conklin says
Hi Everyone – First off, THANK YOU so much for this incredible site! Second, I wanted to provide some information re: purchasing rugs from Cali Bamboo to save others some heartache. I purchased a jute rug from them (looked *very* different in person). It also smells – STRONGLY. For anyone else dealing with MCS, I’d avoid purchasing their rugs. They also don’t allow returns so now I’m out a lot of money. They also don’t post reviews on their website, so I’m hoping this is helpful to someone else.
Corinne says
Thank you so much for sharing. Was it a strong natural jute smell or something else?
Sharyn G Hahn says
How safe is chenille for a rug?
Corinne says
That’s a cotton, so it’s not the fabric that is the problem but chemical treatments all the way from crop to final fabric treatments that need to be looked at.
Nancy says
I keep getting mixed reviews. Is polypropylene toxic or non toxic in rugs?
Julie Cooper says
We had two polypropylene rugs we purchased from LL Bean Home series. I left them outside for two weeks, hanging on my fence. Then brought them in and sprayed them with a natural deodorizer. They were great. Very durable and easy to vacuum. When they got dirty, I took them outside, hung them on the fence and turned the hose on them (wait for a really hot day). They looked the same after washing.
Jennie says
Corinne, thank you this is very useful! Could you weigh in on nylon rugs? Some websites I have seen say yes, absolutely safe and others have said no absolutely not safe. You’re the expert, what do you think?
Jennie says
Sorry, I’m thinking specifically for a nursery/playroom
Corinne says
It’s not the nylon itself that is the problem, but nylon carpets (the most common kind) are highly treated compared to other ones made of other materials like wool, cotton, jute and PET.
Amanda Coleman says
Hi! I am trying to understand why all wool rugs are not non-toxic. What makes some wool rugs toxic vs. non-toxic? Thanks!
Corinne says
Not all wool rugs are good. Most conventional ones would be treated with Permethrin for moths. If they are not treated with pesticides they tend to have minimal chemical treatments so they make a good natural option. Certainly not the only option. However it’s more likely that a company dedicated to non toxic dyes and other additives to the rug will use natural fibers as that is what consumers are asking for. It’s not because you can’t have a safe synthetic rug.
Shonya says
All plastic is toxic. Consumers are being hugely misled being told polypropylene rugs are “natural.” It’s sad to see so many people falling for this. It’s like the bpa-free lie. Many bpa-free materials have been shown to be even more toxic. Use your common sense. Do you really think ANY plastic could be non-toxic? Well then…use at your own risk.
Corinne says
Yes many plastics are non-toxic. Especially hard plastics like ABS. Every plastic as it’s in a harder form is less toxic. PP and PE are also considered non-toxic. Of course it depends what you are doing with them. I look for offgassing and leaching and which conditions lead to leaching and offgassing (ie. do you have to cook it or drink from it to ingest chemicals). Some plastics need time to offgas and then are safe.
Ann says
Sorryyyy ! All plastic is made from petroleum by products ! Not only are they toxic their manufacturing process is highly hazardous and give way to pollution via air and into water! We must educate people to identify what “ingredients” are harmful to all living things ! You are being poisoned everyday by many many things you come in contact with – your life is worth being educated -isn’t it?
Corinne says
This blog takes into account the effects of materials on the occupants though I do think it’s admirable to be thinking of the manufacturing and post-consumer processes as well. I only focus on the health on the occupants, mainly for folks highly sensitive to VOCs and other chemicals as well as those sensitive to mold. Many plastics are safe for use in home decor for chemically sensitive people, especially polypropylene.
Susan says
I am also having trouble deciding about a Ruggable rug due to the methylene chloride warning-though trace amounts, I haven’t seen prop 65 warnings on any other area rugs I’ve looked at, so it makes me wonder why they have added this chemical at all. We need washable rugs between our pets, toddler, and elderly family visitors. I was so excited about Ruggable until I saw the warning.
Yuki says
I was wondering the exact same thing when I pulled this article up…
Stefani Canin Mullen says
I have a question…I am interested in some rugs from “Magnolia” that are made by Loloi. The first one is Power Loomed, Polypropylene | Polyester Pile, Made in Turkey with a cotton canvas backing. The second is Power-Loomed of 100% Polyester Pile. Can you let me know if you think these are toxic or unhealthful for my home? My son is very allergic to wool, and I love the style of these rugs, as the non-toxic ones I have been looking at don’t have a large selection. Thank you:)
R.F. says
Aren’t polypropylene and polyurethane highly toxic?
Corinne says
Polypropelene is a very safe plastic. Polyurethane – depends on the form that it is in, it will have different chemicals added.
Sara says
So are you not concerned about microplastic exposure with the polypropylene rugs?
Corinne says
Microplastics come from the long term breakdown of products like these if they are not recycled. This website is about the health of the materials for the occupants. PP is recyclable which would prevent this from becoming microplastics in the environment. I would ask the companies if the rugs could be realistically recycled, which might partly depend on where you live.
Ursula Jakabos says
Would you consider polyester rugs safe or toxic. West elm claims their rugs are organic or low VOC. Some of them are polyester
Corinne says
It’s not the fabric itself but polyester always comes with some kind of chemical treatment or residue on it. But usually, with a wash or an air out it will be acceptable. Whether they add extra chemicals to it like stain guard chemicals I’m not sure. West Elm is not very forthcoming about this however they don’t mention any particular stain resistance on the website either.
Sunny says
Polyester is known to contain formaldehyde. Some of these writers need to do a lot more research
Corinne says
I am the writer. Here are some test results of clothing (on page 42-51) the clothing (cotton/polyester mixes) with non detectable formaldehyde https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10875.pdf
There are polyester (PET) carpets that are 0 VOC in my carpet post.
There are Oeko-tex® 100 Class 1 polyester fabrics (class 1 means no formaldehyde allowed).
So there is plenty of evidence that polyester itself does not contain formaldhdye.
Lauren says
So are the ruggable rugs non-toxic? I like the fact you can wash these but wanted to make sure they are non-toxic.
Corinne says
I would consider them low toxin. Plus it will improve with some airing out.
CK says
Any chance you could say more? (We have a baby so I’m overthinking the rug situation, but we really like some of their designs.)
Rebecca says
Polypropylene is very toxic and should not be used indoors.
Corinne says
I don’t agree with that.
Laura says
Ruggable rugs are toxic. There is a warning hidden in the website that states the rugs contain chemicals known to cause cancer.
Corinne says
Where does it say that? Did you see it yourself?
Corinne says
The company replied to me: “Currently, there is a trace amount of a chemical commonly used in manufacturing products in our regular rug covers and rug pads (not found in shag covers), called Methylene Chloride. We are actively taking steps to remove all traces to keep our products as clean as possible.”
Megan says
I’m curious about this too – just searched through the Ruggable website and didn’t find anything. Laura, can you paste the link to the page where it is stated? I’m about to buy one but….yikes!
Megan says
PS – Corrine thank you for this awesome blog post! I have also consulted your site in the past for furniture and paint suggestions 🙂
Synthia says
Hey Megan! You’ll be able to find the warning if you scroll down from the rug of your choosing. Right in between “About (rug of choosing” and “You May Also Like” you’ll see a “How It Works”, next to that there is “Our Rugs.” If you click that, under “Made to Order” there is a very small “warning” button in blue. There is a link encrypted into that. Click and the warning that whatever is used is known to cause cancer in the state of California will come up. I am on the edge on deciding whether to buy or not, though. There are many other products you can find that will have warnings stating that there is some kind of ingredient that is known to the state of California to cause cancer. My question is. why just California? Why aren’t any of the other states doing the same? Have you decided on buying?
Jes says
I bought a RUGGABLE for my baby’s room. It’s so beautiful, great quality and I love that it’s machine washable. I was so happy until I went back to the website and noticed a VERY tiny warning ⚠️ on the page that I didn’t notice before. My fault for missing it but I am disappointed that they made it so small. You have to click on the rug, then scroll down to ‘our rugs’ and look at the very bottom and you will see in blue font a tiny ‘warning’. Click on that and it gives you a prop 65 warning.
Megan says
Hi Jes – thanks for the reply! Ugh, nothing like buyer’s remorse!!
I just went to the site as you described and still can’t find the warning. Maybe they have recently changed things up or maybe it’s not on all rugs? Orrrr maybe I need glasses! In the meantime I did email them asking about chemicals and if they have any certifications and this is their reply:
“Here are Ruggable, we do not chemically treat our rugs in any way and our products do not expel harmful gasses like other rugs might.
Our rug cover consists of 3 layers: the top surface is 100% woven polyester chenille, the internal waterproof barrier is 100% polyurethane, and the bottom is 100% polyester knit.”
I’m still not sold, so I will keep up the good search.