Non-Toxic Sofas From IKEA Reviewed

Summary:

While IKEA sofas are made from more conventional materials than my top picks in the article on non-toxic sofas, IKEA is still one of the best options in the very affordable category.

Some folks who are chemically sensitive have done really well with IKEA sofas and experienced very little off-gassing.

However, the materials do have some off-gassing and potentially other chemicals of concern.

The main difference between IKEA and some of the other “greener” brands is the use of particleboard and fiberboard (where the more eco-friendly versions have either all solid wood or a mix of solid and plywood).

There are also likely glues used in IKEA sofas which some of the super eco-friendly brands don’t use at all.

I also have some potential concerns over the use of recycled polyester.

Fragrance: IKEA stores sell or use fragranced items, but online orders for delivery ship from central warehouses not their store locations.

IKEA Sofa Materials

1. Sofa frame

Materials: Plywood, Solid wood, Particleboard, Fiberboard, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), Paperboard.

We don’t know what glue/binder is used in the making of the particleboard and fiberboard.

These are almost always made with formaldehyde but IKEA’s recent statements say that they don’t add formaldehyde to their range (unless they are not counting formaldehyde in particleboard and fiberboard because it’s purchased from another supplier and therefore already contains formaldehyde).

LVLs are also typically made with formaldehyde, so it’s not clear what IKEA is using as the glue there.

2. Back cushion & Seat Cushion

Materials: Regular Polyurethane foam of various densities and high-resilience polyurethane foam (cold foam).

Polyurethane foam does have a little bit of off-gassing of VOCs but IKEA’s foam tends to be very low odor and it does not contain toxic flame retardants in the US and Canada (and any other countries where they are not required to do so).

3. Lining, Fabric, Leather

Materials: Polyester wadding, fabrics include polyester (70-100% recycled), polyester/cotton mix, or a mix with rayon as well. Leather is real cow leather.

Polyester is ultra-low VOC and off-gasses pretty fast.

It does usually contain traces of antimony but IKEA says they do not use antimony compounds (hopefully that extends to the making of the polyester).

Recycled polyester (PET) can contain phthalates and more metals.

IKEA says “We do our utmost to not contaminate post-consumer material flows with chemicals of concern.” However, they do not have an all-out ban on phthalates.

Their upholstered items don’t contain PFAS treatments (confirmed in independent testing by Mamavation).

The leather is chrome-free which is the most important aspect of a non-toxic leather (the leather may still contain some off-gassing odors).

IKEA does not use toxic azo dyes.

4. Armrest frame

Materials: Plywood, Solid pine, Polyurethane foam 1.5 lb/cu.ft., Particleboard, Fiberboard.

5. Legs:

Materials: Solid wood with Oak veneer and Clear lacquer, or polypropylene, or aluminum, or solid birch with tinted lacquer.

IKEA tends to use lacquers that don’t off-gas.

Polypropylene doesn’t off-gas.

IKEA Sofa Lines Reviewed

MORABO

I have a detailed firsthand review of the Morabo sofa in leather here.

But in short, this sofa uses the materials listed above with chrome-free leather.

It had very little off-gassing odor.

The biggest complaint is about the armrests deforming (see the article for photos and a video of the cushions).

The Morabo also comes in polyester.

UPPLAND

Uppland has a cotton and polyester mix fabric.

And it contains laminated veneer lumber (LVLs) inside so it might be more sturdy than options without that.

ESSEBODA

A very soft sofa with dense polyurethane, this is covered in a cotton and polyester mix. There are LVLs and paperboard inside.

JATTEBO

Another sofa option, it has a polyester cover.

A mechanism to open up the seat is made with steel, polypropylene, and epoxy/polyester powder coating.

This coating generally does not have any perceptible off-gassing but epoxies usually contain BPA.

STOCKHOLM

While the leather is listed as aniline if it contains a topcoat that makes it semi-aniline.

They don’t list the coating, but polyurethane is a typical coating.

ÄPPLARYD

71 % cotton, 21 % polyester (100% recycled), 8 % viscose/rayon.

The under frame/legs are made of steel, epoxy/polyester powder coating.

This coating generally does not have any perceptible off-gassing but epoxies usually contain BPA.

KIVIK

Made with a polyester fabric.

KLIPPAN

Their most affordable sofa uses only regular polyurethane foam and polyester fabric.

VISKAFORS

Another option with a high percentage of natural fabric – it’s 71 % cotton, 21 % polyester (100% recycled), 8 % viscose/rayon like the Applaryd.

FINNALA

Polyester fabric and high-density foam in the bottom cushions.

PÄRUP

Polyester fabric.

VISKAFORS

This is dyed through top-grain leather with a treated and pigmented surface.

This leather is more treated than the one they call aniline and has more of a topcoat.

They don’t say what it’s coated with but polyurethane and vinyl/PVC are common.

However, IKEA has phased out PVC except for use in electrical components.

If you need help choosing non-toxic furniture you can book a consult here.

See also:

My main post on non-toxic sofas

Review of the Morabo leather sofa

Review of a Medley sofa

Affordable non-toxic sofas compared

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.