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A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

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Non-Toxic Closet & Shelving Systems

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Non-toxic healthy closet, storage, and organization systems should be made of materials that do not offgas VOCs or are extremely low in VOCs.

The following options can be considered for the chemically sensitive or those avoiding toxins for health reasons.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Solid Wood Closets and Shelving

A non-toxic real wood closet system

Most closet systems are made with engineered wood. Lundia USA is one company that makes beautiful solid wood closet systems.

The framing, drawers, and shelves are all solid pine. These are not just for bedroom closets – they make systems that work well for any kind of storage shelving area.

When using solid wood don’t forget to consider the wood glues used and the paint or finish.

If you would like to block the natural odorants of pine you can paint it and/or coat it with shellac. The safest wood glues are listed here.

Metal Shelving Organizer Systems

A metal closet system

Metal closet systems are certainly the most inert material on the list as it has no natural or chemical offgassing at all.

Metal that is powder coated or coated with an epoxy paint is usually totally cured by the time it gets to you so there usually isn’t any offgassing of VOCs at all.

The type to avoid is metal racking that is coated in PVC vinyl.

For simple systems that are going to be safe and healthy for just about everyone, metal is often the way to go.

Many companies make safe metal closet systems that have framing, shelves, and pull-out baskets/drawers made of wire or mesh metal.

The brand pictured is Rubbermaid.

Walmart has a great selection of inert metal closet systems.

Similar metal systems include the Elfa system from The Container Store and IKEA systems like the JONAXEL.

Plastic Shelving Systems

A plastic cubby shelving system

There are a number of polypropylene-based shelving systems available at big retailers.

Polypropylene is one of the safest plastics, especially if you are not heating it up or eating off of it. It generally does not offgas VOCs and it doesn’t contain BPA or phthalates and so it is safe, at least for non-food usage.

If you want a simple closet system, plastic is not a bad way to go. The one pictured is around $100 on Amazon.

You can also find these modular boxes in clear, white, and other colors. It can come in under $30 for 6 boxes.

The Container Store also has a good selection of polypropylene drawer systems.

Plywood-Based Closets and Shelving

Sheets of plywood

After solid wood, plywood is the next safest wood product to build a closet or shelving system out of.

Columbia Forest Products Purebond Plywood is made without any formaldehyde adhesives and some sensitive people prefer this type.

You could make the closet yourself, have a carpenter custom build one, or go with a company like Southern Stone Cabinets that uses Purebond Plywood as an option for their closets.

I also think that regular plywood made with phenol-formaldehyde is very fast to offgas to undetectable levels and that will also work for many people. It’s certainly far healthier than particleboard, HDF, or MDF which have higher levels of formaldehyde.

A lot of furniture plywood comes prefinished with a UV cured water-based polyurethane finish, which doesn’t have any offgassing. But if you wanted to finish it yourself, you can check out the posts on healthy sealers and healthy paints.

PS. Cedar blocks are a non-toxic moth repellant for closets

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Choosing a Non-Toxic Vinyl Plank Floor

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Vinyl Plank, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) are very low in VOCs and offgassing.

Most people find it odorless, but those like me with a high sense of smell can certainly pick up the offgassing.

I pick up the chemical odor off every brand I have sampled (they are all very similar) and I do have concerns about plasticizers (which all brands contain) and small amounts of metals, explained further in the article.

Most of it is phthalate-free now – though phthalates were replaced with alternate plasticizers. The most common plasticizer used now is DOTP.

Whether vinyl plank should be considered toxic depends on your threshold for toxins in the home and our knowledge is also limited by the current research and understanding of the new plasticizers – which we will discuss.

There is a huge difference between vinyl plank and sheet vinyl flooring. Sheet vinyl, the very flexible kind that comes in large rolls is way higher in offgassing. It’s one of the top products to avoid in a healthy home in my opinion.

Vinyl plank comes in two main types: resilient vinyl plank and luxury vinyl plank.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A stack of varies types of vinyl flooring from the thickest multilayer LVP to the thinest vinyl flooring
The top sample is a vinyl plank (glue down) and the bottom three are luxury vinyl planks which click together

Vinyl Plank (as Opposed to Luxury Vinyl Plank)

Vinyl plank or resilient vinyl plank is a much thinner product than a luxury vinyl plank. It’s more flexible than luxury vinyl plank (but not as flexible as vinyl that comes in a roll) and is installed by a glue-down method.

This type of vinyl has less offgassing of VOCs compared to LVP in my estimation, this is only due to the fact that there is less of it! I would certainly consider this an ultra love VOC product. But you do have to consider the glues used as a source of offgassing (at least until it’s fully cured).

I have seen some vinyl plank that still has phthalates, so be sure to check to make sure it’s phthalate-free and made of virgin vinyl.

The ones pictured below are Shaw brand 6 mil Resilient Vinyl plank Flooring. It’s 5/64 inches thick. It’s free of phthalates.

I have also seen Armstrong “Good” line which is similar.

You will have to check which glues the brand recommends and will warranty it with but most of them are zero VOC when cured.

A close up of vinyl plank flooring that is very low in odor
An example of vinyl plank

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) (and Luxury Vinyl Tile)

This type of vinyl plank is thicker, more rigid, has multiple layers, and is click together.

It has a core (SPC or WPC), a vinyl wear layer, and often has an underlayment attached as well.

This multilayer rigid core vinyl used to be called EVP – engineered vinyl plank, (though most of the information online is incorrect regarding the definition of EVP). Don’t worry, because this term is almost never used anymore.

LVP and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) are the same product, the only difference is that LVP looks like wood and LVT looks like tile or stone.

Let’s look at the chemical composition of the materials.

SPC Core Vinyl Floors

Most of the luxury vinyl plank (LVP) click-together flooring has an SPC (stone polymer composite) core. This is a mix of limestone, PVC, and plasticizer.

It’s low in offgassing due to the high amount of limestone – it’s usually 60-80% limestone and the rest is PVC and plasticizer with no foaming agent. Look out for companies that call this a “limestone core” without mentioning the PVC/vinyl content (it’s still there).

It also contains some minor stabilizers and pigments (Pharos).

It is grey in color, very dense and rigid, and looks like the middle layer in these photos:

A close up of SPC core flooring
These floors all have a SPC core. The top sample is hybrid (wood wear layer, SPC core), the bottom two have vinyl wear layers and SPC cores

WPC Core Vinyl Floors

Only a few brands have WPC (wood plastic composite) – they were originally made with real wood or cork dust but now most of them don’t contain plant-based fibers.

The WPC core is usually made from PVC, limestone, plasticizers, a foaming agent (like formamide), and wood-like or wood materials such as wood flour. Wood-like plasticizers can be used instead of the wood fiber.

The primary difference between most WPC and SPC core floors is that WPC contains a lighter extruded or foamed plastic core, while SPC contains a solid denser core with more limestone.

The Cali Vinyl Plus pictured below has a true WPC core that they call BPC (bamboo plastic composite) which is made with bamboo fibers.

I generally find SPC to be a little bit lower in odor and offgassing than WPC, but it’s been variable.

Formamide comes with a Prop 65 label warning.

WPC is beige or yellow in color, less dense than SPC, and looks like this:

A close up of what WPC core flooring looks like
LVP with a WPC core (Cali Vinyl Plus and Montserrat Click Lock)

Underlayment of LVT

The underlayment is usually an integrated plastic layer, though some brands, like Coretec, have cork attached.

The cork adds significant offgassing in my opinion, however, it is going to be almost entirely blocked by the click-together system. (But for those extremely sensitive the offgassing from the cork gets into the other layers during storage, production, transportation).

I personally avoid the brands with cork underlayment due to the unnecessary addition of VOCs, plus you are adding an organic material that is not mold proof in the way vinyl is.

The foam underlayments are usually made from IXPE or EVA foam, though some of them smell a lot more like rubber to me.

Many of the brands have such a thin attached underlayment that you still need to add one, so those don’t add much value. Check the warranty though, as some brands require an additional underlayment and for other brands adding an additional underlayment will void the warranty.

Brands like Cali Bamboo have a thick and cushiony underlayment (and you don’t have to add another one).

The underlayment often contains antimicrobials.

Wear Layer of Vinyl Floors

I have not found the thickness of the wear layer to affect the offgassing, though it’s possible that there is a minor difference there.

The wear layer is vinyl without the wood or limestone.

If you want the floor to last you want to go with the thicker wear layer. Some brands include the black layer (see photos above) that comes right after the top layer as part of the “wear layer”, but that will show as black marks if the top layer wears down! You want to look at the wear layer as the layer that has the integral wood or stone look color and design.

The top coating is a polyurethane with aluminum oxide cured under UV lights (so there is no offgassing there).

The wear layer can contain antimicrobials.

Should you Consider Vinyl as a Safe Flooring Choice?

These floors can be considered by anyone in the mild to moderately chemically sensitive category.

Plasticizers are also less of a concern for older folks than those more susceptible to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Those who are super sensitive to wood odorants might consider LVP as the next choice after ruling out solid wood, engineered wood, tile, and polished concrete.

The VOCs are very low but it’s not zero-VOC or odor-free and the plasticizers are for me still an “unknown” factor in terms of safety and health.

All LVP (and LVT) brands are very similar, there are only four main differences outlined below:

FOUR Things to Ask (when choosing LVP floors)

  1. Double-check to make sure it’s virgin (not recycled vinyl)
  2. Look for phthalate-free
  3. You might have a preference for SPC over WPC
  4. Check the underlayment, you may choose to avoid cork

Healthiest (Safer) Brands of Vinyl Plank

  • Virgin vinyl
  • Phthalate-free
  • Made in America
  • Starting at $2.81 /sqft
  • Virgin vinyl
  • Phthalate-free
  • Thatcher and Franklin are SPC core
  • Made in America
  • Dodford $2.75, Thatcher & Franklin $4.59 /sqft
  • Virgin vinyl
  • Phthalate-free
  • SPC core
  • Made in America
  • $5.87 /sqft

Home Depot Brands

Out of the Home Depot brands they all have low offgassing as well but are not always good quality in terms of the thickness of the floor and thickness of the wear layer. Traffic Master, Lifeproof (underlayment odor was strong to me), Home Decorators are all very similar.

All of the Home Depot brands are phthalate-free.

Phthalate-Free Vinyl Flooring and Replacement Plasticizers 

Phthalate-free brands are preferable – which most are now. Phthalates are known to be toxic, they have a host of known health problems and they leach quite a bit from floors.

All brands sold at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Lumber Liquidators are phthalate-free. Almost all other brands are now too.

If phthalates (also known as ortho-phthalates) are not used, other plasticizers will be used instead.

Replacement plasticizers include DOTP (also called DEHT) which is the main one used right now, this is used in the vast majority of brands.

Based on what we know about DOTP it doesn’t have any known endocrine disruption effects like phthalates do. They also claim that it is more stable in the material and doesn’t leach as much as phthalates. DOTP makes up 8-23% of the product.

The Ecology Center cites concerns that plasticizers can still leach even if not as much as phthalates and they caution against replacement chemicals like DOTP that are of similar chemical composition. We usually find that in time, with more studies, we find out more about the health impacts. They conclude that we do not yet know the full health effects of this plasticizer and have doubts that it is not in fact an endocrine disrupter.

I believe that it is currently difficult to say if the current plasticizers like DOTP, and therefore LVP floors as a whole, are non-toxic.

Other Plasticizers Used

Some may contain benzoate ester (in the Artistek LVT by Metroflor), I have seen tributyl citrate listed in a past Declare Label.

Three bio-based plasticizers are used in PVC flooring: Isosorbide diesters produced from fatty acids of vegetable origin and isosorbide derived from glucose (Polysorb ID 37); Acetylated monoglyceride derived from hydrogenated castor oil bio-based plasticizer aka, COMGHA, (Grindsted Soft-n-Safe); Dow’s Ecolibrium plasticizer.

According to HBN these are well studied and are believed to be the least toxic of the six non-phthalate plasticizers.

DOTP is not a bio-based plasticizer, despite Cali Bamboo making this claim.

Toxic Metals in Vinyl Flooring

Organotins (a form of tin) can be used in the top layer. Antimicrobials can be used, usually in the underlayment. I have seen various types, including silver.

EHN found the heavy metal cadmium recently in vinyl floors (probably recycled ones, they say).

It’s important to avoid recycled vinyl.

Lumber Liquidators and Floor & Decor banned recycled vinyl to avoid the associated toxic contaminants like metals and halogenated flame retardants. Most other brands are virgin vinyl now.

Lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury can be present and are only officially limited (not banned), as far as I have seen, by Floor and Decor.

Though antimony, bromine, and lead have been virtually eliminated according to the latest study.

Offgassing of VOCs in Vinyl Flooring

Sheet vinyl is higher offgassing than LVP. Sheet vinyl is in the 0.5 – 5 mg/m3 total VOC range, whereas vinyl click will be less than 0.5 mg/m3. (And it’s actually much less than 0.5mg/m3).

The offgassing is less of a concern to me than plasticizers (semi-VOCs) which are a longer-lasting and more of a concerning class of chemicals.

How long does LVP/LVT take to Offgas?

In absence of studies that indicate when the flooring product is completely offgassed, we have to judge based on our senses. A few months will get the product most of the way there. When I have seen LVP in buildings that are a couple of years old I cannot pick up any offgassing at all.

Sealing in the VOCs and Semi-VOCs in Vinyl Flooring

You can seal in any odors as well as most of the plasticizer leaching with shellac. I have tested shellac on various types of vinyl flooring. It has worked well on all the types that I have tried it on from sheet vinyl to a thick rigid LVP.

The downside is that shellac adds a shiny and less durable (to water) coating on the floor, which takes away from the more realistic wood/stone look and can show damage more easily.

You can remove the shellac later with alcohol (I used hand sanitizer), but the downside is that if you seal an LVP flooring that is click together it’s difficult or nearly impossible to remove all of the shellac perfectly from within the grooves.

Formaldehyde-Free LVP Flooring

No brand of LVP/LVT or vinyl plank adds formaldehyde. Any brand advertising as formaldehyde-free is only stating the obvious which can in some cases be considered an inaccurate insinuation that other brands are adding formaldehyde.

Greenguard or Floorscore Brands of Vinyl Plank (LVP)

The VOCs are so low in vinyl plank that they are far below any threshold of the green certifications. No brand is going to be above Greenguard gold levels – therefore whether it’s certified or not does not matter.

Floorscore to me is a particularly useless certification but definitely doesn’t help differentiate between vinyl plank brands.

None of the certifications are including the measurement of plasticizers, which is my main concern with vinyl plank flooring.

Is it Waterproof and Mold Preventative?

The Locking System

The thinner LVPs don’t have a very good locking mechanism, it’s more like “set together”. So that isn’t going to hold up well to water. If the product has a really good locking system and it’s installed in a way that it’s not pulling apart or separating then this can be quite waterproof. How waterproof it is also depends on how long the water is sitting on it.

Contractors recommend starting at 5 mm total thickness for a good locking system.

The Vapor Barrier

Another factor to consider is that most brands of luxury vinyl plank and tile require an additional underlayment that is also a vapor barrier under the vinyl. This means that if water gets between the two layers then it cannot dry out.

Is it Mold Preventative in a Bathroom?

This is often recommended as a floor for a bathroom and for a basement.

I have lived in a couple of apartments with vinyl in the bathroom, one was glue down vinyl plank and one had a floating luxury vinyl plank. Both had areas where the seams were not tight and so there is no way I believe this was waterproof. I also wondered about the edges, especially if the baseboard is not caulked to the floor.

Is it Mold Preventative in a Basement?

Though LVP is recommended for basement floors because it’s quite resistant to mold I have a different view on the topic.

Blocking moisture in the slab in my experience is a bad idea. The slab is always trying to dry to the inside as it’s the only way it can dry and it’s often getting wet from the outside/underneath. Any material that blocks moisture can and often does cause mold to grow under the area that is being blocked.

Cheryl Ciecko, mold preventative architect, has described this situation well. And as an extremely mold-sensitive person myself, I know that this is frequently a problem in slabs. Therefore I only recommend a breathable floor covering on slab foundations and in basements.

Polished concrete or tiles with a breathable grout are best.

The Healthiest Alternatives to Vinyl Plank Flooring

Hybrid flooring which has wood as the top layer and SPC vinyl as the core

Hybrid Flooring

Hybrid flooring has an SPC core and a real hardwood wear layer.

This has less offgassing in my estimation than LVP, it gives you the feel of real wood on top, and I would expect that the real wood would block all or most of the plasticizers from leaching out (it also avoids having plasticizer as the top layer).

One option is Cali Bamboo Geowood but there are two other brands to check out in the main flooring post.

Vinyl with a Concrete Based Core

A concrete based vinyl floor

Another twist on vinyl floors is X-core Connect by Mats inc. This flooring has a vinyl top layer but the center is a concrete-based material. I have seen samples of this and in terms of health and offgassing, I definitely thought it was an improvement over regular vinyl floors.

Close up of engineered wood flooring

Engineered Wood

Most engineered wood is no-VOC. Look for brands with a plywood or solid slat core. The UV cure polyurethane finishes are also zero-VOC.

Some brands have an oil-based finish and that is not bad either (ultra-low VOC).

Avoid brands with an HDF or MDF core. See the post on engineered wood floors to see the different types and brands.

Polyurethane sheet flooring which is odorless

Polyurethane Sheet Flooring

If you want glue-down planks or larger areas of sheet flooring, polyurethane is much safer than vinyl rolls. The brand picture is Wineo. It barely has any offgassing and doesn’t contain plasticizers.

I talk about it more in the post on RV flooring.

One plank of click together cork flooring

Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is not zero-VOC but it is another option to consider that is very low-VOC.

My top brand is definitely Amorim Wise as it’s far lower offgassing than any other brand I have seen (most of them are actually high in offgassing).

They claim it’s waterproof but I personally would not bank on that.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Non-Toxic (Low VOC) Sealants for Marble, Granite, Limestone

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This is a post is about sealants for light-colored marble, light granites, limestone, and other light-colored cool-tone stones. The sealers are intended for food-contact areas like countertops, stone serving boards, and stone bowels, as well as areas like stone tile backsplashes.

My post on all-natural oil-based sealers for stones focuses on walnut oil (and other non-toxic oils) that work best on dark-colored, medium-tone (or beige-toned) stones since they do darken and yellow the stones slightly.

There is no 100% natural, 100% toxin-free, or zero-VOC sealer for white and light-colored stones. This should be considered early on if it’s a new build for someone chemically sensitive.

Light-colored stones are also much more likely to be porous compared to some darker-colored stones that can be naturally dense enough to not require a sealant in food prep areas.

Manufacturers of natural stone countertops usually recommend a penetrating or impregnating sealant every few years (depending on the type of stone, the use, etc).

These sealants do not fully disclose their ingredients, but I have dug into the literature to see what is likely in them. Most of them use fluoropolymers as the main technology, a type of PFAS. If you are avoiding PFAS, there are two sealants on the market that I list that are low and zero-VOC that are not based on PFAS.

These four sealers are ones I have researched, compared and actually tested myself. They are the safest, lowest offgassing options out there right now.

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The 17 Best Non-Toxic Rugs You Can Buy Online

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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 healthy area rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home, as well as safe for nurseries with crawling babies, and sensitive pets.

Those avoiding chemicals should avoid area rugs with synthetic latex backing, glues, moth treatments which is a pesticide – usually permethrin, 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).

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The Healthiest Non-Toxic Carpet Brands

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For safe, non-toxic carpet, both natural and synthetic fiber options can be a healthy choice.

The post outlines my top picks in the zero and low-VOC categories for residential and commercial use. This includes a look at the carpet fiber, backing, products used during installation, and padding (underlay).

Even folks who are chemically sensitive can do well with carpet in the home.

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A Complete Guide to Non-Toxic Sofa Brands | 2022

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This is a complete list of eco-friendly non-toxic sofa brands.

I start with the best of the best non-toxic sofas, digging into what’s really in them, this is followed by a “next best” list, and then a look at some simpler and more affordable options.

Non-Toxic Sofas and Couches – What to Look For:

  • Natural cushion fill such as natural latex, cotton, down, and wool.
  • No chemical/formaldehyde treatments on the fabric (such as stain and water-resistant coatings, especially PFAS).
  • Eco Leather – Conventional leather is made with toxic dyes and treatments. Some folks may prefer leather due to the ability to wipe it down. Brands that use safer leather are covered in a dedicated post.
  • Solid wood construction, not formaldehyde filled pressed wood products.
  • Zero or low-VOC glues, stains, and varnishes
  • Flame retardant free (my post on flame retardants goes into detail on which ones we want to avoid) but the picks here are all FR free.
  • Polyurethane does offgas at low levels, but I don’t rule it out completely. Make sure it is flame retardant free (“Soy Foam” is still polyurethane with some soy). I avoid memory foam which is higher in offgassing.
  • GOTS certified fabrics and GOLS certified latex are best – which are explained in this post on certifications.

Many of the companies below also offer upholstered chairs, recliners, and non-toxic sofa beds/sleeper sofas. You will have to choose between polyurethane or natural latex in the beds.

I recommend all of the products here, some products have affiliate programs and some do not. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

The 8 Top Non-Toxic Sofa Brands You Can Buy Online

1. Medley

a grey squarish sofa from Medley with a wooden base

Medley sofas are made with either polyurethane or organic natural latex, no-VOC glues, no flame retardants, fabric options that are all-natural or organic (none contain PFAS), solid alder frames with natural or zero-VOC finishes, and organic cotton internal frame lining. 

They offer a sample kit which is really helpful for those who want to check out the materials first.

If you are looking for a hypoallergenic option this sample box will help to narrow in on what you are allergic to. Medley is a top pick for most people with allergies and sensitivities.

They carry loveseats, standard size sofas, sectionals, and sleeper sofas.

They offer leather as an upholstery option. It’s semi-aniline leather with a water-based coating on top, which I talk more about in the leather furniture post.

Made in the USA. Delivery to the US, Canada, and beyond.

Start at $1500

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

You can use code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

2. The Futon Shop

A light turquoise colored L-shaped sofa

The Futon Shop has a sofa called Daisy Organic Natural Sofa.

It’s made with solid pine (no glues) and has various options for the fill.

The seat cushion fill options include wool with coils, wool, and latex, or all three. You can change the main fill to PLA or upgrade to organic wool and latex.

The base arms and back of the sofa are made with natural latex, coconut coir, and natural wool encased in fabric.

The fabric options include organic cotton, linen, and wool. They said all their fabrics are free of PFAS.

They make chairs, loveseats, sofas, and sectionals.

Made in the USA they can provide you with a quote if you are shipping outside of the contiguous 48 states.

Start at $1800 for the sofas.

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4. EcoBalanza

A dark brown sofa from EcoBlanaza with very low arm rests

These handmade, customized sofas are high quality and made with traditional methods – and that means less glue and more material options.

They use organic wool, organic cotton, GOLS certified organic natural Dunlop latex, and GOTS certified fabrics, free of PFAS. No flame retardants are used anywhere. Kapok and down are offered in some configurations.

They use non-toxic zero-VOC glues and Rubio Monocoat stains. They can use a different finish if the customer is sensitive to Rubio, or they can leave it unfinished. Solid wood frames are made of alder and beech, ash is usually used for the legs.

They can also accommodate a latex allergy by completely leaving out and replacing the latex.

They make 3 seaters, loveseats, and sectionals. (They also make chairs, ottomans, bed frames, and headboards).

They make leather sofas with EcoPell leather which is unsealed, vegetable-tanned, and free of heavy metals. It’s the only truly safe leather on the list – I go into detail on why that is here.

This is the most customizable brand on the list. The Essential Collection is more of option than a collection, and is a more affordable option.

Handmade in Seattle, they ship to all states and to Canada.

Start at $3800 

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5. Sabai

Sabai sofas are made with recycled fabrics (some from polyethylene water bottles), and the fabric contains no stain guard treatments like PFAS.

They use solid wood inside the sofa, no glues are used in the sofa, and the stain on the legs is low-VOC.

A nice bonus is that 90% of the materials are sourced within 100 miles of production.

They do not use any flame retardants.

Prices start at $1300, use this link for $60 off. 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

6. PURE

A deep blue modern sofa with wood feet from PURE

Pure sofas are made with organic latex with a feather and down wrap, solid maple wood, organic wool, GOTS certified organic cotton (no PFAS in that), GreenGuard certified water-based glue, and Rubio Monocoat wood finish on legs. No flame retardants are used.

They offer sofas, loveseats, sectionals, some sleeper sofas, and a recliner. (Out of the top tier eco companies this is the only one that makes a non-toxic recliner).

Made in America. They ship to the 48 contiguous states. It’s possible to order one to Canada but you need a customs broker.

Start at $1400

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You can mention My Chemical-Free House for 5% off.

3. Cisco Brothers

A modern beige colored sofa from Cisco brothers

Cisco Brothers sofas are either the Essentials Collection or they can be made with the Inside Green option. The base line is called Essentials Collection which contains hardwood (no plywood), typically alder or maple, polyurethane foam, and cushions with goose feathers & down. Fabrics are washed to remove any residual dust or chemicals.

The Inside Green option contains organic natural latex instead of polyurethane, wrapped in either eco wool or feathers & down. They use certified solid woods, organic cotton fabrics with no toxic treatments, jute and hemp instead of springs, and WOCA natural stains.

No flame retardants are used.

They make sofas, loveseats, and sectionals.

Made in the USA. Sold at locations throughout the US and Canada and online through Urban Natural.

Starts at $2300. The “Inside Green” option starts at $3400

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7. Carolina Morning

A simple alternative sofa with a slated wood frame and a futon like cushion on top

The wooden structure is made from regionally harvested Appalachian poplar wood, finished with Vermont Natural Coatings finish.

The futon covers are an organic 100% cotton canvas (in eight colors), and they are filled with kapok fiber. The kapok is grown without herbicides and pesticides. Their organic fabrics are GOTS certified, they won’t be treated with PFAS.

Carolina Morning sofas are made with the chemically sensitive in mind, and they go to good lengths to keep out added chemicals.

$2,350

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

8. Savvy Rest Couch

Made with solid maple (no plywood or particleboard), GOTS-certified organic upholstery (hemp and/or cotton), natural latex wrapped in organic wool, and the option of linseed oil finished or unfinished feet.

No flame retardants are used. They make sofas, loveseats, and upholstered chairs.

Made in America they ship to all states and Canada. I have not been happy with their customer service personally.

Next Best Options

The next best options are sofas free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These are my criteria:

  • No use of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances is a top priority in terms of avoiding persistent chemicals. Only a few sofa brands, apart from the above 8 options, are free of PFAS.
  • Solid wood or plywood inside the sofa are preferred. Particleboard can be considered but has more offgassing.
  • No flame retardants.
  • No memory foam (that is higher in offgassing than regular foam).

1. Pottery Barn Eco Sofa

Pottery Barn has options that I would consider in their green line. The down blend is 50% polyester fiber, 45% duck feather, and 5% duck down. After emailing the company, it sounds like the down option has no foam. Some of their other sofas are made with polyurethane.

They use solid wood inside the construction and some of the fabric options are GOTS certified organic cotton. (This sets them apart from most other large national big brands). GOTS certified fabrics are free of PFAS.

Priced from $1000 – $2900

2. Burrow Sofas

Burrow sofas are free of PFAS, the olefin fabrics are inherently stain resistant. The website says they use solid wood inside the sofa, but they also use plywood (looks like plywood with fiberboard layers).

Starting at $1500, you can get $75 off with this link.

3. IKEA Sofas

The standard IKEA sofas (i.e. not the futons) are made with particleboard, which offgasses some formaldehyde; regular polyester fabric not treated with perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS including PFOS, PFOA, PFOSA); and polyurethane foam cushions which are low in offgassing and free of flame retardants.

The main difference between IKEA and the “greener” brands above is the use of particleboard.

IKEA sells loveseats, sofas, sectionals, sofa beds, upholstered chairs, and recliners.

Prices start from $250

4. Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel eliminated PFAS and flame retardants from their upholstery. However, I did hear from one of the fabric makers that they do use PFAS in 2021: Babyletto’s fabric company Livesmart by Culp confirmed that the Crate and Kids Babyletto Kiwi is made with .15% PFAS.

Some of the sofas I looked at had engineered wood (plywood probably) and some had solid wood inside.

There was standard polyurethane foam on the ones I reviewed with no flame retardants.

The fabric swatches had an odor that was hard to describe, something similar to a very light rubber smell.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, sleeper sofas, upholstered chairs, and recliners.

Prices start at about $1000

5. Room and Board

Room and Board has also eliminated PFAS from their fabrics. This was written in an industry document and confirmed in writing by their products reps.

Some of the fabrics are GreenGuard Gold certified but I couldn’t pick up any major difference between those and their regular fabrics.

The frames are made from solid wood. The foam is regular polyurethane that is free of flame retardants, I did not see any memory foam options.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, day beds, sofa beds, upholstered chairs, and recliners.

Prices start at $1200

6. Vegan Polyurethane Leather Couches

This is not a brand, but a type of sofa to look for that I consider non-toxic and safe is a polyurethane (PU) faux leather sofa.

Whenever looking at faux leather check to see what kind of plastic it is. It could be PVC, PU, or nylon. I avoid PVC faux leather.

I like PU because it doesn’t contain plasticizers, PFAS, or other stain guard chemicals, it’s low odor – and even that will pass. It also is quite a good block of VOCs or semi-VOCs that could be coming from inside the couch.

(Other: by 2022 Target will have eliminated PFAs from textiles).

Alternative Sofa Options: Simple and Affordable 

Daybeds and Futons

Metal Daybeds

A metal daybed with a lower bed that pulls out from below

If you are highly chemically sensitive or you just want something simpler and cheaper, you could try a metal daybed from Walmart, IKEA, or Amazon and put a non-toxic mattress of your choosing on it.

Some of the metal daybed frames will accommodate a MondoKing Thermarest.



Futons

A futon in couch position
An option from Amazon

You can buy simple futons with a wood or metal base from Amazon or IKEA.

IKEA makes a futon and simple metal-based sofa that contains polyurethane foam (no flame retardants). This option cuts back on other toxic materials used in regular sofas.

A simple sofa with a washable cover can be an asset to those with sensitivities and allergies who need to launder items often.

An even simpler option from IKEA is the Hammarn little futon for $129. This has a metal frame, and only a small amount of polyurethane (no flame retardants).

A simple option like this can be quite non-toxic and offgas rather quickly, especially after a little time airing out.

The more polyurethane, the more you have to offgas. Not all futons have foam though. You have to check what the fill is.

The more components you have inside a typical sofa, the more offgassing you have from pressed wood products, stains, and glues. Futons eliminate pressed wood products and cut down on glues used. They often don’t have stains.

Metal frames eliminate all offgassing of both stains and wood glues.

If you want a proper futon bed for sleeping made of truly safe or natural materials check out my post on mattresses where I outline a number of options in this category.

Outdoor Furniture

A outdoor sofa and coffee table made of real wood and simple square cushions

You could also look at outdoor furniture to be used either outside or inside.

The benefit here would be the simplicity of the design. Metal, plastic or solid wood as the base. Cushions that can be left outside to offgas or replaced with a cushion of your choice.

Outdoor cushions are made with either polyurethane or polyester fill and the covers can have waterproofing on them, but because of the ability to remove them from the sofa and offgas them, this could be a simple, affordable and healthy option for many.

IKEA outdoor furniture is free of PFOAs/PFCs.

There are three options you might find on Amazon: solid wood outdoor sofas, metal-framed outdoor sofas, and plastic-based outdoor sofas.

Related posts:

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes

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Non-Toxic Windows, Blinds & Curtains

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Updated Summer 2021

1. Window frame materials – Windows made of thermally broken aluminum are the top choice for non-toxic windows. Accoya wood is also a healthy window option. Some vinyl and fiberglass brands can be considered, though they do offgas.

2. Window treatments – Natural untreated fabric, natural fiber roll-down blinds, non-painted aluminum blinds, and aluminum screens are the top choices for healthy window treatments. Blackout bamboo shades, polyester curtains, hemp, cotton, and paper pleated shades should be considered as well. Avoid PVC shades/curtains, flame retardant treated fabrics, wrinkle-free finishes, and wood and aluminum blinds with finishes that offgas.

3. Window sealing – Polyurethane canned foam is the norm, which does cure quite well. The least toxic option is backer rod.

I recommend all of the products here, some products have affiliate programs and some do not. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

Non-Toxic Curtains and Blinds

The best non-toxic window coverings are natural untreated fabric, natural fiber roll-down blinds, aluminum blinds and aluminum screens.

For blackout shades, bamboo shades with liners, polyester curtains, hemp, cotton, and paper pleated shades can be considered.

Avoid PVC shades/curtains, curtains highly treated with flame retardants and other chemicals, and wood and aluminum blinds with finishes that offgas VOCs.

1. Fabric Curtains

Linen fabric style curtains

Fabric curtains are usually treated with wrinkle-free chemicals and flame retardants.

Natural fabrics do break down in UV light but are a healthier option. Look for Oeko-Tex or GOTs certified fabrics to guarantee that they don’t use chemical treatments.

Libeco linen is not GOTS certified but is usually grown without pesticides and the natural colors don’t contain dyes.

Linen options found on Amazon, like the ones in the photo, are either a linen polyester mix or polyester made to look like linen.

IKEA makes GUNRID “air purifying curtains”. These are made of recycled PET water bottles. The air purifying claim sounds like it comes from a treatment of titanium dioxide which creates hydroxyl radicals.

2. Blinds and Shutters

Bamboo Blinds

Bamboo blinds partially rolled up

Green versions of blinds include bamboo roll-down blinds that are not treated with chemicals like those from Earthshade and Blinds Chalet.

I got a sample from Blinds Chalet and was happy with them (these really need a backing unless you want just minimal privacy).

Check to see what the backing is and order samples.

Bamboo blinds come in different looks, and other grasses can be woven into the blinds as well.

Wood Blinds and Shutters

A close up of wooden blinds

I have not found wooden blinds with a 0-VOC finish since this is so hard to accomplish with something that holds up to UV.

Real wood blinds are also prone to warping. Real solid wood is best used as shutters.

The real wood blinds from Blinds Chalet are very light and thin (Signature 2 inch in Carmelia). I could pick up only very minor offgassing which did come to completion in a few weeks.

All of the thin 2 inch real wood blinds from Blinds Galore were also very low in odor, just like other major brands. Only the very sensitive would be able to pick this up. And with a bit of time, this did offgas.

Real wood blinds made of basswood are extremely light. From an aesthetic point of view, they are almost impossible to differentiate from the composites.

Faux Wood

Faux wood blinds are usually PVC, but composite blinds can be made of safer plastics mixed with wood.

The composite sample I got from Blinds Chalet was very low in offgassing (Premier Composite Shutters).

Composite blinds from Blinds Galore don’t explicitly say what kind of polymer (plastic) is used. Some of them are listed as PVC and some do not indicate the type of plastic used.

This brand has an American and Canadian website. I tested Bali wood blinds.

They were extremely low in offgassing.

Aluminum Blinds

Aluminum blinds in bare metal color by Earthshade

Aluminum blinds used to use powder-coated metal which was very safe. You can find some older blinds like this.

But currently, all metal blinds in North America, Asia, and Europe are made with a polyester-based baked-on enamel finish that does offgas in theory.

By the time I have received samples of metals blinds the offgassing has been complete.

I have also seen additives, for example, Hunter Douglas ads an anti-static additive to the coating. This may be something like Teflon (but we don’t actually know what it is), which could offgas as well.

You can find brushed aluminum blinds with no paint or coating, like those from Earthshade (pictured). At some retailers, brushed aluminum does have a coating.

3. Between the Glass Blinds

A cropped photo of a wooden window frame

Between the glass is a really cool option that eliminates the worry of offgassing. 

Here is an example from Pella.

4. Window Screens

A close up of window screen

Conventional screens are very smelly at first.

They can be left outside to offgas, or aluminum screens can be used instead.

Marvin is one brand that makes aluminum options.

Non-Toxic Blackout Shades

1. Bamboo Shades Blackout Liner

A sample of the blackout liner from Blinds Chalet in a dark brown color

Blinds Chalet blackout liner on the bamboo shades is PVC- free.

Their bamboo is also grown without pesticides and chemicals.

2. Polyester Blackout Curtains

Two panels of polyester black out curtains

Polyester with no PVC backing will work for many people. It’s not perfect right out of the box, but it doesn’t take long for the chemicals to dissipate.

If you can wash and/or air them out first that will help.

West Elm 100% polyester curtain liner is an extra layer of polyester that goes under their other curtains, they = contain no PVC or foam.

They still have that new fabric smell but will air out with some time. West Elm has been improving their eco-credentials lately. Someone sensitive to chemicals did well with these.

These Eclipse polyester curtains from Amazon do not contain flame retardants, can be washed and aired out, and should be tolerable after washing and airing for most people.

Sleep Well company that makes polyester curtains does not guarantee no flame retardants, but they do claim no chemical fabric coatings. They are 100% polyester and free of PVC. They are washable. You can remove that new fabric smell by washing them. Some have reported these having no smell and others more sensitive still can pick up the new fabric smell.

3. 100% Blackout Shades

A close up of the fabric of black out roller material

Earthshade makes eco blackout shades and rollers that are probably the safest ready-made option on the market.

The blackout roller shades do contain 35 ppb formaldehyde which is produced when pressing the polyester sheets together to laminate them with heat.

The shades have also been processed with bleach. Those are the only two treatments of the fabric.

Generally, my recommendation on formaldehyde (as long as it’s not urea) is to give it 3 months of offgassing. When installed with a proper blackout system these will get you the most light blocking of the list.

4. Something Simple for Light Blocking

Paper pleated shade in a window

Another option to consider is this paper black pleated shade – the company claims in an email they do not give off any hazardous chemicals (I bought the natural color version of this – it has a slight chemical smell and needs to be offgassed only for a short while).

They are not that great at blocking light compared to the other options and you will need to double them up to make a bigger difference. But these are super inexpensive, easy to install quickly, and worked perfectly in my tiny house.

5. DIY Hemp Curtains

A close up of heavy hemp fabric that can be used as black out fabric

Another really safe option (truly the safest) would be to make your own blackout curtains with pesticide-free hemp fabric.

Though it’s difficult to make traditional looking curtains from this thick not very flexible fabric.

6. Cotton Room Darkening Curtains

Green colored curtains that are room darkening

IKEA Room Darkening Curtains made with 100% cotton are somewhat light-blocking.

They should be washed or aired out before using.

Avoid: vinyl roller shades and vinyl mini-blinds, PVC, and conventional blackout curtains.

Non-Toxic Window Frame Options

The top choice for green non-toxic window frames is aluminum (thermally broken).

Accoya naturally treated wood can be considered another top choice, though wood is more difficult to upkeep.

Fiberglass and vinyl are the next best choices – they do offgas, but some brands will cure quite quickly or be low enough emissions to not cause any issues.

Non-Accoya wood is treated with pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides and it’s prone to warping and water damage. Let’s look deeper:

1. Metal Window Frames

The bed in the loft of my tiny house with my aluminum framed window
Aluminum windows in my tiny house CC BY-NC-SA

Aluminum windows are the healthiest, safest option. It is what I used in my tiny house (pictured above). On the interior, I added wood framing trim. You can also use decorative moldings around the windows.

I used DYG windows from Canada. Milgard is a popular brand that makes thermally broken all aluminum windows (US and Canada).

High-end aluminum thermally broken window brands include Western, Arcadia, and Fleetwood.

What is used in the windows as a thermal break is blocked by the glass and metal so there is no need to worry about much offgassing. Thermally broken aluminum windows are all aluminum with polyurethane inside.

Non thermally broken aluminum windows are not a good idea to use as they conduct heat and cold and easily condensate.

Aluminum clad means there is an exterior of aluminum which usually has wood inside.

Marvin has a line called Modern which is fiberglass on the outside, and aluminum on the inside (either powder coated or anodized) which some sensitive folks have liked.

The most extremely sensitive clients can pick up the seal, PVC glass stop and some glues used.

The finishes I have seen on aluminum windows are baked-on enamel, resin paints, powder-coated, and anodized. Some baked-on enamel finishes and paints can offgas, the other two are considered safe.

The gaskets are made out of rubber or PVC.

2. Wooden Window Frames

A close up of a wooden framed window

Wood windows are usually treated with fungicides, pesticides, and insecticides. You could use a sealer that seals those chemicals like AFM Safe Seal, AFM Transitional Primer, or Zinsser Shellac (the Bullseye Shellac is waxed and harder to paint over, the SealCoat is dewaxed and easier to paint over).

Safer Wood

Accoya wood used in some window brands uses a non-toxic process called acetylation to naturally provide rot resistance.

They use no chemical fungicides or mildewcides and they claim this process helps to reduce shrinking and swelling compared to most solid wood windows.

Loewen is one of the brands that uses Accoya wood and allows you to choose your paint brand.

Custom Wood

You could go with totally custom-made wood windows, but they are more expensive and you still have to consider what kind of sealer you can tolerate on the inside and outside.

For an exterior sealer see my post on paints and sealers.

Problems with Wooden Windows

All wood (through and through) windows are not a good idea as they do not hold up well to moisture in the long run, Accoya wood claims to have solved this problem.

You can also consider ones that are wood on the inside and a more weather-resistant material on the outside if you like the look of wood inside. 

Consider also the glue that is used in conventional wood windows could be irritating for the sensitive person.

Chemical Wood Treatments

Marvin’s wood windows (which have aluminum on the exterior) are treated with TimberTreat pesticide, tebuconazole, and propiconazole fungicides, an unlisted insecticide, and mineral oil.

Pella and Anderson also make wood windows that are treated with the same or similar chemicals (they are also aluminum on the exterior).

3. Fiberglass Window Frames

Fiberglass offgasses VOCs and some sensitive people do report reacting to it. Though it may be tolerable for some.

Some types and brands are better than others (in terms of offgassing) and this could result in a preference of fiberglass over vinyl or vice versa.

Marvin’s Ultrex was not tolerated by the very sensitive though some less sensitive have done well with it.

Marvin has two different kinds of fiberglass, one has an acrylic component and one has a polyurethane component. You may find them to be different – with the polyurethane one being better tolerated. Pella fiberglass is tolerated by some sensitive folks.

Kolbe has their own fiberglass called Glastra which is mixed with another polymer (plastic).

4. Vinyl Window Frames

Vinyl is generally not healthy, but since this is a hard usually unplasticized vinyl, it does not have much of an odor at all. I did not pick up any offgassing on the vinyl windows I tested (and used in a little camping trailer). uPVC indicates vinyl without plasticizers, which is the most harmful part of the vinyl.

I can pick up the offgassing in some of them used in apartments under one year old. Others have reported reacting with new ones. Some let them offgas for a while before installing.

Personally, with a bit of time to offgas, I find these to be good. Often better than fiberglass (depending on the brand), but not as good as aluminum.

Fibrex is a PVC and wood composite made by Anderson which some sensitive folks have reported being too high in offgassing for them.

Tyrol is a fiberglass reinforced uPVC with EPS foam in the interior by Alpen.

Vinyl Components

Vinyl components can be used in any window frame type. Look into the gasket, window stops, jamb liners, and tracks which can all be PVC. I have seen some companies (like Alpen) replace the PVC stop with aluminum.

More details on Alpen (which makes fiberglass and vinyl windows) and other low-toxin “High Performance” windows in this post on Passive Houses.

Window FAQs

What are High-Quality Trusted Window Brands?

High-quality window companies recommended by architects include: Marvin, Kolbe, Anderson, Pella, and Wasco. Alpen for High-Performance windows.

Are Gas-filled Windows Non-Toxic? 

Windows filled with argon or krypton gas have a higher insulative value and both gasses are considered non-toxic.

Are Low-E Coatings Non-Toxic?

The two main types of Low-E coatings are both non-toxic. The “soft coat” is a mechanically applied silver coating that is within a double pane window system. You will have no exposure to the silver. A “hard coat” is a layer of tin oxide that is applied while the glass is still hot. The tin is a more integral part of the glass in this case, and is therefore not a risk.

Sealing Around Windows

Caulking

The first two I would test out are AFM Caulk and silicone. Silicone caulks all have different odors/offgassing and rates of curing. My top pick is a neutral cure silicone – Chemlink. GE is also quite good.

I have a post on caulking that goes into more detail.

Sealing the Rough Opening

Plastic backer rod (polyethylene) can be used to seal around windows. This is a non-toxic and odorless alternative to polyurethane canned spray foam.

Many people do tolerate the canned spray foams after some offgassing (give it 24 hours to cure or more). Great Stuff is a common one to find easily online and in stores.

Handi-Foam is another brand, that is certified with Greenguard Gold for more assurance (but I cannot tell the difference between the two).

Some people use wool around windows. I prefer not to have wool around windows. The sealing around windows is meant to be airtight to prevent moisture issues, so wool would not suffice.

Window Flashing

For zero-VOC window flashing use TYPAR AT.

They do not recommend this being used in the rough openings, and it doesn’t fit all building codes.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Non-Toxic Wall Paints, Vetted by the Chemically Sensitive

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Which Paints are Truly Safe?

There is a myriad of paints claiming to be green, natural, or zero-VOC, but most don’t list their ingredients, others list the main components, while some only list what has to be legally disclosed on a safety data sheet (SDS).

This article investigates past the marketing jargon to compare all of the options that claim to be zero-VOC or natural.

This post covers interior wall paints for drywall, plasterboard, plaster, and wood.

I break the paints into categories based on their formulas:

  • 1) Latex Paint which includes acrylic paint and VAE paint
  • 2) Natural Paint which includes mineral paint, clay paint, and milk paint
  • 3) Linseed-Based Oil Paint

VOC-Free Paint

We know that zero-VOC is a legal term and does not always mean it really has no VOCs (chemically).

Keep in mind there are products that are higher in VOCs that will “flash off” and cure quickly, while other low-VOC, or even zero-VOC, formulations can take longer to cure.

Exempt VOCs, meaning those that are not counted in that term legally, include ammonia and acetone.

Other Chemicals of Concern: APEs

Apart from VOCs, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), which are surfactants used in acrylic paints, can disrupt the hormone system.

Preservatives & Mildewcide

All paints except powdered Milk Paint have preservatives. A few brands in the post disclose which ones they use. With others, we can only guess based on the list of commonly used preservatives/mildewcides.

Chemical Sensitivities

Those who are chemically sensitive should test multiple brands for tolerance after looking through the ingredients and reviewing what works best for the most severely sensitive folks.

In my view, a truly eco-friendly paint is zero-VOC at two weeks’ time but is also ideally low VOC and low odor when wet.

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Non-Toxic Shelf and Drawer Liners

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In a healthy home, I personally would not consider shelf and drawer liners made of PVC, including fabric backed with PVC, or paper coated in PVC, rubber (which is high in VOCs), or cork (which is pressed together with a polyurethane adhesive which offgasses as well).

I consider EVA, polyethylene, and polypropylene to be safe eco-friendly plastics, especially for this application.

Other non-toxic or natural options include paper, fabric, acrylic coated wallpaper, and wood veneer.

The following options are made for shelves, drawers (kitchen and other rooms), dressers, and wire carts. Some can be used in the refrigerator.

I would consider all of these options safe for kitchens, kids’ rooms, and nurseries.

All of the options here are unscented.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. EVA Plastic Liners

A roll of EVA shelf liner in clear

I like non-PVC plastic with no adhesive on the back best for shelf liners.

I like this clear EVA one from Amazon.

You can also get a solid color heavy-duty EVA Drawer Liner (also non-adhesive).

IKEA also makes EVA liners.

I like EVA because it doesn’t contain phthalates or bisphenols like BPA. EVA foam does have a slight odor but non-foam EVA has practically no odor.

EVA is used in medical and food packaging applications.

The only plastics that contain bisphenols are polycarbonate and epoxy (and about 3/4 of polycarbonate contains bisphenols, source). 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy clear EVA liners or solid grey EVA liners from Amazon.

2. Silicone Drawer Liners

A roll of silicone shelf liner in light blue

Silicone is very grippy – it’s good for drawers, cabinets, refrigerators, freezers, desks, or anywhere where you want things to grip to it.

Silicone liners are non-toxic, I find I need to air it out for a few hours when it’s brand new. They do not contain an adhesive.

I like these pastel-colored ones which are made from food-grade silicone and have a high degree of heat resistance.

This bright blue one is from Amazon as well.

Silicone is not made with bisphenols or phthalates. So far, from what we know even silicone bakeware is inert and won’t leach chemicals into your food.

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy pastel-colored silicone liners or bright blue silicone liners from Amazon.

3. Polyethylene (PE/PET) Liners

Polyethylene (PE) is easier to slide items across and so it’s better for kitchen shelves.

There are polyethylene options at the Container Store and the ones pictured are from Amazon.

Polyethylene, including PET, HDPE, and LDPE are not known to contain BPA or phthalates (source). PE generally does not have an odor or offgas VOCs.

PE is widely used in applications where a food-safe, or food contact safe, plastic is needed. 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy polyethylene liners from Amazon or the Container Store.

4. Polypropylene Liners for Wire Shelves

A thick polypropylene plastic liner on a shelf of a metal cart

These liners are a thicker and sturdier plastic used to add a stable layer to wire shelves.

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the safest plastics.

Gorilla Grip specifically states that their liners are made from PP, and the shelf liners for Elfa are also polypropylene.

PP plastics are not known to contain BPA or phthalates (source). Rigid PP is odorless and does not offgas VOCs. It’s used in many food storage applications. 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy polypropylene shelf liner from Amazon. Buy Elfa liners from the Container Store.

5. Paper, Cloth & Wallpaper

Peel and stick wallpaper that can be used as drawer liner by Spoonflower

When I was a child we used paper to line our kitchen cabinet shelves and drawers, so I’m partial to this plastic-free look.

Some of the old-school ones are actual paper (this one is not coated with PVC) and they are harder to find. Many of the paper ones are now backed or coated with PVC. Many are scented now, so be sure to check.

You can use an actual wallpaper, and a non-toxic wallpaper glue if you prefer that look.

Spoonflower (pictured) makes a PVC-free peel and stick wallpaper that is available on Amazon. Their acrylic wallpapers have cute designs and work as shelf liners on many surfaces.

You can also use fabric to line shelves but you normally find this backed with PVC to make it stay in place. I would use a non-woven or cloth wallpaper (that is PVC-free) instead. 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy non-PVC peel and stick wallpaper from Spoonflower.

Buy non-PVC liner from the Container Store.

(In terms of contact paper, usually used to line the exterior of cabinets or countertops, I have only seen that in PVC vinyl).

6. Wood

Real wood cedar veneer that is in rolls and can be used as a liner

For bedroom shelves or drawers you can use a wood veneer liner.

This cedar liner is only wood, though the reviews describe it as finicky.

I would not use cork shelf liners as the glue used to press the cork together offgasses too much, in my opinion, to make it a truly non-toxic option. 

a black and white button that says buy that you can click on

Buy real cedar wood liner from Amazon.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 7 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Choosing a Non-Toxic Engineered Wood Floor

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The most common type of engineered wood is a flooring with a real wood layer on top and an engineered wood layer as the base.

There are three types of construction and two main finishes to consider when choosing this type of non-toxic engineered wood floor.

When looking for a zero-VOC, healthy engineered wood floor, the most important part is the construction type, so let’s start there then go on to the finishes.

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