simple + green

My wife is an interior designer, focusing on Green Design, so naturally subjects like sustainable design come up on occasion.

After some research I decided to put together a list of makers of sustainable furniture. These companies have committed to using sustainable materials in at least one product line.

Overall, they combine good design with renewable materials, all without sacrificing color, style or resources. And all look outstanding!

In the market for furniture, and want to stay green? Here are some places to look:
1. Cisco Brothers: check out their InsideGreen™ collection.

Inside Green™ uses non-toxic materials such as water-based glues, natural latex foam, and hemp. Premium natural wool batting makes the collection completely hypo-allergenic.

What Cisco Brothers does right:
* only use water based glues
* wash their fabrics with environmentally friendly detergents
* exclusively use FSC-certified wood in their upholstered furniture line
* committed to using only sustainable materials as soon as possible.

2. Furnature: bedding, mattresses, sofas, other upholstered pieces, all available in chemical-free wood finishes and organic fabrics.

We offer the worlds only complete line of mattresses, bedding, fabrics, and furniture specifically designed for individuals with multiple chemical sensitivities, and for those people who have chosen to create and environmentally friendly home.

What Furnature.com does right:
* Furnature has a selection of 100% organically grown upholstery fabrics.
* bed frames and upholstery furniture are made from selected woods that have not been treated with harmful substances
* No synthetic glues, dyes, or finishing sprays are used at any stage of production.
* use only organically grown cotton

3. Leeindustries.com: NaturalLEE features certified sustainable wood frames, water-based wood finishes, soy-based cushions, recycled fiber filling in pillow, organic and natural fabrics.

What NaturalLEE does right:
* one tree will be donated to American Forests for every piece of NaturalLEE furniture sold
* partners with Sustainable Furniture Initiative, Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Furniture Council

4. Qcollection.com: founded by an interior designer and environmentalist! This is a high-end line featuring sustainable and eco-friendly materials, finishes and also biodegradable textiles.

Mission Statement:

Q Collection provides furnishings that are better for you, your home and our planet. Our products combine comfort, design and top quality construction with materials that reduce or eliminate risks to human health and the environment

What Qcollection does right:
* fabric line uses only natural 100% biodegradable materials
* eliminated polyurethane and formaldehyde from their furniture
* fabrics and leathers are also on the forefront of sustainability
* use only “certified” sustainably harvested wood

5. Vivavi.com: founded by Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living and host of the environmental talk radio show of the same name.

Vivavi develops forward-thinking ventures designed to enable modern green living. Through its retail arm, Vivavi offers modern style, eco-friendly furniture and home furnishings. Vivavi’s companion resource, Modern Green Living, enables consumers to find newly built green residences and green home professionals throughout the United States and Canada.

What Vivavi does right:
* features hot Green designers such as Mio Culture.
* Vivavi headquarters and showroom are powered by 100% wind energy through ConEdison Solutions’ clean energy program.
* member of 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses that donate 1% of all sales to non-profit, non-governmental environmental organizations.