Furniture built for comfort, health and environment
Upholstery Arts owner shifts his line to all-natural, biodegradable or recyclable materials

Kim Davis
Special to WestCoast Homes

Saturday, November 10, 2007

'Antiques of the future," is how Carmen Spagnola, founder and owner of "m" -- a West Vancouver home interiors boutique -- recently described the Pure line of upholstered furniture her store carries. Designed by HGTV's Ami McKay and made from organic wool, natural latex, FSC-certified wood, and non-toxic finishes, the furniture is as comfortable as it is environmentally friendly.

"It is only once people are sitting in a chair, enjoying the experience, that we tell them that the pieces won't introduce petrochemicals and others toxins into their homes," says Spagnola.

While she says the environmental and health benefits are often tertiary to her clients -- after style and comfort -- the knowledge that the line is also "green" has prompted many to ask what is so unhealthy about conventional upholstered furniture.

FUR, FEATHERS AND FLOWERY FLUFF

For hundreds of years, furniture has been made from wood, natural batting -- horsehair, feathers, wool, straw and jute -- and naturally-dyed cotton, linen and wool. Now, all conventionally produced upholstery contains a host of chemical-based or treated materials. From pesticide-laden cotton to polyurethane foam, from noxious glues to carcinogenic stain repellants, most conventional furniture is laced with a myriad of things that can potentially compromise people's health.

"I really don't think people have any conception of the harm caused by upholstered products," says Len Laycock, founder and owner of Upholstery Arts. "There is a big blind spot on the risk."

Three years ago, Laycock began investigating the environmental and health issues associated with conventional upholstery materials. As a result, over the past two years, he has shifted every piece in Upholstery Arts' production line to being 100-per-cent natural and fully biodegradable and/or completely recyclable (i.e. in the case of synthetic textiles).

THE PRICE FOR GETTING LESS

Sonya Burton, whose family has owned and operated Surrey Upholstery for two generations, says she has definitely seen the interest in eco-friendly and healthier upholstery rise during the past five years.

For the most part, however, it has been limited to higher-end pieces, and for people who need such purity because of health reasons, such as allergies.

Healthier alternatives such as low-VOC glues and natural latex rubber typically cost three to four times their conventional counterparts. These less-toxic materials can also require longer set-up times, and may not be able to be used in the same way.

"Yes, it [healthier options] can cost more upfront," acknowledges Spagnola, "but in the long run people are not being exposed to chemicals on a regular basis. It's a question of how much the quality of your health is worth to you."

She notes that the Pure line is actually quite comparable with what's currently out there. "It is priced in line with the best in the city and design."

THE 4-F'S OF (ECO) FABULOUS FURNITURE

Ami McKay, host of HGTV's Makeover Wish and the interior designer behind Pure, points out that while the Pure and Upholstery Arts' lines may not be "starter" furniture, "if one is going to make an investment in furniture, you want it to be healthy."
Here is a brief review of what to look out for:

FRAME

Start with a good base with sustainably harvested wood -- i.e. FSC certified -- and high-grade metals. Last August, Upholstery Arts became the first upholstery manufacturer in the world to receive an FSC "chain of custody" certification from the Rainforest Alliance, and to commit all production to FSC lumber.

"Metal is valuable and can be recycled," says Laycock. "We only use higher-grade metals that don't downcycle as quickly. They last longer and long-life products are intrinsically favourable."

FOAM

Among the top three things Spagnola recommends consumers do when purchasing, or refurbishing, upholstered furniture is to avoid polyurethane and other synthetic fills. Polyurethane foam is made from a myriad of chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens, neurotoxins, and have been linked to respiratory illnesses. Derived from petrochemicals, synthetic foams are not only highly flammable unless treated with a flame retardant; they also break down slowly and release chemicals (off-gassing) over their lifespan.

Natural latex rubber, on the other hand, is harvested by tapping the sap of the common rubber tree. Infused with a natural mineral rock, natural latex offers a flame-resistant foam that is inherently hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and dust-mite resistant. For decorative pillows, Spagnola advises using wool or bamboo fibre fill, and for those refurbishing pieces, shredded rubber.

FABRIC

Another key item for Spagnola is organic, chemical-free fabric. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is often used in fabrics to bind pigments, as a fire retardant, and to create stiffness. Laycock describes wool, properly woven and dyed (free from heavy metals), as one of the best fabrics for upholstery. Among its attributes: the ability to wear and age well, and inherent flame resistance. In the next few months, Upholstery Arts will be introducing an array of eco-textiles to its collection, including European Union-certified wools, and synthetics made from recycled fibres that can be perpetually recycled.

FINISHES

"Chemicals are being legally applied to products without the public knowing," says Spagnola. These chemicals are persistent, and in some cases have been proven to be bio-accumulative -- or to have the potential to build up in an organism.
"While nanotechnology, tiny filaments that repel stains, is being used in some polyesters," says Laycock, "the best solution we have come up with [to address stains], is to sell an insurance policy on stain risk."