What is "Organic" Furniture, and Why is it Important?The dictionary defines organic as: relating to, or derived from living organisms, simple, healthful, close to nature, relating to or affecting organs or an organ of the body. We've all come to understand and appreciate these terms when relating to food and medicine, but the same principles and awareness are rarely placed on the furniture that we fill our homes with. The beds we sleep on, the couches and sofas that our children play on, even the dining table that we eat at are commonly made with chemicals and materials that are harmful to our health and ecosystem. Our goal at Pine Street Natural Interiors is to source furniture that is made from only the finest organic and sustainable sources, and is free of pesticides and chemicals. Our manufacturer works exclusively with vendors who practice humane and fair trade business, and is extremely selective when it comes to choosing materials that offer the most in both style and comfort. Cushions, seating and flame retardants The major flaw of flame retardants is that they don’t stay in the foam. As we get up and down and move around, air (and chemicals) from inside the cushions is pumped out into our homes and environments and often settles onto the floor. As bad as these chemicals are for adults, young children and pets, who play on the floor in homes containing cushions treated with Chlorinated Tris have been found to have up to three times the level of flame retardants in their blood as their parents. Recent studies at Duke University have found Chlorinated Tris to greatly affect toddlers, causing such health concerns as antisocial behavior, memory loss, diabetes, lower levels of male hormones and hyperthyroidism. The study found flame retardant in the blood of every child they tested. Additionally, among pregnant mothers, concerns ranging from decreased fertility and birth weight to the direct passing of these flame retardants to newborns via breast-feeding are all cause for alarm and a rethinking of our homes and what we put in them. These chemicals find their way out of our doors and windows as well. High concentrations of Chlorinated Tris have been found in animals across the globe, from fish and whales to Polar Bears and Tasmanian Devils. What is the alternative? Natural Latex Organic Wool By sourcing our wool from these small farms, we are keeping our shipping and ecological footprint to a minimum, and we are helping to stimulate local economies here in the US. Once the wool has been sheared and gathered, it is skirted and washed in biodegradable soaps in machines that run on recycled water. Our vendors don’t practice carbonizing, chemical crimping, dipping, bleaching or mulesing EVER. And here’s the best part: beyond all of the naturally beneficial elements that pure wool brings (it acts as a natural air purifier, is resistant to mold and mildew, keeps cool in the summer and warm in the winter), it can pass with ease all of the fire tests that chemically treated foams must pass. The EcoWool used in our healthy furniture collection is as safe if not safer than any of the toxic, commercially available foams on the market currently - and has no negative effects on our health or environment. Organic goose feathers and down Fill Options FSC certified wood Low VOC wood stain Our Goal |