More and more people want to know what is inside their sofa, and certification labels are one of the best ways to find out. The catch is that each certification covers a different part of the sofa. A sofa with certified foam does not automatically have certified fabric, and the reverse is also true. This guide explains what the most common furniture certifications mean, which part of a sofa each one covers, and what to ask when you see them.
Why certifications matter for a sofa
A sofa combines several materials: a wood frame, foam cushions, fabric, and the finishes and treatments applied to each. You spend hours sitting on it, often with your face close to the fabric, so it is reasonable to want to know what those materials contain and what they release into the air. Independent certifications give you a way to check those claims without taking a seller's word for it.
CertiPUR-US®: certification for foam
CertiPUR-US is a certification program for flexible polyurethane foam, the type used in most sofa cushions and mattresses. Certified foam is made without a list of substances of concern and is tested for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect indoor air quality.
All of the foam in What A Room sofas is CertiPUR-US certified. That means it is made without ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates.
What it does not cover: CertiPUR-US applies to the foam only. It says nothing about the fabric, frame, or finishes.
GREENGUARD® and GREENGUARD Gold: certification for emissions
GREENGUARD certification focuses on chemical emissions, meaning what a product releases into the air of your home over time. GREENGUARD Gold is the stricter level, with lower emission limits designed with sensitive groups such as children and older adults in mind.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: certification for textiles
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a certification for textiles. It tests every component of a fabric, including threads, dyes, and finishes, for harmful substances.
What it does not cover: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 applies to the textile. It does not cover the foam or frame.
PFAS-free and PFOA-free fabrics
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including PFOA, are a family of chemicals sometimes used to make fabrics repel stains and water. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly. Every fabric What A Room sources is free of PFAS and PFOA, including our performance fabrics.
Flame retardants
Many people are surprised to learn that a sofa can meet fire safety rules without chemical flame retardants. Every What A Room sofa and sectional meets California's strict fire safety standards for furniture without adding flame retardant chemicals to the foam or fabric.
"Low VOC" and "formaldehyde-free"
VOCs are compounds that can be released into the air from materials such as foams, finishes, and adhesives. "Low VOC" and "formaldehyde-free" are claims worth looking at closely, because they can refer to one component or the whole piece. Certifications such as CertiPUR-US for foam and GREENGUARD for emissions are ways these claims are independently tested. Our foam is made without formaldehyde as part of its CertiPUR-US certification.
So what is a "non-toxic" sofa?
There is no single official definition of a non-toxic couch, and not one label covers an entire sofa. The most useful approach is to check each major component: Is the foam certified? Is the fabric certified or free of PFAS? Are flame retardants added? When a seller says a sofa is non-toxic, ask which parts are certified and by whom, and whether the certification applies to all options or only some.
A quick checklist for comparing sofas
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Foam: Is it CertiPUR-US® certified?
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Fabric: Is it free of PFAS and PFOA? Is it OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or GREENGUARD Gold certified, and does that apply to all fabrics or select ones?
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Flame retardants: Does the sofa meet fire safety standards without added chemical flame retardants?
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Wood: What is the frame made of, and is any certification claimed?
You can see every material we use, and how we build with it, on our Our Materials
Frequently asked questions
What is CertiPUR-US®?
CertiPUR-US is a certification for flexible polyurethane foam. Certified foam is made without a set list of substances of concern, including ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates, and is tested for low VOC emissions. All What A Room foam is CertiPUR-US certified.
What is the difference between GREENGUARD® and GREENGUARD Gold?
Both certify low chemical emissions. GREENGUARD Gold uses stricter limits designed with sensitive groups, such as children and older adults, in mind.
Are all What A Room fabrics OEKO-TEX® or GREENGUARD® Gold certified?
Select fabrics carry these certifications. All of our fabrics are free of PFAS and PFOA. Read in the fabric’s details to see which options are certified when you order samples.
Does a CertiPUR-US® sofa mean the whole sofa is non-toxic?
No. CertiPUR-US covers the foam only. To understand the whole sofa, also look at the fabric, flame retardants, and frame.
Do your sofas contain flame retardants?
No flame retardant chemicals are added to our foam or fabric. Our sofas meet California's fire safety standards for furniture without them.
What does PFAS-free mean for a sofa?
It means the fabric is made without PFAS chemicals, which are sometimes used for stain and water resistance and break down very slowly in the environment. Every What A Room fabric is PFAS-free.
