20. ‘Eco-Friendly’ Furniture with Toxic Glues
“Eco-friendly” furniture often boasts certified or reclaimed wood, but there’s a hidden environmental hazard: toxic adhesives and finishes. Many products use glues containing formaldehyde or other chemicals that can off-gas pollutants into your home. These additives also make recycling or safe disposal much more difficult, undermining the furniture’s sustainable claims. According to the EPA, it’s important to look beyond the wood itself and examine what holds and coats your “green” furniture together.