Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for consumers. A study conducted by theroundup.org found that searches related to sustainable products increased by 130% between 2017 and 2022. In that same study, 84% of people said they’d avoid brands with bad environmental practices.
Consumers are demanding more. They want companies to do better.
Simpli Home wants that, too. And that’s why we use eco-friendly fabrics that meet our high standards of excellent quality for the majority of our sofas.
Genuine, Kind Leather
For our leather sofas, we have partnered with JBS Couros, a company striving to make leather manufacturing more sustainable through the production of Kind Leather. With the implementation of “kind”-er practices (hence the word “kind” in the name), this manufacturing process is setting new standards by yielding environmental and social benefits.
For starters, waste is reduced. With the production of Kind Leather, more of the leather hide is used. Any parts of the hide that are leftover are used for other products, recycled, composted, or used for energy generation. More benefits of the Kind Leather-making process include:
- Up to 62% less electrical energy is consumed
- Up to 40% fewer chemicals are used
- Up to 52% lower water consumption
Next, Kind Leather is responsibly sourced. There is a zero-tolerance policy against working with farms in deforested areas, on indigenous lands, in environmental protection areas, or on land under legal protection. Farmers are taught best practices for the care of the animals and the environment. Because the supply chain is closely monitored, the hides used for our leather couches can be traced back to the farms where they were sourced. Plus, through every stage of the process, workers are treated fairly with better working conditions.
Recycled Polyester Fabric
Recycled polyester is made using post-consumer plastic waste, like plastic bottles. This process helps to reduce waste and divert plastic from landfills. According to the Textile Exchange, each kilogram of recycled polyester represents a reduction of approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the production of virgin polyester.
Most Simpli Home woven-blend fabric sofas are upholstered with fabrics that contain recycled polyester. These eco-friendly fabrics also meet the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and are OKEO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
For a fabric to receive the Global Recycled Standard, it has to meet a number of criteria established by the Textile Exchange. The material must contain at least 50% recycled content and be responsibly produced (meeting strict social and environmental requirements). It also must have a chain of custody that tracks the fibers at every stage of production and receive credible certification from a third party that audits each stage of the supply chain.
The OKEO-TEX Standard 100 certification means that every component of a product (every thread, button, etc.) has been tested for harmful chemicals and is therefore deemed safe for human health. OEKO-TEX® test criteria are globally standardized and updated at least once a year.
A Step in the Right Direction
Sustainable, eco-friendly practices have always been at the heart of Simpli Home. While we know that no manufacturing process is perfect, we believe that offering the majority of our living room couches in eco-friendly fabrics is a step in the right direction. Small steps can lead to bigger impacts and when we all work toward conscious consuming, we can help save the planet.
