Proposed procurement goals:
- At least 80% of the annual volume of furnishings and furniture purchases (based on cost) eliminate the use of formaldehyde, perfluorinated compounds, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), antimicrobials, and all flame retardants (see healthier furniture technical specifications or Healthier Hospitals manufacturer guidance)
- At least 80% of furniture meets one of the following third-party certified green furniture standards: BIFMA Level, Greenguard Gold, or Cradle to Cradle Silver or Gold
Case studies and resources:
- HomeFree flooring hazards and rating system
- BIFMA: only products that are certified to BIFMA's 7.4.4 criteria the chemical restrictions noted above
- NASPO's Guide to Environmentally Preferable Furniture
- Health Care Without Harm's healthy interiors webpage including Guidance for Manufacturers and product list
- Center for Environmental Health's Healthier Furniture Purchasing Guide
- San Francisco restricts the purchase of upholstered furniture containing antimicrobials, flame retardants, PFAS, PVC, and VOCs.
- The State of New York requires furniture to be free of PFAS, antimicrobials, and phthalates and restricts the purchase of products containing PVC and flame retardants.
- The entire University of California system adopted sustainable procurement guidelines, for which indoor furniture must (at a minimum) be free of flame retardants, VOCs, PFAS, antimicrobials, and PVC.