Revista 011 - Formaldehyde, a hidden compound in your furniture

Formaldehyde is a chemical compound frequently used in a wide range of industries, including building materials, paints, adhesives, textiles, and cosmetics. In furniture, its most prevalent use is in composite or pressed woods such as particleboard, fibreboard, and plywood. These materials are often bound using urea-formaldehyde resins, which have been widely adopted since the 1950s.

However, over the years, increasing evidence has revealed the serious health risks associated with prolonged exposure to formaldehyde. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classify formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and in more severe cases, respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and exacerbated asthma.

Increasing evidence has revealed the serious health risks associated with prolonged exposure to formaldehyde.

As a volatile organic compound (VOC), formaldehyde evaporates at room temperature, a process known as off-gassing. This release is intensified by heat and humidity, making enclosed indoor spaces particularly vulnerable. In furniture, most off-gassing occurs in the early years, especially during and after production, but it can continue slowly for up to a decade. The Healthy House Institute estimates that it takes between 6 to 10 years for formaldehyde to fully off-gas from a typical furniture piece.

Consumers can minimize exposure by airing out new furniture before bringing it indoors, ventilating rooms well, especially after recent purchases, choosing furniture made from solid wood or using ULEF-certified materials (Ultra-Low Emitting Formaldehyde), and avoiding paints, lacquers, and finishes that contain VOCs

At SURU, we take these principles seriously. Our collections are designed with health, sustainability, and circularity at their core, completely free of formaldehyde, harmful adhesives, and off-gassing materials.

We believe design should never come at the expense of well-being. That’s why every SURU product is made withl low-impact materials without added VOCs.

The Niu Line champions a clean material palette and circular design. The wood used is completely free from VOCs, while the upholstery fabric is made from 100% recycled PET, reducing reliance on virgin plastics. For the filling, we use repurposed wool from local sheep, avoiding high-impact polyurethane foams commonly found in mainstream furniture. All Niu pieces are modular, repairable, and flat-packed, supporting longevity and minimizing environmental footprint.

Our chairs from the Diari Line are crafted from a custom mono-material made of non-bleached softwood cellulose and water, bound without synthetic adhesives or formaldehydes. The result is a structure that is biodegradable, compostable, and non-toxic. Biodegradable paints and a design focused on modularity and repairability ensure that the products serve for years, and return safely to nature at the end of their life cycle.

We spend most of our lives indoors. The materials that surround us, especially in our homes and workplaces, play a critical role in our health. Eliminating harmful substances like formaldehyde from furniture is not only feasible, but necessary. It’s also a clear step toward a regenerative, responsible design culture.