News Reel

 The Futon Shop News Reel



1) OH No!! A Shortage of Organic Peanut butter!

2) More than half of kids today are actively involved in everyday eco-friendly behaviour and are intent on making their own personal contribution to looking after the planet

3)  Cool Shelving from Pallets

4) Flame Retardants on Couches

5) Research on Flame Retardant furniture and where to buy chemical free

Health Risks Hidden in Your Furniture

Potentially harmful flame retardants prevail all efforts by federal lawmakers and remain a constant in furniture production. The Futon Shop plans to change this by introducing a new line of mattresses that do not require flame retardant by being comprised of wool. The Futon Shop can be found at http://www.thefutonshop.com/

 

 

According to the EPA, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PBDEs and other harmful fire retardants have been used in a wide range of products, including electronics, bedding, carpeting and furniture. They have been shown to persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, and toxicological testing has found that they may cause liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity and neurodevelopmental toxicity. Some fire-retardant chemicals including PBDE were banned and phased out in 2005. But new studies, which were conducted separately and appear together in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, add to a growing body of research that shows that homes have not become significantly safer.

One of the new studies, led by UC Berkeley and Duke University scientists, found toxic or untested flame retardants in most of the couches they examined from across the nation. The other study also found that hazardous and potentially hazardous chemicals in dust from couches and other products pervaded 13 of 16 homes tested in Northern California. Both studies turned up substances that, that when inhaled or ingested, are linked to cancer, changes in DNA, hormone disruption, lowered IQ, decreased fertility, hyperactivity and other serious health issues.

PBDEs remain in humans for up to 12 years after exposure and many couches and or mattresses bought more than seven years ago are still in use. In addition, when the ban took effect, PBDEs were seemingly replaced by another chemical, chlorinated Tris, the researchers found. It was detected in half of the couches purchased after 2005 that they studied. The dangers of Chlorinated Tris are well-known. The chemical was removed from baby pajamas in 1977 when it was found to change the DNA of people exposed to it, and California now lists it as a carcinogen. Researchers also found evidence of a fire retardant known as Firemaster 550, which showed up in larger amounts in the newer couches than the older ones. Firemaster 550 has been shown to be an endocrine disrupter in animals, but its health effects in humans are largely unknown. The findings underscore the likely dangers of replacing one chemical with another, the scientists said.

Prevention is key when protecting against disease and carcinogens. In California the law does not require that furniture be labeled for flame retardants. Thus the best solution to the problem is to get rid of all old products and replace them with new organic environmentally safe products.

The Futon Shop offers a chemical free solution for sofas and beds and has been doing so since 1976. The Futon Shop recently developed their new line of wool mattresses: The Teddy Bear Collection. This collection of four unique mattresses, are 100 percent Virgin Wool. All green mattresses in the Teddy Bear collection are hypo-allergenic, mold and mildew resistant, no motion transfer and most importantly chemical-free. Each wool fiber acts like a natural coil spring, providing a springy comfort. Wool also has high natural absorbency for moisture, which is what makes eco-friendly wool futons warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Because wool contains moisture in every fiber, it resists flame naturally without chemical treatment and thus does not need flame retardant. The Futon Shop also uses soy-based foam and latex that are fire retardant free. In accordance with Federal law, The Futon Shop does use borate (a natural non toxic eco friendly compound) to ensure all mattresses are fire retardant. The Futon Shop will gladly omit the Borate in any mattress purchase order with a note from a doctor or chiropractor.

The Futon Shop is one of the greenest companies striving to innovate & manufacture America's best natural green and organic mattresses. The Futon Shop, a California based green mattress retailer and manufacturer has developed a new movement “From Farm to Family”. This concept starts at the very beginning with American farmers producing wool and organic cotton to the finished product: an organic wool or organic cotton mattress. 

American wool and organic cotton is grown in American farms and purchased by The Futon Shop. The Futon Shop then processes the wool and organic cotton into felted bats and layers it into the 33 green and organic futon sofa bed mattresses as well as platform bed mattresses for every night sleep.

Yoga Props

 The Futon Shop makes four Yoga Yaya Cushions in many different colors. Please check out our Yoga page to make your next yoga visit more comfortable.



 

The Elephant Journal suggests these are the top ten Yoga websites:
10. GreenYoga:
9. Yoganomics:
8. Yoganonymous:
7. YogaToday: 
6. MindBodyGreen:
5. Life.Gaiam: 
4. WholeLiving: 
3. YogaDork:
2. ElephantJournal:
1. YogaJournal: 

Free Futon Sale

 The Futon Shop has many sales going on. Here is one:

Home For The Holidays Sale

Weekly News

The Futon Shop's News Reel

1) CNN's new research on Sleep Study on children

2) Twinkies; Vegan? Organic?

3) San Francisco's Build a new Eco District

4) Obama Announces: Climate Change is Real

5) The Car Lot of The Future

Free Shipping Holiday Futon Sets

New Organic Design

 

Thanksgiving Is Just Around The Corner, Surprise Your Guests This Year With A Fresh Organic Design

This coming holiday season make sure your family is comfy and especially healthy, with organic space saving furniture from The Futon Shop

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the to do list can be overwhelming. From cleaning the house, grocery shopping, buying decorations, and one of the biggest challenges of the holiday season the dreaded over night guests. Which leads to questions of where to find room for a guest bed in a small home or apartment? Should one get a bed, futon, or pull out bed? And finally, what design do you want to showcase for your home and guests, an even bigger problem when trying to incorporate a green or organic design.

From organic food movements growing in California to green communities building around the world, The Futon Shop believes the home is where families have been inspired to create a non toxic environment for health and as a statement for lifestyle. The Futon Shop leads the organic trend for designing the green home with their premium organic futon mattresses, chemical free decorative covers, natural bed frames, and environmental friendly bedding. Organic meets functional design is The Futon Shop's motto for the new modern guest room.

There are two simple organic options to creating a new green guestroom:

1) A traditional futon that acts like a couch during the day and a bed during the night.

A Futon is comprised of a frame, mattress, and cover. All three can be organic with no chemicals. The Futon Shop offers over 33 organic mattresses with a variety of combinations of organic ingredients. Such as: organic cotton, virgin wool, soy memory foam, chemical free latex, soy foam, or pocket coil springs that are made from recycled steel. All futon frames are eco-friendly and are certified as renewable harvested hardwood or plantation wood. Wood options come in a variety of finishes and arm styles can be modern, craftsmanship, mission, or asian. There is also a wide variety of green and organic fabrics to choose from as a cover option for your futon mattress. The last part of this selection of traditional futons are the added touches. Piping around the futon mattress creates a more finished look. There are also many sizes of cushion pillows that make sitting and sleeping just a little more cozier.

2) The Platform bed.

The Platform Bed is also comprised of a frame, mattress, and cover. Here you have the same great choice of mattresses and covers but instead of a futon frame you can have a traditional bed frame. There are many options in the natural platform bed frame category. All the frames are manufactured from solid wood made in America. These frames are built for comfort and style, which eliminate the need for costly and bulky box springs. These natural bed frames are made chemical free from solid American wood unfinished or with a flaxseed oil rub. All natural bed frames are available in all sizes and colors in stock.

This coming holiday season make sure your family is comfy and especially healthy, with organic space saving furniture from The Futon Shop. All mattresses in the The Futon Shop organic line are pesticide free and any mattress can be made custom. When sleeping on an organic mattress made by The Futon Shop, one does not need to compromise comfort and is guaranteed a good night's rest.

The Futon Shop is a vertically integrated retailer that manufacturers over 33 organic and green mattresses from start to finish. The company dates back to 1976 led by Suzanne Diamond and her team of specialists dedicated to producing eco friendly furniture and bedding. Their mission is to produce the best eco-friendly/chemical-free Organic and Natural futons, organic mattresses, futon covers for sofa beds, futon frames, and platform bed frames that promote better healthy living and a good night's sleep for all.

Marilyn Diamond
The Futon Shop
(415) 920-6800
marilyn@thefutonshop.com

customerservice@thefutonshop.com

Thanksgiving Sale

Just a few new Reviews

9/6/2012

Quite Pleased in Chicago


I looked throughout the whole internet and the good ole USA for a totally pesticide, chemical, polymer, plastic free futon. I came up with FutonShop of SF, CA.
I LOVE MY NEW FUTON - - a 100% organic cotton futon!!!
The shipping was a bit excessive, but it was heavy and came 2,000 miles.
The price was quite reasonable, none the less. It arrived fifteen minutes at the start of the 3 hour window!!!
Loved talking to the two fellas at the shop. They answered all my queries!!!

-Larry R. FRom Chicago

 6/27/2012

I believe that the folks at The Futon Shop know something about customer service. As much as we want every transaction we enter into to be perfect--things do happen. In my opinion the proof of a really good company is what they do in those instances when it goes a little haywire. Read on.

I wanted a bed for my studio and decided on an XL twin organic futon mattress, with platform frame. I worked with two sales people, Joe and Karil. Both were extremely informative and very patient--I'm kind of picky! There was a snafu with the company that builds the frames--they sent a regular twin rather than an XL. I had to wait an extra two weeks. My bed arrived looking exactly like what I hoped it would be. However, there was a problem--the mattress was a tad too large for the frame. I took photographs and emailed the company and within 24 hours I got a phone call. Four hours later I was visited by Suzie from  the SF location. She saw the problem immediately, made no excuses and this morning I got a call that my new mattress will be delivered next Tuesday.

Jennifer H. Richmond, Ca

6/28/2012

We went here looking for a comfortable futon to replace an uncomfortable fold out bed at Grandpa's. Burt was extremely helpful and clear in his descriptions of the choices and the pros and cons of each. He listened and presented highest quality and value. They are also having a sale if you buy frame and mattress , that took $250 off the total! Great shopping, so far, so good!

Amy B. Walnut Creek, CA

11/6/2012

This store had everything I was looking for in a futon. I purchased an extremely comfortable mattress which actually specialized in back support. The employee was very knowledgeable about all the products, and showed me how each futon folds up and down. Now all my guests are impressed with my purchase and are surprised with how comfortable they are when they are when the sleep on it after spending the day sitting on it.
This store is awesome and the employees are very informative about their products.

 Mary C Martinez, CA

7/27/2012

I couldn't have had a better experience. Our new futon was delivered and assembled today and it is SWEEEET!! With that aside, Burt really was the one who made it final. My fiancee and I spent hours (yes, 6 hours) trying to decide on what mattress to go with the frame. The frame part was easy. But my fiancee doesn't decide on things as quickly as I do. She weighs every single option. But Burt didn't care. He wanted us to be happy. And are we ever. He catered to everything single little thing we asked for. Can we see that color? Can we put this one down? What's the difference between this and that? Without hesitation and without complaint Burt is THE MAN!

I honestly didn't really want a futon. But with guests coming and family it did make sense. I thought of futons as metal frames and flimsy mattresses. Not so. Great selection, great mattresses, and most of all excellent, above and beyond service.

Thanks Burt. Andrea promises not to move any more mattresses.

Mark H. San Francisco, ca

5/30/2012 3 Check-ins Here

Eco-Friendly, organic, nontoxic...

...are all words that got me interested in what The Futon Shop had to offer.  Burt is the one who closed the deal. Hey, if you've got a good product with a salesperson that is willing to go out of their way to make sure you walk a away happy~~  you are going to have a successful business.

I have yet to sleep on my new eco-friendly bed, but the purchasing process was one of the smoothest ones I've had in a long time. I am getting the bed delivered and the bed stand assembled for a very reasonable fee ($70, because I got the most difficult one in the shop...the Captain's Bed). There is a satisfaction guarantee according to Burt; if I don't like it, I can return it for another bed until I find the right fit. Burt knows his beds! I highly recommend going to check out the futon store (in San Mateo)!

I've never been too fond of futons in all honesty, but now they've got super high tech versions with springs, organic cotton and wool, as well as nontoxic latex! This store also has a ton of different types of shapes, sizes and styles for beds, sofas and even cribs!

Also, they do financing with no fees if you have good credit and make each payment on time! Woo hoo! I love this place!

Cannandra E. Bay Area

Home For The Holiday Sale is Going On Right Now At The Futon Shop

The Futon's Weekly News Reel

 The Futon Shop's News Reel



1) Why isn't Global Warming being talked about in the debates?

2) Have you hear of Silent Spring? The first global awareness books ever written.

3) Recycled Water in San Francisco?

4) The Safer Chemicals organization has released their  recent health update

5) U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has officially introduced soy biobased penetrating lubricants and a spill sorbent into the federal buying system.

Organic Crib Mattress

The Futon Shop’s Organic Crib Mattresses:
Our organic crib mattresses, do NOT CONTAIN chemicals like arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony. There’s so much concern over the minutest choices a new mom makes, the most important detail I’ve ever heard regarding an infant in its first year is this – your new baby, between the ages of birth and one year, will sleep more than 70% of the time. Given that statistic, where your new baby sleeps on his or her new Organic Crib Mattress is probably the most important decision you have to make before you bring your new baby home.

The Futon Shop’s California factory is solely dedicated to manufacturing green and eco-friendly mattresses. The Lullaby Collection: baby crib collection, has only the best Organic materials to ensure an environmentally safe home for you and your new baby. In 2009 the CSPIA banned certain phthalates from crib mattresses. The Futon Shop has three crib mattress options that are phthalate free, with an organic crib protector that is water proof inside for easy washing and mattress protection.

• Our organic cotton crib mattress, The Lullaby, keeps babies cool in the summer and dry and warm in the winter; plus it’s chemical-free and hypoallergenic so it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.
• Our organic latex crib mattress, The Hush-a-Bye, has the same organic cotton as the Lullaby crib organic mattress , but with organic latex cores whose natural springiness molds to the little ones form, reducing pressure and pinching that keeps babies from falling asleep.
• Or choose our new organic cotton spring crib mattress, The Rock-a-Bye, which is a lot like a traditional spring organic cotton crib mattress in that is firm yet soft to your babies body, but is made with all organic cotton and the foam padding for the springs is hybrid foam made with soy bean oil for the most natural night's rest a baby can have in a crib.

 Why Organic And Why The Futon Shop:
The Alliance for Toxic-Free Fire Safety found through studies at Duke University, that it is imperative that babies sleep on chemical free products because they are more susceptible to harsh environmental dangers. “The 2010 and 2011 analysis of baby products donated from volunteers, showed that 80% of products tested contained hazardous or untested chemical flame retardants.” A 2008 article written in a CNN news report, quoted Dr Alan Greene, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University in Palo Alto, as saying that "although it can be expensive, if a parent spends his money on one “green” item, he said it would be an organic crib mattress." A new mother can protect an innocent child in the womb, but when it comes to the harsh reality of the dangers once they are born, parent’s can protect newborns by buying a healthy mattress void of toxic chemicals that emit indoor air pollution. Buying organic cotton products for newborns guarantees a safer and healthier planet for future generations and the earth.
In the CNN report, Dr Green is also quoted as stating that conventional crib mattresses are often made of polyurethane foam, which is basically solid petroleum, putting-off gasoline fumes that become extremely flammable. Most companies that develop mattresses with polyurethane and traditional crib mattress load up their mattresses with a multitude of deadly flame retardants that sit in the foam and emit the chemical into the air.
Crib-mattress-reviews reports found dangers found in crib mattresses are BPA, Phthalates, PFOA, and PBDE. The Futon Shop eliminates the exposure to toxic chemicals you might find in other crib mattresses by using organic ingredients. BPA aka bisphenola is used for the lining of traditional crib mattress, but not ours! Phthalates, is another unsafe toxin, which helps waterproof crib mattresses as does PFOA perfluorooctanoic aka c8. The Futon Shop uses a waterproofing on our organic cotton textile for crib mattresses without either of these toxic chemicals. And PBDE's will never be found in any of The Futon Shop products because they do not use dangerous fire retardards. So whether you are buying mattresses for adults or children; buy green, buy organic, buy American.