[Inside Green]
Technology option is available for all Cisco furniture.

What is “organic” furniture, and why is it important?


What is Inside Green?
Cisco’s Inside Green technology is our smart, healthy, responsible, alternative method of building furniture made entirely from Natural Latex, organic wool, organic goose feathers and down. These natural materials are not only superior in terms of comfort and lifespan, but are inherently flame retardant and hypo-allergenic. Every product in the Cisco line can be ordered using Inside Green technology.


Cushions, seating and flame retardants:
The worst offender in modern furniture production is found in the cushions and pillows that make up our most commonly used items. Almost all cushions are filled with foam that is sprayed with a chemical flame retardant called Chlorinated Tris. Since 1975, the Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation has mandated that all all foam inserts are able to withstand exposure to a small flame for at least 12 seconds without igniting. Since man made foams are highly flammable, they must be heavily treated with Chlorinated Tris to comply with these standards.

The major flaw of flame retardants is that they often don’t stay in the foam. As we get up and down and move around, air (and chemicals) from inside the cushions is pumped out into our homes and environments and often settles onto the floor. As bad as these chemicals are for adults, young children and pets who play on the floor in homes containing cushions treated with Chlorinated Tris have been found to have up to three times the level of flame retardants in their blood as their parents. Recent studies at Duke University have found Chlorinated Tris to greatly affect toddlers, causing such health concerns as antisocial behavior, memory loss, diabetes, lower levels of male hormones and hyperthyroidism. The study found flame retardant in the blood of every child they tested. Additionally, among pregnant mothers, concerns ranging from decreased fertility and birth weight to the direct passing of these flame retardants to newborns via breast-feeding are all cause for alarm and a rethinking of our homes and what we put in them.

These chemicals find their way out of our doors and windows as well. High concentrations of Chlorinated Tris have been found in animals across the globe, from fish and whales to to polar bears and Tasmanian Devils.

Natural and Organic Latex:
A commonly misunderstood material that we use in our products is the GOLS certified Organic and Natural Dunlop  Latex. Natural Latex is a logical choice for people who have health concerns or allergies as it is an antimicrobial material and naturally resists mold and dust mites. Not to be confused with synthetic latex, Natural Latex is inherently hypo-allergenic, renewable, and biodegradable. Derived from the whipped and baked resin of the Hevea tree, latex is the most naturally durable cushioning material available. It’s open-cell structure helps to relieve pressure points and provides orthopedic support at any angle. 

Latex being collected from a tapped Hevea tree.

Organic Wool:
For those seeking to avoid foam inserts entirely, Cisco's Inside Green technology exclusively uses EcoWool as a comfortable, healthy alternative. EcoWool is sourced from family farms in Oregon and California and is harvested using only the most humane and modern forms of sheep shearing. The farms that these sheep come from follow the strictest guidelines of proper grazing wool-in-basket methods and healthy veterinary practices, and there are no chemicals or harmful pesticides used in the grazing fields. Expert sheep shearers ensure that the process (which is actually very beneficial to the sheep) is as quick and painless as possible. By sourcing our wool from these small farms, we are keeping our shipping and ecological footprint to a minimum, and are helping to stimulate local economies here in the US. Once the wool has been sheared and gathered, it is skirted and washed in biodegradable soaps in machines that run on recycled water. Our vendors don’t practice carbonizing, chemical crimping, dipping, bleaching or mulesing EVER. And here’s the best part: beyond all of the naturally beneficial elements that pure wool brings (it acts as a natural air purifier, is resistant to mold and mildew, keeps cool in the summer and warm in the winter), it can pass all of the fire tests that chemically treated foams must pass with ease. EcoWool is as safe if not safer than any of the toxic, commercially available foams on the market currently - and has no negative effects on our health or environment.

Organic goose feathers and down:
Along with wool, other natural elements found in Cisco’s furniture are organic goose feathers and down. Goose feathers have long been seen as the standard that all pillows and fillers are judged against for their comfort and durability, yet only 5% of today’s most popular brands use actual feathers due to their cost. Every pillow that Cisco makes is filled with goose feathers and down sourced from farms that raise geese for food consumption - completing a vertically integrated business model which is both financially and ecologically beneficial to local economies and the end consumer. The feathers and down we use are separated by hi-tech machinery and are washed in biodegradable emulsifiers before being packed into 250-thread-count, 100% organic cotton covers.

FSC-wood FSC-label

FSC® Certified wood:
The backbone of Cisco's furniture is the sturdy construction and framing made entirely of FSC® Certified wood. In order for wood to be Forest Stewardship Council® certified, the forest practices at each site must adhere to FSC's standards on the rights of indigenous people and workers, and must follow strict guidelines regarding environmental impact. These carefully chosen lands are constantly monitored and assessed to ensure that conditions, yield, and management are always up to FSC’s high standards. Cisco is proud to be a certificate holder (FSC®-C002394) and uses FSC® certified woods exclusively across our entire line of products.

Low VOC wood stain:

Our Goal:

Additional Reading:
For more information on how the furniture in your home can affect your health.

Fire-retardant law's back draft

How dangerous is your couch?

Worse than bedbugs, it’s what’s in the foam

Your house is killing you