Children's room furniture is often priced 2-3% higher, but "zero formaldehyde" claims are not always reliable.
When preparing to decorate her new home, Peng Yong received advice from her mother about choosing safe materials. She bought some home décor items, only to find that the so-called "formaldehyde-free" children’s wallpaper was significantly more expensive than regular options, yet she couldn't verify its safety. "I watched a few videos online, and it seems like the price difference isn’t justified by actual environmental benefits," she said.
Children's home decoration products tend to be more expensive
This week, reporters visited major home improvement stores such as Daming Palace, Sansen, Hongxing Meikailong, and Real Home. They found that most of these stores now offer children's versions of furniture, paint, and wallpaper, often at a premium. For example, a set of children's bed and wardrobe in one brand store costs over 10,000 yuan, while similar adult versions cost around 7,000 yuan. When asked why children's furniture is so expensive, the sales staff explained that it uses higher-quality, more environmentally friendly materials, including imported paints, which justify the higher price.
In a Dulux paint store, the recommended "Dulux Kids Paint" costs 1080 yuan per barrel, which is 200 yuan more than their best-selling "Sen Breath" paint. When asked about the difference, the salesperson said, "The difference is small, but this paint has lower formaldehyde levels, making it safer for kids." Similarly, in the wallpaper section, some stores claim that their children's wallpapers are "formaldehyde-free" due to imported fabric, calling it their main selling point.
Most "eco-friendly" claims are just marketing
But are these claims accurate? According to the salespeople, the formaldehyde limit for children's furniture should not exceed 0.4, while other brands like "More Love" and "Seven Color Life" suggest it can go up to 1.5. Some even claim their products are "zero formaldehyde." However, when reporters asked for test reports, many stores refused to provide them.
Fang Wenqing, a senior manager at a local decoration company, told the reporter that the so-called children's products are largely a marketing tactic. "There is no national standard for children's furniture or paint. Companies may use their own internal guidelines to reduce harmful substances, but there's no official certification," he said.
The reporter also checked the official website of the China National Standardization Administration Committee and found that while there are standards for wood furniture, wall coatings, and wallpapers, there are no specific regulations for "children's" versions of these products. Even last year, a random inspection by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine found 33 out of 61 tested children's furniture products failed, with issues including excessive formaldehyde emissions and missing warning labels. Well-known brands like "Colorful Life" and "I Love My Family" were among those listed as unqualified.
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