Image source:
Pottery Barn
Image source:
CB2

Pottery Barn vs CB2

What's the difference between Pottery Barn and CB2

Pottery Barn and CB2 are two furniture retailers with unique differences. Pottery Barn focuses on exceptional quality, unparalleled value, and sustainability. Their products are certified with reputable organizations like GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, and Greenguard Gold Certified. They also implement several sustainability and equitable labor programs to ensure better working conditions for their employees. On the other hand, CB2 is a modern furniture store that emphasizes contemporary design and affordability. They offer organic cotton for their furniture and textiles with FSC certification to ensure responsible harvesting of wood sources used in their furniture. Additionally, they have a Fifteen Percent Pledge that commits to sourcing 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses by the end of 2021. Both retailers offer a wide range of styles to fit any home décor needs but Pottery Barn may be the better choice for customers who want custom furniture made with quality materials and craftsmanship. However, both companies offer sustainability benefits that can be trusted for quality and reliability.

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

CB2 has this but West Elm does not have it

- Pottery Barn offers certified products such as GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, and Greenguard Gold Certified products while CB2 only offers FSC Certified and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 products. - Pottery Barn has implemented a number of sustainability and equitable labor programs like the Better Cotton Initiative, Renewal Workshop, HERproject, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, and Fair Trade USA Certified while CB2 has taken steps towards sustainability and equitable labor with their Fifteen Percent Pledge. - Pottery Barn claims to offer a range of sustainable benefits like organic cotton, reclaimed and recycled materials, handcrafted pieces whereas CB2 only uses organic cotton in some of their products. - Pottery Barn is known for exceptional quality and unparalleled value while CB2 is cool and edgy modern furniture store for lofts with playful personalities. - Finally, both retailers have made strides in sustainability that are beneficial to both their employees and customers who are looking for ethically sourced home goods.

Company Description

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn is an iconic home furnishings retailer that has provided quality, value and beautiful design for over 70 years. It has stores and catalogs around the world, as well as a website. Its sustainability mission includes planting 6 million trees by 2023, reaching 100% responsibly sourced cotton, investing in Fairtrade Community Development Funds, and reducing its carbon footprint. Its headquarters are based in San Francisco, California where it was founded in 1949.
CB2
CB2 is the modern furniture store for lofts, apartments and houses of all sizes. With its signature urban twist, pieces are often designed with city-living in mind, small in scale and multifunctional. From velvet sofas to chrome coffee tables, CB2 has a wide selection of fresh, fun furniture to decorate every room. In addition to modern furniture, CB2 carries a range of quirky kitchenware and creative home decor. Founded in 2000, there are now fifteen CB2 stores located in some of the coolest neighborhoods across the US and two international locations. Committed to sustainability, CB2 has partnered with the Forest Stewardship Council to offer FSC-certified collections and its Romeoville distribution center was awarded three Green Globes certifications for environmental efficiency.

Differences at a Glance

Pottery Barn

CB2

Headquarters

Year Founded

Store Type

Product Type

Aesthetic

Parent Company

Welcome Discount

Price

Quality Level

Reviews on Website

Free Returns

White Glove Delivery

Product Warranty

Registry Available

Made-to-Order Items

Free Swatches

Designer Collaborations

In-House Design Services

Trade Program

Trade Discount

San Francisco, California

1949

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Traditional, Transitional

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

None

$$$

Mid-High

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Free

Yes

20%

Chicago, Illinois

2000

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Organic Modern

The Otto Group

15%

$$$

Mid

Yes

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Free

Yes

20%

Sustainability Mission Comparison

Pottery Barn has implemented a number of sustainability and equitable labor programs, such as the Better Cotton Initiative, Renewal Workshop, HERproject, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, and Fair Trade USA Certified. These programs are meant to provide better working and living conditions for those involved in the production of Pottery Barn products. CB2 has also taken steps towards sustainability and equitable labor, most notably with their Fifteen Percent Pledge. This program has committed to sourcing 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses by the end of 2021. Both Pottery Barn and CB2 have made strides in sustainability and equitable labor that are beneficial to both their employees and customers who are looking for ethically sourced home goods.
Image source:
Pottery Barn
Image source:
CB2

Sustainable Product Certifications and Programs

Pottery Barn

CB2

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Warranty

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

National Hardwood Lumber Association

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Sustainability Mission

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn is committed to sustainability by planting 6 million trees in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, sourcing 100% responsibly sourced cotton, keeping products and materials out of landfills, investing $7.2M in Fairtrade community development funds and reducing their carbon footprint. All products are organic cotton, reclaimed, recycled, handcrafted, or contract grade. This helps reduce collective carbon footprint and restore vulnerable forests. Pottery Barn is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment.
CB2
CB2 is committed to more responsible materials and sustainable sourcing with quality-tested products, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint while engaging and supporting suppliers in continuous social and environmental improvement. The retailer has partnered with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to offer FSC-certified collections and all catalogs and shopping bags are printed on 100% FSC-certified paper. Textiles are tested to national standards, with nearly 300 CB2 products OEKO TEX® certified. Organic cotton is grown without chemicals or pesticides, reducing CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and water consumption. The Romeoille, Illinois distribution center has been awarded three Green Globes certifications for environmental efficiency and Tracy, California location have installed 100,000 square feet of solar panels. All efforts aim to move towards carbon-neutral operations while being accountable to customers, associates and people who make their products.

Sustainable Product Certifications

Pottery Barn and CB2 offer some certified products. Pottery Barn has GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, and Greenguard Gold Certified products. CB2 has FSC Certified and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 products. However, neither retailer is certified themselves. If a customer is looking for specific certifications in their furniture purchases, they should check the product descriptions carefully as not all of their products have certifications.

Pottery Barn

CB2

FSC Certified

GOTS Certified

OCS Certified

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

EcoTex

Global Recycled Standard

Recycled Claims Standard

Greenguard Gold Certified

SCS Indoor Advantage Gold

REACH

Ecolable

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Pottery Barn has implemented a number of sustainability and equitable labor programs, such as the Better Cotton Initiative, Renewal Workshop, HERproject, Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, and Fair Trade USA Certified. These programs are meant to provide better working and living conditions for those involved in the production of Pottery Barn products. CB2 has also taken steps towards sustainability and equitable labor, most notably with their Fifteen Percent Pledge. This program has committed to sourcing 15% of their products from Black-owned businesses by the end of 2021. Both Pottery Barn and CB2 have made strides in sustainability and equitable labor that are beneficial to both their employees and customers who are looking for ethically sourced home goods.

Pottery Barn

CB2

Goodweave

Fair Trade USA

Better Cotton Initiative

Craftmark

HERproject

Nest Ethical Handcraft Program

Fifteen Percent Pledge

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Contributor

Christi Farrell

Christi is a licensed architect and interior designer specializing in sustainability. She enjoys teaching design and bringing transparency to the impact that furniture has on our planet.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates!

More from Studio Marlowe