Image source:
Wayfair
Image source:
West Elm

Wayfair vs West Elm

What's the difference between Wayfair and West Elm

Wayfair and West Elm are two furniture retailers with notable differences in their approach to sustainability, product certifications, and self-claimed benefits. Wayfair focuses on creating a feeling of home for everyone, anywhere. They have global headquarters and an extensive network of logistics hubs and customer service centers. They operate fulfillment and delivery centers across multiple countries, allowing them to meet the needs of their global customer base. Wayfair empowers customers to create spaces that reflect their vision and values. In contrast, West Elm places a strong emphasis on sustainable practices and ethical production. They support various sustainability initiatives through 60% of their product sales. West Elm designs exclusive collections in-house, championing the maker movement and investing in small American-made businesses. They collaborate with artisan collectives worldwide to preserve handcraft traditions and provide sustainable employment opportunities. When it comes to product certifications, Wayfair is Greenguard Gold Certified for environmental performance standards. On the other hand, West Elm holds multiple certifications including Fair Trade USA Certified, GOTS Certified (for organic textiles), FSC Certified (for responsible forestry), OCS Certified (for organic content), OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (for textile safety), Global Recycled Standard (for recycled materials), Recycled Claims Standard (for transparent claims about recycled content), Greenguard Gold Certified (for low chemical emissions), and REACH compliance. In terms of self-claimed benefits for their products, Wayfair offers a range including handcrafted, local sourcing options, contract-grade items assembled in the USA, low-VOC finishes, nontoxic materials, reclaimed or recycled materials with water-based finishes for water efficiency. In contrast, West Elm does not provide any specific self-claimed benefits. Overall, while both retailers strive to create a feeling of home for customers through different approaches, Wayfair focuses on providing access to a wide selection of products globally while West Elm prioritizes sustainable practices through various product certifications and ethical production initiatives.

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

- Wayfair operates globally with headquarters in Boston and Berlin, while West Elm focuses on ethical production and supporting local economies. - Wayfair offers a wide range of products for every part of the home, while West Elm designs exclusive collections in-house. - Wayfair empowers customers to create spaces that reflect their vision, while West Elm collaborates with artisan collectives around the world to preserve handcraft traditions. - Wayfair has a global customer base and extensive logistics hubs, while West Elm invests in small American-made businesses and sustainability initiatives. - Wayfair is driven by a world-class team striving to help everyone create spaces that are just right for them, while West Elm supports causes such as Fair Trade USA and The Trevor Project.

Company Description

Wayfair
Wayfair is a global online retailer based in Boston, Massachusetts, with headquarters in Berlin as well. Founded in 2002 by Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, Wayfair offers millions of products for every part of the home. They aim to help customers create spaces that reflect their individual style and needs. With a focus on sustainability, Wayfair has implemented initiatives such as the Shop Sustainably program, responsible sourcing practices, and efforts to reduce waste throughout their supply chain. Their commitment to providing a diverse and equitable workplace is evident through their focus on employee growth and input.
West Elm
West Elm is a home furnishings retailer that uses design to help the environment, communities, and customers. The company's products are 95% designed in-house, and 60% of sales support sustainability initiatives. West Elm is a leader in sustainability, supporting small American-made businesses and collaborating with artisan collectives around the world. Certified organic cotton bedding and bath towels are sustainably sourced, and wood furniture is sustainably sourced. Certified nontoxic furniture has been screened for over 100,000 chemicals and VOCs. Founded in 2002, West Elm is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY.

Differences at a Glance

Wayfair

West Elm

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

Boston, Massachusetts

2002

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Varies

None

10%

$

Low-Mid

Yes

No

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

No

No

Not Available

Not Available

Yes

10%

Brooklyn, New York

2002

Online, Showroom

Furniture, Furnishings

Mid-Century Modern

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

15%

$$

Mid

No

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Free

Yes

20%

Sustainability Mission Comparison

Wayfair participates in equitable labor programs, but does not have any specific certifications related to their products. On the other hand, West Elm has several certifications for their products. These include Fair Trade USA Certified, which ensures fair wages and safe working conditions for workers; Better Cotton Initiative, which promotes sustainable cotton production; Craftmark, which certifies handmade products from India; HERproject, which empowers women in global supply chains; and Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, which supports artisans around the world. In summary, Wayfair has equitable labor programs in place but no product certifications, while West Elm has multiple product certifications that promote fair trade and sustainability.
Image source:
Wayfair
Image source:
West Elm

Sustainable Product Certifications and Programs

Wayfair

West Elm

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Warranty

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.

National Hardwood Lumber Association

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

White Glove Delivery

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

White Glove Delivery

Not Specified

Yes

Yes

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Sustainability Mission

Wayfair
Wayfair's sustainability mission focuses on three pillars: Our Communities, Our Workplace, and Our Planet. They prioritize social impact by supporting local communities through partnerships and employee engagement. In the workplace, they strive for diversity, equity, and growth for all employees. For the planet, Wayfair addresses emissions and waste in their supply chain while empowering customers to make sustainable purchasing decisions. They have achieved significant milestones such as expanding their Shop Sustainably program, investing in renewable energy sources, and achieving high curbside recyclability of packaging materials. Wayfair is committed to responsible sourcing and reducing waste throughout their operations.
West Elm
West Elm is committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. The company sources organic and sustainably sourced materials, such as FSC-certified wood, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. Its products are certified nontoxic and free from harmful chemicals. West Elm also uses handcrafted and local materials, as well as contract grade, low-VOC, reclaimed, recycled, upcycled, water-based finishes, and water efficient materials. By doing so, the company has saved 2.3 billion liters of water in 2019 and kept 66 million plastic bottles out of landfills in 2020.

Sustainable Product Certifications

Wayfair is Greenguard Gold Certified, while West Elm has multiple certifications including GOTS Certified, FSC Certified, OCS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Global Recycled Standard, Recycled Claims Standard, Greenguard Gold Certified, and REACH.

Wayfair

West Elm

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

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Sustainable and Equitable Labor Programs

Wayfair participates in equitable labor programs, but does not have any specific certifications related to their products. On the other hand, West Elm has several certifications for their products. These include Fair Trade USA Certified, which ensures fair wages and safe working conditions for workers; Better Cotton Initiative, which promotes sustainable cotton production; Craftmark, which certifies handmade products from India; HERproject, which empowers women in global supply chains; and Nest's Ethical Handcraft Program, which supports artisans around the world. In summary, Wayfair has equitable labor programs in place but no product certifications, while West Elm has multiple product certifications that promote fair trade and sustainability.

Wayfair

West Elm

Goodweave

Fair Trade USA

Better Cotton Initiative

Craftmark

HERproject

Nest Ethical Handcraft Program

Fifteen Percent Pledge

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

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.

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