The sustainable lighting brands in this guide will help you brighten up any room in your home while supporting artisan crafts — and without leaving a heavy footprint on the planet.
For how we define sustainable lighting, scroll down below beneath the brands!
Where to Find Sustainable Lighting
This guide features an already vetted, pre-curated roundup of sustainable lighting brands that are creating earth-minded, responsible, and beautifully designed sustainable lights.
Hopefully you’ll find a lighting fixture or lamp you’ll love — there are some really incredible and inspiring brands in here!
Looking for more furnishings? Check out our sustainable furniture guide here!
Note that this guide includes affiliate links. As always, all brands meet strict standards for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Lanna Passa
This Thailand-based shop showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of ethnic hill tribe communities like the Hmong and Lisu. While their designs are now being replicated and mass produced, Lanna Passa is committed to sustaining traditional crafts while sourcing from local villages and supporting hill tribe communities.
Highlights: Sustaining Cultural Crafts, Natural Materials, WOC-Owned Business
2. Bicycle Glass
Dedicated to transforming “trash to treasure”, Bicycle Glass creates beautiful sustainable lighting out of locally-sourced recycled glass. Bicycle Glass’ exceptional lighting is all made locally in Minnesota by artisans just for you.
Highlights: 100% Recycled Glass, Local Production, Made to Order Model
3. Thai Home Shop
Thai Home Shop’s eco-friendly lighting is individually handcrafted in local artisan workshops in Thailand using generations-old crafts. This small business sources their earth-minded materials — like bamboo and rattan — locally in Thailand at a fair price to support their community.
Highlights: Eco-Friendly Natural Materials, Locally-Sourced and Produced, Supports Cultural Preservation
Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE for 15% off!
4. Modern Gesture @ 54kibo
The one-of-a-kind Modern Gesture lighting from 54Kibo truly stands out with its intricate details and unique shape. Based in South Africa, Modern Gesture creates African-inspired, contemporary lighting made from recycled wood offcuts right in their own Cape Town workshop.
Highlights: Eco Materials, Traceable Production, Black-Owned Brand & Retailer
5. Schoolhouse
Designed to transcend time and trends, Schoolhouse’s heirloom-quality lighting is manufactured with intention and thoughtfulness by skilled makers in their Portland-based factory. The brand sources their components responsibly from domestic and international sources.
Highlights: Made Ethically in Portland, Timeless Design & Top-Notch Quality
6. Collectiviste
Collectiviste partners with talented craftspeople to showcase their talents and intricate work, while creating fair jobs and supporting artisan communities.
Their organic, nature-inspired sustainable lighting fixtures are made from materials like rattan and hand-painted glass using traditional time-honored techniques.
Highlights: Natural Materials, Artisan-Made
7. GOODEE
GOODEE is a mecca for all things artisan-made, including sustainable lighting fixtures, table lights, lampshades and even lightbulbs.
You can find both elegant and bold sustainable lighting options made from materials like elephant grass, natural straw, and durable aluminum.
Highlights: Artisan-Made, Ethical Production Practices, Black-Owned
8. Graypants
Who knew recycled cardboard could look so chic? Graypants is an eco-friendly lighting brand that creates striking pendant lights (which they call “scraplights”) from repurposed cardboard. The sustainable lighting is manufactured in The Netherlands.
Highlights: Recycled Materials
9. Healthier Homes
The sustainable lighting on Healthier Homes meets high standards in both sustainability and non-toxic materials. The pendants, sconces, table lamps, chandeliers and other lighting fixtures are made with natural materials (like coconut shells) or durable materials (like metal) tested for toxic substances.
The retailer also takes into environmental considerations into account; for example the outdoor lighting fixture featured here is turtle-friendly and dark sky compliant.
Highlights: Natural and/or Non-Toxic Materials
10. Vintage Lights at Chairish
Chairish has a true treasure trove of sustainable lighting with their carefully curated collection of gently used, vintage, and antique pieces. Uncover items like a pink floral crystal globe beaded chandelier or a 1920s Italian blown-glass “harp” chandelier with twisted glass. The pre-loved lighting from Chairish is certainly not cheap, but it’s definitely special!
Highlights: Vintage & Used Lighting
What is Sustainable Lighting?
Ok so what exactly is sustainable lighting anyway?
The most obvious is using lower impact, efficient LED lightbulbs. LEDs that are ENERGY STAR-qualified (a US government backed standard for energy efficiency) use just a fraction (20%–25%) of the energy and last 15 to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. (Source)
But let’s go beyond the lightbulbs and talk about the lighting fixtures themselves.
Materials
Beyond the bulbs, you can source environmentally and socially-responsible lighting fixtures and lamps. Some materials to look for include:
Reclaimed and Recycled Materials
One of the most sustainable lighting materials to use are those already in existence! Some repurposed materials in lights might include recycled glass or reclaimed wood.
Natural and Locally-Sourced Materials
This might include materials like bamboo, rattan, and sisal grass.
Many artisan lighting brands will source these sorts of materials, and as you’ll see, the material varies based on the region where the artisan groups are based. While bamboo might be the most sustainable and accessible material for one group, sisal grass may be the best material for another.
Durable Heirloom-Quality Materials
While natural materials can be sustainably sourced, they may not always last the test of time the way that more durable materials like copper or infinitely recyclable aluminum do.
There is sort of a tradeoff here because the initial production of metals involves a significant environmental impact due to the mining involved. But, quality-made metal lighting can last for generations if kept up well.
So, if you are going to purchase metal lighting, I recommend sourcing from a high-quality brand that really designs their products to LAST!
Production Practices
Another key element to sustainable lighting is how people and planet-friendly the production practices are.
Here are some questions to ask regarding a brand’s supply chain:
- Does the brand produce lights locally? Does the brand source their materials locally?
- Does the brand state where production takes place? What details do they give?
- What sort of relationship does the brand have with the manufacturing facilities or artisans? Is it a true partnership or does the brand just outsource in a race to the bottom for the cheapest price?
- Does the factory have any certifications or other assurances of its sustainability and ethics?
These are just some starter questions to be asking.
If you can’t find the answers to these questions, don’t be afraid to email the brand and ask — if they are a transparent and responsible brand, they should have no problem answering you honestly.
More Sustainable Home Guides:
Beautiful Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Conscious Space
Your Ultimate Guide to Eco-Friendly & Organic Bedding
21 Best Sustainable Furniture Brands for an Eco Home
The post 10 Best Sustainable Lighting Brands To Brighten Up Your Space appeared first on .
10 Best Sustainable Lighting Brands To Brighten Up Your Space
Thoreau wrote in Walden that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in,” which reminds us that life is short and nature fills it beautifully. What are you looking for that can’t be found during an afternoon in nature?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Time Is but the Stream appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-time-is-but-the-stream/
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
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