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Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.

And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with child labor and trafficked labor.

On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.

The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.

There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.

So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!

The Best Sustainable and Fair Trade Rugs

Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.

1. Kiliim

If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim. Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic, well, kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.

Price Range: $ – $$$

Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check Out Kiliim on Made Trade

Artisan-Made Ethical Rugs from Kiliim

2. The Citizenry

If you’re browsing for fair trade rugs, but looking for a more minimalist or neutral aesthetic, look no further than The Citizenry.

The brand’s natural, handmade rugs — made by artisans working in fair trade conditions — feature striking prints but more subtle colors. Next to each product page you’ll be able to learn more about the workshop and the artisans behind that piece.

Price Range: $$$

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation

Categories: Area Rugs

Check Out The Citizenry

Ethical Rugs from The Citizenry

3. MINNA

MINNA’s elegantly designed, ethically made home textiles feature unique textures and geometric patterns woven by master artisans and weavers.

The brand’s fair trade rugs are made entirely from natural fibers like cotton and wool by artisans who set their own wages and work in small co-operatives.

Price Range: $$$

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Traditional Techniques, Natural Fibers, LGBTQIA+-Owned

Categories: Area Rugs

Check Out MINNA’s Rugs

Fair Trade Rugs from Minna

4. Urban Natural

This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.

Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.

Price Range: $$+

Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials

Categories: Outdoor Rugs, Area Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check out Urban Natural’s Rugs

fluffy natural wool rug

5. Zuahaza

Each of Zuahaza’s artisan-made rugs is creatively designed with unique patterns and expertly handwoven by weavers in Colombia. Zuahaza’s captivating rugs are made from sustainably-sourced fique, a natural fiber from Colombia that is similar to hemp. And, just like hemp, fique requires little water to grow and is rarely attacked by pests (meaning fique is always grown organically without chemical pesticides).

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Conscious Qualities: Organic Fibers & Natural Dyes, Cultural Preservation, BIPOC-Owned

Categories: Area Rugs, Runner Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check Out Zuahaza’s Rugs

Pink and tan striped fair trade rug from Zuahaza

6. Sabai

Known for their affordable sustainable sofas, Sabai now offers versatile eco-friendly rugs in a range of warm cozy colors.

Sabai’s all-natural textured rugs are crafted from jute and wool in North Carolina by skilled rug makers. They are one of the few companies to manufacture their rugs in the US!

You can also add on a Sabai rug pad for further comfort and durability.

Price Range: $$

Conscious Qualities: BIPOC-Owned, Natural Fibers, Domestically Produced

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check out Sabai

a man and woman sitting on a red sustainable rug made from wool and jute

7. LOOMY

Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to making beautiful, non-toxic rugs that will last for decades to come.

LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton built to withstand whatever life brings you.

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Conscious Qualities: Eco & Non-Toxic Materials, Craft Preservation

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs

Check Out LOOMY

Handmade Ethical Rugs from LOOMY

8. Parachute

Complete your non-toxic home with one of Parachute’s textured artisan-made rugs. From geometric flatweave rugs for a contemporary aesthetic to handbraided wool for a timeless cozy vibe, Parachute has something for every one and every home.

Parachute’s rugs are made in a heritage textiles factory committed to ethical and environmentally responsible production.

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Conscious Qualities: Fair Production, Natural Materials

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check Out Parachute’s Rugs

Ethical Rugs from Parachute

9. Leah Singh

Leah Singh’s designs are a reflection of the designer’s background, growing up surrounded by the rich artistry of India and studying at Parsons amidst the structural, minimal lines of New York. All of the brand’s rugs are made by artisans in India who use embroidery, weaving, and printing techniques native to their respective regions.

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Conscious Qualities: BIPOC-Owned, Ethical Production, Cultural Preservation

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners

Check Out Leah Singh on Made Trade

Fair Trade Rugs from Leah Singh

10. The Ninevites

The Ninevites creates more than artisan-made rugs and textiles — the Black-owned home brand’s pieces also tell the story “of Black culture and unheard voices” and celebrates “age-old traditions in a modern context.” The brand’s boldly patterned and vividly colored rugs are handcrafted by artisans in South Africa and Peru using South-African grown mohair and Peruvian sheep wool.

Price Range: $$ – $$$$

Conscious Qualities: BIPOC-Owned, Cultural Celebration & Preservation, Local Natural Fibers

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs (also offers custom sizes)

Check Out The Ninevites

colorful patterned ethical rug from the Ninevites

11. West Elm

West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified™ wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.

Price Range: $$$

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials

Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs

Check Out West Elm’s Fair Trade Rugs

Fair Trade Rugs from West Elm

Liked this guide to sustainable rugs? You might also enjoy:

Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space

Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably

Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With

The post 11 Best Sustainable Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

11 Best Sustainable Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space

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Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Okhtapus Cofounder Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy Accelerates Ocean Solutions

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The ocean provides half the oxygen we breathe, absorbs 30% of our carbon emissions, and helps control the planet’s climate. By 2030, it’s expected to support a $3.2 trillion Blue Economy. Yet 70% of proven ocean solutions, such as coastal resilience, coral restoration, and marine pollution cleanup, never move past the pilot stage. These projects often win awards and get media attention, but then stall because funding systems don’t connect working ideas with the cities, ports, and coastal areas that need them. Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, co-founder and ocean lead at Okhtapus, wants to change that. Okhtapus, named with the Persian word for the octopus, uses a model that links what Stewart calls “the three hearts” of successful projects: innovators with proven solutions, cities and ports ready to use them, and funders looking for solid projects.
Stewart Sarkozy-Benoczy, Cofounder and Ocean Lead at Okhtapus.org, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.
The first Okhtapus Global Replicator will launch in 2026. It will bring groups of proven innovators to work on important projects in specific places, such as a single port city like Barcelona, where Okhtapus already has strong partnerships, or a group of Caribbean islands facing similar problems. The aim is to have enough successful projects that funders stop asking “where are the deals?” and start saying “we’ve got enough.” The platform focuses on late-stage startups and scale-ups, not early-stage ideas. Stewart calls these the “Goldilocks zone”—solutions that are proven enough to copy but still need funding and partners to grow. By combining several solutions for different locations, Okhtapus can offer investors portfolios that fit their needs and make a real difference in cities, ports, and island nations.
Stewart has spent 20 years working where climate resilience and policy meet. He was part of President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, led policy and investments at the Resilient Cities Network, and is now Managing Director of the World Ocean Council. “Ten years from now, if this is done fast enough,” Stewart said, “we should have pushed hard enough on the funders and the system to change it. What we don’t know is whether we’ll get to the solution status fast enough for some of these tipping points.”
To find out more about Okhtapus, visit okhtapus.org.

Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on December 22, 2025.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Okhtapus Cofounder Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy Accelerates Ocean Solutions appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-okhtapus-cofounder-stewart-sarkozy-banoczy-accelerates-ocean-solutions/

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Green Living

Earth911 Inspiration: A Serious Look at Modern Lifestyle

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Today’s quote comes from Pope John Paul II’s message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1990. He wrote, “Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its lifestyle.”

Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day.

Pope John Paul II quote from World Day of Peace message

The post Earth911 Inspiration: A Serious Look at Modern Lifestyle appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-take-serious-look-lifestyle/

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Green Living

Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Making Billions of Square Feet of Commercial Space Sustainable with CBRE’s Rob Bernard

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The built environment, particularly office buildings other urban facilities, are responsible for 39% of the global energy-related emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. About a third of that impact comes from the initial construction of a building and the other two-thirds is produced over the lifetime of a building by heating, cooling, and providing power to the occupants. Our guest today is leading a key battle to reduce the impact of the built environment. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation with Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at CBRE Group Inc., which manages more than $145 billion of commercial buildings, providing logistics, retail, and corporate office services across more than than 100 countries.

Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at the commercial real estate giant CBRE, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.

Rob cut his sustainability teeth at Microsoft, as its Chief Environmental Strategist for 11 years, as the company was developing its world-leading approach and collaborating with other tech giants to lobby for policy and funding to accelerate progress. He discusses CBRE’s Sustainability Solutions & Services for commercial building owners, as well as the accelerating progress for renewables, carbon tracking, and economic, health, and lifestyle benefits of living lightly on the planet. You can learn more about CBRE and its sustainability services at cbre.com

Take a few minutes to learn more about making construction and building operations more sustainable:

Editor’s Note: This podcast originally aired on April 15, 2024.

The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Making Billions of Square Feet of Commercial Space Sustainable with CBRE’s Rob Bernard appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-making-billions-of-square-feet-of-commercial-space-sustainable-with-cbres-rob-bernard/

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