If you’re looking to finish your kitchen, bar area, or other seating arrangement with a set of sustainable bar stools (or counter stools) then you’ve come to the right place.
How To Source Sustainable Bar Stools and Counter Stools
I was looking for sustainable counter stools last year because my husband and I’s apartment had a large countertop and no room for a kitchen table.
We liked how the layout utilized the small space efficiently, making it feel like we had more space than we really did! However it’s not as easy to find beautiful counter stools as it is to find other sorts of dining chairs!
After borrowing my parent’s barstools for a few months, we came across the perfect set of mid-century modern-esque secondhand counter stools from the peer-to-peer resale app OfferUp.
There are many ways to source sustainable bar stools or counter stools. And which way is right for you depends on your budget and circumstances!
Secondhand Apps
This option is usually the cheapest, but may require a lot of time searching and picking up the items.
We used OfferUp, because we were on a pretty tight budget, had the ability to wait (since we could borrow my parents’ stools), and weren’t ready to invest in our “forever home” (we don’t know if our future living spaces will require counter stools).
Curated Secondhand Sites
These tend to be the second most affordable option for counter stools, bar stools, or any other piece of furniture. You pay a bit of a premium over something like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace, because the pieces are more curated, the photography is typically way better, and some places may even handle the shipping and logistics for you!
Here are a few to check out:
- AptDeco: Advertised as the easiest way to shop secondhand furniture, AptDeco provides a professional delivery service, including pickup, delivery, and assembly within the contiguous U.S.
- Kaiyo: Another online secondhand furniture marketplace that handles the delivery for resellers and shoppers!
- Chairish: mecca for vintage furniture (typically on the more expensive side)
New Eco-Friendly Bar Stools and Counter Stools
You may want to shop for new sustainable counter stools and bar stools if you don’t have as much time to hunt for treasures on the secondhand market, want to invest in a long-term piece of furniture, or have a very specific set of aesthetic preferences.
You might also look for new eco-friendly counter stool options if you want to make sure your stools are non-toxic, and made without harmful chemicals.
Below are some vetted resources for finding sustainable bar and counter stools! Transparency note: this guide contains affiliate links. As always we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too.
Our Favorite Places to Find Sustainable Bar Stools & Counter Stools
1. Made Trade
Materials: Recycled Aluminum, Reclaimed Wood, Sustainably-Sourced Wood
Highlights: Durable, Repurposed Materials, Suitable For Outdoors
Price: $460+
Sustainable lifestyle retailer Made Trade has a selection of eco-friendly stools designed to last for lifetimes. Their sustainable bar stools and counter stools from Emeco are made in Pennsylvania from repurposed materials and are designed to commercial-grade standards. Many options are also suitable for use as outdoor furniture!
2. Maiden Home
Materials: Solid Ash or Oak Wood | Fabric or Leather Upholstery
Highlights: Handmade to Order in North Carolina, Woman-Founded, Solid Wood
Price: $850+
Maiden Home is a women-founded direct-to-consumer furniture brand with some of the most gorgeous earth-minded furniture you’ll find. And that includes their organic, contemporary sustainable bar stools and counter stools that are expertly crafted to order by North Carolina furniture artisans just for you.
3. Medley
Materials: Domestically Sourced Wood, CertiPUR-US®-certified foam
Highlights: Made-to-Order, Crafted in California, Solid Wood, In-Home Trial
Price: $695
Handcrafted in California to your specifications with quality sustainable materials — like domestic solid alder, walnut, and maple wood — Medley’s sleek modern furniture is as sustainable as it is beautiful. The company has one eco-friendly counter stool available, called the Jasmi Counter Stool as well as other dining chairs.
4. Greenington
Materials: Solid Moso Bamboo, Some Leather Upholstery
Highlights: Tree-Free, Ergonomic Design
Price: $630+
Greenington is among the most popular sustainable furniture brands for a reason. As a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, Greenington uses 100% solid Moso bamboo for their furniture — a material they claim is 20% harder than red oak. They offer eco-friendly counter stools and bar stools in a stunning variety of finishes.
5. VivaTerra
Materials: Teak Wood, Banana Bark,, Repurposed and Reclaimed Wood
Highlights: Natural and Recycled Materials, Artisan Handmade
Price: $379+
Green lifestyle online retailer VivaTerra has plenty of sustainable stools, including bar stools, counter stools, bathroom stools, accent stools, and garden stools. You can even find a full kitchen island set or repurposed barrel bar set, each complete with two stools. Check out the product icons to see each item’s sustainability qualities.
6. Pottery Barn
Materials: Reclaimed Wood, Recycled Aluminum, Recycled Plastic
Highlights: Expertly Crafted, Natural and Repurposed Materials
Price: $159+
Furniture brand Pottery Barn has recently been expanding their sustainably sourced collection, so you may just find your new eco-friendly bar and counter stools there. Their collection features stools made from reclaimed and recycled materials in a range of aesthetics, from farmhouse chic to mid-century modern.
7. West Elm
Materials: Sustainably-Sourced Wood
Highlights: Quality Products, Use of Some Responsible Materials
Price: $219
Another larger furniture retailer with a sustainably sourced collection is West Elm. Their selection is a bit smaller, but you can still find an eco-friendly bar stool / counter stool made from FSC-Certified wood from responsibly managed forests or contract-grade mango wood sourced from trees that no longer produce fruits.
Looking to complete your eco space?
Check out our full guide to sustainable furniture brands and our guide to non-toxic furniture brands.
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7 Sustainable Bar Stools and Counter Stools To Complete Your Space (2024)
There’s something undeniably special about wearing uniquely handcrafted, fair trade jewelry that you can know was made slowly and thoughtfully with care. Equally special is wearing an elevated set of jewelry crafted with recycled materials and sustainable processes.
Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or more affordable pieces, there are options for any budget on this list. The aesthetics of these fair trade and sustainable jewelry brands also vary, so you’ll also be able to discover an ethical brand that matches your unique style.
What is Fair Trade Jewelry?
Fair trade can both be a general term used to describe a brand’s sourcing practices — like direct relationships with artisan cooperatives, wages above local standard rates, and safe working conditions — or a third-party “Fair Trade” verification through an organization like Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade USA, or World Fair Trade Organization. When a brand doesn’t have a certification, we verify a brand’s practices by their own published information.
In the cases where brands do go the extra mile and get a third-party verification for their fair trade practices, we’ve noted it directly in their entries.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for responsibility we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
2. Ana Luisa
Best for: affordable everyday jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Small-Batch Production, Direct-to-Consumer
Ana Luisa creates stunning, elegant jewelry from responsibly-sourced materials including 100% recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds. The sustainable jewelry brand also produces in small batches to minimize waste.
By using a direct-to-consumer model, Ana Luisa is able to provide luxury, high-quality jewelry at accessible prices.
3. Monica Vinader
Best for: recycled demi-fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Woman-Founded, Recycled Silver & Gold Vermeil, Traceable Gemstones, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Supply Chain Transparency
Price Range: $85 (studs) – $2,495 (diamond ring)
British jewelry brand Monica Vinader was one of the first brands to meet the gap between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry with their “demi fine” jewelry. The women-founded brand has necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold vermeil, fully traceable gemstones, and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds. Monica Vinader also launched Product Passports, taking an active effort towards full supply chain transparency.
4. WorldFinds
Best for: unique statement jewelry with a story
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Upcycled Materials, Artisan-Made
WorldFinds provides sustainable employment and just wages for hundreds of women artisans in India and Bali. These artisans handcraft both sleek metal fair trade jewelry and unique recycled Kantha pieces. WorldFinds is Verified by the Fair Trade Federation, which assesses members against fair trade principles including fair wages, safe conditions, and transparent supply chains.
Plus WorldFinds’ signature Kantha jewelry is made from upcycling materials: wood scraps from a furniture factory and locally sourced Kantha fabric remnants.
5. Astor + Orion
Best for: drop earrings and charm necklaces with symbolism
Conscious Qualities: Certified Ethical Factory, Recycled Materials, Designed for Recyclability, Repair Program
Ethical jewelry brand Astor + Orion sources their jewelry from a factory with multiple certifications ensuring worker safety, fair production practices, and responsible environmental management. Astor + Orion’s stunning jewelry is made from recycled materials and designed in a way to make it easily recyclable! Their pieces also come with a quality assurance — the brand will repair any piece within 6 months of purchase.
6. Laura Elizabeth
Best for: non-toxic jewelry in organic shapes
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Recycled Metals, Woman-Owned, Fair Wages, Safe Working Conditions
Price Range: $45 – $330
Crafted from recycled metals sourced locally in LA, Laura Elizabeth creates stand-out sustainable jewelry. All of the brand’s jewelry is sourced ethically from a small, woman-owned studio in Los Angeles that ensures reasonable working hours (35 hr/week), fair wages, and safe working conditions (such as proper ventilation). Check out more on Laura Elizabeth in this post!
The jewelry is also non-toxic, free of cadmium or lead.
7. Ten Thousand Villages
Best for: giftable fair trade jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Production, Artisan-Made
Price Range: $6 – $175
Founded in 1946, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the fair trade pioneers and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network that verifies fair trade practices across its member organizations.
They’ve developed relationships with artisans around the world, providing valuable economic opportunities for thousands of makers in 30 countries around the world. Their marketplace has handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, along with a variety of other fair trade goods.
8. Edge of Ember
Best for: gemstone jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold & Silver, Artisan-Made, Ethical Production
Price Range: $49 (ear cuff) – $2,730 (diamond tennis bracelet)
Edge of Ember’s timeless jewelry is responsibly crafted by makers working in artisan groups and small-scale factories. Their delicate necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other pieces are crafted by skilled artisans in India, Hong Kong, Germany, and Thailand. The brand carries out independent social audits to ensure ethical working conditions and environmental responsibility.
Edge of Ember has a wide selection of recycled gold and silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces adorned with stunning gemstones, including many birthstone jewelry options perfect for gifting.
9. Aurate
Best for: ethical diamond fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: 100% Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Vintage Collection
Price Range: $18 (stainless steel chain) – $19,000 (diamond tennis necklace)
Responsibly-sourced quality jewelry — that’s Aurate’s promise. The jewelry brand’s sleek, timeless pieces are thoughtfully made by seventh-generation craftspeople using 100% recycled gold and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds.
Aurate also has a curated collection of vintage fine jewelry from cocktail watches to signet rings up to 50% off.
