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Last Updated on December 6, 2023

The holidays are a time when we indulge our families and friends with food, gifts and cards. But it can also be a time of stress, excess and waste.

That’s why making the right choices is important: They can minimize the impact on the environment while celebrating with the ones we love.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

This post was sponsored by the Paper and Packaging Board’s How Life Unfolds® campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own; for more information please see my disclosure policy.

I like to take a slower approach to the holiday season. Making Christmas cookies from scratch, hanging up some dried citrus garlands for decoration, and making the house smell amazing with festive simmer pots are some of my favorite holiday traditions.

If you’re looking to slow down and really experience all the delights of the holiday season, here are some of my favorite tips on how to spread joy and do it sustainably!

how does the holiday season affect the environment?

During the holiday season, household waste increases by more than 25% from Thanksgiving to New Years.

The average American produces ~5 lbs of trash per day, but during the holidays that rises to 6.25lbs. With a population of 331.9 million people in the U.S. alone, that’s ~2,072,375,000lbs of trash generated per day during the holiday season.

So, where’s all this waste coming from? It’s from all the additional excess food and packaging that does not get recycled. However, please note that when you recycle or reuse things like paper shopping bags, wrapping paper and fancy ribbon, that’s not considered waste.

how can we be sustainable during the holiday season?

Having a sustainable holiday season doesn’t have to be hard. Here are some tips, tricks and ideas to inspire you.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

1. recycle (and upcycle) your paper

A papertarian is a fun term coined by the Paper and Packaging Board to highlight someone who lives a paper-based lifestyle. It’s about opting for paper packaging, and then recycling it when you are done! 

With the holiday season here, you might be ordering more packages than usual. If you’re wondering what to do with all those shipping boxes and packaging paper, don’t.

Paper and boxes are some of the most recycled materials in the U.S. and can be made into new products up to seven times!

In 2022, 93.6% of corrugated cardboard packaging and nearly 68% of paper was recycled in the United States. Approximately 80% of U.S. paper and packaging mills use some recovered paper fibers in their products, and most corrugated boxes are made from 50% recycled material.

Recycling keeps paper and boxes out of landfills and makes the most of our natural resources because it can be recycled up to seven times. But before you recycle your paper, you can find festive ways to reuse or upcycle it.

Here are some fun ways to upcycle paper this holiday season:

  • Make some star ornaments out of toilet paper rolls.
  • DIY some paper snowflakes for holiday decor or DIY ornaments.
  • Use cardboard tubes as gift tags, napkin rings, or gift pouches.
  • Save cardboard boxes to reuse for gifts.
  • Use brown paper from shipments over the year to wrap Christmas presents. Decorate them with festive stamps and ink for more pizazz.
8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

2. choose sustainable wrapping

Did you know 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is made in the U.S. each year and half of it (that’s 2.3 million pounds!) ends up in landfill.

When wrapping gifts, it’s a good idea to opt for wrapping paper that has no glitter or foils to make sure it’s recyclable. Always double check your local recycling rules though, as they can vary from state to state.

I love to utilize salvaged packaging paper to wrap gifts too. Last year, I saved up all my brown paper, then got rubber stamps and ink to create really cute homemade wrapping paper.

To secure your gifts, use paper tape to cut back on plastic. Or, simply use compostable twine or upcycled ribbon. For finishing touches, tie on some dried citrus or pine sprigs.

3. opt for a sustainable card

Making cards is one of my favorite traditions. I love receiving physical cards, and have a whole box of sentimental cards that I’ve kept over the years from early birthdays, graduations, my wedding etc. It’s so nice to be able to pull these out and read the words from my loved ones, especially loved ones who’re no longer with us.

I’m a big fan of the tactile nature of cards, but whether you make them yourself or you get them from a store, it’s your personal message that really warms the heart. I always opt for a 100% paper-based card because it comes from a renewable resource, and they’re recyclable. To make your own, grab some drawing paper and get creative.

Paint on it, or draw on it with markers, crayons, or colored pencils. Or make it a family affair: Grab your partner and/or kids and give them a card to write out. They can choose who they want to address it to and personalize it their own way!

You can also make a stamp from a potato in the shape of a tree, then use plant paints instead of ink so your card is completely plastic-free.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

4. gift consciously

It’s so important to gift consciously. You can do this by choosing gifts your loved ones will adore and actually use.

Think about what they truly want or need: What can they use right now? Practical gifts are always a safe bet, like a coupon to a car wash or a magazine subscription?

Ask them what they need most, or listen to what they talk about the next time you’re together. Are they always talking about getting new baking sheets? Have they voiced how hard it is to afford something you could help put money towards? PJs or thick wool socks?

You can also donate to a charity or volunteer time in their name. This is even more impactful when it’s something they strongly believe in, like environmental or social causes.

Lets also normalize re-gifting: If you have something you know someone else would want, and aren’t using yourself, why not re-gift it? It’s better than gathering dust on your shelf.

Of course, when in doubt, money will always be appreciated and never goes to waste.

5. protect your ornaments without the plastic

Reusing the same ornaments each year is a great way to reduce waste. Always use what you already have.

Plus, many ornaments can be (or become) family heirlooms with a lot of sentimental value. My mother still has some ornaments from her grandmother’s time and they are so precious to us – we decorate the tree with them every year.

It’s important to make sure you put them away safely after the holidays are over. I recommend upcycling a cardboard box and wrapping fragile items in upcycled tissue paper, crinkle paper or kraft paper. Even old newspapers can suffice in a pinch.

This will ensure you can easily pull it out of storage and look forward to making more holiday memories next year.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

6. choose the right tree

Did you know that real trees are better for the environment than fake plastic trees?

All real Christmas trees are grown on farms. In fact in the U.S., 350 million trees are grown on Christmas tree farms, so you don’t have to chop a tree down from the forest to get one.

Christmas trees are grown like crops on farms, so the farmer will generally plant 3 seedlings whenever one gets picked.

Plus, when Christmas ends you can recycle it at the end of its life by turning it into compost or mulch.

Many big cities and towns have curbside pick-up options along with drop off centers for recycling.

For example, Mulchfest in NYC is a huge event where they’ll chip your tree into wood chips and use it to nourish trees around NYC. More than 58,300 trees were recycled last year alone.

An even more eco-friendly option yet is to find a place that lets you rent out a living tree for the holiday in a pot with its roots intact.

At the end of the holiday season, they’ll come and pick it up and return it to their forest nursery, where the trees will continue to produce oxygen, contribute to the ecosystem, and serve as wildlife habitat.

However, if you already have a fake plastic tree, continue to use it to prevent waste. Plastic trees cannot be recycled with curbside recycling. When it’s ready for retirement, consider getting a real tree in its place.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

7. reduce food waste

Who doesn’t love to indulge in good food during the holidays? Between cookies, cakes, mains and sides, the options are endless.

But Americans waste around 30-40% of the food supply, and that amount rises by 25% during the holidays – aka Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Here are a few ways to reduce food waste this holiday season:

  • Ask your guests to bring their own containers so they can take some leftovers home or provide some paper to-go containers.
  • Actually eat your leftovers! Here are some creative ways to use them up.
  • Compost any food/cooking scraps you have.
  • Don’t over-cook: Focus on making enough for the people you’ll be serving. Meal prepping and planning in advance can help with this.
  • Prepare only what you know your guests will like so it all gets eaten (try to avoid any foods they’ve expressed strong disdain for).
  • Make sure to honor dietary restrictions! Make sure to talk to everyone about their diets before you plan to cook.

8. quality time

Above all else this season, spending quality time with your loved ones far outweighs any possession you can get them.

We’re often bombarded by ads this season telling us to buy more. This leads to overconsumption, stress, panic-buying and a lot of waste during the holidays.

But what if we just slowed down? What if we took the time to focus less on quantity, but quality?

Here are some ways we can enjoy time with our loved ones:

  • Grab a coffee at a local cafe and catch up (bonus points if you challenge each other not to check your phones!)
  • Host a girl’s night, order pizza and get crafty
  • Watch a cooking class and eat the spoils together when done
  • Sign up for a guided nature walk or foraging tour together
  • Complete a puzzle or board game (Scrabble is always fun!)

You could also potentially ask for experience gifts. Even better, ask for an experience you can share together, like a concert, movie tickets, musical, or play.

Or ask for no gifts at all, if you’d rather just make the holidays a bit simpler and already have what you need. That will free both of you to just focus on creating fun memories together.

And, a huge thank you to How Life Unfolds®  for sponsoring this post. Be sure to visit https://www.howlifeunfolds.com/holidayguide to learn more about having a sustainable holiday season. Don’t forget to also take the Papertarian Pledge!

Also, feel free to visit their Instagram handle @howlifeunfolds and participate in their  #GoPapertarian campaign.

The post 8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

8 Ways to Have a Sustainable Holiday Season

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10 Best Sustainable Rugs For a Healthier Home and Planet

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The right sustainable rug can completely transform a space. A plant-based fiber rug like jute or sisal can create a grounding warmth, while a thick responsibly-sourced wool rug adds a sense of luxury. An artisan handcrafted rug infuses character and authentic culture where a vintage one can add layers of history and soul.

Furniture is functional and can be beautiful, but adding an exceptional rug is what brings it all together. A rug is at the center — at the heart — of your living room or bedroom or dining room. In other words: a rug is how you start to turn those four walls into a home.

That said, unfortunately most rugs today are mass-produced from synthetic fibers like polyester (read: plastic), finished with toxic chemicals, and made in unethical labor conditions.

Thankfully, there is a better way. Let’s talk sustainable rugs.

What is a “Sustainable Rug”, Exactly?

I like to include an in-depth explanation on “sustainable” in our guides because there’s no standard definition of the term when it comes to fashion or home goods. So here’s how we define “sustainable rugs” at Conscious Life & Style.

Natural Materials:

We’re looking for natural fibers like jute, seagrass, sisal, hemp, cotton (less common) or ethically-sourced wool. Recycled natural fibers are a great bonus, as is organic. The most reputable organic certification for fibers currently on the market is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

We’re steering clear of synthetic rugs, including recycled polyester in this guide, because they risk releasing microplastics into our homes and environment.

Also natural fibers that aren’t treated with or blended with synthetics are generally biodegradable at the end of their life.

“Recyclability” when it comes to textiles is largely a misnomer. We have far more textile waste than we do textile recycling infrastructure capacity. Plus many types of fabrics still can’t be recycled properly — if at all — today.

Dyes & Chemical Usage

Another source of impact is the dyes and other finishes used on the rugs. Many of these dyes and finishes are synthetic.

One better option is a “low impact dye” — this generally refers to a synthetic dye that doesn’t contain common toxic chemicals (like heavy metals) and has a higher absorption rate, which requires less water. Natural dyes on the other hand are non-synthetic colorants derived from plants, minerals, or sometimes even insects.

There are also additional chemicals these companies may add to rugs like PFAS (forever chemicals) for stain or water resistance or flame retardants. So if you see claims like “stain resistant” or “easy care” you probably want to do some additional digging to ensure those textiles weren’t treated with toxic chemicals.

One certification to look for is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, which is a label for textiles that have been tested against common harmful substances.

Ethical Production Practices:

Unfortunately forced and child labor is still happening in the carpet and rug industries. So transparency is key. Two certifications to look for are GoodWeave (assurance against child, forced, and bonded labor) and Fair Trade Certified™. Certifications are certainly not an end all be all, so I’m also looking for transparency from the brand — who makes their products? How are they made? What is their relationship to those makers, artisan cooperatives, or facilities? Are they working in safe conditions? Are they paid fairly? A living wage?

Another element here is craftsmanship. Many of these rug-making techniques have been around centuries, but are at risk of dying out with the rise of mass-produced rug makers. Is the brand showing a commitment to sustaining heritage techniques and generations-old craftsmanship?

You might also like to look for local production, though local doesn’t automatically mean ethical. I still like to look for transparency here, as exposés have found there are still sweatshops in the US, too.

Durability & Longevity:

This one is the most challenging. Not only is it difficult to assess the durability of a rug before you’ve purchased it (even most reviewers only comment on their initial experience), but durability is also significantly impacted by how we care for that rug. Do you wash it often? Do you have pets? Kids? Are you putting the rug in a high-traffic area? Is it getting wet often (like in a kitchen or bathroom)?

That said, I’m looking for attention to craftsmanship from a brand, and attention to detail. There are also certain elements to look out for. For example:

  • Thicker and denser rugs generally hold up better than looser or low-density tufted rugs.
  • Reinforced edges prevent fraying and strong backings prevent the rug curling at the edges.
  • Hand-knotted rugs are labor intensive (and may be pricier) but can last decades or even centuries.

Top Picks for Sustainable Rugs

Ok so that was a lot! But no stress — I’ve done the hours of heavy lifting and digging for you to curate this guide to brands with sustainable rugs. So let’s dive in.

Note that Conscious Life & Style is reader supported and this guide includes affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase via some of these links, I may earn a commission. As always all brands meet are rigorous sustainability criteria.

Secondhand First!

Part of our philosophy at Conscious Life & Style is to look secondhand first. So before we dive into the brands, here are some places to find vintage and pre-loved rugs first:

1. Urban Natural

Wool artisan made sustainable rug in living room
Natural fiber rug in living room

Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms

Urban Natural is your online destination for finding responsibly-made, exceptionally crafted home goods from sustainably-minded makers. Brands on Urban Natural include Loloi, a well-respected GoodWeave certified rug brand with rugs ethically hand-woven in Varanasi, India; and Jaipur Living, a company dedicated to preserving time-honored handcrafted art and rug weaving traditions, partnering with 40,000 artisans across hundreds of rural communities throughout India.

Other sustainable rug options on Urban Natural include 100% linen rugs from Libeco, which holds the Masters of Linen® quality label; and 100% wool rugs made in the USA from Earth Weave, the first US carpet manufacturer with a completely natural product line.

Materials: Wool, Jute, Sisal, Cotton, Silk, and Linen (Note: there are a couple of “performance” rugs made with polyester)
Price Range: Starts at $179
Shipping: Ships within the US

2. Lorena Canals

Red and green cotton rugs laying on floor
Wool side runner reg in bedroom

Best for: Living rooms, entryways and bedrooms

Lorena Canals revolutionized the rug industry with machine-washable cotton and wool rugs that don’t compromise on beauty or sustainability. Handcrafted in the brand’s own factory in India since 1998, each piece uses natural or recycled fibers, non-toxic azo-free dyes certified by GOTS and OEKO-TEX standards, and a water-efficient cone-dyeing method that conserves 75% of water compared to traditional processes. The aesthetic ranges from playful geometric patterns and kitchen tile motifs to minimalist neutral textures in their Woolable collection. With customizable options and designs that celebrate the natural colors of undyed wool, these rugs pair practical washability with artisan craftsmanship, all while supporting the brand’s Sakûla Project school for children in northern India.

Materials: Cotton, Wool
Price Range: From $145
Shipping: Global | Outside of US and Canada? Use this website to order instead.

3. CICIL

Sustainable natural brown abstract shaped rug
Sustainable natural fiber rug in curved shapes

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and dining rooms

Founded by two former Patagonia textile experts in North Carolina, Cicil brings radical transparency to rug-making with a supply chain that travels less than 1,000 miles from wool to floor. Their braided and shuttle weave rugs use 70% undyed wool sourced directly from small family farms across upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, combined with 30% jute for durability. With shapes ranging from linear and oval to curvy and arch designs, each piece celebrates natural wool tones—from deep grays to warm beiges—without any synthetic dyes or finishes. Made in the Carolinas using traditional techniques on vintage looms, Cicil’s approach is intentionally “anti-innovation,” focusing instead on time-tested methods that create rugs built to biodegrade gracefully after a lifetime of use.

Materials: Wool, Jute
Price Point: From $459
Shipping: Ships within the US (all orders ship free)

4. West Elm Fair Trade Certified™

Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, offices, or bedrooms

I tend to put large retailers, like West Elm, through much stricter scrutiny in my vetting process because they have larger supply chains which makes transparency much more difficult. It’s easy to know your factory without a certification if you work with one or two facilities. It’s much harder when you work with 20 — or 200. That’s why I appreciate that West Elm has such an extensive selection of rugs made in verified Fair Trade Certified™ factories.

Most of West Elm’s rugs are also made from 100% natural materials like sisal, jute, wool, and cotton. Though like most companies, their “Performance Rugs” are made with polyester. West Elm does use 90-100% recycled polyester for these rugs which makes it a lower impact choice from a carbon emissions point of view. It may still shed microplastics, but if you have pets that could be worth the trade-off for you to have a durable rug.

Note that West Elm does not have non-toxic related certifications for most of their rugs, so this can be a great choice if you value aesthetic variety, ethical production, and natural materials, but if your top priority or concern is that the rug was tested for potentially harmful chemicals, West Elm might not be the right fit for you.

Materials: Wool, Jute, Sisal, Cotton (Performance rugs use recycled polyester)
Price Point: From $459
Shipping: Ships within the US and select other countries

5. Schoolhouse

Colorful natural rug in playroom
Animal print natural rug in living room

Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms

Schoolhouse brings American design sensibility to handcrafted rugs woven in India using natural materials. Their collection spans hand-knotted wool pieces with vivid, whimsical patterns like the Sundrop design to reversible flatweave plaid styles perfect for layering. Natural-dyed wool yarn creates rich, enduring colors—from burnt orange and chartreuse to soft neutrals—while jute-chenille blends offer versatility underfoot without the typical scratchiness. With 80% of their assortment domestic and FSC-certified materials across their product lines, Schoolhouse prioritizes reducing carbon emissions through consolidated shipping and minimal plastic packaging.

Materials: Wool, Jute, Cotton, Recycled PET (note: PET is plastic, so this isn’t our top recommendation)
Price Range: From $79
Shipping: Ships to all US States and Canada

6. Nestig

Dinosaur organic non-toxic rug for nurseries
Rainbow organic rug for nurseries

Best for: Nurseries and playrooms

Nestig transforms nursery floors with whimsical, machine-washable rugs that parents actually want to clean. Hand-loomed in Brazil by local artisans with over 20 years of experience, each piece uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton grown locally and dyed with non-toxic pigments. The designs range from playful vehicles (dump trucks, airplanes, sailboats) and animals (dinosaurs, bears) to sophisticated geometric patterns and world maps. Nestig operates on a “just enough” business model that minimizes warehouse inventory and carbon footprint, partnering exclusively with sustainable, family-owned businesses. Every rug arrives as a truly one-of-a-kind piece with natural variations that come from artisan craftsmanship.

Materials: Organic Cotton
Price Range: From $399
Shipping: Ships to US, Canada, and the UK

7. Salem Hello

Black and white sustainable hallway rug
Red sustainable artisan wool rug

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and statement spaces

Salam Hello bridges the gap between Moroccan artisan tradition and contemporary homes with transparency at its core. Each handwoven rug is crafted by Amazigh women in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, preserving techniques passed through generations while ensuring fair wages and artisan recognition. The collection includes ready-to-ship vintage and new pieces alongside made-to-order designs where you choose size, color, and pattern. From neutral flatweaves and textured hand-knots to bold geometric designs rich in traditional symbolism, every rug carries protective meaning woven into its fibers. With collaborations like their Izra collection with General Assembly and the Atlas Form line, Salam Hello offers refined modern interpretations alongside authentic traditional styles.

Materials: Wool
Price: From $625
Shipping: Ships Worldwide

8. Organic Weave

Polka dot organic cotton rug in bedroom
Printed natural organic wool rug in living room

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and kids’ rooms

Organic Weave was born after founder Linda witnessed child labor at the rug manufacturers in India her family’s rug business was sourcing from. When Linda became the buyer at her family’s company, she started sourcing exclusively from the only supplier that was committed to not employing children.

Today, Organic Weave is GoodWeave certified — a certification providing additional assurance there isn’t child labor in the supply chain. And as the name suggests, the sustainable rug company also uses organic materials: 100% organic wool for high-traffic areas like living rooms and 100% organic cotton for lower traffic areas like bedrooms. Their handmade, artisan crafted rugs are Global Organic Textile Standard Certified too.

Materials: Organic Cotton, Organic Wool
Price Range: From $1,789
Shipping: Ships Worldwide

9. LOOMY

Pastel colored geometric non-toxic rug
Printed natural non-toxic rug in bedroom

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms

LOOMY proves that sustainable doesn’t mean sacrificing style with a curated collection of contemporary rugs made entirely by hand from indigenous artisan weaving communities worldwide. Their natural fiber collection includes wool, jute, cotton, hemp, and sisal rugs alongside performance options crafted from recycled P.E.T. plastic diverted from oceans and landfills. From shaggy textures and bold geometric patterns to minimalist flatweaves, every design is exclusively created in-house and made without mechanical assistance, using traditional spinning, natural dye baths under the sun, and generations-old loom techniques. The brand’s transparency extends to sharing exactly who made each rug, how many hours it took, and the sustainable materials used.

Materials: Wool, Jute, Cotton, Hemp, Sisal, Recycled P.E.T.
Price Range: From $278
Shipping: Ships to all US States and Canada

10. Revival

Green naturally dyed jute rug from Revival
Clay colored sustainable rug made from wool

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms

Originally founded as a vintage rug curator, Revival now makes a wide range of affordable, beautiful rugs for all needs, whether you have kids, pets, or just want an easy-care washable rug.

Not all options from Revival are sustainable, and some are made from virgin polyester, so for natural fibers I’d direct you to their Wool Rugs collection and Jute Rugs collection, including their naturally dyed jute rugs. Revival also carries one-of-a-kind rugs, which include vintage options.

Materials: Wool, Jute, Recycled Polyester (also has some rugs made with new polyester, which I’d avoid)
Price Range: From $169
Shipping: Ships to contiguous US and selected other international destinations

Honorable Mentions: More Sustainable Rug Options

Here are some additional companies with sustainable rugs to check out! These didn’t make the “top 10” list based on our criteria, but you might have different priorities. So if you’re not finding what you’re looking for above, I recommend taking a look at this list too.

Hook and Loom: if you’re looking for a non-toxic organic rug, Hook and Loom has undyed organic cotton and natural wool rugs made without added chemicals. Their website doesn’t have the most modern user experience, which can make shopping a bit more cumbersome, but the brand has thousands of positive reviews.

Sabai: 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. That said, the rug does appear to be on the thinner side considering the price point.

The Citizenry: Hand-knotted and hand-loomed by artisan partners across the globe from Morocco to Peru each piece blends modern minimalist design with time-tested techniques passed down through generations. The Citizenry’s collection features everything from plush, textured wool designs to natural jute pieces, and the retailer guarantees 100% fair trade standards on every product, partnering directly with artisan communities. However, many customers complain online about slow shipping and poor customer service, so that’s something to keep in mind before purchasing.

Yaya & Co: this brand has some high sustainability standards like 100% organic certified materials and production in a Fair Trade Certified family-owned factory! Their designs are quite colorful and fun too, which isn’t always easy to find with organic materials. Their selection is more limited compared to the other brands and retailers, which is the only reason they didn’t make it onto the top 10 list.

The post 10 Best Sustainable Rugs For a Healthier Home and Planet appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

10 Best Sustainable Rugs For a Healthier Home and Planet

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7 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space

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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 exploitation.

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!

Where to Find Ethical 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. 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

Beige hand-knotted fair trade rug

2. 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

Artisan-Made Ethical Rugs from Kiliim

3. 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, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs

Blue, beige and coral fair trade rug from Urban Natural

4. 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

Pink and tan striped fair trade rug from Zuahaza

5. 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

Handmade Ethical Rugs from LOOMY

6. 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

Fair Trade Rugs from Leah Singh

7. 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

Fair Trade Rugs from West Elm

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7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table

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A durable set of eco-friendly dinnerware is a solid ingredient for a sustainably set table! But…

What is Sustainable Dinnerware?

Well looking for secondhand and vintage dinnerware is always a good start, whether that’s your grandmother’s porcelain dining sets or a pre-loved set of colorful plates and bowls at your local thrift store.

Another great place to look is estate sales. You can likely find full sets of dinnerware! If none of those options are available to you (or your just not finding something you love) you can check out a site like Etsy Used or Chairish.

*Important note on secondhand dinnerware: the FDA started regulating the use of lead in dinnerware in 1971. So you might want to avoid any dinnerware produced before 1971, unless it’s just for display!

Here are some qualities to look for when shopping for new sustainable dinnerware:

Sustainably sourced materials: such as responsibly-harvested bamboo and recycled glass.

Quality: when it comes to products you’re going to potentially use and wash daily, durability is an important factor to keep in mind. Also consider your lifestyle! Perhaps glass and porcelain aren’t the best choices if you have little ones, or you tend to drop things often. (Guilty!!)

Usefulness: You might also want to consider if you will be hand-washing or dishwashing your dinnerware. Some materials are too fragile for the dishwasher, so consider if you’ll have the time (and willingness) to hand wash them all the time. Because part of sustainability is that you’ll actually use the products and they won’t just sit and collect dust! 😉

Ethical production: this could look like transparent local manufacturing or artisan-made and fair trade. In any case, an ethical dinnerware brand would prioritize fair living wages for the workers, ensure safe healthy conditions (this includes no toxic chemicals used in production!) and go above and beyond to consider the wellbeing of the people who work for them and/or produce their products.

Ownership and Equity: this means looking at who owns and profits from the brands we’re supporting; if a brand is owned by a person of color, it will be indicated in their description below (BIPOC-owned stands for Black, Indigenous, Person of Color-owned and WOC-owned stands for Woman of Color-owned).

Your Values: you may have other elements you look for in a brand, such as traditional craft preservation. Or perhaps it’s really important to you that a brand is giving back to their local community.

Where to Find Eco-Friendly Dinnerware

The eco-friendly tableware and sustainable dinnerware brands featured below meet at least one (though most of them meet several) of the above criteria.

In this roundup, you’ll find sustainable pottery (including ceramic plates, sustainable mugs, and more), recycled glassware, artisan-made ethical dinnerware, and everything in between to suit your needs. I hope that this variety of brands will help you set the table, whether that’s for fancy dinner parties, Friday night pizza, or something in between.

This article features affiliates and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict standards for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!

1. East Fork

East Fork’s ethically-made dinnerware and tableware is next level — their gorgeous sustainable ceramics, glassware, mugs, and other goods are exquisitely designed and built for durability.

Committed to creating local manufacturing jobs, all of East Fork’s eco-friendly pottery is made in Asheville, North Carolina and is working to center equity and inclusion throughout their business.

Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Drinking Glasses, Flatware/Silverware,

Conscious Qualities: Locally-Made, Transparent Production

Price Range: $$$

Check Out East Fork

Red clay sustainable dinnerware from East Fork

2. Our Place

From the same brand that brought us their cult-favorite Always Pan, comes a gorgeous collection of non-toxic dinnerware and sustainable pottery.

Our Place has hand-painted main plates and side bowls made with recycled and virgin porcelain ceramic and dinner glasses handmade from recycled glass and colored with natural dyes.

Categories: Glassware, Bowls, Plates

Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, Gives Back, WOC-Owned

Price Range: $$

Check Out Our Place

Gray bowls from eco-friendly dinnerware brand Our Place

3. Fable

Prioritizing timelessness and sustainability, Fable sources quality materials and simple designs that last the test of time.

The eco-minded dinnerware company partners with makers in Portugal, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US that use conscious practices, like ethical employment, craftsmanship, and low-waste practices (like sourcing recycled clay).

Categories: Dinnerware, Drinkware, Cutlery, Serveware, and Decor

Conscious Qualities: Quality Craftsmanship, Low Waste Practices, Responsibly Sourced

Price Range: $$$

Check out Fable

taupe colored sustainable dinnerware from Fable

4. Zungleboo

Lightweight, shatterproof, and made from corn starch + bamboo fiber, Zungleboo creates family-friendly and eco-friendly dinnerware!

Their versatile plant-based bowls and plates are also dishwasher and microwave safe, making them easy to care for no matter how busy mealtime is. As Zungleboo writes on their website, their sustainable dinnerware is “from real plants, for real life”.

Categories: Bowls, Plates

Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, WOC-Owned

Price Range: $$

Check Out Zungleboo

Use code CONSCIOUS15 for 15% off!

5. Urban Natural

Green home retailer Urban Natural has stunning eco-friendly tabletop goods from leading contemporary brands like Farmhouse Pottery and Ethnicraft.

The brands Urban Natural curates source natural materials, use time-honored processes, and take quality craftsmanship seriously.

Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups & Mugs, Flatware

Conscious Qualities: Artisan Goods, Natural Materials, Locally and Ethically Made

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Check Out Urban Natural

Eco-friendly stoneware from Urban Natural

6. GOODEE

For artisanal plates that can elevate your tablescape, GOODEE is the answer.

From 100% porcelain stone ceramic plates hand-crafted in the ancient Japanese town of Arita and hand-painted plates made from Egyptian clay to marble patterned ecothylene® (upcycled BPA-free plastic) plates ideal for family-friendly daily wares, GOODEE has options for everyone.

Categories: Plates, Glassware, Cups & Mugs, Serving, Flatware

Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Craft Preservation

Price Range: $$$

Shop GOODEE

Scalloped artisan-made dinnerware

7. Ekobo

Ekobo’s colorful eco-friendly dinnerware is available in a variety of colors and sizes, perfect for mixing and matching to create a unique sustainable table setting for any space.

The eco-friendly dinnerware from Ekobo is made from upcycled bamboo and the result is durable, dishwasher-safe, and non-toxic diningware.

Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Trays, Baby Diningware

Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials

Price Range: $$

Check Out Ekobo

colorful sustainable dinnerware

More Guides For An Eco-Friendly Kitchen:

Best Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Tablecloths

Your Sustainable and Zero Waste Kitchen Guide

The Best Zero Waste Food Storage Options

The post 7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.

7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table

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