Green Living
9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads (2024)
Furnishing your home sustainably is rarely simple — it can be tricky to find the perfect item that matches your style and vision, while also ensuring that this new addition to your home is green-minded — and eco-friendly bookcases are no exception.
But, we’re here to help! Below, we’ve compiled a list of brands that design sustainable shelves and beautiful, eco-friendly bookcases.
What Makes a Bookshelf Sustainable?
When looking for sustainable shelves or bookcases, a great sign is if it’s handcrafted- or made to order. They should also be durable, and built to last a lifetime. Some sustainable furniture brands may even have warranties or lifetime guarantees!
These items will be made from sustainably sourced solid, reclaimed, or salvaged wood. If the piece is made with engineered wood (common in more affordably priced furniture), ensure it’s free from formaldehyde, which is a probable human carcinogen.
If the company sources and manufactures in the US, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification. Sustainable shelving and bookcases may also feature additional natural, recycled or upcycled materials.
The furniture should be free of VOCs, volatile organic compounds and have natural — or at least non-toxic, low-VOC — finishes. [Learn more about non-toxic furniture.]
Additionally, any company that produces sustainable shelves or bookcases should be using fair labor. Whether they partner with artisans and craftspeople, produce their furniture in-house, or use global manufacturers, look for transparency that they’re paying fair wages and ensuring healthy working conditions.
Where to Find Sustainable Bookcases and Shelving
A great place to start looking is at second-hand or thrift stores! Alternatively you can find gently used pieces on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, AptDeco, or Kaiyo. Reusing or repurposing furniture that would otherwise go to waste is always a sustainable option!
If you can’t find something you love second-hand, then the next best choice is to shop from one of the sustainable brands below. Not only do these brands design eco-friendly bookcases and shelves, but they also have a wide selection of home goods to meet all your furnishing needs.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links which helps us continue to run this website and create resources like these. As always all brands meet strict sustainability criteria and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Medley
Inspired by their sustainability-minded parents, Medley was founded by two brothers based in California. Their all-natural, bio-based beeswax finish is even named after their dad. Medley creates sustainable bookcases and other storage furniture from locally sourced, 100% solid wood from FSC-certified forests.
Price: $1,995-$2,895
Materials: Solid Hard White Maple, American Walnut Wood
Conscious Highlights: Made-to-Order in Los Angeles, FSC-Certified Wood
2. MasayaCo
MasayaCo has a stunning collection of sustainable shelves and bookcases handcrafted by artisans in Nicaragua. Their shelves are made to order from responsibly-harvested wood and feature a low-VOC finish. MasayaCo originated as a reforestation project in Nicaragua, and continues to embody that ethos having planted 1.2 million trees to date and keeping 40% of their reforestation projects untouched.
Price: $645-$1,395
Materials: Teak
Conscious Highlights: Artisan Made-to-Order, Reforestation Projects, FSC-Certified
3. Greenington
Based out of Washington, Greenington is a furniture company with pieces crafted from sustainably hand-harvested Moso bamboo. Greenington sources mature bamboo for maximum strength and durability. The brand makes sustainable bookshelves and bookcases, as well as a full collection of bamboo furniture.
Price: $132-$5,289
Materials: Moso Bamboo
Conscious Highlights: Zero-waste Production, ISO certified factories, Handcrafted, BIPOC owned
4. Emeco @ Made Trade
Emeco handcrafts their durable, sustainable furniture locally, in Pennsylvania. They use recycled aluminum and responsibly-harvested wood for their sustainable shelves and bookcases and their furniture is free of VOCs and toxic chemicals.
Price: $3,871-$4,883
Materials: Recycled Aluminum, Sustainably Harvested Walnut, Ash, or Acoya
Conscious Highlights: FSC Certified, Cradle to Gold Certified, Vegan
5. Thuma
Thuma’s non-toxic bookshelf is GREENGUARD Gold Certified and made with solid upcycled rubberwood. No MDF or veneers here! The company’s wood bookshelf has 10 different configuration options depending on how many books (or other items) you’re looking to store.
Price Range: $505 – $2905
Materials: Upcylced Rubber Wood
Conscious Highlights: GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Repurposed Materials
6. West Elm Sustainably Sourced Collection
West Elm’s sustainably sourced collection is a great place to find an eco-friendly bookshelf or bookcase. Among this collection, you’ll find furniture that is made from FSC-Certified wood, pieces made in Fair Trade Certified factories, and items with the Greenguard Gold seal.
Price: $90- $2,399
Materials: Solid Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Conscious Highlights: Fair Trade, FSC Certified, GREENGUARD Gold Certified Options
7. Vermont Woods Studios
Vermont Woods Studios has gorgeous solid wood bookcases sourced from sustainably-managed forests in Vermont. They offer a lifetime guarantee and even allow you to order samples of their wood to ensure you’ll love the final product. They also partner with 1% for the planet to support reforestation of the Amazon Rainforest.
Price: $1206-$9648
Materials: Cherry, Walnut, Maple, and Oak Hardwood
Conscious Highlights: Custom Made, Local Sourcing, Gives Back, Woman-Owned
8. Crate & Barrel FSC-Certified
Crate & Barrel’s FSC-Certified collection features bookshelves made with materials like solid oak, mahogany wood, teak, and rattan. And you can find a range of styles and finishes in their collection, from natural oak to espresso and driftwood.
It’s worth noting that the company’s bookshelves do contain veneer and engineered wood as well, like most furniture with shelving or drawers. Some products do indicate low-emissions engineered wood.
Price: $799 – $3,200
Materials: FSC-Certified Wood (with some parts made with engineered wood)
Conscious Highlights: Natural Materials, Responsibly Sourced
9. Green Cradle
Green Candle is a family-run company that specializes in solid wood furniture, including wood bookcases and shelves. They craft each eco-friendly bookshelf from trees harvested sustainably and locally and use an all natural flaxseed oil finish free of toxins.
Price: $1,295-$1,395
Materials: 100% Solid Wood
Conscious Highlights: Locally Sourced, Locally Made
More Guides to Browse:
Sustainable Tables and Coffee Tables to Gather Around
15 Non-Toxic Furniture Brands for a Healthier Home
Sustainable Storage Furniture: Dressers, Media Consoles, and More
The post 9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads (2024) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
9 Sustainable Bookcases to Showcase Your Latest Reads (2024)