Similar to sofas, finding sustainable armchairs is a tougher category than most other furnishings because there are just so many components to an upholstered chairs! There’s the wood frame and legs, but there’s also the foam, springs, upholstery fabric plus all the finishes on the fabric and wood.
So What Are More Sustainable Chairs?
Before we get into the brands, let’s talk about what I mean when I say “sustainable” — because there isn’t an objective definition to sustainable furniture, so it’s worth knowing how each writer or creator defines it.
Natural or Recycled Material Sourcing
Most armchairs are made with pressed wood (particleboard, MDF) made of glued wood pieces and virgin synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels. When we think about sustainable armchairs, though, we’re looking for solid, responsibly sourced wood built to last; natural fibers like cotton and linen, or recycled synthetic options; and foam made from natural latex or at least from certified low-VOC synthetic foam.
Responsible and Sustainable Production Practices
Most armchairs are made in completely opaque conditions overseas by workers likely earning wages lower than a livable wage. A sustainable armchair will be made with transparent production practices — by a company’s own furniture workshop, or by a local domestic manufacturer. Or, if it’s abroad, there are other verifications for responsible sourcing made by the company, such as sourcing from Fair Trade Certified factories.
Certifications
While not strictly required from a company to be “sustainable” certifications are third-party verifications that the claims a furniture company is making are actually true. While not perfect, it’s an added layer of assurance and accountability. Here are the certifications you might see with chairs:
- Cradle-to-Cradle Certified = evaluates a product across five categories — material health, circularity, clean air/climate, water/soil stewardship, and social fairness — with Gold representing one of the higher achievement tiers. It’s one of the more comprehensive certifications available. In fact it’s the only one that can certify an entire furniture product.
- GOTS Certified = the fabric meets strict organic and safety standards (95%+ certified organic fiber, restricted chemical inputs, labor protections throughout the supply chain). This is a textile-specific certification, not a wood or foam guarantee, and does not apply to the full product.
- CertiPUR-US® = the foam is made without ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, mercury, lead, or formaldehyde, and meets low VOC emission standards. This is a synthetic foam certification, and not a claim that the foam is natural or organic. Natural latex foam made from the sap of rubber trees may not have a certification but could still be considered the more sustainable option, since it’s not from synthetic sources.
- FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed. This is not a finish, foam, or textile guarantee. And while it might apply to a full product on a wood piece of furniture, it is not a product certification for an armchair, which is made from several types of materials.
Where to Find Sustainable Lounge Chairs and Accent Chairs
Now, let’s get into where you can find eco-friendly chairs that meet some or all of this criteria! We’ll start off with some options to find used chairs and then get into the brands with sustainably-made chairs.
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, all brands featured meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands we truly love — and that we think you’ll love too!
Secondhand Sources
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are two classic options when it comes to finding used furniture! Here are some others to know:
OfferUp (buy and sell locally)
AptDeco (ships)
Chairish (vintage)
EBTH (like an online estate sale)
EstateSales.net (for finding in-person estate sales!)
Places With New Sustainably-Crafted Accent and Lounge Chairs
If you can’t find what you’re looking for secondhand, check out these brands and retailers with eco-friendly office chairs, lounge chairs, armchairs, and more.
Looking for outdoor chairs? I have a guide to outdoor furniture. Looking for dining chairs? Check out my guide to dining tables.
1. Savvy Rest
Best for: fully natural and organic certified armchairs
Savvy Rest has some seriously impressive sustainable chairs that have every element I mentioned above covered. Their Verona Organic Armchair is made using GOTS-certified organic cotton and/or hemp upholstery, organic wool batting, sustainably-sourced solid hardwood maple, Cradle-to-Cradle Gold Certified Natural Talalay latex foam, natural coir, jute webbing, and zero-VOC finishes.
Conscious Qualities: Organic & Eco Materials, Sustainable Wood, Non-Toxic Finishes, Locally Made
Price Range: $2,999 – $4,748 (Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off)
Shipping: White Glove delivery within contiguous U.S. Contact for shipping quotes elsewhere.
2. Sabai
Best for: repairable, recycled-material accent chairs
In addition to using recycled & upcycled fibers for their sustainable armchairs (and now even a sleeper chair), Sabai has two circularity programs: Repair Don’t Replace — where you can find individual parts — and Sabai Revive where you can sell back your Sabai furniture. This full lifecycle approach to sustainability makes them one of my top picks for sustainable seating.
It’s worth noting that their Recycled Velvet and Upcycled Poly upholstery options are both synthetic, though. So if you prefer natural fibers, select the (slightly more expensive) Hemp Blend, which is hemp and cotton.
Conscious Qualities: Recycled and Sustainably-Sourced Materials, Repair Program, Resale Program
Price Range: $795 – $1,875
Shipping: U.S. and Canada
3. Urban Natural
Best for: finding several sustainable chair brands in one place
Urban Natural is a mecca for all things eco-minded and non-toxic furnishings, including plenty of options for sustainable lounge chairs and accent chairs. I especially appreciate that they have recliners and swivel chairs among their selection — a rarity about sustainable seating options.
The brands they curate utilize a range of materials — the sustainable highlights are responsibly-sourced hardwood, organic cotton, natural latex cushions, and alternative materials like apple leather. That said, the convenience has a trade-off: the different brands have different standards. Some brands are made in the US but lack material transparency, for example.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials & Processes, Many Brands are USA-Made
Price Range: $999 – $10,000
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. (free for orders $2,500+)
4. Medley
Best for: made-to-order non-toxic accent chairs
Furniture brand Medley creates quality furnishings from non-toxic materials and their armchair collection is no exception. You’ll find sustainable chairs crafted just for you in the U.S. using materials like FSC-certified hardwood, 100% linen, and organic natural latex.
Important to note, though: the less expensive non-toxic options for Medley’s chairs are synthetic with low-VOC certifications — like CertiPUR-US® certified foam or GREENGUARD GOLD certified polyester. I’d suggest browsing their swatches first to understand the fiber content of each option so you can opt for the natural fibers if you wish.
Conscious Qualities: Non-Toxic Materials, Domestic Production, Solid Wood, 100% Natural Options
Price Range: $1,615 – $5,450
Shipping: Ships globally; contact to get quotes for shipping outside of the U.S.
5. Green Row
Best for: sustainable armchairs with a cottagecore vibe
Green Row brings a distinctly different aesthetic to this list — think vintage wingback silhouettes with a cottagecore, cabin chic sensibility, a nice contrast to the more mid-century and minimalist options above.
The brand, part of the Williams Sonoma family, was founded with sustainability in mind from the get go. Green Row’s chairs are made with 100% FSC-certified solid wood, 100% linen or recycled poly/cotton blend (for a performance option) upholstery, and natural latex or CertiPUR-US® Certified foam fill cushions. I’ll be honest: I often go into sustainability claims from big brands suspicious, but consider me impressed.
Conscious Qualities: Responsibly-Sourced Solid Wood, 100% Natural Fiber Options, Low VOC-Certified Foam
Price Range: $749 – $5,099
Shipping: White Glove or Doorstep Delivery to U.S. (additional fee for HI & AK)
6. MasayaCo
Best for: reforested teak lounge chairs (some indoor-outdoor)
MasayaCo creates sustainable lounge chairs made from sustainably sourced teak wood that was reforested in Nicaragua. The company plants 100 trees for each order, with 1.3 million trees planted to date. And about 40% of those trees are left untouched to allow for the habitats to truly thrive.
Some of the chairs are also indoor-outdoor friendly (be sure to check the description). While these might not be as comfortable as some of the cushier armchairs in this guide, reviewers rave about the “unmatched” quality of MasayaCo’s signature lounge chairs.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Materials & Practices, Reforestation Projects
Price Range: $895 – $1,455
Shipping: Ships to U.S.
7. The Citizenry
Best for: artisan-made, fair trade armchairs
Handcrafted and made-to-order with materials like solid walnut and 100% cotton velvet, The Citizenry partners with artisans around the world for all of their pieces, ensuring fair trade conditions and wages for the makers behind their products. Their fair trade chairs are made in Indonesia (teak and rattan chairs) and Northern California (upholstered chairs).
Worth noting though: their Google Reviews are very mixed, with some customers loving the products, while others were left thoroughly disappointed by the customer service.
Conscious Qualities: Artisan-Made, Fair Trade
Price Range: $1,319 – $3,769
Shipping: Contiguous U.S.
And that wraps up my guide to sustainable chairs! I hope you found it useful. For outdoor chairs, check out this sustainable outdoor furniture guide.
Liked this guide to sustainable chairs? Check out these other furniture guides:
The Best Non-Toxic Sofas for Truly Restful Relaxation
Gorgeous Sustainable Tables to Gather Around
Ethical Home Decor Brands for Your Conscious Space
The post 7 Sustainable Chairs That Are Actually Worth Your Money (2026) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
7 Sustainable Chairs That Are Actually Worth Your Money (2026)
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. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
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 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: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
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: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made 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, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
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
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably