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 eco-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: Custom Made, Locally Made, FSC-Certified, Family Run
2. 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
Check out Greenington @ Lumens Light + Living | @ Modern Digs
3. Emeco
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
4. Masaya & Co
Masaya & Co 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. Masaya & Co originated as a reforestation project in Nicaragua, and continues to embody that ethos by planting 100 trees for each item they sell.
Price: $1,600-$2,800
Materials: Royal Mahogany, Teak, Rosita Walnut
Conscious Highlights: Handcrafted, Plants Trese, Vegan
5. 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
6. 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
7. Burrow
Burrow’s modular storage systems — which can be used as bookshelves — are designed to grow with you. Add units to expand your bookshelf or media center storage or separate units to create several pieces of furniture
Price: $299 – $2,189
Materials: Engineered Wood and Steel
Conscious Highlights: Modular and Adaptable, Durable
8. 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
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
12 Non-Toxic Furniture Brands for a Healthy Home
Sustainable Storage Furniture: Dressers, Media Consoles, and More
The post 9 Eco-Friendly Bookcases & Sustainable Shelves to Showcase Your Latest Reads (2024) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
9 Eco-Friendly Bookcases & Sustainable Shelves to Showcase Your Latest Reads (2024)
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
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.