Quick Key Facts
- Tropical forests make up six percent of Earth’s land surface area, but are home to a stunning array of biodiversity.
- More than 50 percent of land-based plant and animal species on Earth can be found in tropical rainforests.
- Brazil is home to about a third of the planet’s remaining tropical rainforests, including two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest.
- Tropical forests store about a quarter of the world’s terrestrial carbon.
- Twenty-five percent of modern medicines are derived from plants found in tropical rainforests.
- According to a 2023 study, humans have already caused the degradation of more than a third of the Amazon rainforest.
- This year alone, 11.8 million acres have been destroyed by wildfires in the Brazilian Amazon.
What Are ‘Tropical Forests’?
Tropical forests are rich ecosystems located in tropical zones surrounding the equator. They have a dense upper canopy of broad-leafed trees and an astonishingly diverse array of animal and plant life.
These forests pack an enormous amount of biodiversity into the six percent of the planet’s land surface they occupy. In fact, 50 percent of known plant and animal species on Earth can be found in their wondrous depths, including ancient trees, fungi, two-thirds of all flowering plants, millions of insects, more than a thousand bird species and hundreds of mammal species.
Why Are Tropical Forests Important?
Tropical forests are essential habitats for many species, as well as sources of food, medicine and livelihoods for many humans. They also play a critical part in the planet’s water cycle and are crucial carbon sinks, storing about a quarter of all terrestrial carbon on Earth.
Types of Tropical Forests
Wet Tropical Forests
Wet tropical forests are of two types: moist forests, which include montane/cloud forests and monsoon forests, and equatorial evergreen rainforests.
Equatorial Evergreen Rainforests
Equatorial rainforests are frequently considered “real rainforests.” They get more than 80 inches of rain equally spread throughout the year and have a thick canopy of vegetation, as well as the most biodiversity. These rainforests make up about two thirds of the tropical wet forests on the planet.
Equatorial rainforests experience little variation throughout the seasons, and daytime sunlight is consistent all year long. They are most abundant in the Congo Basin, Amazonia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Moist Forests
Tropical moist forests are farther from the equator, and the amount of sunlight in a day and rainfall vary by season. They get 50 inches of rain per year and experience a dry season marked by cooler temperatures. The forest canopy thins out during the dry season as trees shed their leaves, allowing more sunlight onto the forest floor, which leads to the growth of “understory” vegetation.
Moist forests are prevalent in the Caribbean, South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia — primarily Burma, Vietnam and Thailand — and Sri Lanka in South Asia.
Monsoon Forests
Monsoon forests, known as “mixed forests,” make up part of the tropical forests in southeast and southern Asia. They experience a three- to five-month dry period when many deciduous tree species lose their leaves. Sunlight is thus able to reach the understory where rich vegetation grows.
Montane / Cloud Forests
Tropical montane cloud forests have continuous cloud cover or fog at ground level that provides the tree canopy and vegetation on the forest floor with a regular source of water that condenses on the surface.
These distinctive tropical ecosystems can be found in the mountains of Africa, Asia, America and Oceania between altitudes of about 2,625 to 11,483 feet.
Where Are Tropical Forests Found?
Tropical forests are found in the regions right around the equator, between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, where the climate is relatively stable and warm year-round.
The nations with the most tropical forest area are Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Peru and Columbia, in that order.
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, India, Suriname, Venezuela and Mexico also have vast areas of rainforest.
The largest rainforests on Earth are the Amazon rainforest in South America; the Congo rainforest in Africa; the Australasia rainforest, located in New Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Australia; the Sundaland rainforest in Southeast Asia; the Indo-Burma rainforest, also found in Southeast Asia; the Mesoamerica rainforest in North and Central America; the Wallacea rainforest, located on a group of islands between continental Asia and Australia; the West Africa rainforest; and the Atlantic and Chocó rainforests of South America.
Benefits of Tropical Forests
Rainforests are important to the health of our planet in a multitude of ways, including as habitat for many species of plants, animals and fungi, and for climate regulation, carbon sequestration and the maintenance of the world’s water cycle through evapotranspiration.
Habitat
More than 30 million animal and plant species — many of them threatened and endangered — call tropical forests home, in addition to an unknown number that have never been documented.
Mountain gorillas, jaguars, leopards, brown-throated three-toed sloths, okapis, capybaras and scarlet macaws are just some of the spectacular species that grace the forest floor, shrub layer and trees of the rainforest. Examples of species that might make you want to head in the other direction include the green anaconda, electric eel, bullet ant and poison dart frog. Preserving the habitats of the incredible plant and animal diversity found in tropical forests also means preserving these irreplaceable species.
Many songbird species travel thousands of miles to spend the winters in tropical forests, such as wood thrushes, the blue grosbeak and the yellow warbler.
Ancestral Territory of Indigenous Peoples
For millennia, Indigenous Peoples have been living with the rainforest and relying on it for shelter, food and medicine without overtaxing its abundance. It wasn’t until humans started stripping the balanced yet sensitive ecosystem with livestock grazing, monocrop agriculture like soybeans and palm oil, deforestation, poaching and oil extraction that the lungs of our planet began to falter.
Climate Regulation
Rainforests are a consistently moist environment thought to store more than half of the rainwater on Earth. Their abundant trees form clouds and mists by extracting water from the floor of the forest and releasing it into the atmosphere. This remarkable process recycles a huge amount of water that feeds the planet’s lakes and rivers and is used to irrigate crops.
Plants perform transpiration, the process by which water moves through a plant and evaporates from its stems, leaves and flowers. Evapotranspiration is the combination of evaporation and transpiration — water is transferred into the atmosphere when it evaporates from soil and other surfaces and through the process of transpiration by plants.
Prevention of Soil Erosion
Rainforest soils are actually nutrient-poor due to the fact that nutrients are stored in the abundant plants and trees. The thick canopy keeps heavy rains from oversaturating soils while tree roots prevent erosion by binding them together.
One of the reasons deforestation is so bad for the planet is because removing a tree means removing the nutrients and carbon it is made of along with it. This leaves topsoil bare and unanchored, meaning it and its nutrients are susceptible to being washed away when it rains, which can also lead to flooding of lowland rivers and cause blockages, while upland rivers stay dry.
Medicinal Plants
For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have used medicinal plants from tropical forests to soothe and cure ailments. A remarkable quarter of modern medicines are derived from the more than 200,000 plant species found there. However, these just scratch the surface of the possibilities, as we have discovered the medicinal uses of only one percent of the plants found in this natural healing pharmacy.
Challenges Facing Tropical Forests
Forest Clearing for Agriculture & Wildfires
One of the biggest threats to tropical forests is clearing for unsustainable agriculture and cattle ranching. This destroys trees, habitats and biodiversity in one fell swoop, leaving a wasteland where there was once a balanced ecosystem teeming with life.
Stripping the natural, fertile landscape to make way for what is often monocrop farming — most commonly soybeans and palm oil — leaves the environment more prone to wildfires with the potential to spread quickly.
Since the beginning of 2023, 11.8 million acres have been decimated by fires in the Brazilian Amazon. These fires were primarily caused by industrial agriculture and ranching.
Logging for Timber
Another contributor to the destruction of tropical forests is logging for wood to make flooring and furniture and for use in construction. To harvest the trees, roads are built to access remote areas of forest, further contributing to the degradation of the ecosystem. Logging workers hunt “bushmeat” like deer and endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees.
According to research, species numbers in logged areas of the rainforest are much lower than those in what is known as “primary” forest, which has remained untouched.
Traditionally, the harvesting of wood by local communities for building and firewood did not strip the ecosystem in permanently damaging ways, but populations have grown to the point that this practice has become unsustainable.
Oil Extraction
Oil extraction is one of the most damaging activities affecting tropical forests. In order to access areas with natural gas, oil companies cut through the forest to make roads. Workers come in to occupy the area temporarily, employing slash-and-burn agriculture and harming forests through hunting, introducing domestic animals and using trees for firewood. As they drill, oil companies burn natural gas flares, increasing the risk of fires and polluting the air.
The process of extracting oil means the risk of oil spills and toxic byproducts that are sometimes dumped into local waterways. Toxic chemicals stored in waste pits can also pollute streams, rivers and the surrounding land that can include swamps and flooded forests, floating meadows, sandbars and oxbow lakes.
Indigenous Tribes and other local communities have shouldered much of the displacement and pollution caused by oil extraction while not seeing much benefit. This can lead to conflict between Tribal and community members and oil companies.
Drought
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. So big, in fact, that it makes its own weather. As much as half the rainfall it gets is produced by the moisture recycled by the forest itself. When there is a drought, trees can die in a domino-like effect. According to a 2022 study, for every three trees in the Amazon that die due to drought, a fourth tree will also die, even if it isn’t directly the result of drought.
The sooner humans move away from fossil fuels and stop the global heating that is the main hallmark of the climate crisis, the sooner tropical forests can go back to maintaining their natural balance without having to face threats like oil extraction and drought.
Mining
Illegal mining can cause serious social and ecological effects on the delicate rainforest ecosystem. Mining and deforestation go hand in hand, as trees are cut down to make charcoal for fuel in iron plants. The practice of mining also interferes with water drainage and pollutes rivers, streams and other water sources with run-off — affecting water quality and food supplies for wildlife, as well as Indigenous Peoples and others in the local communities.
Mercury is a toxic byproduct of gold extraction and may contaminate fish and the local populations that rely on them for food. Mercury also pollutes the atmosphere, making its way to locations other than the mining site.
Gold mining has also caused conflicts between Indigenous Peoples and the approximately half a million prospectors mining for gold on their land in the Amazon River Basin.
Dams
Damming rivers to produce hydropower has caused the decline of many fish species, as well as the degradation of wild and scenic rivers, including those in tropical forests.
Dam building takes a huge toll on biodiversity, and biodiversity loss can reduce the tropical forests’ ability to help mitigate and withstand climate change, according to studies.
Damming also traps the silt from a river at the point where it is dammed, which limits the nutrients and sediments that trees and forests rely on. Dams also stop natural flooding from occurring during the rainy season in the Amazon Basin, which prevents natural seed dispersal.
Wildlife Poaching
Poaching is the illegal hunting of wildlife and is one of the biggest threats to tropical forest biodiversity, threatening the survival of many species. International networks traffic in animals around the world to be sold for use in traditional medicine, the pet trade or for parts of animals such as their horns or tusks.
And it isn’t just animals; some timber species are overexploited, and the harvesting of rare flowers for use in cosmetics puts certain plant species at risk.
Overfishing
Around 3,000 species of fish can be found in the rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin, the highest biodiversity of freshwater species in the world. The more diverse fish populations are, the more resilient they will be. Fishing is essential for the sustenance of Indigenous Peoples living in the Amazon rainforest, but overfishing is threatening both the diversity and potentially the resiliency of fish populations, which can lead to food insecurity.
Climate Change
As global weather patterns shift and the planet heats up due to climate change, it can influence tropical forests’ ability to help form clouds through evapotranspiration. Fewer clouds mean less rainfall, which can lead to dryer intervals or even drought conditions, leaving the forest more prone to wildfires. Warmer and dryer conditions can also make fire seasons more destructive, putting stress on ecosystems.
What Can We Do to Support Tropical Forests?
As a Society
Humans have a lot to tackle in the immediate future with respect to tropical forests. The time has come for us to decide whether we will drive the cradle of the planet’s biodiversity to the brink of collapse, or turn the tide and stop the destruction.
At the same time that we are transitioning to renewable sources of power and putting a stop to the fossil fuel era as quickly as possible, we must also stop tropical forest destruction and begin to restore what has been degraded.
Governments of countries with tropical forests within their borders must work to stop deforestation, whether it be for agriculture, timber, mining or any other practice. They must also shut down mines, stop building dams and remove existing dams, crack down on wildlife poaching and end overfishing.
In Our Own Lives
There are important actions individuals can take in their everyday lives to help tropical forests. Here are a few ideas:
- Reduce your carbon footprint by taking public transportation, eating less meat and dairy, flying less, avoiding fast fashion and using less energy.
- Cut down or eliminate from your diet foods that are commonly grown on lands that have been razed for agriculture and grazing in tropical forests, such as beef, palm oil and soybeans.
- Choose products made by ecologically responsible manufacturers — look for those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or similar organizations — or that donate to rainforest causes.
- Shop less and choose products made from recycled materials in order to avoid new materials having to be sourced.
- Support Indigenous Peoples by purchasing fair trade products made by the people themselves. Make sure to support companies owned by Indigenous Peoples or those that source from Indigenous communities without taking advantage of them.
Takeaway
Tropical forests are in many ways the lungs and soul of our planet. They contain an extraordinary number of the plant and animal species on Earth in just six percent of its land surface area. But this magnificent testament to the world’s biodiversity is under threat from agriculture, deforestation, mining, wildlife poaching and climate change.
More than half of the tropical forests on the planet have already been destroyed, and more than a third of the Amazon rainforest has been degraded by humans. The time is now to switch from destruction to rehabilitation. Earth’s tropical forests can’t wait and neither can we.
The post Tropical Forests 101: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on EcoWatch.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs
2. Kiliim
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim. Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic, well, kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
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: $$+
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
4. Zuahaza
Each of Zuahaza’s artisan-made rugs is creatively designed with unique patterns and expertly handwoven by weavers in Colombia. Zuahaza’s captivating rugs are made from sustainably-sourced fique, a natural fiber from Colombia that is similar to hemp. And, just like hemp, fique requires little water to grow and is rarely attacked by pests (meaning fique is always grown organically without chemical pesticides).
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Organic Fibers & Natural Dyes, Cultural Preservation, BIPOC-Owned
Categories: Area Rugs, Runner Rugs, Accent Rugs
5. LOOMY
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to making beautiful, non-toxic rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Eco & Non-Toxic Materials, Craft Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
6. Leah Singh
Leah Singh’s designs are a reflection of the designer’s background, growing up surrounded by the rich artistry of India and studying at Parsons amidst the structural, minimal lines of New York.
All of the brand’s rugs are made by artisans in India who use embroidery, weaving, and printing techniques native to their respective regions.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: BIPOC-Owned, Ethical Production, Cultural Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners
7. West Elm
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
Liked this guide to sustainable 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 7 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
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: $$$
2. Our Place
From the same brand that brought us their cult-favorite Always Pan, comes a gorgeous collection of non-toxic dinnerware and sustainable pottery.
Our Place has hand-painted main plates and side bowls made with recycled and virgin porcelain ceramic and dinner glasses handmade from recycled glass and colored with natural dyes.
Categories: Glassware, Bowls, Plates
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, Gives Back, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$
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: $$$
4. Zungleboo
Lightweight, shatterproof, and made from corn starch + bamboo fiber, Zungleboo creates family-friendly and eco-friendly dinnerware!
Their versatile plant-based bowls and plates are also dishwasher and microwave safe, making them easy to care for no matter how busy mealtime is. As Zungleboo writes on their website, their sustainable dinnerware is “from real plants, for real life”.
Categories: Bowls, Plates
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$
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: $$ – $$$
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: $$$
7. Ekobo
Ekobo’s colorful eco-friendly dinnerware is available in a variety of colors and sizes, perfect for mixing and matching to create a unique sustainable table setting for any space.
The eco-friendly dinnerware from Ekobo is made from upcycled bamboo and the result is durable, dishwasher-safe, and non-toxic diningware.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Trays, Baby Diningware
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials
Price Range: $$
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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