Whether you’re not a fan of the way Amazon treats workers like robots, exploits people and the planet, aggressively avoids taxes in the U.S and globally, or their drive to dominate literally every market on the planet, here are the best sustainable Amazon alternatives.
And now that Target announced its rollback of diversity initiatives, you might also be looking for alternatives to Target too.
This guide contains eco and ethical alternatives for just about anything you can find on Amazon or Target.
I literally went through the menu on Amazon to try to find swaps for absolutely every category that Amazon and Target have. Which as you probably already know… is a lot.
In this guide you’ll find better businesses to support for:
- Everyday Essentials
- Clothing & Home Goods
- Books
- Audible
- Goodreads (yup, Amazon owns that too.)
- Food & Grocery
- Handmade
- Amazon Music
- Prime Video
- Technology
- Beauty & Health
- Outdoors & Sports
- Pets
- Garden Tools
- Toys, Kids, & Baby
- Automotive & Industrial (told you we were covering everything!)
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, all brands meet rigorous standards for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too.
Everyday Essentials
While Amazon may sell some low waste products, there is no vetting process ensuring that what you’re purchasing was actually made in an environmentally responsible way. There’s a lot of sub-par and copy-cat products to sort through. These retailers, however, take that leg work out for you — plus they are all small businesses that are more holistically conscious of their entire supply chain (including packaging and shipping) and are all members of 1% for the Planet, donating one percent of revenue to environmental organizations.
1. EarthHero
Use code CONSCIOUSLIFE for 10% off your order!
Zero waste superstore EarthHero is a fantastic sustainable alternative to Amazon. Enjoy the convenience of shopping for plenty of categories of products like Amazon — from home + kitchen and audio + tech to beauty + care and baby + kids and even pets — but with the assurance that everything you see is vetted for quality and responsibility.
2. EcoRoots
EcoRoots is an amazing plastic-free mecca for finding everyday eco-friendly products. Discover vegan, low-waste, and non-toxic products for the kitchen and bathroom — from cleaning products and reusable coffee filters to skincare sets and safety razors — all in one colorful, aesthetically pleasing online shop!
3. Green Eco Dream
Making low waste living super simple and more affordable, Green Eco Dream is an online zero waste store with a wide range of eco kitchen, personal care, laundry, and travel products. Check out their Bundle & Save packages and Subscribe & Save options for lower prices on your eco-conscious swaps.
Use code CONSCIOUS10 for 10% off
Clothing & Home
When it comes to exploitation in the fashion industry, Amazon is among the very worst offenders. The company came under fire for offering clothes made from dozens of Bangladeshi factories that other retailers said were too dangerous or that were even blacklisted for how dangerous their working conditions were. These are factories that even big fast fashion brands don’t use.
Here are conscious retailers and marketplaces that consider ethics and sustainability in the brands they choose to offer.
4. Made Trade
A conscious shopper and design-lover’s dream, Made Trade is dedicated to offering the very best when it comes to ethically sourced, sustainably-made goods. You can find exceptionally designed and responsibly-made home goods, clothing, accessories, gifts, and more at this woman-owned, family-run, and Carbon Neutral Certified company!
5. VivaTerra
VivaTerra is a women-led and WOC-owned retailer with a vast selection of sustainable home goods, from seasonal decor and garden accessories to furniture and home accents. Find plenty of color and nature-inspired designs made from materials like recycled glass and reclaimed wood at this green lifestyle store.
6. ourCommonplace
ourCommonplace is a WOC-owned eco and ethical marketplace with fashion, beauty & wellness, and home products for a mindful and non-toxic lifestyle. You can see what values each product or brand has by looking for badges like BIPOC-owned, Cruelty-Free, Ethical, Sustainable, Toxic Free and Cruelty-Free.
Use code CONSCIOUS10 for 10% off
Books & Entertainment
Amazon currently has about half of the physical book market and at least 75% of eBooks. This level of control over the market has long had much of the book industry concerned.
In fact, the leading publishing industry professional organizations wrote to the US House of Representatives Antitrust Subcommittee warning of Amazon’s “extraordinary leverage over their competitors, suppliers, customers, the government, and the public”.
And, they also pointed out Amazon’s unethical practices of “systematic below-cost pricing of books to squash competition in the book selling industry as a whole.”
Some better solutions? Well, there’s always your local library where you can get books for free.
If a book isn’t at your library or if you’d like to own a particular book, though, try to support small businesses and independent bookstores!
You can do this by physically visiting your local bookstore, or, if you’d like to browse online, check out these options:
7. Bookshop (US, UK, Spain)
My personal favorite place to find books is Bookshop.org. You can pick an independent bookstore to support and then all of your purchases through Bookshop help raise money for that store! To pick out a store, you can find a local shop, Black-owned bookstore in your state, or other diverse-owned bookstore.
8. Better World Books (Global)
For a better way to buy used books, check out Better World Books, a certified B Corporation that values people and planet — and not just profit. The company has a Book for Book project, which donates 1 book for every book sold, a Grant Project where they fund nonprofits and libraries, and a number of other initiatives.
9. Hive Books (UK)
UK-based Hive books has a similar model to Bookshop where they support independent bookstores with each sale. Hive sends 10-25% of physical book sales and 8% of eBook sales to bookstores. You can also find entertainment products like DVDs, CDs, and Vinyls as well as gifts like stationary and puzzles on Hive.
Audible (Audiobooks)
Amazon owns an even larger share of the audiobook market than they do of physical books and eBooks — they control an estimated 90% of the market. Support independent bookstores and small businesses instead!
10. Libro.fm
Just like Bookshop and Hive, Libro.fm enables you to support independent bookstores with each book purchase, but in this case, it’s for audiobooks! You can either buy audiobooks à la carte or through a monthly subscription. The membership is $14.99/month for 1 audiobook per month, plus 30% off any additional books!
Goodreads
Did you know that Amazon owns Goodreads? Ugh! Amazon makes it really difficult to avoid them completely, but there is, thankfully, a more ethical alternative to Amazon owned Goodreads.
11. The Storygraph
Storygraph is a Black woman-owned company with a site and app that operates similarly to Goodreads. What I love about Storygraph, though, is that their book suggestions and reading challenges are intentionally diverse, you can review books down to the quarter of a star, and readers can enter in content/trigger warnings for books.
Food & Grocery
Between Amazon Fresh locations and buying out Whole Foods, Amazon is actively working to get a slice of the grocery pie too. But, competitors like Wal-Mart are certainly not better when it comes to worker rights or traceability of their supply chains.
Some better alternatives?
- Finding local farmers’ markets and growing some of your own food in a garden
- Signing up for a CSA (community supported agriculture)
- Supporting small independent grocery stores (here’s a huge guide to zero waste stores by U.S. State!)
If you’d like to still shop online, here are some sustainable grocery store alternatives to Amazon and other big-box stores.
12. Thrive Market
Thrive Market is essentially an online version of Whole Foods, except more affordable. The brand has natural foods, beverages, supplements, and even cleaning supplies that are shoppable by value: organic, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, dairy-free, among many others. *At the time of publishing, Thrive does not have fresh produce or much refrigerated goods.
13. Imperfect Foods
To fill in the gaps that Thrive Market leaves, head over to Imperfect Foods. You can get produce, meat, plant-based alternatives, dairy, and more delivered to your door. Originally founded to prevent “ugly” looking produce from heading to the landfill, Imperfect works to reduce waste and improve the system along the way.
Handmade
Amazon Handmade is essentially their response to Etsy. While all third-party platforms offer their pros and cons for independent sellers, Amazon treats brands like commodities, making it particularly difficult for small makers to compete with large companies.
If you want to shop handmade, boutiques, maker markets, and farmers’ markets may be great places to find goods made locally.
Or for online options, a great way to support independent makers is by shopping through their sites directly! If you’d like to shop with a bit more convenience, here are some more sustainable alternatives to Amazon.
14. Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods is a fantastic place to shop for thoughtfully-made unique gifts! You can sort by gift recipient or occasion and find plenty of ideas that you won’t see anywhere else. (Literally… many of the products have an “Only on Uncommon Goods” seal!) And, below each product, you can learn more about the maker of the product.
15. Etsy
Etsy is the original handmade marketplace and probably has the widest variety of products! You do have to watch out a bit for some mass produced products making their way in there, but there are a TON of incredible independent makers and small businesses to be discovered there. Etsy also offsets the carbon emissions of all shipments.
Amazon Music
Streaming services have taken over how we consume music. But this shift has had mixed impacts on artists, hurting smaller independent artists the most.
Below are a couple of sites offering more artist-friendly models. These site do have a more limited selection than places like Amazon Music or Spotify, but I hope to see them expand and also encourage a shift for the industry as a whole.
16. Resonate
Resonate is blending the streaming and owning approaches of listening to music with their “stream to own” model. Essentially, Resonate splits up the cost of a piece of a digital piece of music into 9 plays. And, Resonate is a co-op, inviting in musicians, listeners, and workers to make decisions about how the company runs.
17. Bandcamp
For an even more direct way to support artists, check out Basecamp. The company is transparent about their “fair trade music policy“, where they explain that 80-85% of the money fans pay goes directly to the labels or artists — a far larger chunk than any streaming platform.
Prime Video
Ethical Consumer did a rating of many streaming services, and unsurprisingly, Amazon’s Prime Video was at the very bottom with a score of 0.
While none of the video streaming options are stand-out in terms of their responsibility, there are some better options than Amazon. For instance, though Apple is far from an ethical company, Apple TV+ makes use of the company’s data centers that are powered by 83% renewable energy. (By comparison, Amazon sources just 17% renewable energy.)
Check out Ethical Consumer’s Guide for More
Alternatively, you can check out streaming services for indie films. Some highlights are Docsville for documentaries and IndieFlix for contemporary selections.
Kanopy is a streaming service that’s free with your local public library or your university. So, it’s worth checking if you can get acess to this streaming platform!
Technology
From mining to labor issues in the supply chain, the tech industry is far from sustainable. Shopping for used tech, though, can be a bit of a gamble sometimes. These marketplaces are working to remove that barrier with certified pre-owned options.
18. Gazelle
With Gazelle, individuals can send in used tech for cash and shop for used tech with the peace of mind knowing that Gazelle has vetted each and every product being sold on their marketplace. Right now, you can find Macbooks, iPads, iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, Google phones, and other cellphones in Fair, Good, or Excellent condition.
19. Decluttr
With Decluttr, you can shop “Decluttr Certified Refurbished” tech products like phones, laptops, smart watches, tablets, e-readers, video game consoles, and more. Each purchase comes with free tracked shipping, a 12-month warranty and 14-day return policy so that you can shop secondhand tech with confidence.
20. Back Market
On a mission to “restore trust and desire for refurbished devices”, Back Market sells like-new devices at secondhand prices. Each and every device is inspected and restored by experts, and comes with a totally transparent look into the device’s quality. Plus, Back Market has a 30-day return policy, 1 year warranty, and customer care team to address any disputes.
Beauty & Health
21. Credo
Credo is a clean beauty mecca with physical brick and mortar stores and an online shop. Find a wide variety of skincare, makeup, hair, fragrance, and bath & body care products all meeting the “Credo Clean Standard“.
22. BLK+GRN
This all-natural beauty marketplace sells beauty, haircare, supplements & superfoods, menstrual care essentials, and mom + baby care products, all from Black artisans. All products are free of the “Toxic 20” and go through an in-depth review process.
23. Detox Market
Detox Market is another clean beauty marketplace with high standards and a number of “banned” ingredients. The retailer also has a Natural Wellness collection with supplements, teas, powers, and aromatherapy for the brain, belly, and body.
Outdoors & Sports
24. Patagonia
Patagonia is a leader in sustainable outdoor gear and activewear with apparel and supplies for getting active and getting outdoors. The brand has social and environmental responsibility embedded into their mission, using recycled and organic materials, sourcing renewable energy, participating in the Fair Trade Program and tracing their supply chain, and repairing thousands of their garments and reselling them through Worn Wear.
25. REI
REI is a co-op marketplace for an outdoor lifestyle. With their member owned co-op structure, REI is able to “focus on shared values, not share value”. By putting purpose above profits, REI is able to invest in a variety of commitments like the circular economy, social equity, and fighting the climate crisis.
Toys, Kids, Baby
In addition to retailers like EarthHero and Made Trade (both mentioned at the top of this guide), here are a few places to find eco-friendly baby & kids products.
26. The Tot
The Tot makes shopping for safe products for little ones as simple as possible. All products sold by this retailer must go through the “Tot Test”, a vetting process of thorough research and testing. The Tot sells baby and kids’ apparel, toys, gear, bedding, furniture, decor, feeding essentials, maternity wear, and more.
27. Eco-Friendly Kids Clothing Brands
I have an entire guide dedicated to sustainably-made kids clothing! Check out brands using materials like organic cotton and offering initiatives like take-back programs and resale.
Pets
For eco-minded pet gear, EarthHero (mentioned at the top of this guide) has a great selection of choices! Here are a couple more that are dedicated exclusively to pet supplies.
28. Cycle Dog
Cycle Dog makes eco-minded dog products in Portland, Oregon out of recycled materials. They sell products like no-stink collars made out of recycled inner tubes and leashes made from recycled plastic bottles. Plus, Cycle Dog will repair any hand-sewn product free of charge!
29. Noggins & Binkles
London-based Noggins & Binkles creates vegan, eco-minded accessories for cats and dogs. They have collars and leashes made from materials like cork and Piñatex and pet beds made from organic cotton and recycled polyester filling.
Garden & Tools
Similarly, EarthHero also has plenty of supplies and tools for your gardening needs! And VivaTerra (also previously mentioned above) has wonderful gardening accessories and furniture.
In addition, here are a couple of sites to check out.
30. The Celtic Farm
In stark contrast to most gardening tools that are made from cheap plastic and poor quality, The Celtic Farm creates durable, sturdy tools. Using materials like solid hardwood and stainless steel, their supplies are actually built to last, not break.
31. Garden Trading
This UK-based business has beautifully crafted, high-quality garden tools, accessories, furniture, lighting, and storage. You’ll also find plenty of pots and planters for indoor and outdoor needs at Garden Trading!
Automotive & Industrial
When I said we were covering every category Amazon sells, I wasn’t kidding! Here are some stores to find used automotive and industrial parts.
32. Car-Part.com
Enter in the car make and model, type of part, and your location to search for the exact part you need.
33. Parts Hotlines
Enter in the year, make, model, and part and Parts Hotlines will search recyclers in your area for the part you’re looking for.
34. NRI Industrial
Shop for a variety of surplus and used industrial parts — from electrical to hydraulic to lab & scientific to material handling with a quality assurance and 30-45 day free return policy.
Industrial Parts R Us and Industrial-Stores.com are two more marketplaces for used industrial products.
Phew, that was a lot! Be sure to bookmark this post of sustainable alternatives for Amazon to reference in the future.
You May Also Want to Check Out:
An Ever-Growing List of Zero Waste Stores
10 Fair Trade and Sustainable Online Marketplaces
A Huge Guide to Black-Owned Conscious Brands
The post Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Alternatives to Amazon and Target for Nearly Everything appeared first on .
Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Alternatives to Amazon and Target for Nearly Everything
Green Living
10 Best Sustainable Rugs For a Healthier Home and Planet
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.
Green Living
7 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space
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.
Green Living
7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table
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
-
Greenhouse Gases2 years ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change1 year ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change2 years ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Renewable Energy11 months agoSending Progressive Philanthropist George Soros to Prison?
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Bill Discounting Climate Change in Florida’s Energy Policy Awaits DeSantis’ Approval
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago
嘉宾来稿:探究火山喷发如何影响气候预测
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits





























































