Guide To UK Ethical Homeware Brands
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Shopping for sustainable homeware in the UK? You don’t need to compromise on style. Here are the best stylish ethical homeware brands, prioritising people and the planet.
You may be aware of the problems of fast fashion. But we now have a new growing environmental problem to contend with. The problem of fast interiors.
Like fast fashion, the rise of fast interiors is inextricably linked to social media. With a focus on making homes ‘Instagrammable’ and ‘Pinterest-Worthy’, shoppers are encouraged to buy trend-oriented homeware pieces at disposable prices.
Fast fashion retailers have capitalised on the growth of fast interiors. Zara, H&M, Primark, Boohoo, Missguided and Pretty Little Thing – brands you typically would associate with fast fashion – all offer homeware ranges. With 9 out of 10 of us buying new homeware products a year, there’s the worrying potential for out-of-fashion homewares to end up languishing in landfill.
So how do we shop better for the things we need for our homes?
Guide To Ethical Homeware Brands
If you are after ethically made furniture items, I’ve got you covered with my big guide to sustainable furniture brands in the UK. But if you are after those little pieces that really make a home – whether it’s duvet covers, mugs, vases, kitchen accessories, or similar then to help you out I’ve put together my favourite ethical and sustainable homeware brands.
Once a niche market, there are now a growing number of sustainable brands out there selling stylish ethical homeware. From crockery to cushions, and rugs to mugs, there is a huge range of eco-friendly products available. These tread lightly on the environment, whilst looking after the people who make them.
Ethical Superstore
Ethical Superstore is a great place to find homeware that’s both beautiful and kind to the planet. Carrying a host of different sustainable brands across a wide range of product categories – including kitchen and dining; living; garden and outdoor; and bed and bath – you can find almost everything you need for your home.
All products for sale are vetted by Ethical Superstore to ensure they meet its ethical criteria. And each and every product is labelled with its environmental credentials – including if it’s vegan, fairtrade, organic, or plastic-free. You can even search for products using your preferred ethical credentials – making it really easy to shop with your values in mind.
Cottsbury
If you are looking for organic cotton towels or bed linen, then Cottsbury is a top choice. With a focus on transparency, care, and integrity, this family-owned and independent British brand is doing all the right things.
Every product is made in its Fairtrade-certified factory using 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton, which is free from toxic chemicals and synthetic pesticides. And with full traceability from seed to shelf, alongside regular factory visits and third-party audits, Cottsbury’s homeware works hard to ensure fairness and quality at every step.
Piglet In Bed
Another good choice for sustainable bedding is British brand Piglet In Bed. It focuses on the use of natural and responsibly sourced materials – particularly European linen – to create beautiful pieces for your home.
As well as being soft and breathable, linen is made from every part of the flax plant, making it a low-impact fabric. As well as being made from sustainable materials, its pieces are ethically made – predominantly in Portugal. Its bedding range is also designed to last, getting softer with each use.
Oxfam Online
Oxfam Online is my top choice for preloved homewares. With over 45 pages of preloved homewares available at the time of writing, it’s just like rummaging through your local charity shop from the comfort of your own home.
With categories ranging from kitchen, bathroom, clocks, decorative accessories, and more, there are heaps of sustainable options. And if finding what you want feels like searching for a needle in a haystack, make friends with the filter. Here you can filter by category, condition and price, to help source your perfect preloved item.
If you’d rather shop new, try the Sourced by Oxfam range. This range brings together the best ethical and sustainable items that the Oxfam team has carefully sourced from Fairtrade partners. Find rugs, throws, pillowcases, hooks, decorative objects, planters, mugs, and a whole lot more.
All profits support Oxfam’s work in alleviating global poverty.
Jungle Culture
If you’re looking to add unique zero-waste pieces to your home (think bowls and candles made from coconut shells) then Jungle Culture is the place to go.
This ethical homewares brand brings together clever design and sustainable materials to offer zero-waste pieces for your home – all made in collaboration with skilled artisans and small farms across Asia. It also has a transparent, fair supply chain that empowers local communities.
Wild & Stone
If you’re looking for organic cotton dishtowels and cleaning cloths, as well as hand towels and other practical bits and pieces, Wild & Stone is well worth a look. It offers a good range of affordable household products, that all support plastic-free living.
All Wild & Stone products have been sourced and made with people and the planet at the forefront. Each product listed on the site is displayed alongside its environmental credentials – whether that’s happy workers, zero-waste, vegan-friendly or more – making it really easy to shop according to your values.
&Keep
Dorset-based &Keep is another spot for picking up eco-friendly homeware. This environmentally friendly online shop offers a massive range of plastic-free, reusable and sustainable essentials designed to protect the planet without compromising on style or substance.
Its homeware range is vast. Whether it’s a soap dish made from reclaimed materials or fairtrade felt wool coasters, almost everything you could need for a more mindful home is here.
ReBorn
If you’re looking to green your kitchen and bathroom, then ReBorn is here to help. It’s taken niche items typically made of virgin plastic, including washing up bowls, draining boards, sink caddies, and toilet brushes – and made them all from recycled plastic.
These are all made in Britain – in its Wiltshire factory – using 100% recycled plastic in a variety of colours that match your kitchen. ReBorn claims that its products use 79% less carbon than equivalent products made from virgin materials in Asia.
Paper High
Paper High is another top place to check out. Every item sold here on this online shop is made under strict Fair Trade guidelines by skilled artisans using sustainable or recycled materials, including cotton rags salvaged from the waste of the Indian garment industry to reclaimed newspapers. Everything is made sustainably and specially selected to have the lowest impact on the planet.
Original BTC
If it’s ethical lighting you are after, then try Original BTC. Here every piece is handmade in the UK using traditional techniques, from slip-cast bone china to recycled metal and re-melted glass.
This focus on local, low-impact production means fewer transport emissions and support for British industry, all while keeping traditional crafts alive.
The lights are built to last, with spare parts and a two-year warranty to back it up.
The Basket Room
If you’re looking for sustainable baskets for storage, it’s well worth checking out The Basket Room on Etsy. Each of its beautiful baskets is handcrafted by women’s cooperatives across Africa, providing vital income to rural communities while celebrating traditional crafts.
Whether you’re storing toys, brightening kitchen shelves, or adding a bit of colour to your workspace, they don’t just look good but do good.
Buy Me Once
If you’re fed up with buying something for your home, only to have it break and need replacing, then you need to visit Buy Me Once.
This sustainable online shop is built on the notion of buying things that last. As such, every item is rigorously researched for longevity, so that you know you’re buying the absolute best of the best. Items listed include those with lifetime guarantees, long warranties and repair policies in case anything does happen.
Find everything from stainless steel pegs with a lifetime guarantee, to kettles, toasters and a whole lot more.
Use the discount code HIGH5 to get £5 off any order over £60 at Buy Me Once.
Nkuku
Finally, Nkuku creates stunning ethical and eco-friendly accessories and homewares for almost every room in your home. All are handmade by artisans across the globe, all operating under Fair Trade principles, and using natural, recycled and reclaimed materials. These include hemp, jute, sustainably grown rattan, and mango wood – a by-product of the mango industry.
Rather than being fashion-led, Nkuku’s style is slow. Nkuku is careful to introduce new products that complement existing lines to encourage the continuity and longevity of collections. This means you can slowly build up pieces for your home when your budget allows, and the pieces will work together beautifully.
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