The Best Sustainable Rugs From Eco Friendly Brands We Love

Natural Area Rugs Blog Staff

Natural Area Rugs Blog Staff

If you're looking for sustainable rugs that are eco-friendly and stylish, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up the best sustainable rugs from eco-friendly brands we love, so you can shop with confidence knowing that your purchase is supporting a sustainable and ethical business.

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From handwoven rugs made from recycled plastic to jute rugs dyed with natural dyes, there’s something for everyone in this collection of sustainable rugs. And because they’re from some of our favorite eco-friendly brands, you can be sure that they’re made with the environment in mind.

So whether you’re looking for a sustainable rug for your living room, bedroom, or home office, we’ve got you covered. Check out our picks for the best sustainable rugs from eco-friendly brands below.

What We Looked For

What separates a sustainable rug brand from an unsustainable one?

For starters, a sustainable rug brand should have a commitment to using environmentally-friendly materials and processes. This means they avoid using harmful chemicals and toxins in their rugs, and instead opt for natural, sustainable materials like wool, jute, or bamboo.

A sustainable rug brand should also have a commitment to social responsibility. This means they have fair trade practices in place and support the communities where their rugs are made.

A sustainable rug brand should also have a robust recycling and reuse program in place, so that old rugs can be given new life instead of ending up in a landfill.

Ultimately, a sustainable rug brand should be one that you can feel good about supporting.

Materials Used

There are many different types of materials that can be used to make eco friendly rugs. Some of the most popular materials include wool, bamboo, and jute. Are natural dyes being used? These materials are all sustainable and will help to reduce your carbon footprint. 

Ethically Sourced

When you're looking at sustainable rug brands, it's important to check where the materials are coming from. Make sure they're being sourced in a way that doesn't hurt people or the planet.

Practices & Supply Chain

What are some of the other responsible initiatives the brand is taking, aside from the item being sustainable? Do they have any internal practices they take to reduce energy consumption, or are they part of any non-profit organizations? Do they offset their shipping footprint, where their products come from, who makes them?

Certs.

There are a few different ways to tell if a rug is sustainable. One way is to look for certifications from organizations like the Better Cotton Initiative, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OEKO-TEX or GoodWeave to name a few. These certifications mean that the rug was made with sustainable practices in mind, from start to finish.

How are Products Made?

Are the area rugs handwoven or machine-made? Handwoven rugs are usually more sustainable, as they don't require as much energy to produce.

Our search lead us to these 4 sustainable brands. 

They are all great choices if you are looking for a rug that is good for the environment. 

Here’s a list of high-quality, non-toxic, eco-friendly rugs that you can trust.

Materials

Jute
Wool

Jute
Cotton
Wool

Wool
Jute
Recycled Material
Organic Cotton

Wool
Sisal
Cotton
Hemp
Jute

Fair Trade

-

-

Certifications

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

World Fair Trade Organization

GoodWeave
OEKO-TEX

Craftmark
Fair Trade Certified
Oeko-Tex
GOTS
Climate Neutral Certified

Climate Neutral certified

Factories approved by Global Recycling Standards

Construction

Handmade

Handmade

Handmade

 

Handmade

Giving

10% of profits back into communities where rugs are made

Grant programs supporting Black-owned, product-centric businesses

Shipping and returns are 100% carbon offset

Continued financial commitment to communities

Origin of Rugs

Columbia
Portugal
Argentina
India
Turkey
+13 more countries

India

India
Mexico
Egypt
Bangladesh
USA
Tunisia
Colombia

India
Portugal
Turkey
Nepal
Morocco

Price

$$$

$$$

$$

$$$$$

This symbol indicates the brand is recognized by one of a leading Fair Trade organization. Such as Fairtrade International, Fair Trade Federation, World Fair Trade Organization, Fair For Life, Fair Trade Certified

Average Customer Review
4.8/5
Top Pick
The Citizenry

The Citizenry covers the globe to find the best craftsmen and bring their work home to you.

Their collections are made with high-quality materials, designed carefully, and ethically crafted by expert artisans.

Pros:
  • Sustainable and fair trade practices top to bottom
  • Highly rated by verified customers
  • Beautiful and uniquely designed area rugs
  • All rugs are made with a fair trade process audited and guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization
  • Oeko-Tex certified
  • GoodWeave Certified
  • Transparent & ethical production
  • Fair trade guaranteed
  • The Citizenry pays 2x the fair trade wage requirement
  • All-natural, organic materials
  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified
  • Free US Shipping
Cons:
  • Smaller product catalog
  • No rug swatches available for preview
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Gorgeous rug. Very high quality. As expected the large 9x12 size for our living room needed a rug pad to stay in place. Not a surprise for a thinner kilim style rug. Love the soft colors. Makes the room so cozy!

It's Gorgeous! Subtle colors but the pattern is stunning. It grounds my small living room, at the same time giving it an airy Southwest feel. I would buy 10 of these if I could. It's also Goodweave certified!! Another win, and a very happy customer. Thanks again Citizenry! If you are on the fence about getting this rug, I truly can't say enough about the quality for the cost.

Obsessed with this rug. I put a 1/4 inch rug pad under it and it's great for a bedroom rug, beautifully made. The gray goes with everything but it also stands by itself as an interesting design. Highly recommend!

The reason The Citizenry is our favorite sustainable and eco-friendly rug brand is the efforts and lengths they go to to ensure sustainable practices from start to finish. 
 
The Citizenry is a great place to find stylish, ethical home decor, including a line of nontoxic rugs. Working with artists from all over the world, the company produces a small batch of timeless rugs in bold, modern patterns. The handwoven quality is a testament to the talent and care of the artisans.
The Citizenry is certified by World Fair Trade Organization and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
 
Aside from the numerous sustainable and eco friendly certifications they own, they go even further by putting 10% of their profits back into the communities where their artisans are located – giving out grants to entrepreneurs to help them develop their businesses.
Average Customer Review
4.5/5
Loomy

Looking for a unique vegan area rug, accent rug, or runner? Loomy Home has a great selection of ethically sourced rugs made by skilled artisans from around the world. They have the perfect staple piece to tie your space together, whether it's in the bedroom, living room, or any other room in your home.

Pros:
  • Offers larger sizes
  • Custom sizing available
  • Natural materials
  • Biodegradable packaging
  • Upcycled options
  • OEKO-TEX-certified
  • Free swatch box program
  • Large product catalog
Cons:
  • Paid shipping

Totally fell in love when we opened this rug, it has lots of shine and feels so luxurious on your feet. Love the pattern too!

This is a beautiful and functional rug. Love the colors and pattern. Beautifully made. Looks fabulous in our new bathroom. Highly recommend!

Purchased this rug for my client and they love it. Looks great in person and even better once installed with furniture.

We love Loomy. They offer a rather large product catalog featuring eco friendly and sustainable rugs. They go to extensive lengths to make their rugs as sustainable and eco friendly as possible. However, we could not find any fair trade certifications attached to his brand. 

Two unique offerings Loomy showcases are their custom rug process and their free swatch program. 

Outlined on their website, their custom rug ordering process looks like this:

  1. They work 1:1 with you to determine your style preferences. Then they choose colors, materials, and sizes for you.
  2. Once the drawing of the custom rug is complete a swatch sample of the rug will be sent to you for approval.
  3. Once approved, the custom rug is placed into production with a dedicated weaver.
  4. The yarns are then custom dyed to the specific color requested.
  5. Artisans hand weave the custom design directly onto the loom, soon making its way to your home.

Their swatch box program is a hit as well. It allows you to hand pick 3 swatches. Once you customize your rug based on the swatches, simply send it back to get $100 refunded plus a $50 discount code to use on your rug purchase. 

Average Customer Review
4.4/5
Parachute

These rugs are perfect for the minimalist home. They're made with OEKO-TEX certified cotton, jute, and wool, so you can be sure they're free of harmful chemicals and synthetics. They're also Craftmark certified, which means they're handmade in India by sustainably employed artisans.

Pros:
  • Fair Trade certified
  • Craftmark certified
  • GOTS certified
  • OEKO-TEX certified
  • Climate Neutral certified
  • Ethical manufacturing
  • Laidback, minimalist color scheme
  • Free carbon-neutral shipping
  • Responsible materials
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives
  • Carbon offsetting programs
  • Buy now, pay later payment option
Cons:
  • Small product catalog

This rug is everything! Soft, thick, aesthetically pleasing. Bought it for the master bedroom and have not had a problem with shedding. Seems really durable and bonus that it is non-toxic. Shipping was very fast, can’t complain.

Beautiful rug, so soft and nice to walk on. Great color and arrived fast. Solid buy!

Just renovated kitchen and got the braided wool rug in platinum (3x5) and it looks and feels fantastic! Love it so much we will be purchasing 8X10 for bedroom! Rich looking and so soft under your feet!

You may have noticed Parachute catching headlines in some big name magazines like Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Refinery 29. This makes sense with their wonderful, beautiful overall aesthetic, but also because their home goods are extremely high quality.

Parachute goes the extra mile when it comes to being sustainable, environmental, and socially responsible, and they don’t plan on stopping.

Here is a list of future sustainability goals they are hoping to accomplish. 

  • 2022 – Climate Neutral certified: Measure and offset carbon emissions, and commit to reductions. Launch circular programs.
  • 2022 -Launch Fair Trade Certified products, starting with rugs.
  • 2023 – Improve packaging: Transition out of vinyl, and incorporate more sustainable materials.
  • 2023 -Launch Employee Resource Groups, 2 paid service days a year, Cornell University Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program completed by all members of executive and HR/Recruiting teams.
  • 2023 – Expand Fair Trade Certified products to include a minimum of 3 new product categories.
  • 2024 – Transition all cotton programs to 100% organic cotton. >50% of wood FSC certified.
  • 2024 – Replace virgin polyester with 100% Global Recycle Standard® (GRS) certified recycled polyester.
Average Customer Review
5/5
Made Trade

Made Trade doesn't sustainably manufacture rugs themselves, but they do curate from those that are fair trade, heritage, made in the USA, vegan, and more. They've got a great selection of ethical home decor, and all the other bits and bobs you might need to go with it. Everything from beautiful organic and sustainable tableware, to stylish eco-friendly homewares.

Pros:
  • More affordable
  • Climate neutral certified
  • Member of 1% for the Planet
  • Offsets all shipping emissions
  • A number of recycled / upcycled products
  • Buy now, pay later payment options
  • 15-day hassle-free returns
Cons:
  • Some customers have expereinced issues with Made Trades return policy
  • Some customers have reported frustrations with customer service

Even today, many rug vendors disclose little to no information about how their rugs are produced. And buying a rug online is challenging because you have to figure out how the scale and color(s) will relate to what you already have in your room. I appreciate all the efforts that the Made Trade folks went to in order to help me purchase with confidence. They were able to get me yarn samples so I could check the colors, and provided a quote for a custom size. Our family and fur roommates expect to enjoy this rug for many years to come!

The customer service that we received with this product was unparalleled to any other company! There were delays due to COVID, and their team provided the best support. Needless to say, our household is filled with loyal Made Trade customers! The rug is gorgeous! It has repelled water and stains as well, and it works great with a rug pad underneath. 10/10 recommend!!

We are extremely happy with this. It looks great and is high quality.

Made trade curates products from around the world. They only works with brands who follow the international Fair Trade guidelines and practices- ensuring that all products are crafted with fair labor practices. By using fair trade practices for their products, Made Trade is able to ensure that their products are always made out of the highest quality materials and practices possible.

They are committed to delivering the highest quality products in the marketplace, which is why they take their time to make things right.

Made Trade has a collection of Made in The USA rugs.
 

They also work with People of Color Owned Products. Some of these businesses are at least 51% owned by an indigenous person, black individual, or person of color.

 

Why Consider Buying a Sustainable or Eco Friendly Rug?

If you’re looking for something that’s not only stylish but also eco-friendly, sustainable rugs are a great option to consider.

There are a few different reasons why sustainable rugs are a smart choice for your home. For one, they’re better for the environment. Most sustainable rugs are made from natural materials like wool or jute, which means they’re biodegradable and won’t end up in a landfill.

Another big reason to consider sustainable rugs is that they’re often more durable and long-lasting than traditional rugs using synthetic materials. 

How to Buy a Rug Ethically?

When it comes to buying a rug, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to make sure you’re doing it ethically.

  • Consider where the rug is coming from. If it’s coming from a country with a history of child labor or poor working conditions, it’s best to avoid that rug. There are plenty of other options out there.

  • Take a look at the materials the rug is made from. If it’s made from wool, for example, make sure you know how the sheep were treated. They should have been treated humanely and not harmed in any way. The same goes for any other materials used in the rug.

  • Take a look at the manufacturing process. How were the workers treated during the making of the rug? Were they paid a fair wage? Were they working in safe conditions?

  • Consider the price. If a rug is being sold for way below market value, it’s likely that the workers who made it were paid unfairly.

  • Finally, be sure to research different retailers before making your purchase. Compare prices and shipping costs to find the best rug for your home. 

The Difference Between a Non Toxic Rug vs an Eco Friendly Rug 

If you’re looking for a new rug, you might be wondering what the difference is between an eco-friendly rug and a non-toxic rug. Here’s a quick rundown of the key differences:

Eco-friendly rugs are made from sustainable materials, like bamboo or wool, which have a lower environmental impact than synthetic materials like nylon or polyester. They’re also often made using sustainable manufacturing processes, like hand-weaving or natural dyeing.

Non-toxic rugs are made without harmful chemicals or toxins, which can be harmful to your health. They’re often made from natural materials like wool or cotton, which are less likely to off-gas toxins.

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