Being green is easy when you know where to shop.
Shop & Tell is our shopping series, featuring thoughtfully curated home finds from House Beautiful editors. Every week, we'll take you inside our carts and dish on what we're buying—and why you should be reaching for your wallet too.
As a former fashion editor and now home commerce editor, I’m well aware of the negative environmental impacts both industries can have. It’s why I’ve always gravitated toward spotlighting brands that blend their creative artistry with an Earth-first mentality. Some of our team’s favorite sustainable furniture brands include Sabai, GreenRow, and Neighbor. And while we love our big pieces, there are smaller everyday finds that we use, too, in our quest to be more conscious consumers.
Whether it’s sleeping on bedsheets that have received third-party environmental certifications or using reusable cloths in the kitchen or even having a compost bucket for food scraps, we’re all on a mission to reduce our waste footprint wherever we can in the home. If you want to be more eco-friendly at home without overhauling your entire life, start small with the very same items our editors love, below.
“I’ve been composting for over a year now, and this is the bucket I count on to store all my food scraps in without the leftovers stinking up my kitchen. The charcoal filter inside the lid seals in odors, and the stainless steel bucket is so easy to clean, including being dishwasher-safe. My food waste has reduced drastically since I’ve been using this, and I never thought I’d wax poetic about a bucket, but here I am.”
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
"I tested these relaxed sheets for the first time months ago, and they remain a go-to bedding pick for me. They are suitable for all seasons and only get softer after washing. I just love how the thin striped pattern looks on my bed, draping nicely too. Everything about the sheet set is organic, from the 100 percent Climate Beneficial cotton to the plant-based softener and the fabric bag it’s packaged in. The brand is a founding member of the California Cotton and Climate Coalition, and it uses regenerative farming practices that prevent harmful cotton over-farming."
—Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
"I bought The Essential sofa when I moved into my current apartment because it was chic, within my budget, and easy to assemble. It's just a bonus that it's highly sustainable. Not only is the upholstery made of recycled leather, but the legs are composed of SFI-certified wood, so it's as eco-conscious as possible. Even the pillows and cushions are filled with 100 percent recycled fiber. What's more: The brand is doing its part to eliminate fast design with its Closed Loop program, which basically encourages you to replace or repair any parts that are no longer in brand-new condition, as opposed to simply tossing the sofa and buying a new one."
—Jessica Cherner, Associate Shopping Editor
"GreenRow, the sustainably minded brand from Williams Sonoma Inc., partners with 'innovative makers and reputable third-party certifications to move materials and production toward more sustainable methods.' With that in mind, when I’m looking for something unique and something I can rest assured was created with the best practices, I look here first. As a lover of all things colorful, practical, and pretty, this new Elian Petite Table caught my eye. I appreciate the spindle-like accent under the tabletop and the saturated green color. A piece like this can brighten up any room in the house. Even better, for every purchase, the Arbor Day Foundation plants a tree. Beautiful in my house and great for the planet."
—Carisha Swanson, Director of Special Projects
"If I could buy everything on GOODEE, I would. The retailer keeps a tight edit of home goods while offering customers brand discovery. This is how I discovered the ecoBirdy table and chair set, which I initially clicked on because I thought it was for adults. I should have guessed by the size that it's for children. (Though the brand does make adult chairs in a different style!) All of ecoBirdy's pieces are made from the brand's trademark recyclable plastic material, ecothylene. The design, recycling, and production of ecoBirdy furniture are done in Europe, with the highest social and environmental responsibility in mind; it has been an accredited B Corp since 2019. Since I don't have kids, I want to buy this cute set for someone—any takers??"
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
"If you're not on the natural loofah game yet, what are you doing? After learning how disgusting plastic loofahs are and realizing that they are extremely wasteful, I wanted to get one made from the actual luffa (or loofah) plant. I found this one from Almooni on Amazon for such a great price and bought it the same day. It does a great job exfoliating my skin and lathers really well."
—Meghan Shouse, Assistant Editor
"I have a basket dedicated to throws and blankets, which I keep by the couch. As someone who gets cold easily, even in the summertime, I'm always looking for ways to cover myself! I don't have an ultra luxe throw, which is why I'm eyeing the ones from the new luxury home decor brand Hazel Park. The label offers products, like this cozy wool blanket, made directly in the U.S. This blanket was spun and woven from wool in Connecticut (the brand sources wool from Colorado and Wyoming), then finished in New Hampshire. In keeping with its eco-friendly practices, the brand also uses recycled content in its packaging to reduce deforestation."
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“The nonstick coating on my ceramic cookware has really broken down over the years, so I wanted to get a new set that will really last. I didn’t want to sacrifice style either. GreenPan’s Reserve Pro Uncoated Set had everything I needed. It comes in a twilight blue with gold accents that stay cool while cooking. The 12-piece collection comes with fry pans, sauce pans, a sauté pan, and a stockpot. The stainless steel is ideal for searing chicken and shrimp, and it makes me feel like a professional cook on weeknights. The core of each pan is at least 65 percent recycled. It’s corrosion-resistant, so it’ll last load after load in the dishwasher. Best of all, their cookware and facilities are both PFAS-free, so there are no harmful materials in the nonstick coating.”
—Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
“I like to buy refillable versions for any liquids where I can cut down on plastic waste, from hand sanitzers (I recommend Noshinku to my dog’s paw cleaner (I use Dandelion) to dishwashing soap to my handsoap. My search for refillable hand soap led me to Element Brooklyn—I instantly loved their branding and all the scent options they had. All the hand soap in my house is from them, and the scent doesn’t overwhelmingly linger on your hands or dry out your skin either.”
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“I am constantly cleaning my countertops, and the idea of going through what could be multiple paper towel rolls per week makes me a little nauseous. I bought this set of microfiber cloths a few years ago, and I love that I can be the neat freak I am without being extremely wasteful. I use one until it's pretty vile and then toss it in the hamper.”
—Jessica Cherner, Associate Shopping Editor
“Aside from the occasional plastic bag that comes with my takeout, I have cut down on my use of plastic bags thanks to reusable totes from Baggu. I bring these to the farmer’s market every Sunday and to the grocery store. Whenever they feel dirty, especially if I’m carrying chicken and fish in the bag, I turn them inside out and toss them into the washing machine, then let the bags air dry. I’ve had my various Baggu’s for five years, and they have not ripped or deteriorated!”
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
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