A durable set of eco-friendly dinnerware is a solid ingredient for a sustainably set the table…
But what exactly makes dinnerware or tableware “sustainable”?
Well, looking for used and vintage ware 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. Since Conscious Life & Style reaches a global audience, this guide will focus on online secondhand options!
If you’re not finding anything on the used market and you’re in need of something new, some considerations are:
- Sustainably sourced materials: such as responsibly-harvested bamboo and recycled glass)
- Ethical production: this could look like transparent local manufacturing or artisan-made & fair trade, depending on your priorities
- 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 Personal Priorities: you may have other elements you look for in a brand, such as traditional craft preservation
The eco-friendly tableware and dinnerware brands featured below meet at least one (though most of them meet two or more) of these criteria.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through these links at no additional cost to you which helps us continue creating these free resources. Thanks for your support!
1. Our Place
From the same brand that brought us their cult-favorite Always Pan, comes a gorgeous collection of non-toxic dinnerware. 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: Drinking Glasses, Bowls, Plates
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, Gives Back, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$$
2. Etsy Used
Etsy is an unexpected treasure trove for vintage and antique dinnerware, whether you’re looking for traditional French, Bavarian, or English-style dining sets.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Silverware, Cups and nearly everything else!
Conscious Qualities: Secondhand
Price Range: $ – $$$
3. 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 diningware 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: $$
4. Bibol
Born and raised in Vietnam, Bibol founder Little Moon returned to her homeland in adulthood to found a company that could offer fair employment for the craftspeople in an ecologically responsible way. Today, Bibol’s elegant bamboo bowls, plates, servers, and tumblers are all handcrafted from sustainably-harvested bamboo (a material central to Vietnamese culture) and colored with natural pigments by artisans in Vietnam.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Dishes, Salad Bowls and Servers
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, Ethical Production, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$$
5. East Fork
East Fork’s ethically-made dinnerware and tableware is next level — their gorgeous pottery, glassware, kitchen textiles, and other goods are exquisitely designed and built for durability. Committed to creating local manufacturing jobs, all of East Fork’s pieces are made in Asheville, North Carolina. *Note: The brand has acknowledged that its rapid growth led to homogenous hiring practices and has implemented strategies and is committed to the continual work to center equity and inclusion throughout their business.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Drinking Glasses, Flatware/Silverware,
Conscious Qualities: Locally-Made, Transparent Production
Price Range: $$$$
6. Newly
A certified B-Corp, Newly is a sustainability-minded company creating goods from 100% recycled materials. That means cups and vases mouth-blown from recycled glass and serving/cutting boards crafted out of reclaimed wood. Newly’s eco-friendly tableware and dinnerware are also made with exceptional attention to quality and built to last.
Categories: Drinking Glasses, Pitchers, Serving Boards
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Materials, B-Corp
Price Range: $$
7. Ames
Founded by native Colombian Ana María Calderon Kayser, Ames is an artisan-made home decor brand collaborating with local Colombian craftspeople to bring their handmade goods to a broader market. Each exceptionally designed and richly hued piece is made using traditional techniques and natural materials like palm fibers and terracotta.
Categories: Plates, Trays, Placemats
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Craft Preservation, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$$$
8. Chairish (Vintage)
For unique antique and vintage dinnerware, Chairish has you covered. The platform has a thoughtfully curated selection of quality pieces from a wide range of eras — you can find antique 1800s blue dinnerware, vintage 1930s German plates, and late 20th century Tiffany & Co leopard spot plates. Note: items on Chairish are pricy and probably more collector items than functional pieces.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Silverware, Cups and nearly everything else!
Conscious Qualities: Secondhand
Price Range: $$ – $$$$
9. Slash Objects
Slash Objects creates sleek eco home decor pieces — including sustainable tabletop pieces — made from entirely post-consumer recycled rubber sourced from U.S. manufacturers. The women-owned company produces all of their products in Brooklyn and ensures living wages for all.
Categories: Placemats, Coasters
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Materials, Local Production
Price Range: $ – $$
10. Middle Kingdom
Rooted in rich heritage and honoring traditional artistry, Middle Kingdom’s fair trade dinnerware is made with exceptional care in the ancient kiln city of Jingdezhen, China. To ensure they’re producing only the highest quality porcelain pieces, every artisan begins their time at Middle Kingdom in training as an apprentice. Each artisan earns fair, well-above-average salaries.
Categories: Plates and Bowls
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, WOC-owned, Craft Preservation
Price Range: $$$
11. Fable New York
Made from organic bamboo, non-GMO corn starch, and food-grade melamine binding, Fable New York’s eco-friendly dinnerware is as durable as it is aesthetically pleasing. Plus, their colorful bamboo plates are dishwasher safe (though not microwave safe).
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Tumblers
Conscious Qualities: Locally-Made, Transparent Production
Price Range: $$
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