Eating is the most direct connection we have to our planet. Not only should we consider the environmental impact of what we eat, but what we’re eating on. Eco-friendly dinnerware is quite literally the foundation of an Earth-friendly plate.
Setting a beautiful table to serve all our meals is where the magic happens (“Be Our Guest” style). With more studies coming out about the harm that plastic dinnerware can cause to our health, these brands are putting down their foot (and forks) to create dishes with purpose and the planet in mind.
As we freshen up our articles in the coming months, we’ll be adding more in-depth guidelines to our new Brand Rating System to help navigate the brands putting their best foot (err plate, in this case!) forward in the name of sustainability. To learn more about this new system, take a look at our explainer here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
The Best Sustainable Dinnerware Brands To Prep Your Palate
East Fork’s eco-friendly pottery dinnerware is so beautiful you’ll wonder if you should eat on the hand-glazed ceramic range or just display it. They’re dishwasher and microwave-safe.
We love using Our Place’s ceramic stoneware plates and durable drinking glasses that add warmth and elegance to a home-cooked meal.
If you’re ready for eco-friendly bamboo dinnerware that’s casual and cohesive, look no further than the likes of Ekobo.
Index: Sustainable Dinnerware Brands
- Our Place Jump to section
- East Fork Jump to section
- Public Goods Jump to section
- Ekobo Jump to section
- Fable Jump to section
- Gibson Jump to section
- Material Kitchen Jump to section
- Etsy Upcycled Dinnerware Jump to section
- Bambu Jump to section
Our Place
About Our Place
Price Range: $30–$525
The dinnerware brand Our Place takes the cake for helping us create a sustainable kitchen. Produced thoughtfully and ethically, each piece is designed to invoke feelings of respect for our multicultural world and this home (our planet) we share.
Mix and match to your heart’s content with their à la carte style plates, side bowls, steamer baskets, and drinking glasses in a few different colors.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for eco-friendly dinnerware sets, Our Place offers the Tabletop Set, Dinnerware Duo, or Basics Bundle. Don’t forget to start the meal off right by cooking up something sustainable with their best-selling non-toxic Always Pan. This sustainable cookware then doubles as an elegant serving dish.
Our Place’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Recycled and sustainably sourced materials (virgin porcelain ceramic) go into the hand-painted bowls and plates. Porcelain is durable and lightweight, reducing shipping emissions and lasting many dinner parties to come.
Their drinking glasses are made from recycled glass and natural materials like sand making them fully recyclable. The cups are colored with elements from the earth and are free of artificial dyes.
The Always Pan is made from non-stick ceramic and comes along with a beechwood spatula. It’s free of toxic materials like nanoparticles, cadmium, lead, PTFE, PFOAs, and PFAs.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Our Place wants us to welcome ethically produced products into our homes, which is why they only partner with factories that are certified by SA8000, BSCI, ISO, and Sedex.
Their plates and bowls are produced in a Chinese factory that ensures above-living wages as well as additional benefits like paid time off. They also partner with a glass-blowing factory in Thailand to create their drinking glasses. In addition to using third-party certification, Our Place regularly visits their factories to guarantee employees are happy and doing quality work they’re proud of.
Green business practices:
You may not like leftovers, but Our Place wants us to be eating off the same eco-friendly reusable plates for years to come. To make this happen, they choose sustainably sourced materials and incorporate lasting design practices. You’ll receive your sustainable dinnerware in biodegradable and recyclable packaging materials, completely plastic-free.
Community & charitable giving:
Our Place wouldn’t be one of the most ethical and sustainable tableware companies without providing for their community.
They share their love of food with fellow Angelinos by partnering with the Los Angeles Food Policy Council to establish a locally-owned mini-market stocked with fresh and healthy food. They also regularly donate to organizations like Feeding America.
My Personal Review of Our Place’s Dinnerware Starter Set:
“To go with my now treasured Always Pan, I went with their Dinnerware Starter set in terracotta (with orange Night + Day glasses to match). The warm, earthy tones give my table a lovely rustic-modern vibe, and the pieces feel sturdy yet elegant. I especially like the lipped design of the plates, which helps keep even runny food and sauces on the plate, with less risk of it slopping over like I was always doing with my beveled plates.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
East Fork
About East Fork
Price Range: $12–$316
Over a decade in the making, this North Carolina business has grown into one of the best brands for sustainable pottery dinnerware. Started on an old tobacco farm, East Fork hand-built their kiln and expanded from twice-yearly sales at the farm to two permanent brick-and-mortar stores.
Now displaying kitchen tools, textiles, and candles alongside their ceramics made from all-natural materials, you’ll find true craftsmanship in items like their Stacking Brass Flatware or Recycled Moroccan Glasses to complete your dinner table setup.
East Fork’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
In the beautiful hills of Asheville, NC, natural clays and resources are abundant, so East Fork can source all of its materials regionally, ensuring lead-free production. Their à la carte and sustainable dinnerware sets come in eight earthy, natural tones.
For glassware options, they utilize borosilicate glass, a naturally abundant resource. They use a local glass blower but also source from small Italian manufacturers for unique pieces like the Velasca Calices Wine Glasses.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Because their entire team is local and everything is handmade by artisans, they can pay above minimum wage while still providing high-quality, timeless pieces.
As a Certified B Corporation, this business joins the ranks of the best eco-friendly dinnerware brands by working hard towards both their social, ethical, and environmental goals.
Green business practices:
What’s even more impressive is that East Fork is already Climate Neutral certified, but they’ve gone above and beyond by hiring a sustainability consultant who created a five-year plan to help them identify areas to minimize their environmental impact.
They also send all eco-friendly dishes in 100% recyclable materials. East Fork supplies all of its facilities with 100% clean energy from its utility provider in North Carolina.
Community & charitable giving:
They also have a purchasing initiative with NC Green Power, a nonprofit that installs solar panels at local public schools.
Public Goods
About Public Goods
Price Range: $8–$32
Public Goods is a USA-based home and personal care brand offering a mix of refillable cleaning products, pet food, hygiene items, and more—all ethical, toxin-free, and low waste.
Their minimalist sustainable dinnerware (drinkware, plates, and bowls) comes in all white, giving that pure, clean aesthetic that any busy household dreams of. Pair your new dinnerware with this sustainable store’s forged stainless steel cutlery set designed with the highest quality steel and anti-corrosion properties.
Public Goods’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Public Good keeps its dishes timeless, elegant, and simple by utilizing high-fire porcelain, making it microwave and freezer-safe. You can also collect their range of cooking utensils and rest assured knowing they use sustainably grown acacia wood or BPA and plastic-free silicone.
Supply chain & labor practices:
We need to reach out to the brand to learn where the factory that produces the sustainable dinnerware sets is located and what worker protections are in place.
Green business practices:
We do know, however, that this factory incorporates co-generation technology which captures heat from the kiln and disperses it to dry new, wet clay as well as electricity generation that runs their air conditioning.
Public Good does the public good by carbon offsetting initiatives and shipping in carbon-neutral, compostable packaging. All body and cleaning products are cruelty-free and vegan with organically sourced ingredients, conscious to avoid all harmful chemicals.
Community & charitable giving:
To offset carbon emissions, Public Good works with Eden Reforestation Projects which plants a tree for every order made. They also collaborate with food banks and Clean the World, which collects partially used hygiene products like shampoo or deodorant to create care packages for those in need.
Ekobo
About Ekobo
Price Range: $26–$124
Ekobo operates in Europe, Oceania, and the USA selling kitchen storage containers, reusable cutlery, and eco-friendly baby dinnerware made from sustainably harvested bamboo—among other ethical goods.
Their products are thoughtfully designed with the environment, safety, and durability in mind, meant to last through all the ages and phases of a growing child.
Discover their Everyday Dishware Bundles in six different colors. Or if you want to add some flavor to your plate, they offer soy-ink illustrated plates by American artist Kelly Knaga which are designed to not fade over time.
Ekobo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Ekobo created their own BIOBU® eco-composite which combines finely ground raw organic bamboo sawdust (sourced from chopstick factories) and a food-grade melamine binding resin.
This material is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates. Other materials used to make their eco-friendly reusable dinnerware are cork, rPET fabric, food-grade silicone, and GOTS-certified organic cotton. All dyes used to color their sustainable bamboo dinnerware are non-toxic and 100% food-grade.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The factory Ekobo works with is BSCI-compliant, so employees enjoy optimal social working conditions and fair wages. They are directly involved in and oversee the running of their factories with no third parties, meaning close relationships and immediate resolutions should issues arise.
Green business practices:
Products are made where their raw materials are sourced, meaning fewer shipping emissions. Ekobo does this by keeping all stages of production in China, where bamboo grows readily and plentifully.
By recycling the bamboo chopsticks to create BIOBU®, they upcycle waste that would have been otherwise tossed out (no leftovers here!). The chopstick factory is FSC-certified.
Fable
About Fable
Price Range: $24–$148
Fable is on a mission to provide more homes with elegant and environmentally positive products. They make this happen with one material—bamboo—but they’re also on a never-ending search for better natural materials to shrink their footprint even further.
The family-owned-and-operated brand is based in Upstate New York and draws inspiration from the wildlife with which they share their home. Speaking of animals, by 2050 the amount of plastic in the oceans will outweigh the number of fish. And this is what drives Fable’s plastic-free and affordable eco-friendly dinnerware.
Fable’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Fable freshens up the table with natural, organic bamboo fiber, non-GMO cornstarch, and a food-grade BPA-free binding resin. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing, carbon-sequestering plants in the world.
All ingredients used in Fable’s lines are infinitely reusable, durable, and mostly biodegradable (just not in your indoor compost bin).
Supply chain & labor practices:
Fable partners with a factory in China they claim is one of the best in terms of eco-production. The factory specializes in low-impact and environmentally-friendly products but we’re not certain of any social protections in place.
China is also where most of the world’s bamboo is grown, which allows the brand to keep its supply chain small.
Green business practices:
All Fable natural dinnerware is shipped with minimal and reusable packaging.
Gibson
About Gibson
Price Range: $24–$50
America’s leading producer of tabletop products, Gibson products are found across the globe in some of the world’s largest retailers of dinnerware. Their plates, bowls, and drinkware are made with quality craftsmanship. The large range suits any dining room aesthetic and budget.
They’re committed to providing the highest quality products at the best prices, making them one of the most inexpensive eco-friendly dinnerware options on the market. Who says elegant dinner parties are reserved for the social elite?
Gibson’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Across their extensive range of dinnerware sets, Gibson uses three main materials: porcelain (bone china/fine china made of fine clay and sand), stoneware (clay, sand, and stone), and earthenware (mostly clay, with no outer glaze).
Supply chain & labor practices:
Gibson is fully transparent about their supply chain, covering everything from creative development, shipping logistics, quality control, and factory management.
They have more than one million square feet of warehouses across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Canada, but also partner with overseas factories in China, India, Vietnam, and Thailand.
They regularly audit their overseas suppliers to ensure they’re meeting federal and international standards. Employees receive competitive salaries, leadership, and professional development opportunities.
Green business practices:
Both the stoneware and earthenware (and their hybrid mix of the two Stonelite) are especially eco-friendly materials because they’re incredibly durable. Whereas porcelain may break, these other two are dense and long-lasting.
Community & charitable giving:
The family-owned company is proud to have a diverse workforce and every year, they assist charities and local organizations like the Los Angeles Fire Department, Feeding America, and the Organization for Autism Research.
Material Kitchen
About Material Kitchen
Price Range: $40–$140
Based in Los Angeles, Material Kitchen was started by two friends with the simple notion of designing eco-friendly ceramic dinnerware that was built to last and “honors the tradition of sharing meals across cultures”.
Offering a full range of kitchen items from knife sets, cutting boards, linen, and cookware, you can plan and prepare that holiday get-together from start to finish.
Stylish and functional, Material Kitchen’s multi-purpose products limit the number of items you need, decluttering your cabinets and helping you achieve a zero waste kitchen.
Browse through their ceramics, placemat sets, and full glassware range to create the perfect sustainable dinner table. Shop for single items or purchase The Place Setting, which includes a small and large plate as well as the Open Bowl.
Material Kitchen’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Material Kitchen’s ceramic plates are crafted from natural Korean soils and hand-finished with a non-toxic, scratch-resistant interior glaze for that artisan feel and warming touch.
Their charming knife base units are made with FSC-certified, sustainably harvested wood. For non-toxic cooking pans, The Copper Set comes with three, non-stick pots that are cadmium, lead, and PFOA-free.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Material does not mention where or under what fair trade practices (if any) their eco dinnerware is crafted so we’ll be reaching out directly to get a bigger helping of transparency.
Green business practices:
Along with their effort to source sustainable materials, Material Kitchen designed its reusable dinnerware with an edge lip, meaning food won’t slip and slide off your plate (aka less food waste).
Their cups are made with borosilicate glass, made to withstand extremely high temperatures meaning strength, durability, and less breakage. Their pan is made with copper to ensure energy conservation as they heat up evenly and quickly for those nights you want your meals cooked pronto.
Community & charitable giving:
With sharing and community at the heart of their business, Material Kitchen has supported a number of wonderful charities including Heart of Dinner, Korean American Community Foundation, and Drive Change.
Etsy Upcycled Dinnerware
About Etsy Upcycled Dinnerware
Price Range: Various
Etsy is a delectable place to support small and mostly sustainable sellers from around the globe. Spend a few minutes (hours?) scrolling through their selection, and you’re sure to see creative ingenuity at its finest.
With Etsy, there are dozens of shops using repurposed and recycled materials or offering curated vintage or antique dinnerware to create an eclectic kitchen vibe.
We’ll leave you to do most of the scrolling, but here are two fan-favorite picks with thousands of 5-star reviews: Parkwood Treasures and Colorado Collection US.
Etsy’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Colorado Collection US offers some of the biggest names in dinnerware (Corelle, Pfaltzgraff) along with lesser-known and truly one-of-a-kind pieces—usually from the 1950s through the 1980s. Vintage ceramic is the go-to material for this shop.
As for Parkwood Treasures, you’ll find all kinds of genuine vintage, mid-century dining sets, made of anything from china to glass. From elegant tea sets and salad bowls to complete china sets, there’s no aesthetic (or budget) you won’t find something to suit.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Parkwood Treasures founder Yvette personally collects every set and individual item for sale and provides as much background information on the pieces as possible.
Colorado Collection US was started by a vintage lover who desperately needed to downsize her own collection. She sources most of her sustainable dinnerware pieces and sets from local estate sales in Colorado or Nebraska.
Green business practices:
Buying used dinnerware helps keep valuable materials out of landfills. Etsy offsets 100% of the carbon footprint associated with shipping products bought on their site. For that reason, it’s one of the best ethical alternatives to Amazon,
Bambu
About Bambu
Price Range: $10–$88
Founded by a couple in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. who traveled to Asia and saw the multi-purpose functionality that bamboo offered, Bambu was started with the principal notion of living in harmony with the environment.
Specializing in disposable and sustainable compostable dinnerware, their bamboo cutlery, plates, bowls, and kids’ products are a zero waste alternative to plastic or non-recyclable styrofoam.
They’re especially useful for outdoor dinnerware, where you might not want to risk taking your finer china. Wow your guests at your next outdoor gathering with their biodegradable Veneerware Disposable Bamboo Plates.
Bambu’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Bambu uses certified organic, responsibly harvested bamboo in China. Their customized Veneerware® is certified organic made with bamboo fiber and has achieved 100% USDA Biobased certification. None of their products have lacquers, petroleum, BPA, phthalates, PFAS, or fluorinated chemicals.
Supply Chain & Labor Practices:
Bambu is a Certified B Corp that works with small, family-operated shops and has established decades-long relationships with their production line. They employ mostly local women, paying fair wages and regularly visiting to oversee production.
Green Business Practices:
This eco-friendly disposable dinnerware considers the environmental impact of its product at every step and boasts carbon-free certification.
Their boxes and tags are made with FSC-certified paper, and all packaging is printed using low-VOC vegetable-based inks. The cotton they use in some of their products (like reusable napkins) is USDA-certified organic.
During the production process, they implement energy conservation and recycling methods such as with their water which is filtered and reused.
Community & charitable giving:
Bambu supports a number of charities as they believe that the community and the environment need to work in harmony. They partner with companies such as 1% For the Planet, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), and The Humane Society, among others.
