9 Sustainable Lighting Brands Illuminating Eco-Friendly Homes

Sonoma Restorations

California-based artisan brand Sonoma Restorations transforms reclaimed wine and whiskey barrels into rustic lighting that tells a story. Founded by Darren Hulsey, the brand gives new life to materials destined for landfill, creating handcrafted pieces with authentic character and built-to-last durability. Their lighting collection features pendant lights and table lamps crafted from old barn wood, bourbon barrelheads and barrel staves. Each piece showcases the unique patina and markings of its previous life.

Sonoma Restorations works exclusively with small workshops across the U.S., sourcing reclaimed materials directly from regional wineries and distilleries. Finishes are primarily low-VOC, plant-based oils that enhance the natural beauty of aged wood. Hardware components are selected for durability and repairability, with replaceable parts that extend the life of each piece.

As a 1% for the Planet member and top scorer on the Wood Furniture Scorecard by the National Wildlife Federation, the brand directs revenue to forest restoration and wildfire recovery efforts. Any virgin materials used are FSC-certified, and the sustainable lighting brand prioritizes recyclable packaging including biodegradable packing peanuts and repurposed cardboard.

Sonoma Restorations has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. See the full rating.

Honey & Ivy

Turning 3D printed plastic into sustainable lighting? It can if you use non-toxic, bio-based thermoplastic made from renewable natural resources as Honey & Ivy does. If you’re looking for desk lamps or bedside lamps, the whimsical shapes and soft mood lighting provided by these lamps may fit the bill. You can custom order the color of the base.

All products are made from 100% bio-based PLA (Polylactic Acid). PLA is made from renewable, natural resources including corn starch and tapioca products. While they are compostable, it requires the right industrial composting conditions.

Thankfully it’s also durable so your lamp will last a long time—over which time access to industrial composting facilities will hopefully improve!

All items are designed, 3D-printed, and hand-assembled in Honey & Ivy’s Portland studio in Oregon. Honey & Ivy’s lamps are made to order using 3D printing because it eliminates the need for heavy machinery, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes waste. The lamps can only be used with energy efficient LED bulbs—incandescent bulbs will melt the plastic.

Lanna Passa

Family-run business Lanna Passa offers a selection of homeware, lighting, and textiles that showcase traditional artisan techniques from hill tribes in Northern Thailand. You’ll find upcycled cushion covers made from vintage hill tribe dresses, handspun, indigo-dyed batik fabric, and a range of handwoven lighting solutions. Some of the bamboo pendants are made in the design of traditional fishing baskets and can be shaped (think: concertina-effect) to your liking.

Wiring and bulb hardware aside, Lanna Passa’s lights are 100% handcrafted from bamboo. This small, family-run business is based in Chiang Mai. They source materials directly from the Hmong & Lisu villages in Northern Thailand.

Natural materials and traditional artisan production processes help tread more gently on the planet.

The Cardboard Boutique

UK-based small business The Cardboard Boutique draws inspiration from the 60s and 70s as well as Danish design for their collection of environmentally friendly lighting. With a selection of pendant lampshades, table lamps, and standing lamps, you’ll find retro-inspired designs for every room in the house.

True to its name, The Cardboard Boutique makes lighting fixtures from 100% recycled cardboard. Those in white and yellow are instead made of repurposed Corex (a corrugated plastic), and any hardware is made from steel.

All items are handcrafted in their small Nottingham studio. The Cardboard Boutique uses recycled and repurposed materials and believes that “we all have a responsibility to minimise any negative impact whilst trying to maximise positive outcomes”.

Collectiviste

UK-based small business Collectiviste has traveled the world seeking global artisans to offer a range of eco-friendly lamps and pendant lights handcrafted from natural materials. From rattan pendants made in Bali to recycled capiz shell floor lamps made in Java, the brand has an abundance of unique and beautiful ethical lights to offer.

Natural, responsible sourced materials like bamboo, oyster shells, and palm fibers are used throughout their collections. The stained glass lamps are made from kiln-fired hand-painted glass.

Collectiviste is a small family business that partners with artisans from around the world including Bali, Columbia, and Java. Their lights are made in small batches using traditional artisan production processes. All of Collectiviste’s lamps use efficient LED light bulbs.

Graypants

Based in both Seattle and Amsterdam, design studio Graypants combines a love of design with a solid sustainability ethos. Founders Jon Junker and Seth Grizzle met at architect college—both wearing the same gray pants—and embarked on a foray into product design.

With intricate laser cuts and a warm, inviting glow, you wouldn’t guess that the Scaplights collection is made from recycled corrugated cardboard. In addition to table and floor lamps, you’ll also find pendant lights in unusual shapes reminiscent of beehives.

Products in the Scraplights collection are handcrafted from partially recycled (at least 50%) cardboard, held together with non-toxic glue, and treated with a non-toxic fire retardant. You’ll only find natural colorways because they aren’t able to secure recycled cardboard for white and blonde colorways.

Once all hardware is removed, they are compostable. That means these are not suitable as sustainable outdoor lights, in case you were hoping they would illuminate your patio. The frames on the Scraplights’ lamps are made from brass or powder-coated steel and materials used for other collections include FSC-certified plywood, acrylic, aluminum, and forged iron.

Graypants’ lights are handmade in either Seattle and Amsterdam by makers valued for their work. In the Netherlands, they’ve partnered with a social program for manufacturing, providing meaningful employment to individuals with disabilities.

The cardboard waste used for their Scraplights is collected locally and the brand is committed to socially and environmentally responsible production.

GOODEE

GOODEE is a POC-founded one-stop shop for sustainable living. This curated online marketplace is full of furniture, homeware, gifts, and decor from carefully chosen brand partners. If you’re looking for the best sustainable lighting, Goodee has plenty on offer including lamps, pendants, and outdoor lights. They also sell energy-efficient bulbs by Tala that reduce energy use by 90% and last 10 to 15 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Because this is a marketplace of many brands you’ll find everything from FSC-certified hardwoods to steel.

For some specific examples, the woven lampshades by PET Lamp are made from a combination of PET recycled plastic bottles and natural plant fibers. Pendants by Golden Editions are handcrafted from Ghanian elephant grass with polished brass fixtures. Tala’s range includes table lamps made from mouth-blown glass.

As a Certified B Corp, GOODEE’s carefully selected brand partners are required to report on their supply chain and labor standard, as well as their ecological footprint. Over half of their partner brands are female-owned and their own leadership team consists of 67% women.

The company is Climate Label Certified and uses responsible packaging. They are seeking further ways to make their supply chain more energy efficient, and 100% of their products feature sustainable and ethically-sourced materials.

Bicycle Glass Co.

Founded by independent glass artists David Royce and Michael Boyd, Bicycle Glass Co. makes beautiful hand-blown glass sustainable lighting solutions. Browse their range of chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and semi-flush mounts that provide an elegant and clean touch to any room.

These are made from 100% locally sourced pre-consumer and post-consumer glass waste. If you’re looking for dimmable lights, all models come with a dimmable LED bulb. Each of these eco-friendly lighting fixtures is individually hand-blown by skilled artisans in Minneapolis. This video shows the captivating process.

As well as using recycled glass, the Bicycle Glass Co. uses recycled newspapers to help mold the hot glass. All packaging is recycled, recyclable, and compostable. To avoid plastic bubble-wrap, shades are wrapped in Geami paper and old boxes are repurposed into a cardboard lining for shipping.

They’re sold with LED bulbs and the company offsets its electricity usage with wind credits via Xcel Energy’s Windsource Program. They’ve also installed two beehives on the roof of their Minneapolis office to help pollinate their local area and compost as much as possible in their backyard.

David Trubridge

Internationally renowned designer David Trubridge creates sustainable lighting designs inspired by the nature around his New Zealand home.

The light and airy geometric pendant lights are available in different sizes and colors and come as kits for easy self-assembly. Statement styles like the Navicula Pendant are sure to be a major conversation starter in whatever room you decide to place it.

David Trubridge lights use sustainably harvested bamboo or natural birch plywood, both of which are abundant and easy to grow. Other materials include powder-coated aluminum and recyclable nylon clips.

They’re made by a small team in David’s Hawke’s Bay workshop in New Zealand. They’re shipped unassembled in a recycled cardboard box, using 1/40th of the amount of packaging needed for the assembled lights.