7 Eco-Friendly Art Supplies For Naturally Sustainable Creativity
So, you’re ready to unleash your inner Picasso, but your conscience is tugging at you about the potential environmental impact?
We get it.
Traditional art supplies, while beautiful and vibrant, aren’t always the kindest to our planet.
But just as we believe in the power of creativity, makers of eco-friendly art supplies believe in the importance of preserving our Earth, too.
But with so many petroleum-based materials, how could art supplies be sustainable?
Well, hold on to your paintbrushes, eco-artists, because we’re diving into the colorful world of recycled or natural art materials that let you express your creativity while keeping your carbon footprint as small as a pencil point.
From biodegradable sketch pads to vegan paints, these earth-friendly alternatives are every bit as vibrant, versatile, and inspiring as their traditional counterparts, if not more so.
What are the most environmentally friendly art supplies?
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Sustainable Art Supplies That Get Our Eco-Creative Juices Flowing
Faber Castell’s EcoPencils are made from sustainably sourced wood—that also happens to offset the carbon footprint of their entire green art supplies production.
If you’re looking for eco-friendly kids art supplies for your mini Monet, eco-kids uses only the safest, most non-toxic materials available.
If you’re looking for the paint by numbers tutorial, we channel our inner Bob Ross to paint a happy little picture of how we picked the best eco-friendly artist paint and supplies at the bottom.
The Full List Of All-Natural Art Supplies
- Faber-Castell | Visit Store
- eco-kids | Visit Store
- Bee Paper | Visit Store
- Natural Earth Paint | Visit Store
- Honeysticks | Visit Store
- Winsor & Newton | Visit Store
- EcoStardust | Visit Store
1. Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell’s Eco Art Supplies
Price Range: $1–$2,500
Faber-Castell is an icon in the art world and chances are, you have some
While not all are eco-friendly, quality art supplies from this creative cornerstone brand have increasingly taken on a sustainable focus in recent years.
Most notably are their EcoPencils, available in colored, watercolor, and metallic variations.
Made from 100% FSC-certified wood, these pencils are sustainably sourced and harvested, meaning your sketch won’t be contributing to deforestation.
Plus, they’re non-toxic and have a high level of break resistance across a variety of hardness grades—from 2H to 8B—so you can choose the perfect pencil for your artistic needs.
Sharpened with a special SV bonding process, they’re easy to sharpen and long-lasting.
Like most of Faber-Castell’s products, the EcoPencils are packaged in recycled cardboard.
Other environmentally friendly art supplies in the Faber-Castell family include refillable fountain pen and ballpoint pens, partially recycled artist paper pads, PVC-free erasers, water-based and non-toxic varnish coated graphite pencils, and more.
About Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell is the world’s leading and oldest manufacturer of wood-cased pencils, producing over two billion pencils per year, over 90% of which come from sustainable forestry certified (FSC and PEFC) sources.
The company owns more than 10,000 hectares of pine forests in Brazil, which provide the raw material for their pencils and absorb more than 900,000 tons of CO2 and neutralize the production emissions.
82% of their energy demand comes from renewable sources and they’re working on reducing plastics or replacing them with recycled ones—among other initiatives you can read about in their Sustainability Fact Sheet.
The company is committed to its Social Charta, which includes equal opportunities, equal treatment, and the prohibition of child labor worldwide.
2. eco-kids
eco-kids’ Eco-Friendly Art Supplies For Kids
Price Range: $8–$19
On the quest for an eco-friendly canvas for your child’s boundless creativity?
Say hello to eco-kids and some of the most natural art supplies around.
This brand has dedicated itself to crafting natural art supplies for toddlers that foster young imaginations while keeping Mother Earth smiling.
eco-kids’ plant-based finger paint and crayons are both perfect for inspiring young artists to let colors and creativity fly across multiple paintins sessions.
They’re made of food safe, ingredients (including potatoes, rice & beans) and are easy to mix with water.
If a paper canvas is too small for your Michelangelo-in-training, let them paint their own Sidewalk Sistine Chapel using the Hop Scotch Sidewalk Chalk.
About eco-kids
No matter which eco-kids natural art supplies you pick, you’re getting something made with natural ingredients that adhere to stringent American (ASTM) Toy Safety standards.
The packaging matches the brand’s commitment to the planet, with even the powdered paints housed in FSC-certified recyclable paper cartons.
All of these eco-friendly school supplies and art supplies are 100% plastic-free and made in the USA.
Also available on Amazon
3. Bee Paper
Bee Paper’s Sustainable Craft Supplies
Price Range: $8–20
For artists seeking to harmonize their creative expression with environmental responsibility, bee at one with Bee Paper.
Their 100% Recycled Sketch Pads—in tape and spiral-bound forms, allowing you to select the format that best suits your artistic journey—are crafted from chemical-free recycled paper that’s entirely biodegradable.
That way, every stroke of your pencil contributes to a healthier, more sustainable planet.
With a sturdy weight of 70 lbs, this sketch pad can handle a variety of mediums: pencil, charcoal, pastel, and artist crayon.
Though not all offerings use recycled paper, others are sourced using sustainable forestry practices and all are acid-free and made to be archival quality. This means that the papers are designed to resist yellowing and deterioration over time, ensuring the longevity of your artwork.
About Bee Paper
Bee Paper is renowned for eco-friendly and vegan art supplies that respect both the artistic process and the planet.
They also provide for a range of specific art needs, including drawing paper, sketch paper, watercolor paper, marker paper, pastel paper, and more.
While known for its quality, they offer competitive pricing, making it an attractive option for both professional and amateur artists.
Bee Paper actively engages with the artistic community through collaborations and sponsoring art events, workshops, and competitions.
4. Natural Earth Paint
Natural Earth Paint’s Eco-Friendly Paint for Artists
Price Range: $6–$99
What is the most eco-friendly paint for art?
That would be Natural Earth Paint.
If the name didn’t clue you in, they specialize in paint made from natural plant and mineral pigments and organic ingredients.
Wait, is acrylic paint eco-friendly?
Typically no, but theirs does not contain any traces of the acrylic polymers you find in acrylic paint. Not only is their acrylic paint biodegradable, but totally safe and non-off-gassing.
Their Natural Acrylik art set for adults includes weight colors, each of which are highly pigmented, ensuring that your artwork will be vibrant and long-lasting.
Be sure to pair your new eco-friendly acrylic paint with some of their vegan and cruelty-free paint brushes, made with sustainably-harvested wooden handles and a plant-based, non-toxic varnish.
That’s just the start of their eco-friendly art supplies: watercolor paint, Gesso, face paints, varnish, painting accessories, and more are included.
About Natural Earth Paint
Natural Earth Paint is committed to creating supplies for art projects that are safe for all ages, including children and individuals with sensitivities.
Their products—including some certified organic art supplies—are free from toxins, heavy metals, solvents, and harmful additives, making them a healthy choice for artists and educators.
They hand craft products in Germany and source pigments responsibly.
In addition to a zero waste line of minimally compostable packaged supplies, you can also add a Zero Waste Shipping option onto any order to ensure it comes in 100% recyclable paper materials, down to the tape.
Supporting artists everywhere, they regularly collaborate with workshops, events, schools, and organizations that share their eco art ethos.
Select products also available on Amazon
5. Honeysticks
Honeysticks’ Natural Children’s Art Supplies
Price Range: $15–$60
Another option for parents seeking eco-friendly children’s art supplies is Honeysticks and their collection of beeswax crayons, watercolor paint, paint brushes, and coloring books.
Their Jumbo Beeswax Crayons are the perfect companion for the colorful pursuits of little hands and minds.
They’re 30% larger than most natural crayons, making them easier for kids to hold and more durable for long coloring sessions. Plus, their size also helps children develop and refine their pencil grasp.
These fun and crazy crayons aren’t just bigger; they’re also safer. Made with 100% pure New Zealand beeswax and safe, food-grade pigments, they’re entirely natural and non-toxic, being free of BPA, phthalates, and parabens.
The Honeysticks difference isn’t just in the colors. It’s in the smell and feel—no waxy residue or unnatural chemical smell here.
Instead, you’ll find a lovely, natural scent of pure beeswax, which adds to the joy of coloring.
About Honeysticks
Honeysticks is an award-winning New Zealand-based brand that specializes in eco-friendly art supplies for toddlers, all handcrafted in New Zealand.
The company uses recyclable paper and cardboard packaging (avoiding plastic packaging wherever possible) and focuses on reducing waste and minimizing impact throughout their supply chain.
6. Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton’s Eco-Friendly Art Supplies UK
Price Range: $18–$80
Winsor & Newton offers a wide range of watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints.
Some are traditional paints, but their Professional Watercolour range is made using quality pigments and environmentally friendly production methods.
Free from harmful chemicals such as cadmium and lead, these eco painting supplies are safe for both artists and the environment.
The range of non-toxic paints includes over 100 colors, each of which is formulated with a high level of pigment to ensure that the colors are vibrant and long-lasting.
You can buy individually or buy full art supply kits for adults.
Are paint tubes are packaged in recyclable aluminum tubes, making them an eco-friendly choice, aside from the plastic cap.
About Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton is a British art materials manufacturer that was founded way back in 1832.
Paints are their specialty—highly regarded for their rich pigmentation and re-wettability—but the brand also offers gouache, brushes, canvases, papers, inks, graphite and colored pencils, markers, and charcoal.
While not all of their products are sustainable at this time, they are making strides, such as offering cadmium-free paint ranges, reducing product packaging, switching to recycled plastic bottles for their mediums, and incorporating more renewable energy into their supply chain, with carbon neutrality being the goal.
They also pledge to reduce hazardous waste 50% by 2025.
To cultivate community, their site includes a wealth of tips and tutorials for artists, and they donate acrylic paint and brushes to hospitals.
7. EcoStardust
EcoStartdust’s Eco-Friendly Craft Supplies UK
Price Range: $2–$167
For the glitter-loving artist with a green heart, EcoStardust’s Bioglitter offers a sprinkle of sustainability in every sparkly speck.
While we typically give biodegradable glitter some deserved eco-scrutiny, Bioglitter is in a league of its own.
Unlike traditional glitters that are based on polymers that don’t biodegrade and add to microplastic pollution, Bioglitter uses natural materials. Namely plant polymers derived predominantly from non-GMO sustainably farmed Eucalyptus Trees.
These sustainable materials have been proven to biodegrade in the natural environment, breaking down into harmless substances over time.
About EcoStardust
UK-based EcoStardust has the planet and party people alike at heart.
Aiming to “spread happiness and bring people together”, their bio glitter is safe to use for both craft projects and on the human body.
Aiming to do good in every aspect, they do impromptu litter cleanups, build EcoBricks with office waste, and educate themselves on proper waste disposal at every available opportunity.
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How We Chose These Eco-Friendly Art Supplies
Traditional art materials, such as paint brushes, can often be wasteful and harmful to the environment.
While DIY eco-friendly art supplies (we’re talking homemade paints using things like beet and turmeric powder) are the best choice, they don’t usually provide the consistency and quality artists might need.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of top sustainable art supplies based on their commitment to sustainability, use of natural and recycled materials, responsible manufacturing practices, certifications, non-toxicity, and eco-friendly packaging.
By choosing these non-toxic art supplies, not only can we create beautiful art, but we can also make a positive impact on the planet.
Let’s take a closer look at each factor we considered in our selection process.
Materials:
When it comes to sustainable art supplies, we’re all about natural and recycled materials.
We looked for those made of natural materials (like eco-friendly acrylic paint made from plant and mineral pigments) or recycled ones (like eco-friendly notebooks and recycled paper sketchbooks).
We also made sure to select art supplies that are non-toxic and safe for artists of all ages. This means no toxic off-gassing, BPA, phthalates, and other chemicals so we can create art without worrying about our health or the planet’s health.
- Certifications: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
Supply chain & labor practices:
We also considered the manufacturing practices of the brands we selected.
We chose brands that disclose where and how their products are made, and under what ethical conditions.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Eco-friendly packaging is a no-brainer, ideally plastic-free and compostable containers.
But better still are brands that consider their impact beyond just packaging waste, like using renewable energy or carbon offset programs. Or they can be like Faber-Castell and have a whole forest of trees for their products that offset manufacturing!
Community & charitable giving:
The finishing touches can make or break a piece, and we love nothing more than seeing brands making the final strokes with charitable endeavors and support for the global artist community.
Final Thoughts On Green Art Supplies
Not everyone relishes the art of swirling paint on a canvas or the gratification of seeing a sketch come to life.
Easel-ly said, but not always understood.
But what rings true for many is the joy of creating art, the magic of transforming a blank canvas into a spectacle of colors and emotions.
So whether you’re an artist, a hobbyist, or just someone who finds solace in the strokes of a paintbrush, there’s an eco-friendly art supply brand waiting to be discovered by you.
Just remember: The most sustainable craft supplies are those you already have stashed away in your art box or studio. Make it a point to utilize those fully before venturing out to buy new ones—even if they’re just humble graphite pencils or slightly faded watercolors.
If you have an art-enthusiast friend who revels in creativity as much as we do, why not share this article with them?
Let them be inspired by some natural art materials that help create a masterpiece while keeping Mother Earth in mind.
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