If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Parachute #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Parachute
If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Mbare #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Mbare
If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Sarep + Rose #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Sarep + Rose

11 Eco Friendly And Sustainable Laundry Baskets & Bags To Help Green Your Routine


Fed up with dirty piles of laundry? 

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. 

And by reducing plastic waste, we can take a load off the planet too. 

Add a natural vibe to your home and help preserve indigenous craft traditions with an eco friendly laundry basket from fairtrade company Swahili African Modern

Need more than one sustainable laundry bag? Check out Uashmama’s ‘snap and separate’ modular system made out of washable paper (yes really!). 

Non-profit organization Rishilpi Handicrafts trains and supports artisans in rural Bangladesh. Their understated fair trade laundry baskets pair well with minimalist decor. 

Before you reach for your plastic free laundry detergent, tumble down to the end of the article to see how we pulled out the best sustainable laundry basket brands.

*This post contains affiliate links

QUICK LINKS FOR ECO FRIENDLY LAUNDRY BASKETS & Bags


Sustainable Laundry Bags

1. THE CITIZENRY

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by The Citizenry #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by The Citizenry

About The Citizenry

Fairtrade artisan collective The Citizenry offers a selection of handmade furniture and ethical home decor including eco-friendly shower curtains, and more. 

Their fair trade handwoven baskets come in a variety of shapes and sizes so whether you have a mountain of laundry to deal with, or you rock a minimalist wardrobe, you can find one that suits.

The Citizenry’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices

Materials:

From Bangladeshi Holga leaves to Ghanian elephant leaves, these natural laundry baskets are made from plant materials and take between one to four days to complete.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Each basket is handmade by artisans in a fairtrade environment certified by the World Fair Trade Organization. The Citizenry pays wages that are twice the fair trade wage requirement.

Green business practices: 

The age-old techniques used to handcraft these sustainable baskets have low carbon emissions and zero waste.

Community & charitable giving: 

10% of all proceeds are directly invested back into artisan communities through Entrepreneur Development Grants.

Available: The Citizenry

2. SWAHILI AFRICAN MODERN

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Swahili Modern #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Swahili Modern

About Swahili African Modern

Swahili African Modern is a USA based, female founded company working directly with artisan partners in Africa. 

They offer a range of fair trade African baskets, home decor, accessories, and gifts. 

Disguise your wash pile in style with one of their sustainable hampers available in neutral tones as well as funkier colors and patterns.

Swahili African Modern’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

The Senegalese sustainable woven laundry baskets are made from a combination of natural cattail stalks and upcycled plastic strips. 

The Kenyan baskets are handwoven from doum palm.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Swahili African Modern is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. They develop long-term relationships with artisan producers across 15 African nations. 

Read more about their fair trade principles here.

Their warehouse is based in Eugene, Oregon and employs around 20 people.

Available: Made Trade

3. RISHILPI HANDICRAFTS

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Rishilpi Handicrafts #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Rishilpi Handicrafts

About Rishilpi Handicrafts

Rishilpi Handicrafts is a nonprofit NGO based in southwest Bangladesh.

Founded in 1977 with the aim of improving the lives of the Rishi caste, they sell a range of handcrafted home decor, gifts, and accessories.

The understated and simple lines of their handwoven baskets pair well with minimalist decor, and they have both open laundry baskets and lidded hampers to choose from.

Rishilpi Handicrafts’ Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Rishilpi Handicrafts’ stylish laundry baskets are made from date palm leaves and leather.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Rishilpi trains and supports artisans in rural Bangladesh who weave the baskets by hand in their homes. 

You can read more about each of their artisans, their lives and their production process here.

Community & charitable giving: 

Rishilpi does relief and development work in rural Bangladeshi communities. 

They offer artisans education sponsorship, health care, and microcredit savings programs.

Available: ten thousand villages

4. SAREP & ROSE

Image by Sarep + Rose

About Sarep & Rose

Female and BIPOC founded and owned, Sarep & Rose is on a mission to merge style and function with social impact. 

They work with entrepreneurs across Africa to create a range of artisan-made leather handbags, footwear, decorative storage baskets and colorful sustainable woven laundry baskets. 

Whether you’re into brights, neutrals or patterns, have a look at these handwoven, eco friendly laundry basket creations from Ghana.

Sarep & Rose’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Sarep & Rose’s eco laundry baskets are made from hand-dyed grasses and straw including those made from the elephant grass plant and the veta vera plant.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Ghanian artisans are paid above-average wages.

Available: Ocelot Market

5. WILL & ATLAS

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Will & Atlas #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Will & Atlas

About Will & Atlas

Will & Atlas is a women-owned company specializing in non-toxic rugs, baskets, and bags made from natural fibers. 

Their sustainable laundry hampers combine traditional weaving styles with contemporary designs. 

For a change from the usual hues, have a look at their charcoal-colored jute laundry basket made using a natural dye.

Will & Atlas’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

These sustainable handwoven baskets are made from jute or palm leaves.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Will & Atlas work with “artisans, makers and treasure hunters around the globe”.

Workers are paid fair, living wages, and work in environments that adhere to fair trade standards. Read more about their Fair Trade Promise.

Available: Made Trade

6. MBARE

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Mbare #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Mbare

About Mbare

Mbare offers an eclectic collection of handcrafted products made from natural and recycled materials sourced from all over Africa.

Their eco friendly laundry hampers are handwoven in both plain and patterned designs and come with matching lids.

Mbare’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

MBare’s laundry baskets are typically made from handwoven millet grass and recycled plastic.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Mbare pays living wages to all its artisan partners and is guided by Fair Trade practices.

Available: Made Trade

7. PARACHUTE

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Parachute #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Parachute

About Parachute

Parachute is a woman-founded brand offering a selection of ethical home goods including eco friendly bedding, blankets and  mattress protectors

They offer a couple of sustainable laundry hampers including a simple, modern and durable canvas hamper with plenty of room for a full wash load, and the collapsible metal frame makes it both sturdy and mobile.

Parachute’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

The canvas hamper is made of 100% undyed, pre-shrunk cotton canvas, and the frame from powder-coated metal. The bag also features a top flap with rubber buttons.

They also offer a palm leaf natural laundry hamper made from… palm leaf.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Parachute’s cotton laundry hamper is made in a family-owned factory located in northern India. 

Their palm leaf hamper is made by a group of artisans in Mexico that prioritize sustainability, both in terms of materials and how they care for their people.

Green business practices: 

Parachute is aiming to become Climate Neutral certified. 

Their core products are Oeko-Tex® certified and they plan to increase the amount of GOTS® certified organic cotton.

Community & charitable giving: 

Parachute’s Home for Dreams Initiative provides mentorship, grants, and marketing education to Black entrepreneurs. 

The company also donates malaria-prevention nets to people in need through its partnership with the United Nations’ Nothing but Nets campaign.

Available: Parachute

8. West ELM

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by West Elm #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by West Elm

About West Elm

Furniture giant West Elm is actively working to expand its range of sustainable furniture and home goods.

You can now shop everything from non-toxic shower curtains to eco friendly cribs using the search function to narrow down different sustainability criteria (organic, fair trade, locally made, handcrafted, and sustainably sourced).

West Elm’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

West Elm’s range of natural and eco friendly baskets include those made from rattan peel, water hyacinth, seagrass, recycled plastic, recycled foil, natural canvas and steel.

Many of them are lined with a polyester/cotton blend so we recommend looking for those without any lining.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

West Elm stocks a wide range of products with an equally wide range of sourcing complexities. 

We’d suggest filtering your search for laundry baskets on their website for “handcrafted”. 

Then carefully read the description for each to better understand where the product comes from and opt for those that support artisan craftsmanship.

Green business practices: 

60% of West Elm’s products now support at least one sustainability initiative. 

They’re also increasing USA manufacturing, supporting artisan communities with fair trade standards, and training organic farmers.

Community & charitable giving: 

West Elm has donated over $50 million to organizations including The Human Rights Campaign, ASPCA, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Available: West Elm

Eco Friendly Laundry Bags

9. UASHMAMA

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Uashmama #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Uashmama

About Uashmama

Family owned and Tuscany based, Uashmama offers a range of sustainable storage solutions including an eco friendly laundry bag made from AGGO®, a clever type of paper that you can wash. 

Their ‘snap and separate’ modular laundry bag system helps you separate out your smalls from your sweaters, or cater for multiple family members. 

And if organization is your thing, the bags also come with customizable labels.

Ushamama’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

AGGO® washable paper is made from certified organic tree pulp fibers, biodegradable wax, and vegetable based dyes.

It’s extremely pliable yet durable enough to last heavy use.

The straps are made from recycled cotton, 85% of which is derived from used T-shirts.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

All of their organic cotton laundry bags are designed and made in Tuscany, Italy employing local craftsmen and artisans.

Green business practices: 

Ushamama uses water-saving production methods, and to reduce waste, scraps of paper and organic cotton are used to reinforce the bags.

Available: Food52

10. NOT PERFECT LINEN

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by not PERFECT LINEN #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by not PERFECT LINEN

About not PERFECT LINEN

not PERFECT LINEN uses, you guessed it, linen, to fashion a range of clothing and homewares. 

From sleeveless dresses and oversized tops to linen curtains and aprons, they’re one of the most sustainable linen clothing brands we’ve come across.  

For the laundry, they offer both large sustainable laundry bags for travel and handy hanging laundry bags in a few different colors.

not PERFECT LINEN’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

These linen laundry bags are made from OEKO – TEX Standard 100 certified European linen fabric.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

This Lithuanian family-owned and operated shop embraces slow fashion practices that support local artisans with fair wages and safe working conditions.

Available: Etsy

11. PACKAGE FREE SHOP

If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Package Free Shop #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle
Image by Package Free Shop

About Package Free Shop

The Package Free Shop was founded by Lauren Singer, a pioneer of the zero waste movement and voice behind one of our favorite zero waste blogs

It sells all sorts of things to support a zero waste lifestyle, including health and body products (like toothbrushes and eco friendly hair brushes), home goods, gifts, and zero waste kits

The pleasingly simple organic cotton laundry bag can easily carry 30-40 lbs. of clothes making it a useful option for laundry runs, taking on holiday, or as a simple home accessory.

Package Free Shop’s Ethical And Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

This organic cotton laundry bag is GOTS and Fair Trade certified.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

The laundry bag is produced in India under Fair Trade certified conditions

Green business practices: 

Shipping materials from the Package Free Stores are 100% recyclable and 100% compostable. 

Community & charitable giving: 

Organizations that have received past support and donations include Lower East Ecology Center, Los Sures Food Pantry, Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, Habitat for Humanity, Black Girls Code, UCLA Medical Center, and the Trans Disaster Relief Fund.

Available: Package Free Shop

How We Found The Best Eco Friendly And Sustainable Laundry Baskets & Bags

There’s a lot on the [clothes] line for the planet when it comes to choosing the products we fill our homes with. 

If you’re in a bit of a spin about which sustainable laundry basket to go for, our criteria might help with the decision making. 

Materials:

We’re a big fan of natural materials, provided they’ve been responsibly sourced or grown in a sustainable way. 

Natural materials are compostable, avoid microplastic shedding, and in the case of eco friendly laundry baskets, they look great too. 

Handwoven baskets in particular add a warm, natural vibe to whichever room you store your laundry in. 

The eco laundry baskets on our list are made from various natural materials including several types of dried plant material, linen, organic cotton, and washable cotton paper. 

Some of the woven baskets include repurposed plastic strips that, whilst not natural, do help to reduce waste.

Supply chain and labor practices:

It’s important to consider the social impact of the products we buy if we want to vote for a kinder, fairer world. 

Many companies are taking extra steps to ensure employees are paid fair wages and kept safe from harmful chemicals and unsafe working conditions. 

Supporting indigenous artisans and keeping traditional crafts alive is one way businesses can have a positive social impact. This aspect of sustainability shines bright amongst the brands on this list. 

It’s especially comforting when companies can back up their ethical manufacturing claims with a Fair Trade Certification.

Green business practices:

From going carbon neutral to plastic-free packaging, there’s a whole variety of ways that sustainable and ethical brands are helping us move into a greener future.

Community & charitable giving:

Some big-hearted brands give back by donating a percentage of their profits to charitable causes or by supporting and empowering the people they work with through education, health, and community programs.


Final Thoughts On Sustainable Laundry Baskets

As always we recommend searching for second hand laundry baskets first – with an abundance of thrift stores in your area, you’ll surely find something suitable (or use what you have already). 

But if you do need to buy new, a sustainable laundry basket is a great way to green up your laundry routine alongside using organic laundry detergent or laundry detergent sheets

Of course, they’re great for stashing all sorts of other things too. 

Kids toys, sofa blankets, yoga accessories, spare bedding – there are plenty of excuses to invest in a good-looking, eco friendly laundry basket, bag or hamper. 

And it’s a good look for the planet too, with natural materials, fair working environments, and brands that go the extra mile with their green business efforts. 

With so many great options to choose from on this list, you won’t be left high and dry in your hunt for the perfect, green laundry basket. 

Spread the word and help friends and family corral those smelly socks by sharing this article with them.


If you’re close to throwing in the towel, our list of sustainable laundry baskets might help take a [laundry] load off your mind. Image by Mbare #sustainablelaundrybasket #ecofriendlylaundrybaskets #sustainablejungle

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