10 Eco-Friendly & Ethical Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic (2024)

The right set of ethical throw pillows can instantly transform your space — they can add rich textures, bring in fresh colors, and celebrate artisanal heritage.

What Are Sustainable or Ethical Throw Pillows?

As always, there is no black-or-white answer and there are multiple considerations and layers at play. You may not necessarily find a brand that meets all of these criteria but generally speaking, some elements to look for are:

Ethical Manufacturing:

Does the brand follow transparent and responsible production practices? Do they have third-party verifications (not necessarily required, but can be an added bonus)? Do they pay living wages and offer benefits? What do they do to ensure a safe and healthy workplace?

Cultural Preservation:

In many areas in the world, traditional art forms and craft techniques are at risk of dying out or even going extinct. How is the brand supporting and celebrating the continuation of these generations-old traditions? (This includes paying artisans fair wages so that they can actually provide for themselves and their families with their art.)

Materials:

Does the brand use thoughtfully sourced natural materials like organic cotton, hemp, or linen? Do they use plant-based dyes or at least azo-free and non-toxic dyes?

Other Sustainable Practices:

Does the brand use renewable energy? Do they recycle their water and waste? Do they have eco-friendly packaging? What other ways are they working to minimize waste and emissions?

Ownership:

Who is behind this brand? Who is making the decisions and who is profiting? You may want to look for a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC)-owned business, a Woman of Color (WOC)-owned business, or LGBTQIA+-owned business for instance.

Where to Find Sustainable Throw Pillows

The brands in this guide all meet multiple criteria listed above. Next to each brand description, the Conscious Qualities section will specify which criteria the brand meets.

Before we dive in, note that some of these brands have throw pillow covers that come without pillows inside. For eco-friendly pillow filling options, check out Carolina Morning, a woman-owned brand with fillings like buckwheat hulls, buckwheat pillows, and Kapok.

Oh, and for more responsibly-made design inspiration, check out this guide to ethical home decor and this one to eco-friendly furniture.

This guide includes partners and affiliates, which helps us continue creating free resources like this one! As always, all brand selections are vetted for their sustainability and ethics and our brands we love.

1. Zuahaza

Passionate about natural textiles, sustainable production, and indigenous craftsmanship, Tatiana Ordoñez founded Zuahaza in 2019. The brand, based in Bogota, Colombia, revitalizes heritage crafts by collaborating with women artisans in Colombia to create modern textiles made using organic fabrics, natural dyes, and traditional techniques.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Cultural Preservation, Organic Fabrics, WOC-Owned

Price Range: $$

Check Out Zuahaza

2. Passion Lilie

As a Fair Trade Federation member, Passion Lilie is committed to ethical production practices, including paying living wages, ensuring healthy working conditions, and investing in artisan communities. The brand’s fair trade pillows are made by artisans in India using traditional art forms like block printing or ikat weaving and dyeing techniques.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Cultural Preservation, Natural Fibers

Price Range: $

Check Out Passion Lilie

10 Eco-Friendly & Ethical Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic (2)

3. The Citizenry

Neutral yet bold, The Citizenry’s ethical pillows are handcrafted with unique details and stand-out patterns but come in versatile hues that can transition through the seasons. The brand’s pillows are hand-loomed from natural fibers by master weavers in workshops around the world who earn wages double the fair trade requirement.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Slow Made, Cultural Preservation

Price Range: $$ – $$$

Check Out The Citizenry

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4. Soil to Studio

As the name suggests, Soil to Studio follows sustainable and ethical practices from the fiber they source to the final touches made on their products. Soil to Studio uses eco-minded fibers such as linen and organic cotton, partners with artisans who set their own prices for their pieces, and utlizes sustainable manufacturing practices such as solar power energy and rainwater recycling.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Organic Fabrics, Sustainable Practices, WOC-Owned

Price Range: $$

Explore Soil to Studio on Made Trade

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5. MINNA

MINNA works closely with their artisan partners, collaborating with family-run workshops and independent co-operatives to ensure sustainable employment and fair trade practices (artisans set their own prices for their work). To support the continuation of the ancient crafts of these artisan communities, MINNA pairs contemporary design with indigenous techniques for their ethical throw pillows.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Cultural Preservation, Natural Fibers, LGBTQIA+ Owned

Price Range: $$$

Check Out Minna

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6. Bolé Road Textiles

Born in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, the brand’s founder Hana is passionate about sharing her culture and heritage with the world while supporting Ethiopian artisans and revitalizing local economies. Bolé Road Textile’s ethical throw pillows are handwoven from 100% handspun Ethiopian cotton using ancient weaving techniques.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Cultural Preservation, WOC-Owned

Price Range: $$$

Check Out Bolé Road Textiles

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7. Kiliim

By pairing modern designs to the time-honored techniques for their ethical throw pillows and other textiles, Kiliim is sustaining and reviving the ancestral Egyptian craft of kilim making in Fowwa, Egypt. Kiliim also follows fair production practices —their artisans work in safe environments that align with World Fair Trade Organization’s guidelines and earn incomes 50% higher than average.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Cultural Preservation, Natural Fibers

Price Range: $$

Check Out Kiliim on Made Trade

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8. VISO

VISO bold, abstract home textiles are like looking at pieces of art in a museum! Each dynamic, vibrantly printed throw showcases exceptional design “executed by artisans who pour their expertise and vision into every product.” The brand is sold on Black-owned and B-Corp certified marketplace GOODEE.

Conscious Qualities: Natural Materials, Slow Made

Price Range: $$

Explore Viso on GOODEE

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9. VivaTerra

VivaTerra has a beautifully eclectic selection of eco-friendly pillows, from textured and neutral-hued floor pillows to seasonal holiday-themed decorative pillows. The retailer sources pillows that follow different values — like natural, artisan-made, or made in the US, so look for the ones that best align with your lifestyle and priorities.

Conscious Qualities: Natural Fabrics, Cultural Preservation (varies by product)

Price Range: $$

Check Out VivaTerra

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10. 54kibo

Founded by Nana Quagrain, who was born in Ghana and raised in South Africa, 54kibo showcases the creativity and talent of artisans from the African diaspora to the world. 54kibo has eclectic throw pillows inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Tunisia, South Africa, West Africa, and Haiti.

Conscious Qualities: Black-Owned, Ethical Production, Cultural Preservation

Price Range: $$

Check Out 54kibo

10 Eco-Friendly & Ethical Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic (10)

You May Also Want to Check Out:

Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful Conscious Home

Artisinal Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space

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10 Eco-Friendly & Ethical Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic (2024)

FAQs

What is the most sustainable pillow? ›

  • Best Overall. Avocado Green Pillow. ...
  • Best Budget. Under the Canopy Down Alternative Pillow. ...
  • Best Splurge. Sol Organics Down Pillow. ...
  • Best Vegan. Rawganique 100% Organic Cotton Pillow. ...
  • Best Organic. Naturepedic PLA Pillow. ...
  • Best Natural Latex. Coyuchi Organic Latex Molded Pillow. ...
  • Best Buckwheat. Hullo Buckwheat Pillow. ...
  • Best Bamboo.

What is the secret to throw pillows? ›

Keep it symmetrical especially if using patterns so it doesn't get too busy. Try two or four pillows on the ends of the sofa with a lumbar pillow in the center. Try mixing patterns, but keep a common element like color or fabric or trim.

Is a pillow biodegradable? ›

This will depend on the type of pillow, though. It's sometimes possible to compost your pillow's core if it's made from naturally occurring materials, but you can never compost synthetic materials, like polyester, polyurethane foam, nylon or spandex.

What are most throw pillows made of? ›

Throw pillow fabrics such as cotton, velvet, wool, faux leather, and linen can all make great additions to the space, depending on what look you're going for. If you look at our selection of 22x22 throw pillow covers, you'll see that even pillows of the same fabric and texture can come in a diverse array of colors.

Can you get ethical down pillows? ›

Sourcing Ethical Down

These products generally have a certification from Responsible Down Standard (RDS), Global Traceable Down Standard (GTDS), or Downpass. Most ethical down comes from farms that sell the feathers of ducks and geese raised for meat.

What to avoid when buying a pillow? ›

Pillow buying mistakes to avoid
  • Not considering your sleeping position. ...
  • Not considering any chronic health needs. ...
  • Not investing enough in your pillows. ...
  • Not testing pillows out before committing. ...
  • Not considering your mattress type. ...
  • Buying the wrong amount of pillows.
Feb 23, 2024

What is pillow slang for? ›

Pillow talk is recorded as early as the 1910s, though pillow has signified sexual intimacy for far longer. A pillow-mate, for instance, was slang for “prostitute” in the 1870s.

Why put a pillow under her waist? ›

Put a small pillow under your waist – A small pillow can help prevent bending too much at the waist—say from a sagging mattress—which can also stress the lower back. This helps bring your spine back into alignment for a more restful sleep.

Should you throw away throw pillows? ›

Contact a textile recycling facility: Instead of tossing your old pillows into the recycling bin, you can bring them to these recycling facilities. Textile recycling facilities reuse old stuffing as padding, cleaning rags, and insulation, preventing them from ending up in landfills.

Do pillows collect dead skin? ›

One British study found that after two years, approximately one-third of a pillow's weight contains dead skin, dust mites (which eat the dead skin), and droppings (poop from all those mites). Beyond being gross, dust mites affect the majority of allergy sufferers, too.

Is latex pillow eco friendly? ›

It is also biodegradable, so you can rest easy knowing that your pillow will not harm the environment. Latex pillows are soft and easily mould to the shape of your head while you sleep, providing good support for your head and neck.

What are vegan pillows made of? ›

Vegan hotel bedding

Plus, you can choose from a range of pillows including organic buckwheat hulls, natural kapok, organic millet husks, bamboo shredded fibre and 100 per cent recycled cluster polyester. There's even a hand-embroidered Piñatex leather headboard (plant-based leather made from pineapple fibres).

Why do people put a dent in throw pillows? ›

"I like to think of it as that extra step after fluffing your pillow—it's done to make pillows appear fuller and a bit more structured."

Why is it called a throw pillow? ›

So, what exactly is a throw pillow, and what makes it different from other types of pillows? As the name suggests, these versatile pillows are meant to be “thrown” onto couches, chairs, and beds as decorative accents.

What is the coolest pillow material? ›

Best cooling pillow overall

Latex is one of my favorite pillow fills because it provides similar support to memory foam, but I find that it stays cooler. Even better is when the latex is shredded, as it is here, because it allows for more airflow than a single piece of latex.

What is the most eco-friendly cushion filling? ›

Wool is an eco-friendly and sustainable filling product. By using wool filling for your craft and professional project you are not only helping the environment you are getting a filling that is extremely light, but offers a firm and stable feel, has excellent filling power and is also anti-allergy.

What pillow filling is the healthiest? ›

Great Non-Toxic pillow stuffings:
  • 100% natural latex – ideally organic to ensure purity.
  • Chemical free, untreated wool.
  • Organic Cotton.
  • Organic Kapok.
  • Organic Buckwheat and Millet.
  • Down and Feather fills tend to be quite clean and chemical free when coming from a reputable source.
Mar 22, 2019

Are bamboo pillows good for the environment? ›

Bamboo grows incredibly fast, so it's certainly a sustainable material to use.

Is bamboo pillow better than cotton? ›

The allergens hide and seep into cotton fabrics. But with Bamboo Pillows, this isn't possible. Bamboo Is Highly Hygienic: It is washable and it does not contract. It retains its shape and keeps the freshness alive.

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