8 ECO-FRIENDLY & FAIR TRADE BASKETS FOR ALL YOUR STORAGE NEEDS
This blog post is all about eco-friendly and fair trade baskets!
Baskets are such a practical accessory to have in our homes!
Whether we use small woven bowls, large laundry hampers, or medium-sized storage baskets, they all help us organize and store our physical things.
Not only that, but they can add a nice decorative touch to our space if we opt for beautiful pieces.
Some can even double as plant pots!
Unfortunately, stores mostly sell cheaply made baskets and bins made from unsustainable materials.
However, we don’t have to get those to organize our things at home.
We can instead buy high-quality, sustainable baskets made with the people who crafted them and the planet in mind.
In this article, I’ve rounded up 8 eco-friendly and fair trade baskets for all your storage needs.
Whether you’re looking for practical storage pieces, laundry baskets, or woven plant pots, these brands have you covered!
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
Why should we only buy eco-friendly & fair trade baskets?
Most storage boxes and solutions we can buy at the store or online are made of plastic or some type of synthetic materials.
It means that they’re derived from oil, one of the most polluting industries in the world.
Not only that but these storage solutions tend to be cheaply made and can break fairly easily.
And when they do break and are no longer usable, they’re thrown away and will sit in a landfill for hundreds of years.
Not to mention that they are produced in factories where workers are underpaid and provided very poor working conditions.
On the contrary, when we buy eco-friendly baskets, we know they are made sustainably from natural materials.
Plus, they’re made to last with their high-quality construction.
Similarly, when we get fair trade baskets, we are supporting brands that make sure the workers in the supply chain are treated well and paid fairly.
They implement ethical, sustainable farming and manufacturing practices and meet a range of economic, environmental, and social criteria.
Read more: 19 things I do not buy as an environmentalist
What to look for when shopping for eco-friendly & fair trade baskets?
Whether you’re looking for fair trade laundry baskets, eco-friendly baskets with lids, or something else, buy from a brand that is transparent about how and where its products are made.
Check that the baskets are made ethically and with sustainable materials.
Eco-friendly and fair trade baskets are usually made from natural materials.
Some examples are sisal, jute, seagrass, rattan, palm leaves, hemp, raffia, or banana leaves.
There are also great models made from recycled materials like recycled cotton, recycled plastic, or even recycled leather!
If you are looking for fair trade baskets specifically, see if you can buy from a brand that is certified by Fairtrade, Fair Trade USA, or the World Fair Trade Organization.
The company can also be a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
If it received other third-party certifications such as B Corp or Climate-Neutral, that’s even better!
One thing to keep in mind though is that not all the brands that claim to be “fair trade” are certified.
However, it doesn’t mean they don’t follow fair trade principles.
So it’s important to do our research before buying anything and make sure there is no greenwashing happening.
Read more: 10 ways to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle
8 eco-friendly and fair trade baskets for all your storage needs
1. The Citizenry
Categories: Floor Baskets, Storage Baskets & Bins, Laundry Baskets
Materials: Palm Leaves, Totora Reed, Leather, Abaca Bark
The Citizenry’s artisan-made home goods are all crafted with a fair trade process guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization.
Its baskets are no exception.
You can choose from a variety of medium-sized, large, and oversized baskets all handwoven from natural plant fibers.
From round or square storage baskets to floor baskets to hampers with lids, you’ll find the perfect storage solutions for your home.
The brand crafts them from all-natural materials such as palm leaves, abaca bark, totora reed, or ethically sourced leather.
The baskets also feature lovely details such as artful shapes and leather or braided handles.
Not to mention The Citizenry pays its artisans on average twice the fair trade wage requirement!
SHOP THE CITIZENRY ECO-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE BASKETS
2. Will & Atlas
Categories: Storage Baskets, Storage Bowls, Laundry Baskets, Trays
Materials: Jute, Palm Leaves, Hogla Grass
Will & Atlas combines traditional craftsmanship with modern design to craft fair trade artisanal home goods.
Its baskets are available in all kinds of sizes and shapes!
Whether you’re looking for a small storage bowl or an oversized laundry basket, the brand has everything you may need.
Most of its baskets are made from jute, but you can also find ones made from palm leaves or hogla grass.
There are also different colors available as you can get natural-colored, black, or stripy models.
Will & Atlas’ baskets are all handwoven in small batches and made to last.
The brand’s main artisan partners are NGOs that work with women artists and provide them with child and medical care, schooling, microloans, and financial management training!
SHOP WILL & ATLAS ECO-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE BASKETS
3. Lorena Canals
Categories: Storage Baskets, Laundry Baskets, Planter Baskets
Materials: Recycled Cotton, Recycled Polyester, Wool
Lorena Canals is a sustainable rug brand that also offers handmade fair trade baskets.
Very versatile, you can use them to store all kinds of things around the home, from blankets to toys to magazines.
You can even use some of them as laundry baskets or decorative planters for your plants.
Most of the baskets are handmade from recycled cotton, but you can also get some made from wool or recycled polyester.
Lorena Canals’ baskets are available in various colors, and many feature unique details such as pompoms, fringes, stripes, or tassels.
Whether you prefer ethnic or Nordic baskets, there’s a style for everyone!
SHOP LORENA CANALS ECO-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE BASKETS
4. LIKHA
Categories: Storage Baskets, Mini Baskets, Planter Baskets
Materials: Seagrass, Rattan, Manila Hemp, Raffia
LIKHA is on a mission to empower Filipino artisans to overcome poverty by creating quality home goods using time-honored local craftsmanship.
It has a large collection of handwoven baskets that includes classic storage baskets and more unique, one-of-a-kind models.
While they are all stylish and functional, some pieces will add a fun, playful vibe to your space with their embroidered details or elephant shapes.
Some panter baskets even showcase adorable animal faces, making them both whimsical and practical.
LIKHA’s baskets are made with natural fibers such as Manila hemp, rattan, seagrass, or raffia.
They’re also handcrafted by artisans who are paid fair wages and provided with comfortable working conditions.
Not only that but, as a social enterprise, the company reinvests the majority of its profits to support its artisan communities.
It’s also a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
SHOP LIKHA ECO-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE BASKETS
5. Quince
Categories: Laundry Baskets, Storage Baskets, Storage Boxes, Storage Chests, Decorative Baskets
Materials: Rattan, Recycled Leather
Sustainable brand Quince offers eco-friendly baskets handwoven from Burmese rattan by local artisans.
If you’re looking for a big storage solution, this company has a huge storage chest.
It is perfect for storing pillows and blankets, as well as toys, out-of-season clothes, and shoes.
It also sells a few smaller-sized storage baskets (with or without lids) and a beautiful laundry hamper with a lid and removable cotton liner.
Apart from these rattan baskets, you can also get a set of three luxurious-looking baskets made from recycled bonded leather.
These are certified by the Global Recycled Standard and produced using eco-friendly chemicals.
No matter which baskets you choose, Quince prioritizes quality, sustainability, and fair manufacturing practices.
SHOP QUINCE ECO-FRIENDLY BASKETS
6. Obakki
Categories: Storage Baskets, Woven Bowls, Basket Mats, Laundry Baskets, Planter Baskets
Materials: Sisal, Palm Leaves, Banana Leaves
Obakki sells gorgeous fair trade African baskets handmade using natural dyes and locally sourced natural materials.
You can choose from a large selection of storage baskets, woven bowls, and basket mats.
The larger models also work perfectly as laundry hampers and planter baskets!
The brand’s baskets are handcrafted by artisans in Uganda or Kenya from sisal or palm and banana leaves.
Many of them feature stripes or intricate geometric patterns.
I love that for each basket, Obakki shares the story of the artisan communities who made it!
It also implements fair trade standards and funds development work through its foundation, providing clean water access and livelihood initiatives around the globe.
SHOP OBAKKI ECO-FRIENDLY, FAIR TRADE BASKETS
7. Made Trade
Categories: Laundry Baskets, Woven Bowls, Wall Baskets, Storage Baskets, Hanging Baskets
Materials: Banana Fiber, Hemp, Jute, Natural Grasses, Palm Leaves, Raffia, Seagrass, Recycled Plastic, Sisal, Rattan
Made Trade is a sustainable online marketplace that carries more than a hundred ethical brands selling home goods, furniture, and clothing.
It has a huge selection of baskets from brands like KAZI, Swahili African Modern, Korissa, and Indego Africa.
From laundry hampers and storage baskets of all sizes to wall baskets and woven fruit bowls, you’ll find something for all your storage needs!
There are countless designs, styles, and colors, and the best part is that you can shop by values and, for instance, use filters to only see Fair Trade baskets.
Apart from a few models made from recycled plastic, all of Made Trade’s baskets are made from natural materials such as raffia, banana fiber, or sisal.
Plus, the company is Climate-Neutral certified, so it offsets its entire carbon footprint!
SHOP MADE TRADE ECO-FRIENDLY & FAIR TRADE BASKETS
8. MINNA
Categories: Hanging Baskets, Storage Baskets, Laundry Baskets, Planter Baskets
Materials: Palm, Jonote Fiber, Bejuco Wood, Tule
MINNA creates eco-friendly homewares, textiles, and wallcoverings in partnership with artisans in Latin America who use traditional craft techniques.
Most of its baskets are handwoven in Mexico from dried palm.
Available in various sizes, you can use them as practical storage pieces around your home and even as decorative planters.
They feature cool geometric patterns and are designed in many colors, including bright red, blue, fuchsia, sage green, and yellow.
Their handy lids will keep your items out of sight.
If you prefer more neutral colors, MINNA has several models sold in their beautiful natural colors.
For instance, it has two wall baskets, including a three-tier hanging one, made from bejuco wood and jonote fiber, as well as a large tule laundry basket with big handles.
MINNA is also B Corp certified, meaning that it meets some of the highest standards in terms of sustainability and ethics.
SHOP MINNA ECO-FRIENDLY BASKETS
Final thoughts on eco-friendly & fair trade baskets
I hope you found this article about eco-friendly and fair trade baskets helpful and that you could find the perfect models for your storage needs.
If you liked this post, you might want to read the following ones too:
- 12 sustainable home decor brands for a beautiful eco-friendly home
- 8 non-toxic rugs to add texture and style to your home
- 5 minimalist bedroom storage ideas to keep your room tidy and organized
- 20 brilliant minimalist bedroom decor ideas you’ll adore
- 18 minimalist bathroom decor ideas for a functional yet beautiful space
What are your favorite eco-friendly and fair trade baskets?
Have I missed your favorite brand?
Please share your recommendations in the comments!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends so they can find the perfect sustainable baskets for their storage needs too.
Looking for more non-toxic & sustainable brands? Check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory!
It features conscious brands in various categories, from home goods and furniture to fashion and clean beauty!