Where to Find Eco-Friendly Placemats, Tablecloths & Table Runners For A Beautiful Yet Sustainable Dining Table
Image: MINNA
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SUSTAINABLE TABLECLOTHS, TABLE RUNNERS & PLACEMATS
The end of the year often means celebrations and family gatherings for many people. If you want to offer your family or guests a pleasurable dining experience and have a beautiful table to eat at, you might want to consider getting some table linens.
Tablecloths, placemats and table runners can truly make your dining experience more enjoyable. They are beautiful pieces that help you style and complete any table.
To make each day more special, you may even want to have them on your table permanently and use them for every meal.
However, whether you want to use them daily or only for special occasions, you might want to avoid buying the cheapest table linens out there.
Cheap table cloths, table runners and placemats are generally poorly made, in an unethical and unsustainable way. They wear out easily, fade quickly and do not look good after a short period, which means that you need to replace them often. Not to mention the sweatshops where they are produced!
Replacing your table linens regularly is not sustainable and a waste of money. Instead, consider investing in high-quality table linens that will be worth your money.
To help you with that, here are over a dozen eco-friendly brands selling tablecloths, table runners and placemats that will make your dining table beautiful yet sustainable.
WHAT MAKES A TABLECLOTH, A TABLE RUNNER OR A PLACEMAT SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainable table linens are durable and should last you for years. They hold color longer, and they don’t fade or wear out after a few washes.
They are not produced in sweatshops where workers are treated unethically and paid wages that are not enough to provide for their families.
Eco-friendly tablecloths, placemats and table runners are made using natural or recycled materials without using harmful chemical treatments and dyes. They’re even better if they are certified Fairtrade or organic or received the OEKO-TEX certification.
WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
Sustainable table linens are generally made using natural and biodegradable materials, like cotton, organic cotton, linen, and hemp. You can also find eco-friendly table linens made of palm fiber, bamboo or different types of grass.
Recycled materials, like recycled plastic, are also great as they help prevent used resources from being wasted! But make sure that they are well made and high-quality so that they will not shed microplastics in the wash as they wear out.
Make sure to check out sustainable brands creating reusable cloth napkins here.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE TABLECLOTHS, TABLE RUNNERS & PLACEMATS:
1. Made Trade
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Linen, Organic Cotton, Cotton, Recycled Rubber, Recycled Plastic Bottles
Price: $20-144
Made Trade is an online marketplace featuring more than 300 brands, and it sells ethically made and sustainably sourced products, from clothing to home goods.
The brand has the largest selection of sustainable tablecloths, placemats and table runners I have seen!
Its tablecloths and runners are available in fun patterns and colors, as well as in more neutral tones. They’re made of cotton or organic cotton, using azo-free and natural dyes.
On Made Trade, you also have many styles and shapes of placemats to choose from. They are made from sustainable materials, including post-consumer recycled rubber, linen, organic cotton and recycled plastic.
Most of these products are Fair Trade certified and vegan, and some are even made in the USA.
Made Trade is climate-neutral certified, meaning that it offsets its carbon footprint for the entire company.
use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+
2. Saffron Marigold
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Hand Printed Cotton
Price: $75-150
Embrace global style and create a unique table with Saffron Marigold's range of handcrafted table linens. Their beautiful block-printed cotton tablecloths, table runners, dinner napkins, and placemats come in various colors and prints. You will feel transported by their floral, bohemian, Indian, and French patterns made to inspire wanderlust.
Saffron Marigold partners with Fair Trade Indian artisans who use eco-friendly materials from local sources and low-energy production techniques (primarily handcrafted methods). The makers prefer natural fibers like cotton, reclaimed or upcycled materials, and low-impact, natural dyes. Also, their products are made on demand and in small batches to cut back on waste production.
3. April Notes
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Linen
Price: $32-120
At April Notes, they create timeless home textiles made from natural materials, including linen, organic cotton, and merino wool. From the fabrics they use to how they design, craft, and deliver the products; they work to advocate for a more mindful home. Their sourcing of earth-friendly materials minimizes the environmental impact, while the on-demand model eliminates textile waste.
4. Magic Linen
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Linen
Price: $15-100
Magic Linen is a brand making clothing and home textiles, such as bedding, towels, tablecloths and curtains, all made with linen.
The brand has a great selection of tablecloths, placemats and table runners. They are functional and elegant, and they are available in a large variety of colors and styles.
Magic Linen adds cool touches to its products, giving them unique design details, like pom poms or ruffles. Its table linens are OEKO-TEX certified, which means that they are free of harmful chemicals and substances.
The company makes its products in Vilnius, Lithuania, and sources its fabrics within the country or surrounding countries. Its localized supply chain helps minimize the carbon footprint of transportation.
Magic Linen is committed to reducing its waste: last year, the brand created and sold a lot of Christmas decorations made from upcycled textile leftovers.
5. Ten Thousand Villages
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Cotton, Pathi & Madur Grass, Bamboo
Price: $10-175
Ten Thousand Villages creates fair trade, handcrafted accessories and home goods, employing artisans in developing countries to help them earn a living.
The brand sells unique placemats made with cotton, different types of grass or bamboo. Its cotton placemats are made by artisans working with a non-profit program for people with disabilities in Nepal.
Ten Thousand Villages’ tablecloths and runners feature bold and cool patterns that will make your dining table stand out beautifully.
Except for one table runner made of Madur grass, all tablecloths and runners are handmade with cotton, using traditional techniques like block-printing and hand-weaving.
Ten Thousand Villages is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the World Fair Trade Organization.
6. MINNA
Category: Tablecloths, Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Cotton, Palm Fiber, Recycled Plastic, Jute
Price: $25-145
MINNA is an online store featuring products of dozens of ethical and sustainable brands.
The brand sells two tablecloths made of 100% cotton and dyed with non-toxic colors. They are handwoven by a family-run workshop in Mexico, and they get softer and more absorbent with every wash.
MINNA’s table runners are available in many colors, patterns and styles. Made of cotton, they make a great accent and they’re a beautiful piece to complete any dining table. Like the tablecloths, they are machine washable, which is very practical.
You can also choose from various placemats that you can mix and match with other table textiles. If you prefer a more classic look, Minna Goods’ cotton placemats are ideal!
You may also want to pick placemats made from natural palm or from a recycled yarn made using plastic bottles and jute.
7. Anchal Project
Category: Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $28-82
Anchal Project is a non-profit that supports victims of the commercial sex trade in India. The brand employs them to create handmade home textiles and clothing using vintage fabrics, organic cotton and low-impact dyes.
The non-profit sells fair trade placemats and table runners made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.
They all have a contemporary and timeless design so that you can enjoy them for years.
The placemats and table runners feature contemporary geometric patterns, making them stand out on your dining table. I love that each piece has a hand-stitched signature of the artisan maker. It makes them truly unique!
Anchal Project is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, so all its artisans are treated and paid fairly.
use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+ at Made Trade
8. Zuahaza
Category: Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $30-136
Zuahaza is a social enterprise selling home textiles and decor. They are made in Colombia by women artisans using traditional techniques.
The brand creates beautiful placemats and table runners, all made with 100% organic cotton. Artisans use natural dyes only: they are obtained by collecting and extracting colors from plants and vegetables.
The patterns and colors were inspired by local Colombian fruits that are symbols of the national identity.
Zuahaza’s runners and placemats are made in a natural palette and have elaborate textures. Some of them feature knotted ends that contribute to their cool and unique styles.
Each piece adds an elegant touch to the dining table. They are delicate, soft and have nice eye-catching details. The table runners are made in two different sizes to accommodate smaller and larger tables.
use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+ at Made Trade
9. Mayamam Weavers
Category: Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Cotton
Price: $26-154
Mayamam Weavers creates colorful, handwoven home goods and accessories using the traditional weaving techniques of Mayan culture.
The brand sells placemats and table runners, all available in fun patterns and vibrant colors. Some even feature fringed edges, which makes them more unique.
Mayamam Weavers’ placemats are handwoven using 100% cotton, and they’re all easy to wash and dry. Perfect for everyday use! These placemats will add a burst of colors to your table!
Your dining experience will be even more colorful if you choose the brand’s matching cotton table runners. Those made for celebrations have beautiful embroidery on them!
Based in Guatemala, Mayamam Weavers is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and it provides adult literacy classes and on-site childcare for the community.
10. I Love Linen
Category: Tablecloths
Materials: Linen
Price: $119-129
I Love Linen creates linen bedding and clothing, as well as other home textiles for the dining room and bathroom.
The brand sells different tablecloths made of 100% French flax linen, in a wide range of colors and three sizes. They give a sophisticated look to your dining table, and they are elegant and soft.
I Love Linen does not use formaldehyde to set its dyes, which means that fewer toxins are used in the manufacturing process. All the brand’s textiles are healthy for you and the environment!
The company received the ECOCERT certification, which ensures that all fibers are 100% organically grown. It is also OEKO-TEX certified, meaning that the fabric is tested and that there are no harmful substances in it.
I Love Linen works with a maker who is SA8000 rated, so all workers are treated ethically.
11. Bolé Road Textiles
Category: Placemats, Table Runners
Materials: Cotton
Price: $85-115
Bolé Road Textiles is a New York-based design studio that sells vibrant, handwoven home decor. The company works with artisans in Ethiopia who use ancient weaving techniques, passed down through generations.
The company sells a variety of table runners and placemats, made with Ethiopian cotton and dyed with natural dyes. You can buy them in neutral and nature-inspired hues.
Bolé Road Textiles’ placemats come in a set of four and they are ideal pieces to set an elegant table. They are modern, simple and soft, yet durable. You can easily pair them with the brand’s matching napkins that have a more decadent look.
Its table runners feature elegant styles and elaborate textures. They are the perfect addition to complete a dining table or a mantel!
The company is partnering up with small woman-owned businesses and weaving collectives, helping them grow and offering them fair wages.
12. Hazia from the North
Category: Tablecloths
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $92-110
Hazia From The North is a Norwegian brand that sells high-quality tablecloths, napkins and cushion covers.
The brand offers five different tablecloths, three in solid neutral colors and two with simple black and white prints. They are all made from 100% organic cotton grown in Turkey, and they are then handcrafted in Spain.
Hazia From The North’s tablecloths are all simple and classic, yet elegant and stylish. They are an ideal piece to complement your dining table every day or when you have guests over.
The Fika Nude tablecloth is made for hypersensitive skin or people with allergies: no dyes or additives are used in the manufacturing process. To wash its products, the company doesn’t use irrigation nor hazardous chemicals, only rainwater.
Hazia From The North sends its textiles in cotton bags, which are practical and great to reuse.
About the Author:
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
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