10 Sustainable Throw Pillows For A Cozier Couch
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A super simple way to update our space—whether for season or style—is by adding a throw pillow here and there. Whether you put it on your bed, couch, or floor, an accent cushion often provides warmth, comfort, and just the right amount of pizazz.
While you can, of course, find throw pillows at big-box stores, most are made with unsustainable fabrics like polyester. Instead, these 11 home decor and pillow brands below use natural and recycled fabric, ideal for any conscious home. Plus, these throw and couch pillows are mostly artisan-made with designs hailing from West Africa, Argentina, and everywhere in between—so you’ll support makers’ livelihoods, too.
Complete the look with a cozy throw blanket, then sink right into your couch. (Psst—here are our recs for sustainable couches if you need a new one!)
1. Burrow
Ethics | Fair Trade certified factories, ethically made in India & Portugal, responsibly sourced & sustainable materials, traditional techniques
Materials | Cotton, alpaca wool, jute, polyester
Our Pick | Honey Interknit Jersey Pillow ($74)
Price Range | $59–$225
Burrow has become one of the internet’s favorite couches—and the same goes for the brand’s pillows. The covers are crafted in Fair Trade certified factories, using traditional weaving and embroidering techniques. Some designs include polyester, though there are many other sustainable options to choose from. Simple colors, designs, and styles that work in any home. (You can also purchase a square insert for a perfect fit.)
Shop Burrow
2. Jungalow
Ethics | Sustainable & responsibly sourced materials, ethically made, OEKO-TEX certified, gives back
Materials | Cotton, bamboo viscose, wool
Our Pick | Tigress Pom Pom Pillow ($55)
Price Range | $49–$169
For pillows that truly 💥pop💥, Jungalow is our one-stop shop. This woman-owned team from Los Angeles teams up with artisans and ethical factories around the world to bring unique throw designs to life, including animal- and Indigenous-inspired styles. You can choose a poly or down fill when ordering, and international shipping is available. Consider them the perfect accent pillows.
Shop Jungalow
3. Kiliim
Ethics | Sustainable & upcycled materials, artisan-made in Egypt, traditional techniques, social enterprise model, fair trade working conditions
Materials | Cotton & upcycled wool
Our Pick | Tangle Cushion ($55)
Price Range | $60–$95
Kiliim—a take on the Egyptian word for rug, “kilim”—is a social enterprise providing Egyptian craftspeople fair labor and pay. Like all Kiliim products, these pillow covers are handcrafted using traditional techniques and the yarn is upcycled from local factories in Cairo. Whether you go for square, rectangular, or a lumbar-sized cover, you’ll love these delightful geometric designs.
Shop Kiliim
4. MINNA
Ethics | Sustainable & responsibly sourced materials, ethically made by artisans, natural dyes, traditional techniques, fair wages & labor
Materials | Cotton, merino & alpaca wool, silk
Our Pick | Shadow Pillow ($205)
Price Range | $105–$260
Black throw pillows? Ones with white stripes? How about a touch of gold? MINNA has ‘em all! This small biz teams up with global makers—from Mexico to Peru to Uruguay—for pillows you can mix and match. While these are on the pricier side, MINNA offers artisans fair wages, flexible working hours, and more, so these investment pieces will go much farther than just inside your home.
Shop MINNA
5. 54kibo
Ethics | Artisan-designed, sustainable materials, ethically made
Materials | Cotton
Our Pick | Tunis Decorative Pillow ($68)
Price Range | $65–$158
54kibo works with African designers to bring diaspora-infused styles to the masses, including a line of gorgeous throw pillows. There are four collections to choose from, each with their own flair; go for simple Tunisian accent pillows or liven things up with West African- or Caribbean-inspired graphic pillows bursting with color. And they all have one thing in common: You’ll love showing them off.
Shop 54kibo
6. JIU JIE
Ethics | Zero waste design, handmade in NYC
Materials | 100% cotton outer, deadstock fabric, poly crepe satin, boucle fabric, hypoallergenic poly fill
Our Pick | Barbie Double Knot Cushion ($135)
Price Range | $110–$360
JIU JIE was imagined by Mexican-American designer Jeanette Reza who used her passion of sewing to design her one of a kind original knot cushions. These unique and vibrant cushions bring together art and multi-functionality in a fun way for use throughout your home. Besides being a statement decor piece, you can twist and twirl these tubular cushions into your own customizable design for an eclectic vibe. We recommend unknotting and using it as a pseudo-body pillow for added comfort.
Shop JIU JIE
7. Sabai
Ethics | Recycled & upcycled materials, eco-friendly packaging, repair & replace program, made-to-order, ethically made
Materials | Recycled velvet or upcycled poly, recycled plastic
Our Pick | The Square Pillow ($80)
Price Range | $80–$110
Velvety soft pillows that are eco-friendly and affordable? Thanks, Sabai! This sustainable brand recycles velvet and polyester for outer covers and uses recycled plastic bottle fibers for filling. The pillows are as low impact as you can get. Available in 10 swoon-worthy colors including dusty rose and seafoam green, you’ll enjoy this luxurious upgrade.
Shop Sabai
8. Territory Design
Ethics | Organic & sustainable materials, ethically made by artisans, traditional techniques
Materials | Organic wool, cotton, cactus fibers
Our Pick | Nube Pillow Cover ($145)
Price Range | $85–$145
Launched by two friends who met in graduate school, Territory Design is a decor brand combining style and sustainability for the modern home. This marketplace offers everything from textured to striped designs, in neutral colors that will suit any style. All are ethically and responsibly made using traditional techniques and natural fibers in family-run spaces.
Shop Territory Design
9. Meggy & Me
Ethics | Small batch, natural materials, some artisan-made
Materials | Cotton & wool
Our Pick | Evie (£44)
Price Range | £25–£51
Meggy & Me is a mother-and-daughter team from the UK (Meggy’s the daughter, and Leah the mother). This online boutique stocks goods made with natural, sustainable fibers, like cotton and wool for pillows. Many of these throw cushions are artisan-made, like the pom-pom designs woven on Moroccan looms. Choose from just the cover or add an insert for a simple, straightforward experience. Meggy & Me delivers worldwide from its London HQ.
Shop Meggy & Me
10. Pampa
Ethics | Ethically made by artisans, traditional techniques, responsibly sourced & natural materials, gives back
Materials | Wool, cotton, recycled fiber inserts
Our Pick | Monty Round Cushion ($190 AUD)
Price Range | $160–$370 AUD
Aussie-based Pampa wants to ensure traditional techniques aren’t forgotten in a more industrialist world. That’s why it taps rural communities for a range of artisan products, like these cushions and throws from Argentina. Each one is handmade, some woven on looms and others sewn in cross-hatch patterns; they’re then filled with eco-friendly fibers. Our personal favorites are the round cushions with pom poms—a style both adults and children will love.
