9 Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Desks For Your Home Office
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We’ve researched and tested hundreds of desks with eco-friendly materials — these are our top picks for a sustainable home office.
We’re upgrading our desks to maximize our productivity and comfort, and we think you might be too. If you’re also on the hunt for a new desk that is maybe a step up from IKEA, check out these sustainable options with local manufacturing, responsibly sourced materials, and low or neutral carbon emissions. Top it off with a comfy and eco-conscious desk chair, and you’ll be good to go.
Why choose an eco-friendly desk?
You might opt for a wooden desk or one made with sustainable materials for a few reasons — aesthetic appeal, durability, and sustainability being at the top of the list. The natural beauty of wooden desks offers a timeless appeal and can easily complement other furniture in your home. High-quality materials are also made to be sturdy and durable, especially when made from hardwoods — meaning your furniture will stand the test of time. Best of all, many sustainable wood desks are made with wood from sustainably managed forests, or reclaimed wood, which is better for our environment.
And, of course, if these desks aren’t your style or the price tag is a bit too steep, consider renting or going secondhand.
1. Avocado
Sustainable Materials | Solid walnut wood, solid maple wood
Features We Love | Climate Neutral certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified, FSC certified, sustainable solid wood, nontoxic materials
Starting At | $2,999
Avocado’s Mid-Century Modern Desk is here to elevate your office space with its angular silhouette, soft-close drawers and timeless charm. Made with responsibly-sourced solid wood (for its long-lasting and resilient appeal) in Avocado’s FSC-certified Los Angeles woodshop, this desk is designed for longevity and durability for years to come. Safety is of utmost importance, with the desk being Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verified by UL, meaning no VOC’s and phthalates. For environmentally-friendly living, you can’t get any better!
2. Work From Home Desks
Sustainable Materials | Birchwood ply
Features We Love | FSC certified birch, EPA certified for low emissions
Starting at | $749
Work From Home Desks is the ergonomic, easy, and effective setup you need to get right to work, wherever home is (without any tools!). Crafted just outside of Los Angeles with FSC certified birch timber, each adjustable desk is slim and simple yet exceptionally sturdy, holding up to 100 pounds of equipment. You can also find larger or kid-sized desks and accessories like a laptop lifter or shelf to best fit your needs.
Customer Review | “This small desk fits nicely in an alcove near our kitchen. The additional shelf holds the monitor at the correct height. I did not want a “serious” piece of furniture, but I did want a practical, stable, attractive work area. The small desk checked all my boxes.” – Ilene K. (Read all reviews.)
3. RLDH
Sustainable Materials | Baltic birch plywood
Features We Love | Made-to-order, carbon-neutral shipping
Starting At | $129
Rodolfo Lozano launched RLDH in Southern California after seeing his design dreams come to life on his renovated home, his son’s crib, and a successful Kickstarter. Today, RLDH’s scaffolds and standing desks are made-to-order using high-quality maple and birch, tailored to your specific height and computer. Consider one of these desks or scaffolds if you’re not quite ready to purchase a new desk but want to switch to standing work. (And enjoy carbon-neutral shipping!)
Customer Review | “Love how it works standing or sitting. Perfect height for me – simple without moving parts. Exactly what i was looking for. As well, it doesn’t take up a lot of real estate on my desk” – Radiant Roots (Read all reviews.)
4. Flexispot
Sustainable Materials | Solid wood, bamboo, chipboard
Features We Love | FSC certified, recycled materials, natural materials, gives back
Starting At | $100
Flexispot’s commitment to wellness and productivity in the workplace is seen through their line of ergonomic desks and workstations. The brand carries a large selection of height-adjustable, drawer and L-shaped standing desks in a number of sizes, materials and prices that fit any budget. Made from recyclable, recycled and upcycled materials including wood from sustainably managed forests, Flexispot ensures they limit their carbon footprint even when producing premium products. We especially love the high-tech desk control options that display your favorite height settings and the embedded charging ports for ease of use.
Customer Review | “I recently purchased E7 pro standing desk from flexispot and I’m truly amazed by the build quality. It is designed really well and motors inside the legs don’t make much noise compared to other standing desks. The solid warranty flexispot offers, it’s a great and a safe buy. I can safely 100% recommend this product to anyone looking to buy a good standing desk.” – Farhad K. (Read all reviews.)
5. MasayaCo
Sustainable Materials | Solid hardwood
Features We Love | Sustainably harvested wood, plants more trees than they harvest via their Seed to Seat process, eco-friendly production
Starting At | $795
MasayaCo is an FSC-certified sustainable furniture brand from the heart of Nicaragua. With a focus on thoughtful design, artisan craftsmanship, and reforestation, the brand has planted over 1.2 million trees to date, keeping part of their reforestation projects untouched to allow nature to thrive on its own. The minimalist desks come in two wood swatches, all of which are handmade to order by their trained in-house artisans. So not only are these desks gorgeous, but they’re an intentional investment in communities, too.
Customer Review | “The walnut desk is a sharp and modern piece in my study. It came well-packaged and protected during shipping. The desk is a comfortable height with spacious desk space. The stain is a little thin, however, and needs to be protected from scratches and chips.” – Brandon (Read all reviews.)
6. Urban Natural
Sustainable Materials | Solid wood
Features We Love | USA-made options, ethically-sourced, handcrafted by artisans, sustainably-sourced wood
Starting At | $930
Urban Natural’s mission is to offer safe, heirloom-quality furniture for a healthy home. The marketplace partners with local craftspeople that build sustainable desks from ethically sourced and non-toxic materials. Each desk is handcrafted by fairly compensated artisans using eco-friendly methods, ensuring that the furniture is built to last and can be passed down through generations. With their extensive options at various price points, you’re sure to find the desk of your dreams!
7. West Elm
Sustainable Materials | Solid wood, raffia, glass
Features We Love | FSC certified wood, GREENGUARD Gold certified, water-based finish, Fair Trade Certified options
Starting At | $250
West Elm’s line of Fair Trade Certified desks perfectly blend style and sustainability. They’re made with responsibly sourced materials, including FSC certified wood, by workers in safe, fair working conditions across Asia. Finished with a water-based stain, these mid-century style desks are stunning natural and neutral options for any home office. We especially love the ones that come with additional storage!
8. Koskela
Sustainable Materials | Nordic oak
Features We Love | Responsibly sourced materials, certified B Corp, GECA certified, gives back, made in Australia
Starting At | $1,550 AUD
Koskela became the first furniture brand in Australia to be named a certified B Corp, and its values shine through. Whenever possible, Koskela sources from Indigenous businesses, gives back to the Rainforest Rescue, and goes through hoops to earn the Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) Certification. We’re big fans of the PBS Desk, a compact, clean, and versailite table that works anytime, anywhere. Plus, if and when you no longer work from home, you can keep it safely stored for years to come!
9. TIPTOE
Sustainable Materials | Recycled plastic
Features We Love | Tabletops made from recycled plastic yogurt cups, eco-friendly packaging, B Corp Certified, made in Europe
Starting At | €1125
The NEW MODERN desk made by TIPTOE is a sustainable and stylish option for both home offices and corporate offices! Available in two sizes, it features a recycled plastic tabletop crafted from yogurt cups, giving each piece a unique appearance, with accents of gold or silver from the labels. The desk also features powder-coated steel legs and support bars that provide durability and stability for long haul use. Manufactured entirely in Europe, the desk is designed for easy assembly and comes in flatpack delivery with eco-friendly packaging.
Featured image from West Elm