Set The Table With These 11 Sustainable Ceramic Plates

The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.

When choosing dinnerware from big-box retailers, what looks like a sturdy plate may actually be made from easily broken tempered glass or, worse, plastic. But if you’re looking to invest in your next set of plates, we recommend looking at ceramics. Not only are ceramics durable for longterm use, but they’re also made with natural clay.

There are three main types of ceramics: earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Earthenware is fired at an average of 1950 degrees Fahrenheit (1000+ degrees Celsius), resulting in a hardened look that may need an additional glaze. While stoneware is mid- to high-fired from 2200 to 2350 degrees Fahrenheit (1200 degrees Celsius) with a finished product that will be more durable and waterproof. Porcelain, firing at the highest temp (2400 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1300+ degrees Celsius) is often white, shiny, and hardened in appearance.

With this in mind, we’ve sourced a few brands offering sustainable ceramic plates so you can upgrade your kitchen in the most thoughtful way. The top of the list features the most affordable option, and as you scroll down, you’ll find the investment heirloom pieces. (While you’re at it, check out our guides to recycled glassware and sustainable flatware.) The next time you make a home-cooked meal, you’ll be proud to, as they say in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” put that on your plate.

1. Hawkins New York

Made In | Portugal Materials | Stoneware Price | Starting at $24/dinner plate

For sustainable ceramics that are as sturdy as they are stylish, Hawkins New York’s Shaker Dinnerware collection, found on Food52, is our go-to. The Hawkins team has spent years working with worldwide artisans to craft quality home goods at affordable price points. And these plates are a testament to the team’s values: made in Portugal, highly functional, and beautifully designed, starting at just $20.

Shop Hawkins New York

2. The Little Market

Made In | Morocco Materials | Ceramic, lead-free paint Price | Starting at $28/dinner plate

The Little Market is a nonprofit one-stop shop for ethical and sustainable goods, including fair trade ceramic plates. Some plates are inspired by Marrakech prints, while others are gold-rimmed and hand-painted, but all are made by artisans from Chabi Chic in Morocco. Invest in these artisan-made goods so that all women can have economic empowerment.

Shop The Little Market

3. Tripware

Made In | Japan Materials | Upcycled ceramicware Price | Starting at $29/dinner plate

Tripware is doing its part to create beautiful dinnerware from discarded pottery. While the earth has a finite amount of potting clay, the pots and dishes that already exist can be pulverized into a powder that can be remixed with new clay, extending the material’s lifecycle without adding to the landfill. The brand’s name refers to the journey each dish has taken to get to your table. We love the versatile designs that include smaller plates that double up as lids for their dishes, so you can save leftovers without adding to your washing up pile. Smart, sustainable, and stylish? Yes, please!

Shop Tripware

4. Spartan Shop

Made In | New York, NY Materials | Ceramic Price | $32/dinner plate

Spartan Shop offers curated home goods, furniture, and art from a variety of talented makers and doers. And on the platform’s vast collection of tabletop items, we love Eric Bonnin’s imperfectly round ceramic plates. This set of four plates is handmade to order in New York, with three glaze options.

Shop Spartan Shop

5. Heath Ceramics

Made In | Sausalito, CA Materials | Ceramic Price | Starting at $36/dinner plate

Seventy years ago, Heath Ceramics started as a small pottery studio, and today the team offers ceramics for tabletops, dinnerware, and more, all designed and handcrafted out of California. With a number of ceramic collections and varying colors available like our favorite, the French-inspired Chez Panisse, you can find the perfect plates to match your kitchen style.

Shop Heath Ceramics

6. East Fork

Made In | Asheville, North Carolina Materials | Stoneware Price | $42/dinner plate

For handmade modern ceramic plates, we’re eyeing East Fork’s kitchen collection. Made out of Asheville using locally sourced clay, these ceramic plates are beloved by potters and home cooks alike. Pick up a cake, side, or dinner plate, and you’ll support this small-batch studio while creating an even more palatable dish.

Shop East Fork

7. Settle Ceramics

Made In | Austin, TX Materials | Stoneware Price | Starting at $46/dinner plate

Settle Ceramics is dedicated to crafting heirloom ceramics for your home, knowing they can last a lifetime. Our pick, the Fat Rim Lunch Plate from the Wander Collection, is just one of many choices which are made-to-order, from weighing and wedging the Texas-sourced stoneware, to firing and hand glazing with custom formulas. Cherish mealtime even more.

Shop Settle Ceramics

8. Baughaus Design Studio

Made In | Jamaica Materials | Porcelain Price | $50/dinner plate

These ceramic dinner plates from woman-owned business Baughaus are modern Jamaican ceramics at their finest. With beautiful floral shapes and colors, they brighten up every meal while simultaneously keeping toxins and harsh chemicals out of your food.

Shop Baughaus Design Studio

9. EKUA

Made In | Los Angeles, CA Materials | Ceramic, concrete body stain, clear glaze Price | $50/nine-inch plate

EKUA, a ceramics shop launched by Sara Ekua Todd, offers kitchenware and ceramic art that fuses together Sara’s upbringing in Belgium and life in California. Inspired by functionality and aesthetics, EKUA’s ceramic plates can be purchased as a set or individually. As seen in the New York Times and across LA, Sara’s work is one to remember (Keep an eye out for her next shop update in September!)

Shop EKUA

10. Tortoise General Store

Made In | Hasami, Japan Materials | Porcelain Price | $55/10-inch plate

In the market for high-quality porcelain plates? Look no further than Tortoise General Store, and our pick, the Hasami Porcelain collection. Produced using traditional methods out of pottery town Hasami in Japan, these ceramic plates use a proprietary mixture of clay and crushed stone that’s been used for over four centuries. You’ll enjoy plenty of rich history with every use.

Shop Tortoise General Store

11. Mondays

Made In | Brooklyn, NY Materials | Porcelain Price | Starting at $55/dinner plate

Started by duo Jennifer Fiore and Nina Lalli— who met in a Monday night ceramics class— Mondays is an ode to their partnership and commitment to handmade ceramics. In addition to the team’s Permanent Collection which offers longtime favorites like our own pick, Ryman Dinner Porcelain Plates, Mondays also offers one-of-a-kind homegoods you’ll never find elsewhere.