While yellow, pink and white are the on-trend colour choices this summer, there’s no denying that going green continues to transcend all seasons. With more and more interior design brands focusing on sustainability – as they make informed environmental improvements, and prioritise positive impact initiatives for the benefit of local communities and makers – it’s not always easy to know what’s really going on behind the mission statement. One good way is to look for the Positive Luxury Butterfly Mark, which guides consumers to brands that continue to pioneer for higher standards with regards people and the planet. Here, we have rounded up some of the most luxurious sustainable homeware brands of the moment, many of which have received the stamp of approval – from heritage British craftspeople to international luxury artisans – as well as others still striving to make the world, and our high street, a better place to be.

Iota Project

Known for its eye-catching block pouffes, thick rugs, whimsical swings and paired back outdoor furniture, Butterfly Mark-certified brand Iota Project sees itself as a social business, with a commitment to the wellbeing of both the planet and its communities at its core. Its green credentials include empowering the unemployed through skill-building, and helping to preserve traditional techniques of craftsmanship, as well as the importance of an authentic and personal human touch.

Co-founders Shula Mozes and Tal Zur say, “Imagine if every designer, architect, and artist chose a product based on social impact within a house, an office, or any other project they are working on – the world would inherently become a much better place, and the industry would adapt. It is political and social. Knowing how and where something came into being makes Iota more invested in it, so much so that we become more responsible makers.”

Visit iotaproject.com 

Sebastian Cox

A cult British brand beloved for its wood-centric creations, every product in Sebastian Cox’s shop – from floating bedside tables and sideboards, to mirrors and pendants – has its environmental impact assessed. Striving to design and make for a better future in a forward-thinking, low-waste, carbon-counting workshop and studio in London, Sebastian Cox manages woodlands for biodiversity and draws on resources from Kent. The heirloom furniture and homewares are underpinned by a ‘nature-first perspective’, which includes taking responsibility, making change, educating, and setting an example with non-abrasive expertise. We love the Bayleaf Settle, which is made from solid English ash and can be upholstered in your own fabric, too. 

Visit sebastiancox.co.uk

Coat Paints

Bringing a fresh new finish to the luxury paint market, Coat paints a brighter future with its eco-friendly approach to making classic, timeless shades. On a mission to eliminate those dreaded weekend trudges through B&Q, the unique Peel and Stick samples are 95 per cent less wasteful than sample pots, and all products are fully recyclable. What’s more, this Butterfly Mark certified brand is the first and only to offer direct returns of leftover products for recycling, re-processing, and re-engineering. Co-founder Rob Green says: “Industry change starts with transparency and holding everyone to [account]. We’re spelling out exactly how we do things at Coat and the decisions we’ve made – so people know who they’re buying from, and our industry pals can feel the pressure to level up.”

Visit coatpaints.com

Bamford

A favourite on the British high-street, and all-round interior gem, this Butterfly Mark-certified brand was founded on the belief of conscious living even before it was fashionable. With sustainability and craftsmanship at its core, the range of home products are made in tandem with craftspeople and communities, nurturing traditional skills and championing artisanal methods. The timeless, trend-defying pieces promote longevity over fleeting crazes, ensuring fewer collections are made. With an emphasis on organic ingredients, both its SS24 and AW24 clothing ranges have been made from 100 per cent natural fibres, and the two latest home fragrances, Geranium and B Silent, comprise of 100 per cent natural formulas. Happy shopping!

Visit bamford.com

Muck N Brass

You might’ve seen Muck N Brass founder Zoe Pocock on BBC’s Flipping Profit waxing lyrical about the joys and tribulations of upcycling. Having founded Muck N Brass in 2014, it all started with small pieces of furniture from charity shops, painted and decoupaged on the dining table of her small London flat. The name Muck N Brass comes from an expression from the era of heavy industry in the north of England: "Where there's muck, there's brass". Now the brand specialises in previously dumped and creatively re-purposed homeware pieces such as furniture and lighting, as well as a range of wacky wallpapers and curious, conversation-starting knick-knacks.

Visit mucknbrass.com

Enso Timeless

You haven’t known luxury if you’ve not yet snuggled beneath these smart and elegant, hotel-standard bed sheets. Enso Timeless’ passion for lightweight, breathable, and rich fabrics are driven by a passion and understanding for quality textiles and design. Based in Dubai and Barcelona and after a decade in the hospitality sector, hotel guests made their demands known, and thus Enso Timeless was born. With sustainability at the heart of its ethos, the brand integrates sustainable practices throughout its value chain, from packaging made from the waste of production to selecting non-toxic dyes. 

Visit ensotimeless.com

The Rug Company

Renowned for crafting only the finest rugs with some of the world’s most well-respected  designers and icons, The Rug Company has always favoured taking a modern approach to age-old techniques: reinventing the wheel without throwing out the loom with the cut offs. From its abstract Channels Copper design to its hand knotted Tibetan wool Framis rug, the brand is genuinely conscious of how its products impact the planet and is committed to driving ethical and environmentally-friendly design. “Receiving the Butterfly Mark accreditation is a momentous achievement for The Rug Company and is a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability,” says James Seuss, CEO. “This milestone does by no means signify the end of our journey [and] we remain fully committed to upholding the highest standard of ESG+ and to continually evaluate our efforts.’’ 

Visit therugcompany.com

Ochre

Those in the know regard Ochre as a rightful innovator in the industry. One of the best interior design shops in London, its chic and sophisticated pieces are both timeless, contemporary, and made to order, ensuring no wasted stock. Founders and designers Joanna Bibby, Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Solenne de la Fouchardiere, say: “Unlike fast fashion, we invest in making beautifully-crafted heirloom pieces that last for many years. We would like to find an alternative to sending our classic pieces to landfill; to find a new way to re-make, revive and resell them to a new and aspiring customer.”

Visit ochre.net

London & Avalon

Having been championed on the glossy pages of Vogue, House & Garden, and The New York Times, London & Avalon takes a mindful approach to luxury bedding. With sustainability at its core since it was founded more than two decades ago, its products are designed to be loved and lived in forever. This Butterfly Mark-listed brand counts fans among renowned interior designers, prestigious hotels and well-known personalities, and is as uncompromising on its mission as it is its hero pieces. From cool and crisp Egyptian cotton to silky satin, its sheets make bedtime a well-earned treat, while the range of gifts and accessories, from robes and diffusers to throws and cushions, are curated, considered and understatedly cool. A sure favourite with the fashion crowd. 

Visit londonandavalon.com

Fleming & Howland

Manufactured with care since it was established in 1780, this British heritage brand has evolved and thrived with the times. Eclectic and eccentric, Fleming & Howland specialise in sofas, chairs and stools while offering a tangible connection to the past via quality and craftsmanship for which Britain was once renowned. So, the next time you’re in the market for an Oxford tub chair in canary yellow or a classic heirloom sofa, window seat, ottoman or office chair, look no further. The secret is in the history.

Visit fleminghowland.com

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