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Eco-friendly dinnerware is a sustainable alternative to traditional ceramic or plastic tableware. It's made from either highly durable materials like stoneware or porcelain, or biodegradable materials like wood or bamboo.
As a result, sustainable dinnerware has a lower environmental impact and lasts a lot longer. It's also better for your health because it's non-toxic, as opposed to some cheap imported dinnerware, which has been found to contain lead, cadmium, and melamine (NIH PubMed).
We tested 27 sustainable dinnerware sets from different brands and picked out the 7 best eco-friendly options for everyday use, dinner parties, picnics, outdoor dining, and more.
Our top pick works for any occasion and has pride of place on the Miller dining table today...
✔ Everyday Use
✔ Dinner Parties & Formal Events
✔ Sustainable and Durable
Our Place offers an extensive range of high-quality, eco-friendly dinnerware, non-toxic cookware, and helpful kitchen tools, all in stunning colors and featuring unique design elements.
Our Place dinnerware is made from scratch-resistant ceramic stoneware with a hand-glazed finish that looks simply stunning!
I tested the Dinner Plates, Dinner Bowls, and Soup Bowls. All these items are sold individually, or as part of a set, which saves you up to $190 on the individual purchase price - great if you're on a budget.
The hand-glazed scratch-resistance surface feels very robust, and I have no doubt it will stand up to the rigors of daily use.
The entire range, including the items I tested, is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, oven safe (to 350°F), and fridge and freezer safe.
Our Place plates and bowls are restaurant-grade quality, so they are perfect for dinner parties or formal events. At the same time, they're so durable that they're suitable for everyday use as well. We use them for both and have received plenty of compliments from our friends and family.
Both of the Our Place dining sets stack together for easy storage, even in small spaces. This makes them suitable for small apartments as well as larger family homes.
Free U.S. shipping is available on all orders over $50.
Orders arrive quickly (stock level permitting), securely, and beautifully packaged in sustainable cardboard that’s tape-free (thanks to the clever interlocking design) and fully recyclable.
✔ Biodegradable
✔ Thick, Sturdy & Reusable
✔ Non-Toxic & BPA-Free
The Gezond 350-piece compostable dinnerware set is FSC-Certified and entirely plant-based, containing plates made from 100% sugar cane fiber and utensils made from cornstarch. It's the perfect sustainable solution for outdoor use, such as picnics, parties, barbeques, or food trucks.
This lightweight set contains everything you need to serve up to 50 guests, including 9-inch dinner plates, 7-inch dessert plates, utensils, cups, and straws.
Plates are microwave and freezer-safe, heat-resistant up to 248°F, oil-resistant, and leakproof. The set is BPA-free and non-toxic. It meets ASTM D6400/D6868 compostability standards and breaks down within 1-6 months in commercial facilities. The plates and cups are also suitable for home composting.
The plates are far more sturdy than regular paper plates and never seem to get soggy or fold, even when loaded with heavy foods. They're also washable and reusable, which most other paper plates are not.
✔ Simple, Elegant Design
✔ Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
✔ Affordable
Public Goods offers restaurant-grade ceramic dinner plates, lunch plates, mugs, and bowls. All are sold in sets of four, which makes them ideal for family use.
The Public Goods sustainable dinnerware range is made from high-fire porcelain using eco-friendly co-generation technology. This manufacturing process captures waste heat from kilns and uses it to dry clay and generate electricity, so no energy is wasted.
The bowls and plates are non-toxic and contain no lead or plastic materials. Each plate withstands dishwasher cleaning, microwave heating, oven temperatures up to 350°F, and freezer storage.
There is only one color choice, white, so if you are looking for a more lavish design then this isn't the right product range for you. However, customer feedback suggests the look is popular, and we found the minimalist all-white design suits everyday family meals.
Public Goods states that their dinnerware offers hotel-grade durability and resists chipping and breaking with regular use. They certainly feel very sturdy, and being made from porcelain, I expect them to last a very long time.
✔ 100% Bamboo (No Melamine)
✔ Biodegradable
✔ Sustainably Grown
Belari sells a range of reusable bamboo dinnerware, including square plates and bowls, round plates and bowls, and serving platters.
Bamboo tableware is lightweight but still feels sturdy. It's suitable for everyday use or for travel and outdoor events. The natural look gives a pleasant aesthetic and complements most table settings, although I would not personally use it for more formal occasions.
I tested some other so-called bamboo brands like Ekobo, but found that Belari dinnerware is better because it is made from 100% bamboo, whereas Ekobo contains a melamine binder. That means Belari plates and bowls are fully biodegradable, whereas Ekobo are not.
✔ Zero-Waste Production
✔ Artisan Made
✔ Elegant Style
Fable makes zero-waste, non-toxic dinnerware using upcycled and recycled materials across its entire product range.
Fable manufactures all ceramics from locally sourced and recycled clay at their zero-waste facility in Portugal, where 100% of production waste gets reincorporated back into manufacturing.
Their product line includes dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, cups, and carafes, all hand-finished by Portuguese artisans. We tested their 12-piece Dove Gray dinnerware set, which looks elegant and feels incredibly robust. The brand also produces glassware containing approximately 50% recycled content.
Every piece is dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe up to 450°F. This B Corporation certified company proves it is possible to use recycled materials to create beautiful, durable tableware without sacrificing quality or aesthetic appeal.
✔ Handcrafted with 100% Recycled Copper
✔ Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Anti-Fungal
✔ Keep Drinks Cold
Materials: Recycled copper
They Say: Sertodo Copper has been creating gorgeous handcrafted hammered copper goods with master copper artisans in Mexico since 1997. Sertodo Copper is an international artisan cooperative with workshops in Austin, Texas and in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan in Mexico. The tradition of their heritage craft harkens back over 1000 years in Santa Clara del Cobre. Sertodo uses 100% recycled copper to make a product that is both functional and aesthetically awe-inspiring.
We Say: No gathering at Casa Miller is complete without at least one round of Moscow Mules. It’s my signature cocktail…and has to be served in Sertodo Copper!
This is a total luxury item. But, in my eyes, worth every penny. The ultimate in upcycled dinnerware chic!
There are plenty of less expensive options if you like the idea of sustainable copper barware but don’t want to spend over 700 bucks.
You can view the full Sertodo Copper range here.
It’s all available from Made Trade, so you know the eco-credentials are beyond reproach. Your Sertodo Copper will be delivered in recycled/recyclable/compostable packaging with the shipping emissions offset.
Materials: Corn starch, Bamboo
They Say: Timeless classic design – Smooth and sophisticated coupe design makes Zungleboo Nari Plates an all-time dinner table favorite! Comes in white ivory "Moon" color with matte finish (no chemical coating), 11" full-sized plates for healthy portions and versatile usage. Dishwasher safe (~160F) and microwave safe (~3 minutes, reheat only), worry less about making the food or cleaning after the food - just enjoy your favorite meals with Zungleboo plates and bowls!
We Say: Most bamboo/plant-based dinnerware is handwash only, and I wanted to include at least one option that was both plant-based and suitable for the dishwasher/microwave.
Step forward Zungleboo and their dishwasher/microwave safe, lightweight, and shatterproof bamboo-based plate set.
These plates are made from cornstarch-based bioplastic (PLA) mixed with bamboo.
They’re lightweight and versatile. Perfect for everyday use (especially with children), or even at picnics and cookouts.
At just over ten bucks a plate, they’re excellent value for money too.
Zundleboo does matching bowls as well. You can view the full range here.
The best sustainable dinnerware materials are sugarcane, corn starch, and bamboo for disposable dinnerware, or stoneware and porcelain for reusable dinnerware.
The table below shows how these materials compare with unsustainable plastic-based alternatives from an environmental perspective.
| Material | Biodegradation Time | Chemical Safety | Durability | Cost | Recyclable | Environmental Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoneware | Never (inert) | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate | No* | Low (reusable) |
| Porcelain | Never (inert) | Excellent | Excellent | High | No* | Low (reusable) |
| Sugarcane & Corn Starch | 156-92 days** | Good | Variable | Moderate | No | Very Low |
| Bamboo | 80 days (90% degraded) | Excellent | High | Moderate | No | Very Low |
| Polystyrene (PS) | Never | Poor (high migration) | Excellent | Very Low | Limited | High |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Never | Fair (moderate migration) | Excellent | Low | Yes | High |
* Ceramics are technically not recyclable in standard recycling streams, but are infinitely reusable.
** Time varies based on starch content - higher starch content degrades faster.
Based on the comparison above, the most sustainable materials are as follows.
You should avoid eating from the following materials wherever possible.
Eco-friendly dinnerware is generally more expensive than conventional alternatives, but it delivers better value for money over the long term. Basic eco-friendly dinnerware sets start around $30, premium options can cost $100-200, depending on what's included.
The higher cost stems from several factors, including the following.
Sustainable living is about buying items to last - investing in good quality eco-friendly dinnerware will make your meal times green for years or even decades, justifying the premium pricing.
The best place to buy sustainable dinnerware online is directly from the manufacturer because it's usually cheaper, and you often get an extended warranty, free shipping, and after-sales support if needed.
Use the links provided in our reviews above to go straight to the manufacturer's website.
Some eco-friendly tableware brands like Belari are also listed on marketplaces like Amazon. However, I recommend you only shop on Amazon for brands or products that have been specifically recommended and tested by third parties such as TheRoundup, so you know it is genuinely sustainable and of good quality.
Eco-friendly dinnerware reduces environmental impact through two main approaches: biodegradable disposables and durable reusables.
Biodegradable options such as bamboo plates, compostable utensils, and sugarcane bowls reduce landfill waste because they decompose naturally in commercial or home compost.
Durable alternatives like stoneware, porcelain, and glass also reduce waste because they last for decades with proper care, which means fewer new items need to be made.
Both approaches have lower carbon footprints compared to single-use plastics; biodegradables through natural decomposition, durables through extended lifespans that amortize production emissions across thousands of uses.
You can extend the lifespan of your eco-friendly dinnerware through gentle cleaning, proper storage, and manufacturer-specific care guidelines.
For all materials, I recommend you skip abrasive cleaners, steel wool, or harsh chemicals. Clean promptly after use to prevent staining. Store with padding between stacked pieces. Keep in dry environments away from extreme temperatures.
Dispose of eco-friendly dinnerware sets by composting, donating, reusing or recycling, depending on what material your set is made from.
Make sure you remove food residues before composting or recycling. Greasy or heavily stained biodegradable items may require landfill disposal if cleaning proves ineffective.
Contact local waste management authorities for specific guidelines. Disposal infrastructure varies significantly between municipalities, affecting acceptance criteria for various eco-friendly materials.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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