If you’re ready to sit in a backyard as the sun goes down while sipping your favorite beverage – you’re not alone. Summer afternoons on a Colorado patio or front porch are hard to beat. How much time you spend outside does have one major factor – how comfortable your outdoor furniture is.
Yet, buying patio furniture can be frustrating if you’re trying to make sustainable purchases. They often can’t stand the four season tests, and deteriorate quickly in Colorado’s harsh sun and wind. So it can feel like groundhog day – just purchasing chairs, umbrellas, and tables, over and over again.
The good news – there are brands out there that create sustainable outdoor furniture that feel as good as an afternoon with your friends BBQing and playing cornhole. They’re also built to last.
Check out these 5 sustainable patio furniture brands, and some of our favorite pieces for inspiration!
Metal Patio Furniture: Yardbird
Recommended for: Patio Furniture Sets
Yardbird says their love of the outdoors inspired them to create patio furniture to furnish homes rather than landfills. They handcraft their patio furniture using three materials:
- Wicker, made from ocean-bound plastic
- Grade A teak
- Commercial-grade, rust-proof aluminum frames
That last one is music to our ears in Colorado! Is there anything worse than purchasing patio furniture in false spring, and by the time summer rolls around there’s rust all over your furniture due to late snow?! It’s the worst!
Yardbird creates everything from sectional sets, to fixed and swivel chairs, to fire table sets. They’re also a direct to consumer brand, meaning they’ve cut out the distributor and retailers and send their furniture straight to you.
This means they produce less carbon, and you’re able to invest in better furniture without extra markup. Plus, you’ll get faster home delivery!
Yardbird’s products are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. Their furniture can withstand every season, and they have a great warranty program with warranties ranging from 3 to 10 years.
Check Out This Item for Inspiration:
- Go timeless with the Winnie Outdoor Teak Furniture Collection
- Keep the whole family warm with the Waverly Outdoor Fire Pit Table Set
- For small patios and balconies check out the Harriet Outdoor Bistro Set
Modern Patio Furniture: Emeco (Sold by MadeTrade)
Recommended for: Modern Chairs
Want a unique piece that’s also American-made and handmade? Emeco is based in Pennsylvania, and their signature chair is made from 1944 Navy warships. The Navy chair is lightweight and comes in 7 colors.
Fun fact: Unlike plastic, aluminum is endlessly recyclable!
Their other products are made of recycled wood polypropylene (WPP), sustainably harvested wood, eco-concrete, cork, and recycled plastic bottles.
Many of their products are Cradle to Cradle Certified GOLD and FSC Certified, too. If you want a modern or industrial look for your patio or porch, look no further than Emeco!
Check Out These Items for Inspiration:
- Of course, The Navy Chair
- Need something taller? Navy Recycled Counter Stool
- Fidget friendly Heritage Recycled Rocking Chair
- A head turner, the Parrish Accoya Side Chair
Balcony Furniture Inspiration: VivaTerra
Recommended for: One-of-a-Kind Patio Furniture Pieces
VivaTerra’s tag-line is “inspired green living” and their motto is “making the world a better place starts at home”. We agree and even rep this line in our studio!
Many of their outdoor furniture sets are made from reclaimed douglas fir wood or iron frames. Some other sustainable materials used to create VivaTerra products include:
- Banana tree bark
- Indonesian mahogany
- Teak
- FSC-certified eucalyptus
- Rattan
- Non-toxic, water based stains
VivaTerra partners with artisans in 20 countries around the world and uses fair trade methods for production.
At checkout, you can choose a “climate-friendly shipping” for $1, which buys carbon offsets through TerraPass. VivaTerra also does a great deal of community giving, which you can check out on their community involvement page.
Check Out These Items for Inspiration:
- This rustic bench made of upcycled wood and metal
- Sit outside in this egg chair with a good book
- For small patio spaces, we love this bistro set
- Just for fun, reclaimed teak mushrooms
Patio Furniture for Tight Spaces: Neighbor
Recommended for: Outdoor Spaces that are Hard to Furnish
If you have a funky space you need to fill, so cookie-cutter furniture won’t fit, check out Neighbor. Their furniture is designed by their Phoenix-based team and is customizable for all spaces. You can be specific as to the size, shape, color, and style of furniture so it’s a perfect fit for your outdoor space.
If you don’t love it, there’s a 45-day free trial, so there’s no shame in sending it back!
They use FSC Certified teak wood to build their outdoor furniture. All their wood is sustainably sourced and responsibly harvested. The cornerstones of their business are design, sustainability and accessibility.
Their modern, outdoor furniture is made for big and small moments with the folks you love!
Check Out These Items for Inspiration:
- Never knock a table of drinks over again with the Terra In-line Table
- Bring in a Southwestern vibe with the Mesa Rug
- There’s room for everyone on the Haven Sectional
Modern Patio Furniture: Loll Designs
Recommended for: Swings and Storage
If you are looking for a highly decorated piece of furniture to invest in, Loll may be your best option. By decorated, we mean they’ve won multiple awards and have the certifications to back what they say.
Since 2005, they have used 135 million milk jugs to create their modern outdoor furniture in Duluth, MN. This recycled plastic is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which has helped them achieve cradle-to-cradle certification on 93% of their product line, in either SILVER (85%) or BRONZE (9%).
They recycle 88% of their manufacturing waste. At the end of your Loll furniture’s life, you can send it back to their material neutralizer program, and they’ll recycle your furniture for you.
Loll donates to 1% for the Planet and hosts an annual creek clean up in their community. All around, Loll an outdoor furniture purchase you can feel good about!
Check Out These Items for Inspiration:
- The perfect outdoor swing for everyone
- Keep everything looking new with these storage options
- Unique and funky modern planters
None of These Your Style? Keep Looking!
If none of these sustainable patio furniture companies captured your unique style, don’t give up! You also check out:
- Masaya & Co
- West Elm
- Crate & Barrel
- Polywood (who we have a trade account with!)
- Highwood
- Outer
- Wood Works by LeGrand (Etsy Shop)
- Trex
- Diamond Tropical Hardwoods
Are all the decisions overwhelming? We get it – bringing together the perfect outdoor space is not always as fun as relaxing in the perfect outdoor space. We can help!
Work with an interior designer to bring your ideal outdoor space to life! Whether you want a welcoming front porch, or a party-worthy backyard, we can help. Fill out our contact form here to get started.
Need advice on finding sustainable furniture for another room? Check out our blog post on Eco-friendly Living Rooms, Sustainable Interior Design Upgrades, Home Office, and Eco-friendly Interior Design Products.
