Home & Garden Home The 9 Best Sustainable Blankets of 2023 Our favorite eco-friendly blankets are from the Anchal Project. By Starre Vartan Starre Vartan Writer Columbia University Syracuse University Starre Vartan is an environmental and science journalist. She holds an MFA degree from Columbia University and Geology and English degrees from Syracuse University. Learn about our editorial process Updated August 29, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Green Living Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Getty Blankets should be comfortable and cozy, but many of us also want them to be made with natural, breathable materials that use fewer concerning chemicals and natural resources. Depending on the climate you live in, whether you keep a window open at night, and the resulting temperature of your bedroom, you’ll have different blanket needs. Generally, blankets are divided into two categories—heavy for colder temperatures and lightweight for warmer temperatures. Then of course, there are blankets we take out of the bedroom, either into the living room for extra warmth while watching a movie or reading, or those blankets we take out of the house entirely—for outdoor events, picnics, or to the beach. However you're planning to use it, we've researched the market to find the best sustainable blanket options. The Rundown Best Overall: Made Trade Anchal Quilts at Anchalproject.org Jump to Review Best Vintage: Etsy Mohair Blankets at Etsy Jump to Review Best Very Lightweight: Coyuchi Topanga Organic Matelasse Blanket at Wayfair Jump to Review Best Budget: L.L. Bean Organic Cotton Blanket at L.L.Bean Jump to Review Best Splurge: Coyuchi Sequoia Organic Cotton & Wool Blanket at Wayfair Jump to Review Best Throw Blanket: Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Fringed Throw at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Picnics or the Beach: Made Trade Nipoma Upcycled Blankets at Madetrade.com Jump to Review Best Weighted: Bearaby Cotton Napper at West Elm Jump to Review Best Recycled: Coyuchi Full Circle Recycled Cotton Blanket at Coyuchi.com Jump to Review Best Overall Made Trade Anchal Quilts 5 Courtesy of Made Trade View On Anchalproject.org View On Madetrade.com These quilts come in some really exciting, modern design options (inspired by Indian architecture and art deco motifs) and a variety of size options. But the Anchal quilts aren’t just gorgeous to look at—they’re handcrafted in India from six layers of organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and colored with eco-friendly dyes. In fact, the two sister designers behind the brand also run DysScape, a natural dye and education program. Price at time of publish: $356 Best Vintage Etsy Mohair Blankets Courtesy of Etsy View On Etsy If you are looking for a colorful, inexpensive, and seriously warm blanket, there are dozens and dozens of mohair versions from the '60s, '70s, and '80s on Etsy, in every size you can imagine, from a lap blanket to ones that will cover a bed. Vintage mohair tends to have longer fibers than new, and the fiber, shaven from the Angora goat, holds onto color extremely well, so brights are still bright half a century on, and pastels are still perfectly pretty. Mohair doesn’t pick up smells (just air them outside every so often), or soak up stains or moisture, and they stand the test of time, never seeming to wear out. Best Very Lightweight Coyuchi Topanga Organic Matelasse Blanket Coyuchi View On Wayfair View On Anthropologie View On Coyuchi.com Made of very lightweight GOTS-certified organic cotton, this blanket is ideal for all but the very warmest evenings, even in places with tropical climates. It has a wavy texture that expands and contracts, and is cozy due to that construction, even though it's light and breathable. This blanket is machine-washable on the delicate cycle in cool water. Price at time of publish: $248 The 9 Best Sustainable Sheet Sets Best Budget L.L. Bean Organic Cotton Blanket Courtesy of L.L. Bean View On L.L.Bean L.L. Bean is known for making products that last for decades, and this tightly woven 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton blanket is no exception. It’s ideal for warmer temperatures or on a summer bed, but the tight weave means it retains some warmth as well, so could be layered with a duvet or a wool blanket for cooler temperatures. It comes in three colors and two striped versions. The blanket is made in Portugal and certified to the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard, which means it's been shown to be free of harmful substances. Price at time of publish: $129 Best Splurge Coyuchi Sequoia Washable Organic Cotton & Wool Blanket Courtesy of Coyuchi View On Wayfair View On Coyuchi.com This blanket is made with GOTS-certified Turkish organic cotton and organic wool from Argentina that get weaved together before the blanket is then woven in Germany. It comes in four soft colors, and is machine washable, although line-drying is recommended (and also the more sustainable choice). It's available in throw, twin, queen, and king sizes. The blanket arrives in recycled packaging, and Coyuchi operates a take-back program called 2nd Home for any of their products that are worn out or no longer wanted. Price at time of publish: $198 Best Throw Blanket Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Fringed Throw Courtesy of Backcountry View On Amazon View On Backcountry.com View On Pendleton-usa.com Pendleton blankets last for generations. Available in a range of classic Western stripes and plaids, the newest offerings include the Eco-Wise collection (which includes blankets for beds too). Eco-Wise blankets are not just made with wool from Washington state sheep and woven there; they are Cradle to Cradle Silver-level certified, which means they are made without substances that the label disallows. They are machine-washable and should be line-dried. Price at time of publish: $149 Best for Picnics or the Beach Made Trade Nipoma Upcycled Blankets Courtesy of Made Trade View On Madetrade.com Available in a colorful and pattern-ful variety of styles, these blankets are handmade in Mexico by fairly compensated artisans from upcycled remnants derived from the clothing manufacturing process. For easy transport, they roll up and have a handy carrying handle made from vegetable-tanned leather (also handmade). A Mexican mother-daughter team based in California designed the blankets, which are easily washed in cold water. Price at time of publish: $86 Best Weighted Bearaby Cotton Napper 4.5 Bearaby View On West Elm View On Bearaby.com View On Nordstrom Most weighted blankets get their weight from added metal or plastic pieces that are sewn into the blanket, but Bearaby’s comes only from the material used in the oversize knit Nappers—organic cotton. The cotton is Made in Green certified by Oeko-Tex and Fairtrade International. They come in five colors and four sizes, from 10 pounds to 25 pounds of weight, so you can go lighter or heavier as you require. Due to the large knit, these are heavy blankets, but they are also breathable, and can be used in at least three seasons comfortably. One downside to Bearaby's weighted blankets is that they can stretch out over time if draped over the side of a couch or bed, so keep that in mind when you decide how to style or store them. Price at time of publish: $249 for 15 lb Best Recycled Coyuchi Full Circle Recycled Cotton Blanket 5 Coyuchi View On Coyuchi.com This blanket is a beautiful example of circular manufacturing. Sustainable bedding company Coyuchi runs a take-back program called 2nd Home, which collects any products that have worn out. The fibers from any items that can't be repaired are re-spun, and made into new products like this blanket. The recycled and organic cotton are blended together, with an intricate pattern that will add texture to any couch or bed. It's available in a king size and a throw size. Price at time of publish: $148 Final Verdict Our top pick for a sustainable blanket are quilts from the Anchal Project, which are Fair Trade Certified as well as eco-friendly. If you’re looking for a lightweight option, consider the Topanga Organic Matelasse Blanket, which adds a chic textured look to your bed. What to Look for in a Sustainable Blanket Sustainability Certifications Blankets should be simple, so they can be made from simple materials. The most sustainable will be made from natural materials like organic cotton or wool, and will be easily washable. Applicable sustainability certifications for these materials include GOTS, UDSA Organic, Oeko-Tek, and Cradle to Cradle. Fair Labor Policies Looking for those that are made in a Fair Trade facility or are Made in the USA is always something to consider, as ethical considerations should include the people who make whatever new product you’re considering. Consider Second-Hand Pre-owned bedding can make some folks squeamish, but depending on the fabrics, many types of blankets can be thoroughly cleaned at home (like cotton) or by a dry-cleaner (like wool). A second-hand item is almost always the more sustainably choice, because it extends the life of something that has already been made and doesn't require new energy, water, or other resources to make. Why Trust Treehugger? Starre Vartan has been researching and reviewing environmentally sustainable products for 15 years and wrote a book on eco-friendly, healthy living. She is dedicated to healthy sleep as the foundation of both mental and physical health and has lived in both tropical and temperate climates, from Hawaii to western Massachusetts, and now resides in the seasonally damp Pacific Northwest. She uses a Bearaby weighted blanket sometimes, a vintage mohair blanket in the winter, and a Pendleton wool blanket on her living-room couch. The 8 Best Eco-Friendly Couches of 2023