How I review every brand on Earthly Treasures

Sustainability in home décor can be genuinely confusing. Some brands shout about their eco credentials loudly. Others quietly do far more than they advertise. And plenty sit somewhere in the middle – good in some areas, less so in others.

Rather than telling you a brand is “sustainable” and leaving it at that, I put every brand featured on Earthly Treasures through the same sustainability standards structured review process. The goal isn’t to only show you perfect brands, it’s to give you an honest picture so you can decide what matters most to you. If you’d like to know more about why I started Earthly Treasures and what drives this, you can read my story here.

The 8 Lens Framework

Every brand review on Earthly Treasures covers eight areas. Here’s what I look at and why each one matters.

1. Third-Party Certifications

Does the brand hold any independently verified certifications – such as B Corp, FSC, PEFC, Fair Trade, or OEKO-TEX? Certifications aren’t everything, but they provide a level of accountability that self-reported claims don’t.

2. Materials Sourcing

Where do the materials come from and how responsibly are they sourced? I look at whether brands use natural, recycled, or sustainably managed materials and whether they can evidence this.

3. Manufacturing Process

How and where are products made? I look at production methods, factory locations, and whether the brand has any visibility into or control over its manufacturing processes.

4. Durability and Longevity

Is the product built to last? A piece of furniture that lasts twenty years is almost always more sustainable than one that needs replacing in five. Build quality and longevity are a core part of every review.

5. Transport and Packaging

How does the product get to you, and what does it arrive in? I look at delivery practices, packaging materials, and whether brands are making any effort to reduce the footprint of getting products to customers.

6. End of Life and Circularity

What happens to the product at the end of its life? Can it be repaired, recycled, or responsibly disposed of? Very few brands get this right, but it’s worth knowing.

7. Fair Labour and Working Conditions

Who makes these products and under what conditions? I look at whether brands have any transparency around their supply chain, worker welfare, or ethical trading commitments.

8. Business Model and Transparency

How honest is the brand about what it does and doesn’t do? A brand that openly acknowledges its limitations is often more trustworthy than one making sweeping sustainability claims it can’t back up.

What this means in practice

I don’t operate a strict pass/fail system. Very few brands score highly across all eight areas, and that’s true of the home décor industry as a whole. That’s not a reason to dismiss them.

What I aim to give you is an honest breakdown of where each brand stands, what they do well, and where there’s room to improve. You might care most about certifications. Someone else might prioritise longevity and craftsmanship. The information is there for you to weigh up what matters most to you.

Every brand on this site gets a full written review. I don’t feature a brand without one.

A note on how this site works

Earthly Treasures earns a small commission if you buy through a link on this site, at no extra cost to you. This is how I fund the time it takes to research and write these reviews properly. It does not affect which brands I feature or what I say about them, if something doesn’t hold up, I’ll say so.