7 Sustainable Bookshelves For Your Reading Nook

Your Very Own Book Nook

It’s no surprise we’re big bookworms here at The Good Trade—we’ve covered our favorite book club subscriptions, ways to read more, and even how to build your very own home library. And since we can’t add one more book to our TBR piles (seriously, it will fall over), we’ve decided it’s time to find some bookshelves for our homes.

Like most furniture, bookcases can be a major investment—especially when shopping for long-lasting sustainable wood shelves (FSC-certified over particleboard, please). That’s why almost all of the below brands have payment options. Of course, for the most affordable (and eco-friendly) option, secondhand is the way to go!

End up grabbing a bookshelf? Tag us (@thegoodtrade) with a photo—we’re always sourcing more inspo for our own home libraries! Happy reading and decorating, fellow book lovers.

1. Floyd Home

Sustainable Materials | FSC-certified wood, recyclable steel
Our Pick | The Shelving System - Short Shelving in black/ash ($675)
Price Range | $675–$2,825

Floyd Home’s mission is to design timeless products to help keep furniture out of landfills, and the brand has done it once again with its custom Shelving System. Using FSC-certified wood supports and durable steel shelves, this bookshelf system will grow with you however you want to expand it. Choose from short, tall, combo, and specialty shelving options and your choice of shelf color and wood type. Made to match your space, the Shelving System helps your home library shine.

Shop Floyd Home

2. Medley

Sustainable Materials | FSC-certified wood, eco-wax
Our Pick | Anders Shelf with Brass Leg Caps ($3,795)
Price Range | $2,195–$3,995

Medley creates sustainable quality furniture made just for you, right in the heart of California. From sofas to mattresses to—yes, shelving—nearly every item is made-to-order! The Anders Shelf in particular comes with three different wood options, all responsibly sourced and finished with an all-natural wax. We love Medley for its thoughtful details (like those brass leg caps—swoon!), lifetime warranty, and promise to plant three times the number of trees used in its products. This is the heirloom kind of furniture your grandparents told you about.

Shop Medley

3. Burrow

Sustainable Materials | Responsibly harvested wood, non-toxic finishes, upcycled materials, recyclable packaging
Our Pick | Index Wall Shelf in Oak ($395)
Price Range | $395–$2,195

Burrow makes non-toxic, responsibly-sourced furniture that comes in recyclable packaging. We love the versatility of their Index Wall Shelves, which are designed to grow with you from home to home, expanded and reconfigured to accommodate your treasures over the years. Arranged horizontally, vertically, or in a grid, these timeless shelves can be taken apart and used in different rooms or assembled into a wall-sized bookcase for even the most dedicated bibliophile. These may be the last shelves you’ll ever buy, and there’s not much more sustainable than that!

Shop Burrow

4. Joybird

Sustainable Materials | Sustainably sourced wood
Our Pick | King Brass Shelf ($199)
Price Range | $199–$1,913

Whether you’re decorating a multi-bedroom home or a single studio space, Joybird has what you need. The brand works with talented artisans in Mexico to turn its sustainable materials into stunning bookcases and cabinets. Our favorites are the modern wall shelves, perfect for accent decor and smaller home libraries. Joybird partners with conservation and reforestation efforts via One Tree Planted to further promote sustainability.

Shop Joybird

5. Inside Weather

Sustainable Materials | Carbon-negative, biodegradable packaging, FSC certified options
Our Pick | Latte Alto Shelf ($399)
Price Range | $399–$2,099

The Alto Shelves from Inside Weather are made from FSC-certified, kiln-dried, solid ash wood and baltic birch plywood. When the brand calls this adjustable, sustainable collection “customizable,” they aren’t just referring to the modularity (though there is that!): Choose from latte, espresso, or black finish, then customize further with UV-printed art from your design of choice, or over hundreds of options provided. Each unit is made fully to order at the company’s California Crafthouse. Manipulate the set in myriad ways: hang as a floating shelf; stack into a floor-to-ceiling display; brace units back-to-back to delineate zones in an open plan room. With a zero-inventory model, each piece is made in-house then shipped directly to your door– no middlemen, markups, or wasted materials!

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6. Etsy

Sustainable Materials | Varies; includes responsibly sourced & reclaimed wood
Our Pick | Reclaimed Wood Shelf by WelterWallArtDecor (starting at $192)
Price Range | Varies

The beauty of Etsy is that you can find thousands of pre-made and custom options in one place, including rustic wooden shelves, recycled bookshelves from OwlDesigned, and sprawling “trees” from SouthDesignCo. (Custom designs also mean they make great gifts!) This certified B Corp offsets all carbon from orders—including global ones—so no matter what, your purchase will be a carbon-neutral one.

Shop Etsy

7. West Elm

Sustainable Materials | FSC-certified wood, water-based finish
Our Pick | Mid-Century Bookshelf with Drawer ($799)
Price Range | $299–$1,498

West Elm makes sustainable mid-century style more accessible. This socially responsible company sources FSC-certified wood, partners with Fair Trade certified factories whenever possible, and collaborates with nonprofits like the Human Rights Campaign. We especially love these bookshelves for larger spaces—buy two to balance out a space or place side-by-side for a wall-to-wall library! As a bonus, many come with storage so you can showcase the books you loved and hide the ones you didn’t. 😉

7 Sustainable Bookshelves For Your Reading Nook

Your Very Own Book Nook