As environmental awareness continues to grow, the demand for eco-friendly home appliances is on the rise. These appliances offer sustainable solutions that not only help conserve energy but also reduce our impact on the planet. In this article, we will explore a selection of the best eco-friendly home appliances currently available. From energy-efficient refrigerators to water-saving washing machines, we’ll discover how these innovative appliances can transform your home into an environmentally-friendly space.
Learn how we did our research, or jump straight to our top three brand recommendations for durable and eco-friendly home appliances.
How We Chose Our Recommendations
We’ve done the hard work for you to make your search for eco-friendly home appliances easier. Our recommendations are carefully selected based on the following criteria:
- Eco-Friendly Materials: All the brands in our recommendations use eco-friendly materials that stand out from others in the market. These materials include recycled plastic, brass, steel, aluminum, and even innovative options made from natural materials like sugarcane and cornstarch.
- Quality: We exclusively select brands that meet international quality standards, such as ISO standards, to ensure that the appliances we recommend are efficient and durable. ISO standards act as globally recognized benchmarks for quality assurance in various industries, including home appliances. We also review hundreds of customer reviews to ensure that customers are happy with their purchases.
- Energy Efficiency: We only recommend appliance brands that are energy efficient. This ensures that the appliances consume less energy, resulting in reduced carbon emissions and a more eco-friendly operation.
- Regulatory Compliance: We only recommend brands that are compliant with stringent safety and sustainability standards, such as:
- Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS): Ensures electronic and electrical products do not contain dangerous amounts of hazardous substances like lead or chromium.
- Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH): Ensures consumer products don’t expose customers to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.
- Waste Electrical or Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive: Ensures electrical appliances can be recycled properly.
- Carbon Consciousness and Sustainability Efforts: We have chosen brands that are dedicated to sustainable practices, including reducing their carbon footprint and actively participating in environmental projects that benefit the planet.
3 of the Best Eco-Friendly Home Appliances Brands
After extensive research, here are our recommendations for the best eco-friendly appliances brands:
1. Smeg
Products:
- Large Appliances
- Ovens
- Cookers
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
- Washing Machines
- Small Appliances
- Toasters
- Kettles
- Juicers
- Milk Frothers
- Blenders
- Coffee machines
Check out their store: Amazon
Smeg offers a variety of eco-friendly home appliances that prioritize the use of less plastic and incorporate more sustainable materials. The majority of their products are made from recyclable materials such as glass, steel, brass, and aluminum. Moreover, their small appliances are made from Tritan™ Renew, a recycled plastic material. By utilizing these materials, Smeg actively promotes a circular economy and helps to reduce waste generated from appliance disposal.
Pros:
- Smeg employs a “smart packaging” design that aims to reduce excessive layers of packaging materials while ensuring 100% product safety during shipment. This approach helps to minimize packaging waste.
- Smeg’s cooking appliances are equipped with energy-saving technology that is 25% more efficient compared to regular cooking appliances.
- Smeg’s appliance designs are known for their classy, retro, and elegant aesthetics, perfect for adding a touch of style to your kitchen. Additionally, they offer limited edition designs created in collaboration with renowned brands such as Disney or Dolce&Gabbana.
Cons:
- Smeg appliances are a bit more expensive compared to other appliance brands in the market.
You can also find their products on the Smeg website.
2. Miele
Products:
- Ovens
- Stoves
- Coffee Machines
- Refrigerators, Freezers, and Wine Units
- Dishwashers
- Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers, and Rotary Irons
- Vacuum Cleaners
Check out their store: Amazon
Miele offers a wide range of appliances for both home and commercial use. They focus on sustainability by minimizing their environmental impact during manufacturing and transportation. Miele also promotes a circular economy by using recycled materials in their products.
Miele managed to achieve carbon neutrality in all their facilities, covering both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. To top it off, they’ve partnered with Salzgitter AG to source green steel for their appliances. This special steel is produced using eco-friendly energy sources and steel scraps, enabling Miele to reduce waste and slash its carbon emissions from manufacturing by over 66%.
Miele also prioritizes using high-recyclability materials for their appliances whenever possible. This helps increase the recycling rate of their products and promotes a circular economy. Furthermore, Miele goes the extra mile on sustainability by optimizing their service vehicle routes and reducing travel time, thereby lowering their emissions even further.
Pros:
- Miele appliances are made from highly durable and long-lasting materials.
- Miele appliances consume 50% less energy and water than most comparable appliances available on the market.
- Miele appliances feature a modern, sleek design, adding a professional touch to your home.
Cons:
- Miele appliances are a bit more expensive than other appliance brands on the market.
- The response time for Miele repair services can be a bit slow, which is not ideal for urgent situations.
You can also find their products on the Miele website.
3. Beko
Products:
- Refrigerators and Freezers
- Cookers (Ovens, Stoves, Steamers)
- Dishwashers
- Coffee Machines
- Washing Machines
- Built-in Refrigerators, Cookers, and Washing Machines
Check their store: Amazon
Beko offers a wide range of eco-friendly home appliances that focus on utilizing upcycled materials, reducing waste, and promoting a circular economy. They offer appliances made from ocean-bound plastic waste (plastic that will likely end up in the ocean), including plastic bottles and fishing nets. Additionally, Beko sells bio-cycle fridges, with components made from natural raw materials and waste such as sugar cane, egg trays, and cornstarch. These innovative practices effectively reduce waste and minimize the use of plastic. Moreover, Beko reduced its transportation-related carbon emissions by shifting to rail and maritime shipping.
Beko’s parent company, Arçelik, has gained recognition from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and achieved carbon neutrality across all their production facilities in 2019 and 2020.
In addition to their commitment to sustainable products and operations, Beko actively engages in social good projects. Through partnerships with FC Barcelona (FCB), Fenerbahçe Men’s Basketball Team, and Esports LEC, Beko contributes to educating children about healthy nutrition and combating childhood obesity. Furthermore, Beko has collaborated with UNICEF to educate children in Latin American countries about healthier dietary habits.
Pros:
- Beko appliances are highly durable, with some customers reporting owning their Beko appliances for up to 10 years, surpassing the average life expectancy of other appliances by 4 years.
- Beko has a reputation for more affordable appliances compared to other well-known brands, without compromising on quality or durability.
- Their appliances have a two-year warranty, which is longer compared to other brands in the market that offer only one-year warranties.
Cons:
- Some customers have experienced a humming noise with their fridges. While this may be considered normal for older models, people may prefer quieter machines.
You can also find their products on the Beko website.
Our Top Recommendation: Beko
Among our three brand recommendations for sustainable and durable home appliances, Beko stands out as our top choice. We highly recommend Beko due to its unique combination of budget-friendly prices, high-quality products, and eco-friendly materials used in their products.
What sets Beko apart from its competitors is not only its dedication to providing eco-friendly appliances but also its genuine efforts to make a direct positive impact on the environment and society as a whole through its active engagement with environmental and social organizations. By choosing Beko, you not only get reliable and affordable appliances, but you also support a brand that goes above and beyond to create a more sustainable world.