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We’ve researched, tested, and corresponded with the best sustainable kitchenware brands — these are our favorite options for wooden cutting boards that are nontoxic, easy to clean, and made to last.
Sure, plastic cutting boards are convenient. They’re usually dishwasher safe and easy to clean, resisting bacteria buildup and speeding up your cleaning time. But at what cost?
These days, whenever we make a home goods purchase, we’re thinking about longevity. What will hold up for years to come? What’s made by a company we can feel good about supporting? And what’s not going to introduce questionable materials into our home?
And on a less important note, we love products that combine form and function, looking as beautiful as they are durable — which is where wooden cutting boards come in. A well-made, solid wood cutting board, as long as you take care of it by handwashing and periodically conditioning it, should last you pretty much forever. They won’t dull your knives, and they won’t shed microplastics into your food, either.
What are microplastics — and why are they in my kitchen?
Microplastics are what they sound like: the microscopic bits of plastic into which plastics break down, because plastic can take thousands of years to fully break down. Studies have shown that microplastics can build up in our bodies, potentially contributing to adverse health effects like inflammation, metabolism disturbances, and neurotoxicity.
Other recent studies have shown that plastic cutting boards are potentially the most significant source of microplastics in food. When you chop veggies or meat on a plastic board, microplastics then cling to your food. To be clear, microplastics can come from anything — even from twisting the cap off a plastic bottle — but we like to try to reduce them however we can. One way is by avoiding plastic cooking utensils. Another is by switching to wooden cutting boards.
Our criteria:
Our team has personally tested, researched, and vetted hundreds of kitchenware lines to find you the best brands offering beautiful and easy-to-clean nontoxic wooden cutting boards. Instead of PFAS-heavy materials like plastic, these options are all made from eco-friendly FSC-certified wood and are never treated with any harsh chemicals. They’re thoughtfully crafted, designed to last, and safe enough to use every day. We regularly add new options to the list when they meet the criteria below.
- NONTOXIC & ECO-FRIENDLY | The options on this list are all safe for your kitchen and for the earth, too. They use FSC certified wood, avoid any harsh chemical finishes, and many of these brands have thoughtful give-back programs that promote a better planet.
- DURABLE | Cutting boards get a lot of use! These options are crafted to last through many cheese board displays, chops, and washes without losing their charm.
- AFFORDABLE | We’ve included options for different budgets — whether you’re looking to invest or for a minimal upgrade, you’ll find something on this list.
If you’re in the market for more nontoxic cookware, check out our guide to the best wooden utensils and nontoxic pots and pans.
1. Avocado
Best For | Boards from a B Corp
Materials | Upcycled maple, beechwood, and walnut; finished with linseed oil & beeswax
Price | Starting at $129
Sustainable home goods brand Avocado has been a favorite at TGT for years now for their sustainable mattresses and certs like Climate Neutral and B Corp. And their offerings go far beyond mattresses and linens — they make furniture, bath products, and accessories like cutting boards. Their zero-waste cutting boards are made of upcycled beechwood, walnut, and maple that would otherwise go to the landfill, and they come in three different shapes. The largest option measures two feet long, while the smallest option is 12 inches (and it has a cute scalloped edge design), and each handcrafted board is finished with a blend of linseed oil and beeswax for durability. The upcycled cutting boards help Avocado’s certified landfill diversion rate of 85% — meaning they upcycle and recycle 85% of all manufacturing waste.
2. Caraway
Best For | Budget-friendly wooden cutting board
Materials | FSC-certified birch wood
Price | Starting at $35
While Caraway is known for their ceramic non-stick cookware that’s free of Teflon, they make plenty of other kitchen essentials with that same ethos of putting quality first. They carry three sizes of rectangular cutting boards (the smallest is 10 inches long and the largest is 17), each of which is made of FSC-certified birch wood and finished with a food-safe blend of mineral oil and wax for an antibacterial finish. Each board has a recessed groove for catching juices or little bits of food waste. You can grab any size board in a single, double, or even a 6-pack, depending on your kitchen needs. Or, for a little bit of everything, check out their 4-piece wooden cutting board set that features one of each size cutting board along with a rack to store them all vertically and compactly. And it’s worth noting that Caraway’s boards are some of the most budget-friendly on this list.
Customer Review | “From the size, texture, weight and look the Caraway cutting board set is unmatched. Each board contains a depressed storage area—and all three boards are stored nicely together in the included rack. We are very happy with our purchase. Thank you.” – Andrew P. (Read more reviews.)
3. Etsy
Best For | Handmade by small businesses
Materials | FSC-certified birch wood
Price | Starting at $50
On Etsy, you’ve got to spend a little bit more time perusing the offerings to find a high-quality cutting board that’s handmade of sustainably sourced wood — but there are so many fantastic options, it doesn’t take long to hit the jackpot. You’ll find plenty of different cutting boards handmade by artisans in the US in all different types of wood, and many of them will even personalize the board (making them great wedding or hostess gifts). Rugged Woodworking crafts solid, one-piece cutting boards finished with organic coconut oil, carnauba wax, and local beeswax from their Utah workshop, while Walker Woodworking in Maine crafts three-piece sets of attractive, mixed wood cutting boards. And Refine Kitchenware in Ohio makes their large, customizable cutting boards out of FSC-certified walnut in lots of shapes and styles.
Customer Review | “I am beyond impressed with the custom cutting board I ordered from this Etsy shop! The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the personalization is flawless. The wood is beautiful and smooth, and you can tell it’s made with great care.” – Glo Morrell (Read more reviews.)
4. Made In
Best For | Chef-approved products
Materials | Maple wood
Price | $129
If you want to cook like professional chefs do, check out Made In. They carry high-quality cookware with industry pricing for hospitality groups, and regular pricing for everyday consumers, so you know your cookware is being used in professional kitchens, too. Their maple butcher block measures 12 inches wide by 18 inches long, and has a thick, sturdy depth of about an inch and a half. One side has a groove to catch juices, while the other side is completely flat. The butcher block is made in the US and steamed for durability — with proper handwashing, it’s designed to last you pretty much forever. The maple wood’s grain makes the board as beautiful as it is durable, meaning you can use it for charcuterie boards and other displays, and you can even personalize it for an extra $30.
Customer Review | “Great butcher block. It’s sturdy and beautiful. Our last name engraved on it was a special touch. Would highly recommend.” – Drew H. (Read more reviews.)
5. Our Place
Best For | A deep groove to hold juices
Materials | Walnut
Price | $95
LA-based kitchenware brand Our Place specializes in minimalist kitchen essentials for the home cook, and their walnut cutting board is no exception. Made from premium American black walnut and measuring 12 by 17 inches, it just might be the last cutting board you ever need. Its deep groove on one side holds up to ⅔ a cup of liquid, perfect for slicing meat or juicy fruits. The other side doubles as a serving platter (the board has inset handles on either side), and the board’s gentle walnut surface keeps your knives nice and sharp. Our Place recommends treating your board with food-grade mineral oil every so often to prevent cracking and drying, especially after the first few uses as you break it in. The brand sells a bundle that combines the walnut cutting board with three premium knives, and they make a non-slip cutting board made of 100% recycled plastic, too.
Customer Review | “Love this cutting board! The design, and materials are great. It is functional and beautiful. Heavy duty and after 2 months of use, you can’t even tell. Unlike other cutting boards or bamboo boards we’ve used, this one is sturdy and great!” – Patricia F. (Read more reviews.)
6. West Elm
Best For | Small kitchens to maximize countertop space
Materials | Walnut, maple, mahogany, bamboo
Price | Starting at $40
West Elm carries several different cutting boards, from small bamboo options to large, solid wood pieces. And many of their cutting boards come from small, US-based businesses. StoneWon Designs makes handcrafted cutting boards at their Texas studio from solid American-grown wood — their over-the-sink cutting board features a clever mesh strainer through which you can wash produce or let juices drain, while their cover/noodle board fits over the stove when it’s not in use, giving you extra countertop space. West Elm’s more budget-friendly options by BergHOFF are made of lightweight, durable bamboo, while their statement cutting boards include this Steph Trowbridge cutting board with a sculptural design made in South Jersey. Along with lifting up local artisans, West Elm partners with organizations like Fair Trade USA, the Fifteen Percent Pledge, and the NAACP.
7. Public Goods
Best For | A plastic alternative cutting board
Materials | Sustainably grown acacia wood, wood fiber, compressed paper
Price | Starting at $50
Public Goods might be known for its products like simple, refillable toiletries and cleaning products. And while their membership program can get you serious savings on their refillables, you shouldn’t sleep on their home goods and kitchen products, too. They make two cutting boards, both of which are made of wood. Their large wood serving board is made of sustainably sourced acacia wood and, measuring almost 18 inches long, works just as well as a cutting board as it does for serving cheese and charcuterie. Their eco-friendly cutting board is a better alternative to standard plastic cutting boards — super durable and bacteria-resistant, it’s made of compressed paper and wood fiber, which is the same material used to make skateboard ramps. It has silicone corners to make it slip-resistant, and a groove around the edge to catch juices.
Customer Review | “Amazing board sits securely in place while I chop. Dishwasher safe! I am replacing my plastic ‘boards’ because I want to limit exposure to plastics. I quickly bought a second one and will purchase 2 of the smaller size as soon as they are in stock.” – Jill R. (Read more reviews.)
8. Teakhaus
Best For | Made of wood from FSC forests
Materials | FSC-certified teak
Price | Starting at $25
Owned by Proteak, a forestry company that cultivates sustainable teak forests in Central and South America, Teakhaus makes all of its cutting boards from FSC-certified teak wood that’s left over from making furniture. They come in lots of sizes and shapes, from their small, rounded edge board that’s a foot long to their extra large end-grain cutting board that’s two feet long and has a moat and carrying handles to their circular round end grain cutting board. Each board is highly stain- and moisture-resistant and is made from end grain teak that keeps your knives sharper for longer. And they have beautiful designs to boot — some feature an edge grain in a delicate striped pattern, while on others, the wood is cut into a sophisticated checkerboard pattern.
Customer Review | “I’ve had this cutting board for over two years now and it still looks as gorgeous as the day it came out of the (heavy) box! Planning on purchasing the large one with a moat in the near future!” – Eliza P. (Read more reviews.)
9. Material
Best For | Dishwasher-safe boards
Materials | Recycled plastic, renewable sugarcane
Price | Starting at $35
The one exception on this list of wooden cutting boards, Material’s cutting boards aren’t made from wood. But they still deserve a space here for their impressive sustainability specs. They’re made from 75% recycled kitchen plastic scraps and 25% renewable sugarcane, and they come in four different trendy colors. And the best part? Unlike wooden cutting boards, they’re dishwasher safe for easy clean up. The reBoards measure around 15 inches long and go for $35 each — or, for a better deal, grab their reBoard duo that includes one full-size board and one mini board, measuring 13 inches long, for $55 total.
Customer Review | “This is an excellent midsize cutting board. It is not loud, it doesn’t move and it is dishwasher safe. And I like the color. I got 3 cutting boards and will use them all.” – Julia J. (Read more reviews.)
Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
