As important functional houseware items, serving trays transport plates of food and dishes to guests while they dine. Yet, beyond just moving food from place to place, serving trays are also used to organize items on a table, dresser, or buffet. If you’re looking to store your items in one set location, merely place your serving tray in a drawer: allowing you to stow a variety of household items such as books, reading glasses, and hand lotions together and easily locate them under any circumstances—even during a power outage!
What are various serving tray options?
When selecting a serving tray for your home, it’s important to keep in mind the product’s size, weight, color, and material. Depending on how frequently you plan to utilize your serving tray, you’ll want to choose one that is not only attractive and features an eye-catching design but is also made using sustainable materials.
A plethora of options are available out there, so be sure to do your research before making a final decision: boosting the chance you’ll find the perfect serving tray for your needs.
10 ethical & eco-friendly serving trays
This guide highlights premium (and sustainable!) serving trays to hunt for when you’re looking to make your next dinnerware or housewares purchase. Check out this list of 10 ethical and eco-friendly serving trays to spruce up your next dining experience or home enhancement project.
- MadeTerra Bamboo Wicker Serving Trays
- Charity Disposable Palm Leaf 14″ Round Trays
- Comfify Bamboo Serving Trays
- Decrafts Round Rattan Ottoman Woven Serving Tray
- HD Water Hyacinth Serving Trays
- Rossie Home Bamboo Bed Tray, Lap Desk with Phone Holder
- Thirteen Chefs Woven Seagrass Tray with Handles
- Comfify Wooden Serving Trays with Handles
- Home Beets Acacia Wood Serving Trays and Cheese Boards
- Kate and Laurel Lipton Mid-Century Modern Round Wooden Tray, Dark Walnut Brown with Gold Handles
1. MadeTerra Bamboo Wicker Serving Trays
Customer Experience Rating: 4.4 Good (from 150 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 4 Good
This product is made using sustainable materials. As a fast-growing tree, bamboo is considered a sustainable crop.
MadeTerra enjoys credible third-party sustainability recognition and ethical certifications including SMETA and BSCI.
Features
- Handmade by Vietnam artisans
- Rectangular shape
- Size: 16.9” x 13”x 4” H (outer); 15.7” x 11.8” x 4” H (inner)
- Color: Natural
- Materials: Bamboo wicker
What Customers Love
- Handmade
- Attractive, classic design
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- Perfect for charcuterie boards and cheeseboards
What Customers Do Not Love
- Some products cause splinters
2. Charity Disposable Palm Leaf 14″ Round Trays
Customer Experience Rating: 4.4 Good (from 250 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
Charity claims fallen leaves are used while making this product so there is no need to cut down trees. However, specific information regarding production process sustainability is not available.
Features
- Made in India
- Available in round, square, and rectangular shapes
- Size: 14” round, 13” round, 11” square, 11” x 7” and 9” x 6” rectangular
- Color: Natural
- Materials: Fallen areca palm leaves
What Customers Love
- Attractive design
- Palm leaf construction leads to a biodegradable and disposable product
- Perfect for charcuterie boards and cheeseboards
What Customers Do Not Love
- Thin design
- May arrive broken, warped, and/or moldy
- Tiny bugs may ship with the product when leaves are not well processed
3. Comfify Bamboo Serving Trays
Customer Experience Rating: 4.4 Good (from 1,550 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
As a fast-growing tree, bamboo is considered a sustainable crop.
However, specific information regarding harvesting and production process sustainability is not available.
Features
- Made in China
- 2 rectangular nesting tray set (sizes vary)
- Size: 16.8” x 12” x 2” H (large tray) and 15” x 10” x 2” H (small tray)
- Color: Natural & dark brown
- Materials: Bamboo
What Customers Love
- Beautiful and dual-purpose as table decor
- Sturdy but not too heavy
- The steel handle reflects a contemporary look
- Set is offered in 2 different sizes
What Customers Do Not Love
- Some products arrive scuffed and scratched (when bamboo is not properly processed)
- Some products arrive broken
4. Decrafts Round Rattan Ottoman Woven Serving Tray
Customer Experience Rating: 4.7 Great (from 550 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
As a fast-growing tree, rattan is sometimes fully grown and harvested within a two-year period. Research shows rattan is a crucial material used in sustainable product production, but information regarding the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes for this product is not available.
Features
- Handmade by Vietnam artisans
- Round shape
- Size: 14” diameter x 2.8” H (large size) and 11.8” diameter x 2.4” H (small size)
- Color: Natural
- Materials: Natural rattan wicker
What Customers Love
- Handmade construction
- Large and sturdy yet lightweight
- Beautiful design is perfect for coffee table decor
What Customers Do Not Love
- Some products are lopsided and thus lack a level surface
5. HD Water Hyacinth Serving Trays
Customer Experience Rating: 4.7 Great (from 330 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
According to this American Chemical Society study, the common, fast-growing, and limitless water hyacinth—typically considered a weed—is sometimes utilized as a sustainable source for diverse products. However, information detailing the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this specific product is unavailable.
Features
- Handmade by Vietnam artisans
- Round shape
- Size: 11.8” diameter x 2” H (large size) and 9.8” diameter x 2” H (small size)
- Color: Natural
- Materials: Natural water-hyacinth wicker
What Customers Love
- Handmade distinction
- Lightweight, yet sturdy
- Beautiful design is perfect for tabletop decor
What Customers Do Not Love
- The product may give off a strong odor (due to water hyacinth that did not completely dry)
- Some trays feature a bottom surface that does not lay flat, resulting in wobbling on one side
6. Rossie Home Bamboo Bed Tray, Lap Desk with Phone Holder
Customer Experience Rating: 4.7 Great (from 12,000 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
Bamboo is considered a sustainable material. However, information detailing the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this specific product is unavailable.
Features
- Made in China
- Rectangular shape with foldable legs
- Size: 21.8” x 13.9” x 9” H (large size) and 19.7” x 12” x 9” H (medium size)
- Color: Natural, white, gray, dark brown
- Materials: Bamboo
What Customers Love
- Multifunction versatility is convenient for meals served at work or in bed
- Handy tablet/phone lip
- Can place on your legs, yet large enough to hold a 17” laptop
- Sturdy construction
What Customers Do Not Love
- Gives off an odor when it first arrives
- Some products arrive broken
- Some products have a cracked surface and/or cause bamboo splinters
7. Thirteen Chefs Woven Seagrass Tray with Handles
Customer Experience Rating: 4.4 Good (from 100 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
Seagrass used to make this product is not marine water seagrass (Zosteraceae) but rather fast-growing Cyperaceae land grass hailing from Vietnam that is considered a sustainable material. However, the product does feature plastic ribbons (to connect seagrass fibers), and information detailing the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this specific product is not available..
Features
- Handmade by Vietnam artisans
- Round shape
- Size: 18” diameter x 3” H
- Color: Purple
- Materials: Natural seagrass (Cyperaceae land grass), wicker, and plastic
What Customers Love
- Appealing color
- Beautiful artisan design
- Multipurpose versatility as table or wall decor
- Large, thick construction
What Customers Do Not Love
- Plastic ribbon used to connect seagrass fibers
- Color may vary from what is pictured
8. Comfify Wooden Serving Trays with Handles
Customer Experience Rating: 4.5 Good (from 2,800 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
Growing at an annual average of 6 to 13 ft., Paulownia is a hard wood that requires 8-15 years to grow and harvest. However, information detailing the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this product is unavailable.
Features
- Made in China
- Three-piece nesting rectangular tray set
- Size: 16.5” W x 12” L (large), 14.6” W x 10.37” L (medium), and 12.6” W X 8.87” L (small)
- Color: Brown, blue, white, solid white
- Materials: Paulownia wood
What Customers Love
- Rustic, farmhouse design
- Tray set contains 3 different sizes
What Customers Do Not Love
- The product is subject to water stains
- Some products arrive broken
9. Home Beets Acacia Wood Serving Trays and Cheese Boards
Customer Experience Rating: 4.7 Great (from 340 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
A fast-growing tree, acacia grows in almost any type of soil, does not require fertilizer, and rarely needs pesticides. Approximately 4-5 years are required to grow and harvest acacia trees. However, information detailing the overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this product are unavailable.
Features
- Made in China
- Rectangular shape
- Size: 17” x 6.5” x 0.75”H (large size) and 14” x 5.5” x 0.75”H (medium size)
- Color: Brown
- Materials: Acacia wood
What Customers Love
- Beautiful and rustic farmhouse aesthetic
- High level of qualityPerfect for charcuterie boards and serving meats, cheeses, appetizers and hors d’ oeuvres
What Customers Do Not Love
- Trays sometimes arrive broken
10. Kate and Laurel Lipton Mid-Century Modern Round Wooden Tray, Dark Walnut Brown with Gold Handles
Customer Experience Rating: 4.7 Great (from 750 reviews)
Sustainability Rating: 2 Below Average
Walnut production is relatively sustainable given a lack of significant damage to air, water, land, soil, and forests (provided pesticides are not used). Information detailing overall sustainability of harvesting and production processes used to make this product is unavailable.
Features
- Made in China
- Round shape
- Size: 18” x 3.25” H (large size), 15.5” diameter x 3.25” H (medium size)
- Color: Black, brown, navy, white
- Materials: Walnut wood
What Customers Love
- Beautiful and rustic farmhouse design
- Good quality and sturdy
- Attractive
- Large capacity
What Customers Do Not Love
- Trays sometimes arrive broken
- Thin bottom is not made of natural walnut wood like the sides