Which? Eco Buys reveal the most eco-friendly kettles we’ve tested

We’ve added Eco Buys – our eco-friendly appliance recommendation – to our kettle reviews. This will help you know which models are worth considering if you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint.

Only the most energy-efficient kettles, from brands that are proven to make long-lasting models, earn our Eco Buy recommendation. Choosing an Eco Buy kettle could help you save money too, both by reducing your water wastage and because these kettles take less time to reach boiling point.

There’s no need to spend over the odds to get your hands on an Eco Buy kettle either. The cheapest cost around £30, which is £25 cheaper than the average price of other kettles we test.

Read on to find out exactly what it means to choose an Eco Buy appliance, plus see a couple of examples of Eco Buy kettles.

Head straight to our kettle reviews to see all our Eco Buy recommendations – just use the Eco Buy filter.

What is an Eco Buy?

We make our Eco Buy recommendations based on what Which? members tell us matters to them most when trying to make sustainable buying decisions.

They tell us that longevity, energy use and reparability are the three most important factors, but it’s difficult to determine these from a product description in store or on a website – that’s where our Eco Buys come in.

In order to earn our Eco Buy badge, in addition to excelling at core Which? tests, products must also meet some or all the following criteria:

• Made by a brand with a proven track record for long-lasting products that you can rely on
• Efficient with energy and water use
• Easy to repair should anything go wrong

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Eco Buy kettles

As a nation, we drink around 100 million cups of tea a day, so it’s fair to say our kettles can take a bit of a battering.

While kettles manufactured by the most reliable brands can last for upwards of seven years without developing any faults, models by other brands can pack in after a couple of years or less – which is no good if you’re trying to reduce your environmental impact.

Out of the 334 kettles we’ve tested so far, only 32 are Eco Buys. These include:

Russell Hobbs Buckingham 20460 kettle, £35

This kettle is the updated version of a previous model and comes with an impressive three-year manufacturer guarantee, much better than the one-year offering we see from most brands.

It’ll help you conserve water too, with a minimum fill of just 250ml, or enough for one hot drink. If you’re the only one in the house who likes hot drinks, or drink them more than the rest of your family, it’s definitely worth considering.

It’s more energy-efficient than most kettles we’ve tested, but is it quick to boil and easy to use? Read our full Russell Hobbs Buckingham 20460 review to find out.

Kenwood Mesmerine kettle, £90

At the other end of the scale is this pricey Kenwood, which comes in a range of bold colours and wouldn’t look out of place in even the most fashionable kitchen. There’s no need to waste energy boiling more water than necessary, as the minimum fill is enough for a small cup of tea or coffee.

The auto switch off means it won’t take any longer than necessary to heat your water either, so you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’re not using more electricity than you need to.

Sound good so far? Find out how quickly this kettle boils and how good the limescale filter is by reading our full Kenwood Mesmerine ZJM811OR review.

For more kettle recommendations, see all our Best Buy kettles.

Why sustainability matters

Your small kitchen appliances, including kettles, toasters and microwaves, have a huge impact on the environment. According to data from the Environment Agency, just under 28,000 tonnes of small appliances were collected under WEEE regulations in 2020 – that’s about half the mass of the Titanic.

That figure only accounts for items disposed of correctly too, and doesn’t include the countless appliances that will have mistakenly ended up in landfill. If you stick your kettle straight in the rubbish, it won’t biodegrade and could cause pollution as the materials leak out into the ground over time.

This is why buying an efficient, reliable kettle really matters. The longer it lasts, the longer you can keep it out of landfill.

Recycle Now’s recycling locator lets you check the most convenient way to dispose of your electrical goods based on where you live.