Adoption of eco-friendly cooking stoves has become a critical aspect of environmental policy in Ethiopia. An ethnographic study was conducted in six randomly selected villages across different regions of Ethiopia, utilising participant observation and semi-structured interviews to gather qualitative data from over 120 households. A significant proportion (75%) of households reported adopting at least one type of eco-friendly stove, with a notable theme around the ease of use and cost savings being most influential factors in adoption decisions. The study underscores the potential for policy interventions that focus on affordability and user-friendliness to accelerate the uptake of sustainable cooking technologies. Public health programmes should prioritise education campaigns about the benefits of eco-friendly stoves, alongside providing subsidies or low-interest loans to facilitate adoption among poorer households.