20 Sustainable Clothing Brands For Men Of Style

Fantastic news, men, sustainable clothing brands have arrived in the nick of time to rescue you. They are here to enhance your appeal on the outside and the inside. Their stylish duds make it easy to align your wardrobe decisions with your environmental and social values, and that is undeniably attractive.

Out of thin air (or, more precisely, out of organic cotton, wool, cashmere, recycled polyester and nylon, and other innovative sustainable fabrics), emerging and iconic brands are creating a world of enticing, eco-fashion options for men that unite sustainability and style.

The next wave of sustainable fashion is upon us, and, frankly, it’s a tsunami. As a species, humans have rapidly internalized the understanding that creating garments out of fossil fuels (that’s where polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex come from) is spectacularly obtuse. Dressing oneself in oil is, at last, rapidly falling out of fashion.

The luxury fashion houses and the fast-fashion mills are on board with this new sustainable landscape. Not entirely, of course, but enough to help us glimpse the future a world of fashion that operates in balance with nature.

Prada, for example, has launched two sustainable collections. In 2019, the luxury brand launched its Re-Nylon collection made from recycled ocean plastic. For Winter 2020, the fashion house has released a line of outdoor performance wear made of Extreme-Tex, a proprietary fabric that took three years to develop. It’s made from post-consumer recycled polyester and features a carbon-free waterproof coating.

Above:  Clothing and Accessories from Prada’s Re-Nylon initiative.

Above: Light Extreme-Tex Hooded Puffer Jacket by Prada

While not fast-fashion in its right, COS (Collection of Style) is owned by H&M. The brand’s international presence and “big-city” appeal has everything to do with its good design philosophy that leads to the creation of collections that, while understated, are culturally relevant and timeless. All garments are made of sustainable materials.

Above: Wide Leg Jeans in 100% organic cotton by COS.

Merging style and sustainability matters because fashion is central to the human experience. While Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian Queen, is often regarded as the original fashion icon, men too have set fashion trends since time immemorial.

After all, was it not that dashing figure General Giuseppe Garibaldi, the 19th-century unifier of Italy, whose billowing red wool tunics were so widely copied throughout Europe by men and women? Did he not inspire the invention of the blouse? Indeed he did.

Above: General Garibaldi, courtest of We The Italians

Our goal, therefore, is not to suppress our natural instinct to look our finest but to do so in a manner that causes the least harm to the environment. This is what our grand moment calls for.

The twenty clothing brands listed here are radical evolutionaries. Wear them and you will do your part to usher in a distinctly dapper and sustainable future.

** You may also like:

• 21 Stylish  Sustainable Backpacks
• 10 Sustainable Watches Worth Your Time
• 7 Eco-Friendly Prescription Eyewear Brands

Sustainable Clothing Brands For Men

1. taylor stitch

Shop for Taylor Stitch at:

2. outerknown

Legendary surfer Kelly Slater (pictured) is building one heck of a fair trade sustainable clothing company. Designs are inspired by the beach-loving, casual lifestyle. They’re made with a deep devotion to and respect for the planet. 90% of Outerknown’s fabrics are organic, recycled, or regenerated. It’s a darn good start.

Shop for Outerknown at:

3. rockay

Rockay has set out to become the most sustainable performance wear brand on earth. All products are made of recycled materials – including S.Cafe (from used coffee grounds) and SEAQUAL (from marine waste) without sacrificing comfort, style, function, and, of course, performance. Rockay also partners with ReSea Project to remove plastic bottles from the ocean with every purchase.

Shop for Rockay at:

4. Marine Layer

Marine Layer is big on comfort. To that end, the brand has developed over 100 custom fabrics for its wide-ranging line of casual clothing. The company works with many sustainable fabrics, including upcycled cotton, recycled plastic, tencel (made from sustainably harvested Eucalyptus trees), and Modal (made from sustainably harvested beechwood trees).

Shop for Marine Layer at:

5. finisterre

From jackets to swimwear and everything else a man could need, Finisterre works with sustainable materials to make you primed and ready for all weather conditions. Organic cotton, recycled and regenerated polyester and nylon, responsibly sourced wool, and more combine to create that effortlessly easy British style.

Shop for Finisterre at:

6. Wellen

With its laid-back beach vibe, Wellen offers well-designed, classic menswear using cutting-edge sustainable materials. You’ll find an excellent assortment for all seasons made with hemp, organic cotton, recycled fibers, and more innovative fabrics. Factories are selected for their ethical and sustainable practices.

Shop for Wellen exclusively at:

7. Knowledge Cotton Apparel

Leaning into sustainable innovation, Knowledge Cotton Apparel is determined to chart a sustainable course for the fashion industry. The brand’s technical fabrics make excellent use of organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, linen, wool, and Tencel. The company also applies sustainable technologies to its production processes that save water and minimize the use of chemicals.

Shop for Knowledge Cotton Apparel at:

8. Allbirds

Allbirds has rapidly built a reputation for sustainable innovation informing its fantastically comfortable line of all-natural footwear. Now the brand has expanded into clothing, bringing that same commitment to sustainability, style, and comfort to the fore. This first-team, all-natural innovator makes fine-looking, performance products like its T-shirts that incorporate crab shells to eliminate odors (true).

Shop for Allbirds at:

9. ecoalf

A pioneer in sustainable fashion, Ecoalf launched in 2009 and has been on a rocket ship of growth and fanfare fueled by style and sustainability. Ecoalf’s core mission is to reduce the consumption of the world’s natural resources. To that end, the brand has developed over 200 fabrics using recycled varieties of polyester, nylon, cotton, wool, and tires (yes, tires).

Shop for Ecoalf at:

10. Organic Basics

For underwear and activewear made of sustainable materials and ethically manufactured in Europe, turn to Organic Basics. The forward-looking brand aims to move the needle across all aspects of sustainable clothing incorporating low-water waste and wind-energy production methods. Organic cotton features prominently in the brand’s expanding product line as do recycled wool, recycled cashmere, and Tencel.

Shop for Organic Basics at:

11. Pact

The ultimate organic brand, Pact offers sustainably-minded men organic cotton socks, tees, underwear, and loungewear that are comfortable and easy to make part of your life (I love the socks). All products are ethically manufactured in a Fair Trade factory. Pact aims to make organically grown clothing accessible to everyone.

Shop for Pact at:

12. Patagonia

The Godfather of environmentally friendly and responsibly made garments, Patagonia has built a worldwide fanbase for its high-performance outdoor and lifestyle clothing. Not only does the company using organic cotton, recycled fabrics, recycled wool, hemp, and other eco-friendly fabrics, but Patagonia also repairs and resells (at a discount) used items from seasons past – check out Worn Wear.

Founder Yvon Chouinard has set the standard for corporate citizenship. Patagonia is the force behind 1% For The Planet, donating 1% of profits to environmental causes and building a movement of companies who today do the same.

Shop for Patagonia at:

13. naadam

Meet the world’s fairest and most sustainable cashmere clothing company. Naadam partners directly with herders high in the Gobi Desert. By going direct to the source, Naadam streamlines the supply chain, cuts out layers of cost, and in so doing offers fine Mongolian cashmere at accessible prices to you and fair wages to those in Mongolia’s herding communities. Even the goats are happy.

14. Opera Campi

Opera Campi was founded in Italy in 2017 to produce innovative clothing using bio-based fabrics that unite fashion and sustainability on a whole new level – natural futurism. Case in point, the brand’s proprietary hemp fabric, H-EMP, is laboratory-tested to deliver all the environmental benefits inherent in hemp (grows rapidly without the need for pesticides or insecticides) but eliminates any wrinkles or coarseness long associated with hemp clothing.

Shop for Opera Campi at:

15. Everlane

If Gap and J. Crew had a sustainable love child, surely it would be Everlane. From basics to workwear, Everlane offers streamlined clothing that looks good and never seems to go out of style. Find items made of organic cotton, recycled wool, and more. Much of the collection is already sustainable, and Everlane has committed to achieving 100% organic cotton by 2023.

Shop for Everlane at:

16. United By Blue

Since its founding, United By Blue has been committed to making sustainable and ethical clothing for outdoor and everyday wear. Organic and recycled materials are what you’ll find across the full clothing line. Bonus: the company removes 1 pound of trash from oceans and waterways for every product you purchase.

Shop for United By Blue at:

17. Colorful Standard

Eco-fashion used to get a bad wrap for being drab, boring, beige. Colorful Standard showcases how bold colors and vivid tones can go hand0-in-hand with sustainable style. From underwear to loungewear to button-downs, and more, Colorful Standard utilizes organic cotton and merino wool and shows how multicolored sustainability can be. All production takes place in Portugal.

Shop for Colorful Standard at (get 20% OFF when you use the link below):

18. Norrona

Shop for Norrona at:

19. Houdini

Houdini makes technical sportswear employing a holistic sustainability philosophy that utilizes sustainable materials and is informed at the outset with a unique design philosophy. Every garment is scrutinized through the lens of whether it deserves existence. Some key questions asked: Will it last? Is it versatile? Will it age well? Is there an “end-of-life” solution for it?

World take note, this is precisely the kind of design ethos we need.

Shop for Houdini at:

20. Hiut

From its factory in rural Wales where this young company is bringing denim manufacturing back to the UK, Hiut has built a global cult following for its jeans. Maybe it’s because jeans are the only garment Hiut makes. Find organic cotton denim in multiple fits. Plus, all jeans come with a lifetime repair guarantee.

Shop for Hiut at:

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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7 Sizzling Recycled And Sustainable Cookware Collections

Sustainable cookware is on the rise as established and emerging brands respond to the urgency of our climate challenges to rethink their kitchen products. Their challenge: design and manufacture cookware – whether made of iron, aluminum, steel, or copper – that consumers love and have a vastly lower environmental footprint.

The solution is recycled products. Creating cookware using recycled materials instead of finite, virgin materials has profound environmental benefits. Recycled aluminum, for example, requires 95% less energy to produce than virgin aluminum while maintaining the same level of quality. You get an outstanding product, albeit one created in a manner that preserves resources and dramatically cuts carbon emissions.

This is precisely what Lazy Environmentalists are seeking. We want cookware of extraordinary quality and beauty. We want to cook with our pots and pans and proudly display them in our kitchens. And we expect them to be made with heightened consideration for our health – by eliminating nasty chemicals – and for the planet’s health – by adopting sustainable materials that use fewer or, better yet, none – of the earth’s finite natural resources.

Companies are responding. Their stories are fantastic. Take Combekk, a Dutch sustainable cookware startup that is reinvigorating its country’s heritage as the inventor of the “Dutch Oven,” otherwise known as a cast-iron pot.

Today, Combekk is the only company manufacturing Dutch Ovens in Holland. They’re doing it with a sustainable twist: Combekk’s cookware is made of recycled iron sourced from the likes of old bicycles, railroad tracks, and prison bars.

See the quick video below:

While Combekk is a forward-thinking cookware startup, other companies presented here are second- or even third-generation cookware brands that have had a presence in people’s kitchens dating back to the last century. They too are evolving to respond to environmental challenges and to consumer tastes.

Of particular note, all of these brands are European or have European ties. They hail from The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, England, Belgium, France, and Italy. It’s a prime example of how innovative sustainable solutions transcend borders and cultures. 

These respected cookware companies recognize that while the recipes may stay the same, the time has come to change what we cook them in.

** You may also like 12 Organic and Sustainable Bedding Brands and our curated list of Stylish Sustainable Home Office Desks.

7 Sustainable Cookware Brands

1. Combekk Recycled Dutch Ovens and Pans

The Dutch startup that’s reinventing the “Dutch Oven” out of recycled cast-iron and bringing manufacturing of this storied product back to Holland. The iron is sourced from recycled train tracks, bicycles, and prison bars. You’ll also find fantastic frying pans made of recycled iron with FSC certified wooden handles. Products come with a 40-year warranty.

Shop for Combekk at:

2. Woll Eco-Lite Recycled Aluminum Pans

Woll cookware is made in Germany, where the company has been in business for over forty years. The second generation of this family-run company is charting a sustainable direction with its Eco-Lite line of certified 100% recycled aluminum pans. The pans are nonstick, dishwasher-safe, suitable for all cooking surfaces, and feature detachable handles also made of recycled materials.

Shop for Woll Eco-Lite at:

3. Scanpan Recycled Aluminum Cookware 

SCANPAN combines the best of old traditions with new knowledge and technologies to create sustainable cookware. Old beer and soda cans are recycled, melted down, and then hand-poured, transforming rubbish into exceptional SCANPAN saucepans, frying pans, and cooking pots. All production takes place in Denmark, and all products are PFOA/PFOS free.

Shop for SCANPAN at:

4. Prestige Eco Recycled Aluminum Pans

UK-based Prestige has been making cookware for over 80 years. In 2020, it introduced its Eco line of pots and pans all made of recycled aluminum. The pans are the first of their kind to be treated with a natural, plant-based nonstick coating. All products are manufactured in Italy and are dishwasher- and oven-safe.

Shop for Prestige Eco at:

5. Amoretti Brothers Recycled Copper Cookware

Amoretti Brothers manufactures high-end cookware made of recycled copper. With a design heritage rooted in Italy and manufacturing in Mexico, the company’s collection of globally inspired pots, pans, Dutch Ovens, and more are hand-forged by skilled artisans.  

Shop for Amoretti Brothers at:

6. GreenPan NonToxic Cookware

GreenPan products have built a strong reputation as healthy ceramic nonstick cookware free of PFAs, PFOA, Lead, and Cadmium. Based in Belgium, GreenPan also incorporates upcycled steel and aluminum into its extensive cookware collections, the only caveat being, the specific percentage of recycled content is not readily known. I’m awaiting a response from the company and will update this post once I find out.

Pictured here is a GreenPan exclusive colorway created in partnership with Goop.

Shop the full GreenPan collection at:

7. Tefal So Recycled Cookware

French company Tefal got its start over 60 years ago and today makes a range of kitchenware and cookware from recycled materials. In 2019, Tefal launched its So Recycled line of recycled aluminum cookware. Unfortunately, consumers in the U.S. still don’t have access to Tefal’s sweet sustainable pots and pans (sold as T-Fal in the U.S.), but we’ll update this post – when they do become available.

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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Sustainable Lifestyle Trends This Week – 12-18-20

Surveying the green consumer economy this week, I get the feeling that not only is environmental innovation accelerating, but it’s also creating more inclusive benefits. 

Solar power is coming to lower-income communities. Sales of seriously sustainable reusable water bottles are providing clean drinking water to those in need.

Already sustainable businesses are adapting their business models to extend their reach and make it easier and more convenient for consumers to consume wisely.  

New eco-friendly materials are being produced with minimal environmental footprints, and new business services are minimizing consumer footprints by extending the useful life of the products they already own and love.

5 sustainable living trends and discoveries

1. home delivery of sustainably grown meat – hickory nut gap farm

As sustainable businesses adapt to our pandemic-induced homebody lifestyles, sustainably-minded consumers are the beneficiaries.

Hickory Nut Gap Farm is a working farm on the outskirts of Asheville, NC just down the road from my home. Their grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, and chicken are grown without antibiotics or added hormones. The brand does a brisk business with groceries like Whole Foods and Food Lion.

Recently, HNG started selling mouth-watering sampler boxes of its meats available for online ordering and nationwide delivery. It’s equal parts convenient and delicious.

2. solar spreading to dense urban locations – jfk airport

3. Recycled leather is going to eat cow leather’s lunch 

Or something like that. ATKO, a Korean company is at the cutting-edge of creating a legitimate eco-friendly alternative to mass-produced leather.

The company’s natural, recycled leather yarn and fabrics are made from cow leather scraps sourced from leading tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group. The closed-loop process uses no water, no toxic substances, and creates no additional environmental pollution.

Fashion brands, from the likes of Zara and Armani, are already signing up. 

4. the eco-friendliest eco-friendly reusable water Bottle

Earlier this week, I covered a select few reusable water bottles that are made of recycled materials. I felt it important to highlight them because most brands – even the most beloved reusable bottle brands, bank on our obliviousness to the fact that their products are made from finite, virgin raw materials (the opposite of sustainable).

Then I discovered Yuhme, which appears to be the most eco-friendly reusable water bottle on the planet. It’s made from naturally renewable,  sugarcane using a zero-waste production process that results in a CO2 negative footprint. From a social benefit perspective, every Yuhmi bottle purchased provides at least 3 months of clean drinking water to someone living in the Central African Republic.

5. repair is the new reuse – Allen Edmonds and more

If green is (or was) the new black, and reuse is the new recycling, then repair is the new reuse. And that’s a mouthful of sustainable jargon.

Brands are extending the useful life of their products, cultivating brand loyalty among consumers, and earning a few bucks in the process by establishing services to mend, repair, and, in the case of Allen Edmonds, the venerable, 100-year old American men’s footwear brand, recraft worn shoes.

The upshot for the environment is that fewer new products are purchased and fewer used products end up in the landfill. The benefit to consumers is that companies charge much less to repair previously purchased items, so consumers can go on wearing what they love.

A growing number of companies offer such services including Nudie Jeans, Filson, Patagonia, Barbour, Finisterre, and Taylor Stitch. Robb Report has a fantastic article on how luxury fashion houses like Hermès and Brunello Cucinelli offer mending services too.

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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12 Snuggle-Worthy Organic And Sustainable Bedding Brands

Ahh, the bedroom. That inviting space where, with luck and good hygiene, our dreams can come true. Our most intimate moments transpire in bed. It’s the perfect place to care for ourselves, our bedmate(s), and our planet. Choosing organic sheets and sustainable bedding can alight your path to planetary bliss. I’m here to show you how.

I mean, that is, the part about choosing environmentally conscious bedding.

I’ve been sleeping on organic cotton sheets longer than most. As a bootstrapped entrepreneur building my first sustainable furniture and furnishings company (Vivavi) over a decade ago, I secretly slept in my showroom.

It was in New York City. I couldn’t afford both an apartment and a showroom, so for years, I combined them. The only downside was that my sales manager insisted I had to “make my bed” each morning before we opened, which I wasn’t thrilled about but went along with.

Here’s a Sundance Channel feature segment from 2008 filmed in my former Vivavi showroom/home (along with some backstory on Lazy Environmentalist).

At the time, few sustainable bedding brands existed. There were offerings from Area, Anna Sova, ABC Carpet & Home, and Coyuchi.

Above: Organic sheets and bedding from Anna Sova

Designer Carmel Campos had launched Loop Organic’s crisp bedding aesthetic. Here’s a 2008 interview Carmel gave to Marisa Belger (my editor for both Lazy Environmentalist Books) describing the inspiration behind her sustainable bedding brand.

Fast-forward to today, and we are witnessing the mainstreaming of organic bedding. You can find great options at major retailers including West Elm, Pottery Barn, Target, L.L. Bean, Garnet Hill, Crate & Barrel.

Huckberry, that bastion of all things cool, artisan, and independent, recently introduced a stellar line of organic bedding from niche brand Upstate.

Above: Eco-Flannel Heather Sheet Set at Huckberry.

Rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit on environmentally conscious bedding is a core staple of a beautiful sustainable lifestyle. Below are 12 of the most exciting brands exclusively dedicated to providing you a sustainable night’s sleep.

12 Organic Sheets and Sustainable Bedding Brands

1. Sheets & Giggles 

Sheets made from sustainably harvested Eucalyptus trees. Dope, right? The trees’ pulp is turned into yarn. The result is called Lyocell and the benefits are that these sheets and comforters are extremely soft, breathable, comfortable, and moisture-wicking. Sheets & Giggles knows all about it. In fact, the brand talks a lot of sheet, but they’re bed serious, which we appreciate.

Products: Sheets, Comforters, Duvets Covers, Throw Blankets

Price: $134.95 (Queen sheet set)

2. Sol Organix 

Sol Organix makes bedding that’s timeless, elegant, and accessible priced. This is all the more remarkable given that this sustainable bedding brand works with a factory in India that is Fair Trade certified ensuring all workers are paid a living wage. SOL uses 100% organic, long-staple cotton, resulting in sheets that are silky, lightweight, and breathable.

Products: Sheets, Duvets, Comforters, Pillows

Price: $149 (Queen sheet set)

3. Buffy Sheets And Bedding

Buffy has built an amazing reputation for its affordable, super-breathable, temperature-regulating, Eucalyptus Lyocell comforters. Now the brand has expanded its bedding options, offering both soft, naturally dyed, Eucalyptus Lyocell sheets and naturally antibacterial, hemp linen sheets.

Hemp really is a wonder crop; as a bedding fiber, it results in sheets that are almost magically durable and get softer and softer with time.

Products: Sheets, Comforters, Duvet Covers, Mattress Protector

Price: $199 (Eucalyptus Queen sheet set), $249 (Hemp linen Queen sheet set)

MORE TO EXPLORE

7 Sizzling Recycled Cookware Collections For a Kitchen Eco-Makeover

16 Modern Eco-Friendly Desks To Make Work Enjoyable

4. Plover Bedding

Products: Sheets, Duvets, Quilts, Coverlets. Baby Quilts

Price: $178 (Queen sheet set)

5. Coyuchi Organic Bedding

Founded in 1991, Coyuchi is widely credited as the sustainable bedding brand that introduced organic cotton sheets to the United States. Coyuchi’s cotton is certified to the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), the world’s most rigorous standard. Coyuchi also offers a mending and repair program and a take-back program that extends customers a 15% credit towards their next purchase in exchange for sending their linens back to the company to be recycled and renewed.

Products: Sheets, Blankets, Quilts, Throws, Duvets, Mattresses, Mattress Pads + Toppers, Pillows

Price: $178 (Queen sheet set)

6. Grund Bedding

With roots in Europe and headquarters in picturesque Prague, Grund launched in the U.S. in 2014 to provide certified organic and sustainable bedding and bath linens. Grund weaves premium, resort-quality sheets in Southern-inspired themes.

Products: Sheets, Duvet Covers, Throw Blankets

Price: $139 (Queen sheet set – during the holidays)

7. ya ya Organic Linens

Products: Sheets, Duvet Covers

Price: $198 (Queen sheet set)

8. Pact Bedding

Pact is fast becoming “the everything organic company.” From amazing socks (my personal fave) to loungewear to bedding and bath linens, Pact makes comfortable, well-loved products that are 100% organic cotton and produced in a Fair Trade factory.

Products: Sheets, Duvet Covers

Price: $160 (Queen sheet set)

9. alterra pure Organic Cotton Sheets

A newcomer to the sustainable bedding industry, Alterra Pure launched in 2018 to make cool, crisp organic cotton percale sheets using a transparent and ethical business model. The brand’s sheets, duvet covers, and mattress pads are made under Fair Trade conditions. With a former Patagonia executive as a co-founder, Alterra Pure makes bedding that is not only certified organic, but also verified organic (as in, the co-founders check with their own eyes), non-GMO, regenerative, and zero water waste.

Products: Sheets, Duvet Covers, Mattress Pad

Price: $160 (Queen sheet set)

10. Bearaby Weighted Blanket

Bearaby’s weighted blankets are beautifully crafted to achieve a deeper, more natural sleep cycle, calm frayed nerves, increase happiness, and garner additional health benefits. These soft, chunky, and breathable blankets are made from Eucalyptus lyocell, organic cotton, and velvety upcycled polyester.

Product: Weighted Blankets

Price: $249 and up

11. avocado

Products: Sheets, Duvets, Throws, Mattresses, Mattress Foundations, Pillows, Mattress Toppers and Protectors,  

Price: $179 (Queen sheet set)

12. boll and branch

Three past presidents of the United States have slept on Boll and Branch’s luxurious organic cotton sheets (Clinton and both Bush presidents). Though as far we can tell, not all at the same time. These organic linens really are that ruler-of-the-free-world worthy. Boll and Branch also ensures that everyone who makes the brand’s famous sheets are paid Fair Trade wages from the farmer to the factory worker.

Products: Sheets, Duvets, Quilts, Blankets, Throws, Mattress, Pillows, Mattress Protectors & Toppers

Price: $240 (Queen sheet set)

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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5 Standout, Sustainably Made Reusable Water Bottles

Reusable water bottles are increasingly part of our daily routines. They keep our coffee piping hot and our chilled drinks refreshingly cold. They help us stay hydrated and healthy. The best designed reusable bottles fit neatly into our bags and into our lives.

Reusable water bottles are also badges of environmental distinction. Carrying one signals your planetary consciousness to the rest of the world. It elevates your personal brand. Gives it an intelligence boost.

That’s because their environmental merits are widely understood and appreciated; the more we use them, the less we consume beverages in single-use plastic bottles; hence, the less waste we create. Americans consume 1500 such bottles every second, 80% of which never get recycled, so personally limiting our impact matters.

Taking small steps to eliminate our reliance on disposable plastic water bottles personally resonates with me. As sustainable living was entering mainstream consciousness in the 2000s, I spent four years as the national spokesperson for Brita and its FilterForGood campaign to reduce bottled water waste.

I went on Morning Joe and other TV shows to carry our message of easy conservation. I made PSAs at the Sundance Film Festival. As Brita’s spokesperson, my job was to tout the campaign as often as possible. Once at the film festival, I got (read: had no choice) to share our message before a Lady Antebellum concert (they were also part of Brita’s campaign), which meant it fell to me to introduce the band. Here it is:

Still, opting for just about any reusable bottle will reduce your environmental impact, provided you use it to avoid drinks that come in disposable packaging.

But some reusable bottles are more elite. Better for the environment. They’re made from recycled and renewable materials, which means the positive environmental benefit is already in the bottle when you buy it.

At Lazy Environmentalist, we search for the best sustainable products. The ones that combine innovation, aesthetics, and authentic, sustainable practices. The five reusable water bottles listed here are in a different class. They are sustainable to their core.

5 Best Reusable Water Bottles

1. ocean bottle

The Ocean Bottle provides hot-cold double insulation, is dishwasher-safe, and is easy to fill and clean thanks to its clever three-part design. Each sleek reusable water bottle is made of recycled stainless steel and recycled ocean-bound plastic. Further enhancing its positive impact, every ocean bottle funds the collection of 1000 plastic bottles, pays those who collect them a fair wage, and intercepts the bottles before they enter our oceans.

Price: $54

2. buoy bottle

Buoy Bottle is the first sustainably made reusable water bottle crafted from 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic (bottles are collected from rivers, lakes, and streams before entering the ocean). It too features a functional 3-part design that allows for easy cleaning and filling. The top two components can be used in combination as a drinking cup. It’s lightweight, dishwasher-safe, and simple to carry. It’s also made in the U.S.A.

Price: $28 (Now On Indiegogo)

3. Rockay water bottle

Insulated for hot and cold drinks, Rockay’s high-performance water bottle makes a great exercise companion and keeps you hydrated throughout the day.  A clean, minimalist design, the bottle is made of recycled stainless steel with a screw-top lid from recycled plastic. In addition, for each bottle sold, Rockay funds the removal of 77 plastic water bottles from our oceans.

Price: $29

4. A Good Bottle

A Good Company, based in Sweden, is a mission-driven lifestyle brand crafting all sorts of stylish sustainable goods including A Good Bottle, the handy, functional reusable water bottle made from 100% premium recycled Swedish steel. This streamlined bottle holds hot and cold drinks, is dishwasher safe, and reusable forever.

Price: $35 (get 10% off with code “lazye”)

5. Yuhme Bottle

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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Convenience to Clean Ingredients: 5 Sustainable Trends

I’ve been thinking about big sustainable lifestyle trends this week. It started when I began brainstorming a business angle to justify posting Lazy Environmentalist’s holiday shopping guide on LinkedIn.

Why would a business audience be interested in a shopping guide? The answer is that this year is the first I’ve seen where sustainable products are both reshaping product categories and dominating them. In the process, eco-friendly products are redefining our concepts of everything from luxury to convenience.

I realize that’s a big assertion. I need to test it more to see if it truly holds up, but it’s fascinating to think about. To me, it means progress towards a sustainable economy may be occurring much faster than most realize.

I touch on these sustainable living trends in this week’s quick round-up. I also hit upon innovation in sustainable ingredients and materials and how sustainable living really is a global phenomenon — for me, both a comforting and inspiring notion.

5 sustainable living trends and discoveries

1. sklyar perfume made with clean ingredients

Many fragrance companies rely on harmful ingredients to formulate their products. Skylar is on a mission to create fabulous scents that are safe, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and 100% vegan. You won’t find parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, SLS, or animal-derived products.

And you can enjoy sustainable perfumes like Isle, which will make everyday smell like a beachy getaway vacation with its subtle citrus and spiced sandalwood scents. Just divine.

2. reuse is the new recycling. it’s a global phenomenon.

Entrepreneurs around the world are designing consumer-friendly systems that make minimizing waste miraculously easy. In this video, we meet Le Thuy Linh, founder of AYA Cup, a platform that ends disposable cup waste in Vietnam.

It’s inspiring to hear how this sustainable entrepreneur is building a returnable, coffee cup system with local coffee shops, allowing customers to return their reusable cups made sustainably from sugarcane at any participating coffee shop.

Also, this week, we saw the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, inaugurate the launch of Loop, a platform that enables you to purchase brands you know in love but in beautiful, reusable packaging, in Carrefour stores. Loop is on the Lazy E 50 List and covered in our Zero Waste Lifestyle Roundup.

3. Shopping for sustainable products is most convenient 

It occurred to meet this week that, in many respects, sustainable living is more convenient than sticking to our old ways of doing things. For many, charging an electric car at home or work is way more convenient than filling up a conventional car at the gas station. The same applies to eco-friendly toilet paper. Who Gives A Crap will ship reams of recycled toilet paper directly to your door.

At a dollar per roll (less if you subscribe), this is a very convenient lifestyle shift to show that you give a crap about saving the planet.   

4. This Backpack’s protective padding is made from algae blooms

I’m a fan of Tentree’s Mobius Backpack because of its delightful versatility that’s perfect for office commutes and day trips to waterfalls. I like it even more because it’s made of innovative sustainable materials. The pack’s ergonomic padding protects your laptop, your back, and the planet. It’s made from excess algae blooms. That’s rather remarkable as it replaces all the EVA foam normally made of petrochemicals.

Not surprisingly, the company that makes the foam is called Bloom. Over a dozen mission-driven footwear brands are already using it in their midsoles, and big players like Adidas are experimenting with it too.

5. Secondhand Marketplaces Are Mainstream

Everyone wants a deal on stuff they covet. And almost everyone wants to shop more sustainably. Today, you can have both and an elevated shopping experience too. Rebag is a secondhand store for luxury goods like handbags, watches, jewelry, and other fashion accessories. All items for sale are inspected by specialists to ensure the highest quality.

Here’s the really fun, circular, sustainable part: you can return your purchase within 12 months for a store credit worth 70%-80% of your original purchase price.

And here are some brands offering a specialty shopping experience for their own pre-loved products: Patagonia Worn Wear, REI Used, Arc’teryx Used Gear, and The North Face Renewed.

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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25 Sustainable Gifts For Design Fans And Environmentalists

‘Tis the season for sharing sustainable gifts that lift our spirits and elevate our aesthetics. Eco-friendly gift-giving is an opportunity to spread cheer during the holidays and show those you love how delightful blending style and sustainability can be.

Sustainable gifts are soft and cozy. They are bold and bright. They minimize our environmental footprint easily. Effortlessly.

In environmental circles, the rush of holiday shopping gets a bad rap. Plundering the earth for a polyester puffer jacket? Eviscerating ecological ecosystems for an eye mask? It is certainly vexing that we, as a society, largely elect to evade knowledge of how the products we gift are made.

But this is not the moment for recriminations. This is a time for celebration. A modern, beautifully designed, sustainable future is on the horizon. Eco-minded designers and engineers are determinedly building it.

They are sustainability’s industrious elves, toiling in Santa’s shop, expanding the possibilities to enjoy the art of gifting while treading lighter on the planet.

Here are 25 sustainable gifts that are Mother Nature approved and sure to bring a smile to design fans and environmentalists alike. Happy holidays!

25 Sustainable Gifts for the holidays

1. isle north hat by askov finlayson

Minneapolis-based Askov Finlayson is on a mission to keep the north cold so we can continue to experience winter wonderlands. The brand’s colorful, lively winter hats are made of 100% recycled yarn and will keep you warm and toasty.

Price: $20

2. naadam $75 cashmere sweater

Cashmere feels right at home during the holidays. Naadam sources its premium cashmere directly from Mongolian herders in the Gobi Desert. By going direct and cutting out the middlemen, Naadam ensures local herders are compensated fairly while keeping prices wildly accessible. The $75 Cashmere sweater is ultra-soft and available in 15 colors.

Price: $75

3. lifx color led bulb

Create just the right ambiance for your festivities with this cool (to the touch) LED bulb that shines in 16 million different color possibilities. It connects conveniently to a home wifi network, allowing you to adjust color and brightness by an app or voice (ask Alexa or the Google Assistant or use an Apple Homekit). The energy-efficient Color Bulb is equivalent in brightness to a 60-watt incandescent but uses only 9-watts of energy.

$44.99

4. rocketbook reusable notebook

Make your list and check it twice without using a single scrap of paper. Rocketbook’s reusable, 32-page notebook enables you to jot handwritten notes and upload them to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, and many more), and then wipe the notebook clean with a cloth to reuse it. The handy Rocketbook app also reads handwriting and transcribes it  into text. It’s a tree saver.

Price: $29.56

5. Humanium Watch

Triwa’s Humanium Watch collection is working to make the world more peaceful this holiday season. It’s constructed of Humanium metal, a specialty recycled material made by melting down repossessed illegal firearms from global conflict zones. A vegetable-tanned leather strap complements the unique and beautiful face.

Prices range from $229 (picture one) – $699

6. sustainable rugs by loomy

Deck the floor with a sustainably made rug. Loomy’s evocative, contemporary and classic statement rugs are handwoven by artisans in India using natural, renewable, and recycled fabrics. Within Loomy’s Natural Collection, The Flamenco Dancing Rug (picture one) is made principally of sustainably sourced New Zealand wool and treated with non-toxic, low-impact dyes.

Price: $518 to $4998 (sizing starts with runners and extends up to the largest rug size of 12′ x 15′)

7. bamboozle nesting bowls

With so much baking to do this holiday season (we go all in for chocolate cake in our house), a good set of nesting bowls is extremely handy. These seven sturdy, space-saving bowls nest inside one another. They’re dishwasher-safe and made of rapidly renewable bamboo.

You’ll also receive the matching measuring spoons while supplies last.

Price: $74

8. Bearaby Sustainable Weighted Blanket

Create good vibes and happy moods by gifting a weighted blanket made of sustainable materials this holiday. Weighted blankets are known for their many calming, anxiety-alleviating, health-related benefits. Bearaby blankets beg to be curled up in and come in organic cotton, sustainable Eucalyptus fiber, and velvety upcycled polyester (one blanket uses the equivalent of 900 recycled, single-use plastic water bottles).

Price: $249 – $299 (depending on weight)

9. Tavola recycled whiskey glasses by Newly

10. Paravel Aviator Carry-On

Give the gift of hope this holiday season. Hope that one day soon we will once again take to the skies and travel. The most impeccable way to do so is with an Aviator carry-on from Paravel. These timeless and classic beauties are made with a recycled polycarbonate outer shell, a lining made from 15 recycled water bottles, and an aircraft-grade, recycled aluminum telescopic handle.

Price: $255

11. Coyuchi Organic Jersey Sheets

Not too hot, not too cold, these breathable, super-soft 100% organic cotton jersey sheets are just the right weight to stay cozy and comfortable when the winter winds blow. They manage to keep their cool in sweltering summers too. Purchase them by the set or as individual sheets. Other colors are also available.

Price: $178 (Queen sheet set)

12. nimble wireless charger pad

Stay charged and connected to the ones you love with this sleek, wireless charger pad from Nimble. Devices begin charging as soon as they touch the fabric surface, which is made of organic hemp and recycled polyester. Charges two devices at once.

Price: $48.97

MORE SUSTAINABLE GIFTS inspiration

For more Lazy Environmentalist gift ideas, here are several additional articles to explore:

* 16 Zero Waste Lifestyle Solutions

* 21 Stylish Sustainable Backpacks

* 6 Stylish, Sustainable Watches

* 7 Eco-Friendly Eyewear Brands

* 7 Innovative, Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

13. Unagi Electric Scooter

The future of grown-up scootering is here. Stash one of these under the tree and watch your partner’s face alight with child-like glee. The Unagi e-scooter is simple to charge and a blast to ride. It’s engineered to accelerate up to 17 mph and capable of traveling just over 15 miles on a single charge. Unagi folds up with one-touch for easy carrying and stowing. Recharge time is 4-5 hours. Loads of colors and color customizations are possible.

Price: $840 and up

14. sunski blue light glasses

Intelligent looks are what we crave from our blue light blocking glasses. Especially with all the Zoom business meetings during the day and Zoom holiday festivities at night. These stylish lookers from Sunski are made of recycled plastic. Four different styles to choose from.

Price: $58

15. pebble by otherware

Sing the praises of reusable, to-go utensils this holiday season. With a case made from recycled CDs and Pharrell Williams backing the venture in partnership with circular design firm Pentatonic, the Pebble by Otherware is positively lyrical in its sculpted good-looks. Handles are made of recycled plastic, and tips are made of recyclable stainless steel. Each Pebble includes a fork, knife, spoon, straw, and pair of chopsticks.

Price: $59

16. Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Towels

Feel fabulous when drying off with these 100% organic cotton Mediterranean Towels from Coyuchi. Made in Turkey, where bathing is its own art form, these flatweave towels possess worldly charm, a luxurious feel, and excellent absorption. Purchase individual sizes or as a set. Multiple color options are available.

Price: $148 (Set includes 2 bath towels, 2 guest towels, and 2 washcloths)

17. who gives a crap toilet paper

Everyone can use a sustainable stash of toilet paper this holiday season. Who Gives A Crap has got your bum, er, back—this irreverent upstart ships toilet paper made of responsibly grown bamboo and 100% recycled paper. Shipping is carbon neutral. And 50% of all profits are donated to help build toilets for those in need.

Best Price: $48 for 48 rolls of recycled 3-ply TP (save $10 with a subscription)

18. Palm Task Light by gantri

Let your loved ones see themselves in their best possible light. The Palm Task Light brings modern sustainable design to home offices and bedsides through LED bulbs for energy-efficient lighting and bioplastics for its delightful, organic form. Palm is capable of 270° of motion to direct light wherever it’s needed most.

Price: $198

19. Mobius backpack

The jackknife of backpacks, Mobius expands and shrinks. It opens from the top and back. It’s replete with key features like a water bottle pocket and a padded laptop sleeve. It’s made from high-performance recycled fabric equivalent to 31 recycled plastic bottles. Zippers, buckles, and trims are made from recycled post-industrial factory waste. Perhaps most unique of all, the backpack’s ergonomic and protective foam is biobased and derived from algae blooms.

Price: $128

20. sodastream fizzi

Let the bubbly flow during the holidays with a slim and sleek sparkling water maker from Sodastream. It’s easy, fun, and exceedingly convenient to have one of these devices on the counter. Cross all those single-use aluminum cans of sparkling water off the guest list. Sodastream makes them unnecessary and unwanted house guests.

Price: 71.99 for the Starter Pack (includes Sparkling Water Maker, Carbonating Cylinder, and 1L Bottle)

21. askov finlayson winter parka

Play outside this season in a well-made, finely tailored winter coat that promises to keep you warm and protected. The Winter Parka incorporates expedition-grade, 3M™ Thinsulate™ 100% Recycled Insulation, rated to maintain warmth even when the temperature drops to minus 20. The outer shell is also made of 100% recycled fabric. Clever hood, lapel, and cuff details also help keep the cold out so you can stay out.

Price: $495

22. allbirds tree dashers

Indulge your holiday sweet tooth and jog off any excess with a pair of Tree Dashers.  A most unordinary – and rather extraordinary – performance running shoe, it’s made heel-to-toe with natural materials. The snug-fitting upper is knitted from FSC certified Eucalyptus fiber. A midsole made of sugarcane offers sweet stability. The heel has a merino wool lining to help keep feet firmly locked in place.

Price: $125

23. jackery solar panels and generator

If you associate the holidays more with “escape” than “enjoy,” Jackery’s solar panels and generator are the gifts of freedom. Masterfully designed to work as simply as any home appliance, the combination presents a zero-emissions opportunity to work and relax wherever you darn well please. Find your ideal getaway, plug in your devices, including a laptop, and allow those unhealed childhood memories, wounds, and emotions to melt away.

Price: $799.98

24. A Good Bottle by A Good Company

25. priority l train bicycle

Bring good cheer to the neighborhood (Lord knows we need it this year) and expand the range of your Christmas carolling on a bike made with a greaseless chain and puncture-proof tires. It’s the maintenance-free and anxiety-free way to ride. The L Train Bicycle features a classic commuter bike frame, high-quality components, and a lovely leather seat. It’s made and tested in the mad-dash streets of New York City. 

Price: $650

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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5 Sustainable Living Trends And Discoveries This Week

5 sustainable living trends and discoveries

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A post shared by TOM FORD (@tomford)

1. Luxury Ocean plastic watch by tom ford

Recycled ocean plastic is receiving luxury treatment from Tom Ford. The braided strap on this beautiful timepiece is the latest twist on ocean plastics. We’ve yet to see luxury brands embrace the ocean plastics trend – the challenge of course being that it’s hard to convince consumers that recycled plastic is luxurious.

It will be interesting to see how other luxury brands respond. Will their runway models soon be taking trash baths too?

Let’s hope.

The price of ocean plastic luxury is $1000. The watch is available for pre-order.

2. sustainable watches by mondaine

I’ve written about stylish, sustainable watches, and this week I learned that venerable Swiss watcher maker Mondaine has a serious sustainability streak.  Last year, Mondaine started making all of its watches in a solar-powered factory in Basel.

The watch brand also handcrafts a growing collection of watches using renewable and sustainable materials, including bioplastic, recycled PET bottles, natural rubber, and cork.

Prices range from $175 – $225

3. Zero Plastic Waste Shampoo Bars by L’Oreal’s Garnier Brand

It’s amazing how quickly the impetus towards eliminating our civilization’s reliance on single-use plastic is accelerating. Many niche beauty brands make waterless and plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars.

L’Oreal’s entrance into this market via its Garnier brand signals the permanence of this trend.

I’d guess we’re only a few years away from the complete demise of single-use plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles. Condensed bars are the future. Garnier is launching these products across Europe. I imagine they’ll make it to the U.S. soon too.

4. Fashionable, Sustainable performance Winter Wear by Holden

California-based Holden has made fashionable, sustainably-minded, outdoor performance wear for the unconventional adventure since its launch nearly 20 years. But in 2018, the brand underwent a transformation that gave it more edge, more “wow,” and more focus on tailoring its offering to women.

The Insulated Fish Tail Jacket (pictured) is made with 100% recycled Primaloft® insulation. I’d also like to see the outer shell made of sustainable materials (it’s made of a “Japanese material”). But I appreciate how sustainability elements are interwoven with fashion and performance to reach new audiences for sustainable living.

The jacket is priced at $825.

5. Humanrace skincare from pharrell williams

Last month, Pharrell Williams introduced Humanrace, a line of safe, sustainable, refillable skincare products – beginning with a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer. The clean, minimalist tubes are made of 50% recycled plastic. They’re also intended to be kept and refilled when products run low.

Pharrell has just about the most beautiful skin of any middle-aged man alive. If he says it only takes about three minutes to use the full line, it’s probably wise to listen and do it. The products are formulated for use by everyone, men and women, essentially the entire human race.

Products run between $32 – $48. They sold out quickly upon release and are slated to be restocked on December 8.

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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16 Clever Products To Jumpstart Your Zero Waste Lifestyle

A core tenet of lazy environmentalism is that we are mostly lazy. We want to do our part for the planet. We just don’t want to work very hard (or, at all) to make it happen.

We want environmentally friendly products that do the work for us. Products that look great, work divinely, and reduce our environmental impact all at once, like magic.

By this standard, leading a zero-waste lifestyle sounds hard. Intimidating. Like work. Or worse still, sacrifice. If zero waste living were a color, it would be beige. Not a neutral, trendy beige. More like a moribund, Soviet-era, concrete tenement beige.

This view of zero waste living, however, is outdated. In point of fact, living a modern lifestyle that banishes waste to the trash heaps of history is not only distinctly possible; it’s preferable. Today, eliminating waste from our lifestyles actually improves our lives. It’s simply a more convenient, more stylish, and more delightful mode of existence.

The reason? The people – mostly designers and entrepreneurs – have revolted. They have renounced beige and are thereby dragging the rest of us into a beautifully designed, less wasteful, and more joyful future.

As a case in point, view this video from Otherware introducing the brand’s vibrant, modern reusable cutlery, chopsticks, and straw.

It doesn’t hurt that Pharrell Williams (yes, that Pharell Williams) is a partner behind the project. That’s really kind of the point, isn’t it?

The world of sustainable living, and specifically zero waste living, is brighter than ever. Now is a great time to switch to products that will eliminate your waste and change your life for the better.

Here are 16 sustainable solutions that make reducing waste easily attainable and satisfying.

jumpstart your zero waste lifestyle

1. Bite toothpaste

Toothpaste tubes are quite the challenge to recycle. Most recycling centers can’t handle the layers of aluminum and plastic all laminated together, so they end up in a landfill. Bite toothpaste bits solve the problem by eliminating the tube. You get a refillable glass jar (glass is just about the easiest thing to recycle) containing bits of toothpaste. They’re effective, delightful, and simple to use. When you’re all done, Bite sends you a recyclable refill package of toothpaste bite bits to fill your jar up again.

Price: $30 (includes a 4-month supply)

2. Loop Store

Your Seventh Generation laundry detergent and hundreds of other products you recognize are now available in beautiful, reusable packaging. Purchase products on the Loop e-commerce store. When you’re done with them, Loop takes the packaging back (via UPS), so it can be industrially cleaned and reused again and again.

The system is simple. The benefits are many. You enjoy better-looking versions of the products you know and love. Our communities and ecosystems no longer have to contend with so much waste. Loop’s offering is increasingly available at Walgreens and Kroger stores too.

Price: Products are priced comparably to conventional versions. However, expect to pay deposits for Loop’s durable, reusable delivery tote and the reusable packages.

3. Be. Brush by Goodwell

8 out of 10 Lazy Environmentalists agree, electric toothbrushes clean teeth better (they certainly require less effort). But they also require power, which nearly always means there’s a base unit that plugs into a wall socket, which means we clean our teeth and gums using energy that pollutes the planet. The Be. Brush quite literally puts a different twist on the power toothbrush. That’s because the power comes from just a few manual twists of the toothbrush’s head with your hand. No plug. No batteries. Just healthy, beautiful smiles.

Price: $85 (pre-order)

4. Floss From By Humankind

The most beautiful dental floss you’ll ever encounter. The reusable, refillable case is made of plastic, but the good news is that you’ll never throw it away. The replenishable, biodegradable floss is made in Italy of high-quality silk and infused with vegan wax to glide between your teeth. The floss is spun around a sugarcane-based bioplastic spool.

Price: $12 starter kit (includes a free case and a two-refill floss pack)

* Note: Subscription floss refills are $12 for each two-pack.

5. Deodorant by Myro

Myro creates refillable, plant-powered deodorant that protects you and the planet. Choose your case. Choose your scent. Myro then sends you your all-natural deodorant. Sign up for the subscription plan, and receive your deodorant refill pods every 3, 4, or 6 months. Each pod is made with 50% less plastic than conventional drugstore deodorants. Multiple scents to choose from (you can switch your scents whenever you like). Stay dry and smell fresh and cut some plastic waste out of your life.

Price: $10 for the starter kit and $10 per refill pod

6. The Guardian Conditioner Bar by esthique

A plant-based, solid conditioner bar can give you all the healthy hair benefits without you ever having to hit the — single-use disposable plastic — bottle. All ingredients in this conditioner bar are made from natural, ethically sourced, sustainable, and effective ingredients. Since the Guardian delivers the same amount of conditioner as 5 liquid bottles, it cuts down on water consumption too.

Price: $17.99

7. Rockwell Razor

Don’t be intimidated by this handsome single-blade razor. It’s old school good looks belie its modern innovations, like its patented adjustable design that eliminates irritation and razor burn. Adjustable beginner settings enable both men and women to get a smooth shave without nicks or cuts. A two-year supply of 100 recyclable, stainless steel blades is just $15. That’s a mighty attractive incentive to permanently transition away from disposable plastic razors and razor blades.

Price: $50 and up (includes 1 razor and 5 stainless steel razor blades, a 1-month supply).

8. DIY flushable wipes by fohm

Fohm turns the Charmin or, better yet, the Seventh Generation, or better still, the Who Gives A Crap toilet paper into a flushable, biodegradable wet wipe. And while conventional wet wipe brands bill their products as flushable, there’s truth in that advertising provided you don’t mind calling a plumber every-so-often to clean out the backed up septic system. Fohm’s dispenser spurts out a small amount of paraben-free, fragrance-free, and pH-balanced cleansing foam onto the toilet paper you already own to leave your bum feeling clean and fresh.

Price: $49 starter kit (includes 1 touchless dispenser with a rechargeable battery and 1 bottle of cleanser, which displaces pounds of wet wipes)

9. fizzi by sodatream

When, why, and how millions upon millions of cans of sparkling water seeped into the mainstream’s cultural drinking habits is already the subject of doctoral dissertations. But there is a clever and satisfying alternative that saves you money and quenches your thirst. SodaStream’s Fizzi is the sleek, stylish sparkling water solution that sits elegantly on your countertop. Fill the refillable bottle with water, insert it into the device, press the bubbles dispensing button, and you’re all set.

Price: $89.99 (includes 1 sparkling water maker, 1 carbonation cylinder & 1 1L bottle)

10. a good bottle by A Good company

A reusable water bottle is a commonly appreciated tool in our zero waste arsenal. What better way to take hot and cold drinks with us and avoid the use of disposable single-use bottles? A Good Bottle stands out from the crowd with its built-to-last quality, a broad range of appealing colors, and stellar environmental credentials; the bottle itself is one of the few on the market made of recycled materials, in this case, 100% recycled Swedish stainless steel.

Price: $35

11. bamboo takeaway mug by ekobo

Many reusable coffee mugs abound. However, few are as pleasing to gaze upon and to sip out of as Ekobo’s 16oz version. Rarer still, while most varieties are made of conventional plastic, this eye-pleaser is made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified bamboo, a rapidly growing and renewable plant. Granted, the top and sleeve are made of silicone (not eco-ideal), but both components are precision-crafted to ensure a sublime sipping experience. Just drink, rinse, and repeat.

Price: $18

12. Pebble by otherware

Easily rid single-use plastic from your routine when on the go. Heck, Pebble’s reusable cutlery, chopsticks, and straw are so delightfully designed, you’d be forgiven for making use of the kit’s contents while dining at home. Not only are these products aesthetically eye-popping, but they are also made of impressively thoughtful materials. Pebble’s case is made of recycled plastic from old CDs. Handles are made of recycled plastic from former food packaging. The tips are made of recyclable, anodized titanium coated steel.

Price: $59

13. The Clean Essentials by Blueland

Blueland’s reusable, refillable cleaners rely on mighty albeit mini concentrated tablets. Add water. Insert tablet. And you’re ready to clean. Subscribe to receive refill tablets regularly or place reorders whenever you like. It’s a beautiful way to save money, save space, and save the planet. Plus, you won’t find any yucky stuff like triclosan, parabens, and phthalates in these powerful cleaners from Blueland. They’re formulated with certified, safe ingredients.

Price: $39 (includes 3 reusable bottles, 1 reusable foaming hand soap bottle, and 4 tablets; Multi-Surface, Glass + Mirror, Bathroom, and Foaming Hand Soap)

14. Get A Load of This Laundry Bars by Trumans

Laundry detergent can be simple, waste-free, and toxin-free. Truman’s fragrance-free, dissolvable bars are septic-friendly and clean powerfully thanks to its nontoxic antimicrobial technology. Say goodbye to the laundry detergent plastic bottle. You may miss it taking up all that space on top of your laundry machine, but you truly no longer need it in your life.

Price: $29 (60 pack)

15. Recharger + Rechargeable Batteries by eneloop

From smoke alarms to Roku remote controls, batteries are omnipresent. Rechargeable batteries are a better way to power our devices that can zero out waste, alleviate guilt (resulting from when you secretly toss your dead batteries in the regular trash), and save you money over time. Eneloop’s charger works with AA and AAA rechargeable batteries. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without rechargeables.

Price: $25.81 (Charger + 4-Pack)

16. Reusable Notebook by Rocketbook

Cutting down trees to make paper? No longer. Take notes, write your masterpiece, or just doodle during class with a reusable notebook from Rocketbook. This 32-page lined notebook can be used and reused pretty much forever. Save your handwritten notes to Google drive, iCloud, Dropbox, and more. Then wipe your Rocketbook’s pages with a damp cloth to start anew. With Rocketbook, you can also transcribe and digitally convert your handwritten notes to text.

Price: $27.59 (includes one 8.5″ x 11″ lined notebook, 1 pen, and 1 microfiber cloth — other styles and colors available)

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won't cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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21 Stylish, Sustainable Backpacks For Daily Adventures

 Sustainably made backpacks are increasingly sleek, stylish, and well-suited to the rigors of everyday life. They enable you to make the best of your situation and arrive prepared for whatever life throws your way without compromising the planet in the process.

The best sustainable backpacks are big on performance and functionality. They have pockets where you expect them, sleeves for stowing water bottles, and padded protection for shoulders, backs, and laptops. They complete their environmental mission while upping your style quotient and never skimping on quality or durability.

The brands building them move the innovation needle. For example, Swiss bag brand QWSTION spent several years developing a technical and renewable fabric made from all-natural banana plants. It’s an inspiring tale of ingenuity and cross-cultural partnership. Check it out in the video below:

Some say the best sustainable backpacks look, well, normal — like how we simply expect backpacks to look. They’re right.

The difference is that eco-friendly backpacks are made with materials that evince deep respect for the planet. You’ll find backpacks listed here made of organic cotton, vegetable-tanned leather, bio-based plastic, deadstock fabrics, and a  suite of recycled materials, including recycled ocean plastic.

And that’s really the point; sustainable backpacks match your purchase decision criteria. They look and perform exactly how you expect them to. Which means they’re easy to fit into your life.

Carry on.

Also explore:

• 10 Sustainable Watches Well Worth Your Time
• 7 Designer Eco-Friendly Prescription Eyewear Brands
• 16 Sustainable Clothing Brands For Men of Style

21 Eco-Friendly And Sustainable Backpacks

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THE BACKPACK BY DAY OWL

Well-designed, richly detailed, and made with an outstanding sustainability ethos. Day Owl’s backpack features a waxed canvas made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, plus 100% recycled polyester trim. Carry all of your gear in a stylish sustainable backpack that comes with free repairs for life. Includes a padded laptop compartment, side water bottle pocket, luggage strap, and more.

PRICE: $99

EXPLORE: The Backpack by Day Owl

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Mobius Backpack by Tentree

Everything about the Mobius Backpack declares its capability as a sleek and sustainable choice for urban and wilderness adventure. This large, extremely capable pack is made of 100% Repreve recycled polyester. Recycled post-industrial waste is used to make the buckles, zippers, and trim.

Perhaps most eco-innovative of all, the backpack’s protective padding is grown from algae blooms! There are too many features to list in this 4-in-1 backpack that can expand or shrink in size depending upon your needs. It’s definitely a winner.

PRICE: $128

EXPLORE: Mobius Backpack

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ROLLTOP BACKPACK BY GOT BAG

Got Bag makes its modern eco-friendly backpacks from recycled ocean plastic. Help stop plastic from circulating in the ocean simply by opting for a great-looking, earth-friendly backpack that holds your laptop and your gear and features all the convenience and flexibility that a rolltop pack provides.

PRICE: $149

EXPLORE: Rolltop Backpack

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Alex 24h Backpack Recycled by property of

A stunning everyday backpack with vintage good looks. This sustainable waterproof backpack is made from 35 recycled, single-use plastic bottles. This highly capable backpack lets you conveniently access your goods from the top, or pack it like an open suitcase by accessing it from the back. Holds a laptop and all your daily essentials.

PRICE: $249

EXPLORE: Alex 24H Backpack

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westward rolltop backpack by united by blue

Tons of space and loads of pockets make this water-repellent top-loader backpack a versatile option for daily commutes, trips to school, and outdoor adventures. Made from recycled polyester ripstop, this large, well-constructed backpack fits up to a 17″ laptop and is guaranteed for life.

PRICE: $84

EXPLORE: Westward Rolltop Backpack

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blok by pinqponq

The eco-friendly everyday backpack for design fans with OCD; it’s an organization lover’s dream come true. Everything will be neatly in its place with a multitude of compartments and interior pockets. Made of high-performance recycled polyester (the equivalent of 43 disposable plastic water bottles). Carry it like a backpack, messenger, or duffel.

PRICE: $199.95

EXPLORE: Blok

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Black Hole Pack 25L by Patagonia

Ultra-durable and weather-resistant, Black Hole recycled backpacks are in a word, burly. It’s made of recycled polyester ripstop that is both lightweight and strong. Features an air-mesh padded back panel for smart ventilation, plus padded shoulder straps for greater comfort. Carry your water bottle, laptop, and the rest of your gear in a backpack that measures up to the quality you expect from Patagonia.

PRICE: $129

EXPLORE: Black Hole Pack 25L

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Explorer Apex Rucksack by Troubador

Elegance and sophistication combine in this ergonomic backpack that’s easy on the eyes and easy on the back. Troubador’s sustainable backpacks complement your office wear and are the backpack of choice for more formal occasions. Yet, the Explorer Apex Rucksack is equally at ease handling bike commutes, daily errands, and gym runs. Made of waterproof, recycled fabric with loads of high-end features.

PRICE: $245

EXPLORE: Explorer Apex Rucksack

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Flight Pack by Atelier de L’Armee

Go for that old-world, mountaineering aesthetic with this backpack made from deadstock vegetable tanned full-grain leather and water-repellent dead stock Washed Canvas. Handcrafted in Italy, this bag features three interior pockets, two accessible side pockets, and a padded back panel for comfort and laptop protection.

PRICE: 349 Euro (approx. $414)

EXPLORE: Flight Pack

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Jasper Backpack by Ucon Acrobatics

A minimalist backpack that easily transitions from the daily commute to nighttime forays. Made of ecologically sound, recycled PET fabric. Holds your laptop and essentials in a spaciously yet elegantly simple design.

PRICE: $99.99

EXPLORE: Jasper Backpack

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Cordoba Backpack by Nisolo

Enjoy the timeless style of this well-crafted, vegetable tanned leather backpack. It’s handmade in an ethically managed factory in León, Mexico. Features an interior laptop compartment and an exterior zip compartment for your accessories.

PRICE: $270

EXPLORE: Cordoba Backpack

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Lifepack Backpack by solgaard

Grab this solar-powered, anti-theft backpack, and you’ll be prepared for whatever life throws at you. Constructed from Shore-Tex™️, Solgaard’s proprietary fabric that’s made from upcycled ocean plastic. Two main compartments separate work and play. Four secret pockets hide your valuables. Shore-Tex™️ fabric was recognized by Fast Company in 2020 as a “World Changing Idea.”

PRICE: $189

EXPLORE: Lifepack Backpack

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The Renew 13″ Transit Backpack by Everlane

It’s easy to make this streamlined, well-priced, and minimalist backpack your daily companion. Made of 100% recycled polyester, it’s capable of holding a 13″ laptop and two water bottles and still provides plenty of additional room for stashing your necessities. A pass-through strap lets you attached it to rolling luggage. Well-placed zippers let you quickly access the main compartment. 

PRICE: $68

EXPLORE: The Renew 13″ Transit Backpack

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Bionic Commuter Backpack by incase

A commuter backpack with all the key features: savvy internal organization, including a protected laptop compartment (for up to 16″ Macbooks), an expandable water bottle sleeve, and a large main compartment. But this is no ordinary backpack, it’s constructed with a durable ripstop material made from recycled coastal plastics.

PRICE: $99.95

EXPLORE: Commuter Daypack

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Metrosafe x antitheft backpack by pacsafe

The stylish sustainable backpack that protects your gear and the planet. Made of high-grade recycled polyester, the Metrosafe backpack features numerous antitheft features, including hidden stainless steel wire mesh to prevent slashing, zippers that overlap for easy locking, RFID blocking material, and wire reinforced straps. Carry-on compliant and ready to go wherever danger lurks and/or your journey takes you.

PRICE: $149.95

EXPLORE: Metro Backpack

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Roll Pack / Bananatex by Qwstion

The Roll Pack is made from the world’s first technical fabric sourced from banana plants (they’re organically grown in the Philippine highlands). Zurich-based Qwstion spent three years developing this durable, beautiful, and sustainable material. Coupled with Qwstion’s versatile design philosophy, the Roll Pack features multiple interior pockets and a modular handle for additional carrying options.

PRICE: $340

EXPLORE: Roll Top / Bananatex

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River Bank Backpack by fishpond

Rugged yet sophisticated, this unique backpack is built from tough, durable, 10 oz. certified organic cotton waxed canvas. Padded and adjustable in all the right places. Gear straps and a laptop sleeve make this the perfect companion for the gym, work, and out on the trail.

PRICE: $159.95

EXPLORE: River Bank Backpack

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Recycled Backpack by Giesswein

From Germany comes this well-styled, gorgeously textured backpack made of 100% recycled PET water bottles. Adjustable straps and padded back make this backpack comfortable for men and women. Five thoughtfully laid out internal compartments enable you to easily stow and organize all your essentials.

PRICE: $149

EXPLORE: Recycled Backpack

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top loader daypack by the north face

A simple backpack with a stylish throwback design. This backpack pairs the spaciousness and flexibility of top-loading functionality with a more diminutive size. Laptop-capable for smaller units (up to 11″), this attractive and comfortably padded daypack is made of 600-dernier recycled polyester twill. The heritage woven label and leather patch enhance its old-school cred.

PRICE: $59

EXPLORE: Top Loader Daypack

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re:cover backpack by solo new york

Built for the urban landscape, the Re:Cover backpack is made of a heathered grey recycled polyester sourced entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Features quick access pockets, a mesh water bottle holder, and a fully padded laptop compartment capable of stowing your 15″ MacBook.

PRICE: $59.99

EXPLORE: Re:Cover Backpack

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pickwick backpack by brooks

Brooks has been handcrafting exquisite products in England since 1866. The British brand is renowned for its bags designed for journeys both on and off the bicycle. The Pickwick laptop backpack is one such example. It’s beautifully constructed using a premium vegetable-tanned leather distinguished for its beauty, durability, and strength.

PRICE: $450

EXPLORE: Pickwick Backpack

A Heads Up: Our posts may contain affiliate links. We frequently write about products and services to help you shop more sustainably. It won’t cost you a penny, but we receive a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links. It helps keeps the LED lights on.

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