Image: Nebia

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. This post is also sponsored in part by Nebia. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the fashion industry a better place!

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Shower Curtains

Whether you’re trying to get your mom on board with sustainable products, but she really loves a familiar brand name (read: my mom and Pottery Barn), or you’re in-the-know about all things OEKO-TEX®, there’s a sustainable shower curtain out there for you. 

Why Should you Buy a Sustainable Shower Curtain?

Most conventional shower curtains are made from plastic (like PVC), which can be very toxic. Chemicals like phthalates, lead, organotins and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be released into the air causing harm to our health. Today, we can completely avoid this by purchasing non-toxic shower curtains that are good for the planet and our bodies. 

What to Look for When Shopping Shower Curtains

There are many different eco-friendly fabrics used today for shower curtains. You can choose hemp, cotton, recycled polyesters and PVC-free plastics. I understand aesthetic is always important when designing the rooms in your home, so we made sure to find ones you would love! 

Should You Keep Your Current Shower Curtain? 

As with all things, the most sustainable option is the one you already own (and it’s also the least expensive!), but we totally understand wanting to create a more safe, healthy environment. We also know that when it’s time to usher in a new sustainable product to your life, there are a ton of options. Hopefully, this list can help you narrow it down. 

This roundup features a variety of materials, designs, and prices. Bonus: there’s also a sustainable shower curtain *liner* option at the end of this post!

Now, our top picks for sustainable shower curtains:

1) Nebia Shower Curtain

Brand | Nebia

Price | $119

Material | Recycled Polyester, DWR (durable water repellent) Coating

This might be the last shower curtain you ever buy. The Nebia Shower Curtain was created to last for over ten years! It was tested to simulate a family of three using the curtain by opening, closing, grabbing, and pulling it 21,900 times - and it held up! The curtain itself and the liner are machine washable and anti-shrink; it has anti-billow technology sewn into the fabric and is made from 100% recycled materials. This curtain indeed does the most.

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2) Organic Waffle Shower Curtain

Brand | Coyuchi

Price | $128

Material | 100% Organic Cotton, grown and woven in Turkey

Coyuchi was the first to bring organic cotton bedding to the United States 25 years ago and is GOTS certified. They have also launched their 2nd Home Take Back initiative, which encourages customers to recycle their own Coyuchi products and receive 15% off your next order. These recycled products are then sold through 2nd Home Renewed at discounted prices, helping to close the loop on textile waste.

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3) European Flax Linen Shower Curtain

Brand | West Elm

Price |$90-120

Material | European Flax

For a luxurious upgrade to your bathroom, linen is a great option! We love that West Elm uses many eco-friendly fabrics while also utilizing Fair Trade Certified manufacturing.

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4) Waffle Shower Curtain

Brand | Boll & Branch

Price |$108

Material | Organic Cotton

Inspired by their bestselling Waffle Bed Blanket, the Waffle Shower Curtain adds texture to your bathroom with its micro-waffle design. They use high-quality threads from the finest long-staple, GOTS-certified, 100% organic cotton.

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5) Willow Floral Organic Cotton Shower Curtain

Brand | Pottery Barn

Price | $79

Material | 100% Organic Cotton

For all those ride-or-die Pottery Barn people out there, make sure to use the site's filter options for “organic”, “sustainably sourced”, “certified nontoxic”, and “Fair Trade” as you browse for products! Yay for making it easier to find sustainable products amongst the masses! This shower curtain is GOTS certified.

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6) Loktak Shower Curtain

Brand | The Citizenry

Price | $115

Material | 100% cotton

The Citizenry focuses on  transparency, high standards, and fair-trade practices. They are partners with Kerala Workshop in India, where their products are woven by hand. When you click to buy their shower curtain, you learn about the artisans that worked to create the piece. Thirty-two artisans work at Kerala Workshop, with nearly half being over the age of 50. The Citizenry ensures a fair-trade environment that goes above and beyond, with artisans earning 2x the average fair-trade wage. 

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7) Turkish Shower Curtain

Brand | Parachute Home

Price | $99

Material | 100% Turkish cotton

These shower curtains are Oeko-Tex certified and made in Turkey. In addition to incredible products, Parachute offers an incredible program. Their Home for Dreams initiative is “ a mentorship and grant program designed to support Black-owned businesses.” The program offers $25k grants, brand amplification, and mentorship about a variety of topics. 

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8) The Beacon Shower Curtain

Brand | Quiet Town

Price | $198

Material | 100% Cotton Canvas

This couple-owned brand is sustainably conscious and always working toward portraying that with their products, packaging (which is moving toward being 100% compostable), production, & end of life. Another incredible accomplishment of theirs is that a majority of the shower curtain making process all happens within 200 miles - from growing to dyeing to sewing to fulfilling orders, it’s all happening right here in the USA.

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9) Waterproof Linen Shower Curtain

Brand | Dusty Linen

Price | $150

Material | Linen

This beauty is made from 100% European stonewashed OEKO-TEX-certified linen. It comes with a durable white waterproof lining, and it comes in several different colors and sizes.

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10) Sonny PVC Free Curtain

Brand | Vita Futura

Price | $13.99

Material | PVC free, non-vinyl PEVA

This may not be the most sustainable option on the list, but it’s definitely the most affordable. PEVA, the material of this shower curtain, is PVC-free, non-chlorinated and a highly recyclable plastic; make sure to check with your local recycling facility to see if they’re able to recycle PEVA! PEVA “breaks down more effectively and does not emit the chlorine gases as chlorinated vinyl products sometimes do.” This product is made-to-order bi-weekly in Germany.

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BONUS - A LINER

The Sun Shower

Brand | Quiet Town

Price | $38

Material | 100% EVA made in China

Quiet Town, take two! This product can be used as a liner or as a curtain itself if you’re into showering in the sunlight. While EVA Vinyl is non-toxic, it is unfortunately not often recycled properly. So while this may not be the “best-ever”, it’s designed to last way longer than normal plastic liners, which keeps waste out of landfills - and that’s a plus. Quiet Town isn’t satisfied with just keeping liners out of landfills, though. They are currently working on a recycling program specifically for their Sun Shower liners.

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About the Author

Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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A Guide to Sustainable Packaging

Read on if you’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of plastic packaging you encounter in your day-to-day life - whether grocery shopping, ordering online, eating out, or just purchasing something in general.

I feel you. There’s a lot of plastic in the world. And while plastic isn’t inherently a bad material (it works wonders in the medical field where other materials simply wouldn’t be able to do what plastic does), the overproduction and overconsumption of plastics are out of hand. Plastic is a durable material that can withstand a lot of use and wear before actually breaking down, hence why it can be so helpful in certain instances. But it is NOT designed for single-use in the way our society currently abuses it. 

Thankfully, with more and more research being done and with increased consumer pressure on corporations to take responsibility for the waste they create, inventive, plastic alternatives are emerging!

The Issue With Conventional Packaging & Why Sustainable Packaging Is Important

Ok, how many times have you googled “Is X recyclable”? I bet it’s a lot. And usually, answers from your search bar aren’t very straightforward. That can be for a couple of reasons. 

First, recycling varies depending on where you live. I’ve lived in a handful of places across the U.S., and during my stint in Alabama, my city didn’t offer curbside recycling. Instead, I collected our recyclables and drove them to our town facility. And only plastics 1 and 2, cardboard, and aluminum were accepted. No glass. Now, I live in California. But even the county I grew up in (Orange County) and the county I now live in (Los Angeles County) have super different recycling rules.

Second, there’s a lot of misinformation about recycling in general. It’s hard to get to the bottom of what is and isn’t recyclable because the majority of recyclable materials aren’t getting recycled at all. Yeah, brace yourself for this stat if you don’t already know it. According to the EPA, 66% of discarded paper gets recycled, 27% of discarded glass, and only 8% of plastics. This article by Green Matters breaks it down by material, too. There are so many factors that go into the failure of the recycling system and so many people don’t even know about this issue. I highly recommend giving this article a read, which goes over causes as well as solutions.

As we continue to live during a climate crisis, there needs to be a level of awareness around alternative packaging, whether it’s non-plastic, reusable, or *actually* recyclable. Below are a few general options as well as a few brands working with packaging alternatives. 

image: Funpak

 The Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Packaging Alternatives

So let’s talk about plastic packaging alternatives:

Dissolvable Packing Peanuts

• The purpose of packing peanuts is to crowd around an item in a box and protect all of the nooks and crannies while not adding much weight to the overall package. Unfortunately, they used to all be made out of polystyrene, a type of plastic used in products like Styrofoam. As we all know well by now, plastics take 5ever to decompose and almost always end up polluting our environment while they do so. Especially since packing peanuts are so lightweight, they easily fly out of trashcans and into our oceans.

• That’s where these packing peanuts go from nuisance to nifty! In the 90s, after considerable negative feedback from consumers and environmental activists, companies began to turn away from plastics and toward starch. The biggest problem plastic peanuts encountered was polluting our environment and harming wildlife that mistook the pieces of foam for food. But the new and improved, plant-based peanuts are 100% biodegradable and won’t harm wildlife that happens upon a stray one every now and then (because most of them are disposed of at home!).

• So how can I tell if I have the plastic version or the biodegradable goodies? A super-easy way to tell is to put a peanut in a glass of water. If it dissolves, you’re good! If not, you have a plastic peanut on your hands. Sometimes, the biodegradable version is tinted green (versus pink or white) to help you solve the question.

• What do I do with plastic packing peanuts? These are pretty hard to recycle, and most facilities don’t recycle Styrofoam. You can try to google search to see if there is a facility near you that recycles Styrofoam, or you can get creative and reuse those peanuts. This post had some fun suggestions, like stuffing a bean bag or using them for arts and crafts!

image: Noissue

Compostable/Biodegradable Plastics

• Ok, this seems like an oxymoron. Let’s chat about it. The first big thing to know: compostable and biodegradable are *not* the same thing. It’s similar to the “All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares” saying: “All compostable items are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable items are compostable.” Ha. Let’s dive deeper with the help of Google.

• Compostable: “(of organic matter, especially kitchen waste) able to be made into compost.”

• Biodegradable: “(of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.”

• When applied to bioplastics, the thing to know is that compostable plastic can become soil-enriching compost. Unless the item is clearly labeled “backyard compostable,” however, most compostable plastic still needs to be broken down in a special facility. Some brands that use this material have send-back programs where they properly compost their bioplastic. As for biodegradable plastic, it does not break down into beneficial compost, but it does, in fact, break down, while standard plastics take up more space and never break down.

• The world of bioplastics is a grey area. Some people in the sustainability community are all in on their support for bioplastics, while others say the material simply doesn’t cut it and actually just creates more of an issue with confusing packaging and marketing. I happen to ride that middle line because I truly believe that imperfect sustainability practiced by thousands of individuals and hundreds of companies is better than absolutely perfect sustainability practiced by the minority.

• While this article is told from a European standpoint, it is still super informative on bioplastics and all their intricacies.

Refillable/Reusable Tins

• We love a packaging option that is reusable! For one, it helps stretch out the item’s lifecycle *a ton*. Instead of getting the item and recycling it, throwing it away, or even returning it in a closed-loop program, a refillable or reusable item can be put to use in your life! This keeps it out of landfills for much longer.

• These items can also have a ton of variety. In the reusable sense, some packaging items may come in glass that you can reuse as plant propagation vessels, food storage, or candles. Some items may come in tins, which are more lightweight and can be easily tossed in a purse to organize your on-the-go vitamins, hair accessories, or makeup.

• For refillable items, whether glass, tin or even plastic, you just scored! Take your refillable items to your local refill or bulk store and load up. Shampoo, multi-purpose spray, spaghetti noodles, sunscreen, gluten-free flour - the list of what your refillable tins can be used for is basically endless!!

• If the packaging item is part of a circular system, you may be able to ship back your container once empty and receive a refill in return. This method helps to eliminate the creation of *new* items and instead places importance on the items we already have and finds a way to utilize them properly.

• Get creative with how packaging items can be given new life right in your home.

image: Noissue

Here are some companies thinking outside of the (plastic) box

Noissue

• This brand is awesome because it is available to businesses of all sizes, which encourages your local mom & pop shop to take advantage of their sustainable practices. You can also choose which type of packaging works best for your business - compostable, recycled, or reusable. They have an entire breakdown of each option on their site here but let me give you the low down. 

• Compostable - to qualify as compostable, packaging must be able to break down in a backyard compost environment within 180 days. This usually leans toward paper and cardboard packaging, since compostable plastics need extra help to break down in a facility. 

• Recycled - while the recycling infrastructure in our country is shoddy, at best, it is *still* better than choosing virgin plastics. And the more we, as consumers, seek out post-consumer recycled materials, the more effort will be put into actually recycling plastics. 

• Reusable - think “I burned my candle down and now it’s a cute succulent pot”! Having your packaging double as something useful in your life not only makes it last longer but keeps it out of the landfill and being useful for longer, too.

• You can learn more about Noissue on their site. 

ErthCycle

• To be blatantly transparent: I am currently in the process of launching this brand as the Marketing Director. But it’s seriously so cool that I couldn’t help but share it with you! ErthCycle is a brand new technology that creates fully biodegradable plastics that 1. Leave behind no microplastics, and 2. Use 20-40% less fossil fuels. Oh, and it biodegrades in a landfill environment, all on its own. I KNOW! This is possible due to the addition of two organic additives to each piece of plastic: calcium carbonate (limestone) and Eco-One™ technology. This power couple replaces the need for more plastic and then acts in tandem to degrade the packaging in a landfill environment at a super accelerated rate; where normal plastics take 500+ years, we’re looking at 3-5 years for full decomposition.

• As I mentioned above, this material resides in the gray zone. There are pros and cons, but it is SUCH a better option than the plastic packaging we currently have. What makes ErthCycle so attractive to larger corporations (think Amazon, FedEx, Costco) is that it’s almost always cost-negative or -neutral, meaning these big businesses don’t have to dole out a crazy part of their budget for eco-friendly packaging. That can be a downside to options like compostable plastics.

• You can learn more about ErthCycle on their site.

EcoEnclose

• This brand has high standards and sticks to them religiously, even if that means the loss of customers that don’t align with its sustainability framework. Their big hitters are circularity, biodegradation, life cycle entirety, and deep-rooted sustainable practices. Let’s break it down for you.

• Circularity - they’re super into post-consumer recycled content, especially domestic recycled materials. They provide packaging that is firstly reusable and secondly recyclable to help elongate the life cycle of that item.

• Biodegradation - they really preach the avoidance of all plastics, propping up all paper and cardboard products that will biodegrade on their own without damaging our soils or oceans. This is great but a little idealistic.

• Life Cycle Entirety - something that’s so important for packaging companies is to consider the item’s life cycle in its entirety, not just from creation to consumer. EcoEnclose considers their emissions the #1 thing they can curb to help climate change. They will choose packaging with lower emissions over many bioplastics, like corn-based PLA.

• Deep-Rooted Sustainable Practices - the final portion of their framework focuses on parts of the packaging process that are often overlooked. For example, stickers, ink, and labels. They are also proud to choose domestic partners that align with their sustainability beliefs.

• You can learn more about EcoEnclose on their site.

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Do you feel slightly better about tackling your plastic packaging now? I hope so.

I’ll leave you with this awesome resource: How2Recycle. This is a super user-friendly site that has boat-loads of information about recycling. Their “Check Locally” tab is an easy way to learn more about recycling in your area. Also, explore their “Store Drop Off” tab to see if you can dispose of trickier items (plastic bags, plastic film, plastic pouches) nearby. Their site also has a “Labels” tab that breaks down the different recycling labels on all different types of products.

Now that you know go forth and reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose, reimagine, and recycle :)

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About the Author:

Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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A Guide to Carbon Emissions & Carbon Offsets

Within my own sustainability journey, it’s felt as if I “level up” every so often as I educate myself, keep an open mind, and listen to the voices of so many leaders within this movement.

One of those level-ups was learning about carbon emissions, and in turn, carbon offsets.

Sometimes it can feel as if you’re just getting the hang of being more eco-conscious - remembering your reusable bags when grocery shopping, purchasing from small businesses when you can, making sure your household doesn’t have food waste - and then you learn about a new way you can be doing “better”. And that can be overwhelming.

But let’s get something straight: imperfect sustainability practiced by many is better than perfect sustainability practiced by few.

It’s a popular phrase within the sustainability community, but that doesn’t make it any less important. It’s important to remember that while one person’s actions can make a difference, there are still massive corporations that need to change, too. It’s not all on your shoulders. As a community, we’re here to support one another through each level-up moment and to continue to build momentum until our communal actions and demands shift the tide, with corporations taking responsibility for their actions. 

But I digress. Kinda.

So let’s dive into carbon emissions. 

What are carbon emissions?

Carbon emissions go by another name you may recognize: Greenhouse Gases.

Basically, “Greenhouse Gases” is the umbrella term, encompassing carbon as well as methane and other gases. The term “carbon emissions” is just specific to carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. But carbon is by far the most polluting gas.

According to the EPA, carbon emissions account for 79% of all GHG. Methane is in second place at 11%, nitrous oxide in third at 7%, and fluorinated gases in fourth at 3%. So, obviously, carbon is the big hitter here.

So where does carbon come from? Fossil fuels, specifically when they are burned. Burning coal and oil puts a ton of carbon into the atmosphere, but burning almost anything else does too. You’d think that burning wood wouldn’t be a big deal, but trees and organic matter store carbon, and when they’re burned, those gases are released. This is why deforestation is such a major problem, on top of decimating local ecosystems. 

According to the EPA, “Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years.” Yikes. But not super surprising, right?

Wondering what we’re doing about it yet? Let me tell you.

What are carbon offsets?

You know that viral video where someone is showering, rinsing the shampoo out of their hair, and each time they go to rinse it out someone else pops over and puts more shampoo in their hair?

In a weird way, carbon offsets are kinda like that.

The basic idea of carbon offsetting is to take action to remove carbon from the atmosphere that you/your company has caused. So, when you shop online and it takes a plane, a train, and a car to get delivered to you, think about the carbon that creates. It needs to be offset.

Carbon offsetting is a great solution right now because, as a society, we are still tremendously reliant on fossil fuels, and therefore we continue to create carbon emissions.

We’re going under the showerhead to rinse out that shampoo, to offset our carbon emissions, but then major corporations (read: the fossil fuel industry) add more shampoo, and we rinse and repeat. (See what I did there? Ha!)

The obvious solution is to just get rid of the person continuously adding shampoo to our hair, but we’re simply not there yet.

So are carbon offsets even worth it?

Yes.

Working continuously to offset our emissions is still a vital task in order to combat the climate crisis. It is necessary. Without it, the climate crisis will only get worse. Which yes, is still possible.

How can you offset emissions?

There are a handful of different ways you as an individual can offset your personal carbon emissions. Let me give you a few tips

1. Taking a flight? Offset with Chooose.

   When Chooose first got started, they focused solely on offsetting your plane rides. This was the first carbon offsetting program I discovered, which I found super helpful. As a college kid going to school in Chicago, with my whole family back in California, I took a lot of flights. Now, Chooose has three different tiers: ChoooseClimate for companies, WeChooose for organizations, and MyChooose for individuals. 

   2. Put your money where your mouth is with Aspiration

   This is a two-fold awesome way to offset your carbon. First and foremost, when you switch to Aspiration, you’re divesting from the fossil fuel industry and massive corporations, like Chase. Secondly, with each purchase, Aspiration plants a tree. You can track your progress toward net-zero carbon, and they’ve even incentivized it; if you hit carbon zero that month, you get 1% cash back on all purchases.

   3. Shop locally whenever you can

   Buy your produce from a farmer’s market. Get your pet food from the local pet supplies shop. Bike to your local target for your skincare refills instead of ordering online. Take public transportation downtown to run your errands. The point is: the less the product has to travel to get to you, the fewer carbon emissions it creates.

   4. Don’t forget about the electricity!

   “Over 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions are due to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation.” So switch those lights off when you’re not home, or when natural light is good enough. And don’t let that sneaky phantom power get you! Unplug (yes, like from the wall) any devices that aren’t in use. I’m looking at you, the toaster, phone charger, guest bedroom lamp, etc.!

   5. You can also shop from Certified Carbon Neutral companies

   Shopping locally is great, but sometimes it’s simply not an option. When you need to get your shop on, look into the ethics of where you shop. Do they have a page outlining their sustainability efforts? Are they using recycled materials? Are they working with 1% For the Planet, or are they Certified Carbon Neutral? These are questions we as consumers can ask and demand of companies, and by doing so put pressure on other companies to put in the work to do better - for our people and our planet.

   You can find a list of all 301 (as of right now) companies here! 

   Here are just a few more ways to take action to get you started 

So hopefully you understand carbon emissions and carbon offsets just a little bit more, and feel confident going about your next “level up” in your sustainability journey :)

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About the Author:

Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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image from Thinx

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated and/or sponsored; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in.

The Best Period Underwear Brands

The first time I heard about period underwear, my first thought was, “Ew.” I’ve always preferred tampons to pads and recently transitioned to a menstrual cup, so the thought of walking around with underwear that absorbed everything just grossed me out. But as a twenty-something who uses social media, I was eventually influenced by a sustainable account I had grown to trust. She was a skeptic turned believer, and it didn’t feel like a ploy for her to get paid by the brand. Besides, it was only $30. Now, I am that skeptic turned believer.

Period underwear is comfortable, cute, sustainable, easy, and, best of all, it actually works. I’m still a lover of my period cup, but on days that I don’t want to have to stress about changing my cup midday, period underwear comes in clutch. The material is simultaneously breathable and moisture-wicking, confidently absorbent and subtly smooth. It doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a diaper (which was a fear of mine) or even a pad for that matter. It just feels like underwear you can rock all day while you conquer the world, just as you normally would.

Is Period Underwear Sustainable?

Period underwear is the sustainable option for any time of the month, too. You don’t *just* have to wear it while menstruating; a lot of these brands offer products that are absorbent as well as moisture-wicking, keeping you comfortable no matter what the day throws at you. With that being said, some brands do use some materials that might not necessarily be sustainable, like nylon, but the concept of period underwear and the accessibility that they offer is sustainable. Reducing the waste of tampons and pads and other feminine hygiene products that end up in landfills and our oceans is a sustainable win. 

These nine period underwear brands will make sure you can still conquer the world in comfort, even while you’re on your period.

Our Top Picks for Period Underwear Brands:

1) Hannah

Price | Underwear: $30-$45

Sizing | XS-2XL

In addition to their reusable pads and period cups, Hannah also has a collection of period panties that come in a variety of styles—from thongs to standard briefs to boyshorts and more. They’re made using undyed and unbleached certified organic cotton, and are guaranteed to be PFAS-free.

Give them a follow on Instagram, too (@thebrand_hannah) for more tips on care, cleaning, and more!

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2) Thinx

Price | Underwear: $24-$42 // Saver Sets: $64 (2 pairs)-$159 (5 pairs)

Sizing | XXS-3XL

Thinx was founded in 2013 and encompasses Thinx (period underwear), Thinx BTWN (period underwear for teens), and Speax (underwear for bladder leaks). Your purchase of a pair of Thinx underwear has power, helping to uphold initiatives like EveryBody campaign that educates and empowers young people and MAS’ Women Go Beyond initiative at their facility in Sri Lanka. Their underwear materials are transparently outlined on their site, all OEKO-TEX certified.

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3) Knix

Price | Underwear: $23-$38 // Bundles: $105 (light flow: 4 pairs)-$125 (heavy flow: 4 pairs)

Sizing | XS-4XL

This woman-founded brand also prioritizes transparency and women empowerment, a theme with most period underwear brands (so awesome!). As Knix continues to grow, the company continues to work toward more sustainable practices, believing that imperfectly starting somewhere is better than not starting at all - which I agree with! Their blog, The Lift, has tons of inclusive, accessible, and informative content on topics from wellness to parenthood. 

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4) Proof

Price | Underwear: $25-$43 // Bundle: Buy 3 pairs save 10%, Buy 5 pairs save 15%, Buy 7 pairs save 20%

Sizing | XS-3XL

Founded by the three Caden sisters, Proof focuses on covering all kinds of leaks, like period, bladder, maternity and postpartum, sweat, and post-sex - whatever it is, they got you covered. They also have period underwear that is eligible for reimbursement under your HSA and FSA. Talk about progress! Proof is paired with the Period Menstrual Movement, Black Women for Wellness, and the High Five Grant for Moms to help further women empowerment throughout the world. 

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5) Modibodi

Price | Underwear: $18.50-$45 // Bundle: $44.50 (5 moisture-wicking pairs)-$307 (10 mix of moderate to overnight pairs)

Sizing | XS-6XL

At Modibodi, part of each purchase goes toward donating pairs of period underwear to girls in need around the world. So far, Modibodi has donated 23,341 pairs. They also have donated period underwear during crises like the Australian Brushfire and the Covid-19 pandemic. Modibodi uses materials like bamboo viscose, sports merino wool, and microfiber. Their Made To Feel film campaign shows that the sustainable choice can also be the most comfortable & impactful choice. 

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6) Saalt

Price | Underwear: $29-$39 // Bundles: $98 (1 undie, 2 cups, period cup wash) - $171 (3 undies, 2 cups, period cup wash) // Build Your Own Bundle & Save

Sizing | XS-XXL

Saalt is another B-corp certified company, and they give 2% back to fund initiatives in education, sustainability, and menstrual health. Their packaging is 100% recyclable, and their products are ethically made with partners that create positive change, like access to clean drinking water, in their communities. Saalt’s Impact page is informative and transparent, and you can find their 2020 Impact Report linked there. We love an openly communicative company. 

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7) Ruby Love

Price | Underwear: $17.99-$29.99 // Bundles: $74.99 (3 pairs)- $225 (9 pairs)

Sizing | Bikini, High-waist, Brief, and Hipster: XS-3XL // Bliss Seamless Underwear: XXS-8X

Ruby Love’s technology has 5 layers of protection (and no plastic), with the option to add one of their double-sided pads for extra absorbency and protection. This brand is all about inclusivity, clarifying that their products are for any person who wants extra security due to periods, bladder leaks, incontinence, age, or any other personal preference. Ruby Love also offers the widest variety of options, in sizes, colors, and styles.

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8) Aisle

Price | Underwear: $32-$46 // Bundle: Set of 3 save 5%, Set of 5 save 10%

Sizing | XS-5XL

Aisle has been a certified B-corp company since 2012, and the co-founders have been in the business of sustainable products for women since 1993. Each pair of their period underwear comes with a bonus absorbency booster that can be slipped into the underwear on extra heavy days, for extra peace of mind. They are uber transparent about materials, production, and partnerships. 

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9) Dear Kate

Price | $34-$46

Sizing | XS-3X

Dear Kate is all about “protecting against leaks and stains every day of the month.” They partner with Days for Girls and donate a pair of underwear for every purchase over $100 (which seems like a lot, but that’s only 3 pairs of undies!). Their “leak-resistant” underwear is made of their patent-pending 100% fabric lining using Tactel® and LYRCA® yarns. The site’s “How It Works” page has a ton of transparent information about the product.  

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About the Author:

Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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image: Crate & Barrel

The Best Sustainable Outdoor Furniture Brands

The outdoors are calling, and these sustainable outdoor furniture options are answering! Over the past year, we've all come to appreciate our outdoor oasis, whether it's an apartment balcony or a fenced-in square of grass. These spaces have become little places of reprieve from the reality of being at home much more than we're used to. So as we spend more time outdoors, it makes sense that we want to fix the space up for optimal enjoyment. This summer is meant to soak up the sun, entertain friends and family around the table in the cooler evenings, and enjoy our outdoor spaces as much as possible. These outdoor furniture pieces will help you create the perfect atmosphere for that. So whether you're looking to relax on a 100% recyclable lounge chair or chill some rosé for your dinner party in a reclaimed wood potting table, there's a sustainable outdoor furniture brand for everyone's style!

While revamping our outdoor spaces sounds wonderful, it’s important to be conscious about what we purchase and why. Avoiding seasonal, poorly made pieces ensures that your purchase will bring your space comfort for years to come, not just this summer. Buying second-hand is also always a fantastic option, or simply using what you already own. When you do need to buy new, know that these sustainable options are better for the planet.

So what exactly makes an outdoor furniture brand sustainable?

A few of the companies we've included have 100% recyclable products that you can return to them (as a whole or as parts) when their time has come to an end. This circularity and corporate responsibility is an encouraging effort to see; for so long, companies have put a vast amount of responsibility upon the consumer to solve the waste issue, when their over-production of goods made without sustainable materials is the real issue. Putting an end to that mentality is a step in the right direction. In addition to being responsible about their product, a good indicator of a brand's sustainability is their manufacturing transparency. When purchasing hand-crafted, artisanal pieces, being able to see what materials are used, where they are sourced from, and who is making them are important bits of info.

What materials should I look for?

Items created using natural or recycled materials (especially post-consumer recycled) are great sustainable options! When purchasing natural wood items, finding an FSC-certified product “ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.” In addition to natural and recycled materials, options that will last for years and years to come are a good investment. For example, materials like Sunbrella can last for decades, leading to less need for replacements and waste.

here are some of our favorite eco-friendly & sustainable outdoor furniture options:

1) Yardbird

Yard Bird boasts 100% recyclable furniture shipped directly from the production factory to your door, cutting down immensely on middle-man carbon emissions.

In 2020 alone, 64% of the plastic in their wicker sets came from collecting plastics from beaches and other vulnerable locations in the Philippines.

Half their packaging comes from recycled materials, and they use 30% less plastic than the industry norm.

They also offset 100% of their carbon emissions through CarbonFund.org. This lounge chair is made from rust-proof aluminum, making it lightweight and durable. The cushions are made with Sunbrella fabric, a durable outdoor fabric that doesn’t need to be replaced for years and years.

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2) Made Trade

Price | $245-6185

Materials | Bamboo, Recycled, Teak

Made Trade is a 1% For The Planet partner and is climate-neutral certified as of April 2021 (you can read about their journey toward being climate neutral in this blog post).

On their website, there is a feature to “shop by value”; from BIPOC-Owned to Vegan to Fair Trade (and more), they have a handful of options that you can feel good about purchasing.

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3) Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel is taking baby steps toward sustainability, and we’re all for progress over perfection. Their FSC-certified teak collection of outdoor furniture has some chic minimalist designs. So, even if C&B may not be the best choice in the lens of sustainability, this collection is created with responsible materials.

They’re also taking steps toward a socially responsible and transparent business and have published a supply chain transparency document, which focuses on human rights at every level of their supply chain.

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4) Scaramanga

This U.K. based company is full of vintage, upcycled beauties, including this shabby chic coffee table! Scaramanga, a family-owned business, focuses on finding antique and vintage furniture worldwide and then masterfully refurbishing it by hand to add charm to your home. We love a company that reduces, reuses, and repurposes before recycling! Every piece is truly one-of-a-kind, as once it’s gone, it’s gone; They never do reproductions. Fun fact: since they first started selling refurbished products in 2008, their antiques have been used as props in 12 Hollywood and U.K. blockbusters.

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5) Etsy

Etsy is a major online shopping site that keeps sustainability in mind. The company is powered by 100% renewable energy and offsets its carbon emissions for shipping through a partnership with 3Degrees. You can find a ton of handmade, artisanal products on their site (though you do have to sift through some unsustainable ones, too!). If you’re balling on a budget or just a DIY nut, you can also find cheap blueprints for just about anything, including these show-stoppers Kentucky Stick Chairs. Reclaim some local wood and go forth to make your very own sustainable seating area!

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6) Joybird

Joybird is a One Tree Planted partner and works with a multitude of charities like Habitat For Humanity to donate time, money, and products to those in need.

Their corporate HQ is in Los Angeles, CA, with a warehouse distribution center nearby in San Diego, CA. Their manufacturing facilities are just south of the border in Tijuana, Mexico.

This portion of their supply chain is all within a 2.5-hour drive of one another, which helps cut down on carbon emissions.

They also have storefronts in Brooklyn, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Each item is hand-crafted and made-to-order, cutting down on overproduction, just like this aluminum-framed pouf with a 100% acrylic fabric rope woven through it.

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7) Loll Designs

Each piece of Loll furniture is made with either post-consumer or post-industrial high-density polyethylene (HDPE) - their colored pieces are post-consumer, while black and dark pieces tend to be post-industrial, which is basically scraps from the production process of other products. As they use recycled materials to create new furniture, Loll still creates waste of its own, but they have committed to recycling 88% of their waste. Being made from a highly recyclable post-consumer/industrial plastic as well as other recyclable materials like stainless steel means that each Loll product is 100% recyclable.

Consumers are able to send products or parts back to the company to be repurposed into something new. All recycled materials are sourced in the U.S. and then created into Loll pieces in Duluth, MN, minimizing each piece's carbon footprint. Loll is also a 1% For The Planet partner and is Cradle to Cradle certified, which you can read more about here.

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8) VivaTerra

This company proudly created products using reclaimed or recycled materials and supported fair-trade artisan organizations in over 20 different countries, including the U.S. With so many incredible artists, you are sure to find unique outdoor options at Viva Terra.

All their wood products are either reclaimed or FSC-certified, as the company is invested in the fight against deforestation.

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About the Author: Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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