Who doesn’t love taking a vacation? Vacations give us a much-needed respite from our usual routine and everyday stressors. Unfortunately, it can be easy to make less than sustainable choices while on vacation without even realizing it. The tourism industry has become largely unsustainable, often having a negative effect on the people and places we visit. If you’re wondering how to be sustainable on vacation, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Below, we’ll break down 10 easy ways to be a sustainable traveler so you can enjoy your vacation without having a negative impact. 

What is sustainable travel?

Sustainable travel is traveling in a way that lessens your impact on the places you’re visiting. Sustainable travel aims to support both the people and environment of any given destination. 

There are numerous ways you can be a more sustainable traveler, but it essentially means being conscious of your actions while on vacation. This can look like staying at an eco-friendly hotel or choosing to shop at a local, sustainable boutique.

Sustainable travel doesn’t need to be complicated. If you make sustainable choices in your everyday life, try to do the same while on vacation. 

Why you should consider responsible travel:

With travel more accessible than ever, many popular tourist destinations have begun to pay the price, resulting in overtourism. Overtourism is when a place experiences too many tourists at once and has a harmful effect. This has become increasingly common, with many popular destinations experiencing rising prices, environmental damage, exploitative labor, and locals being pushed out. 

When traveling, what we do matters. From the resources we consume, to the places we stay, to the tours we book, and the businesses we give our money to, each choice we make can either have a positive or negative effect on a place. 

Choosing to be more sustainable on vacation ensures that the places we visit aren’t harmed or changed by tourism and can be enjoyed for years to come. 

10 Easy Ways to Be Sustainable on Vacation:

1. Bring Reusable Items

One of the easiest ways to be more sustainable on vacation is to pack your reusable items. While traveling, reducing plastic consumption can become difficult. Whether you’re purchasing water bottles while sightseeing, or other plastic-wrapped, single-use items, this can add up on a trip. 

A good rule of thumb while traveling is to pack any reusable items you use on a daily basis. This will cut down on your plastic consumption and help you travel more sustainably. 

This may look like bringing a reusable water bottle and refilling it at your accommodation or restaurant. You could also use reusable containers as packing cubes and then use them to pack lunch on the road or pick up takeout. 

2. Avoid Buying Travel-Size Items

Another easy way to be a more sustainable traveler is to resist buying travel-size items for your trip. While this feels more convenient and lessens your overall baggage weight, it’s generally a wasteful practice. Most travel-size items are packaged in plastic and will be disposed of by the end of your trip. 

Instead, consider packing the full-size toiletries you use daily. If you need new items, purchase zero-waste toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, and lotion all come in zero-waste bars now, which are perfect for traveling. 

These bars can even be packed in your carry-on since they aren’t liquid. They also weigh less than liquid toiletries and don’t contain plastic.  

3. Pack Sustainably

What we bring with us on vacation can either increase or decrease our carbon footprint, especially our microplastic pollution. Prioritize packing sustainable clothing, and toiletries as well as using eco-friendly luggage if you have it. 

You don’t have to bring or buy an entirely sustainable wardrobe to make an impact, however. A little goes a long way. Consider what things you’ll wear the most, and prioritize sustainable options for those items. 

For example, if you’re going on a beach vacation, your sustainable swimsuit will probably get the most use and have a greater impact. If you’re heading on a trek through the mountains, then sustainable activewear may be the most important item to pack. 

Swapping just a few items for ones made from sustainable materials will still make a difference. 

4. Choose Eco-Friendly Methods of Transportation

One of the best things about vacation is that transportation becomes a form of sightseeing. This means eco-friendly methods of transportation can actually be more fun. Walking throughout the city is not just sustainable; it’s a great way to get to know your surroundings. 

Taking the train or bus is an easy way to hop around while lowering your carbon footprint and still soaking up your surroundings. If you’re short on time and need to take a car, choose locally-owned transportation companies or hire a local driver. 

Unfortunately, flying is the least sustainable form of transport. It’s also a necessity to get to many destinations. If your schedule allows and you’re heading somewhere accessible by train, bus, or car, consider choosing those forms of transport over flying. 

If you need to fly, most airlines now offer the opportunity to offset the emissions. Google Flights will even show which flight has the least amount of emissions, so you choose the more sustainable option when possible. 

5. Support Local Businesses

One of my favorite ways to be sustainable on vacation is to support local businesses. Many travelers tend to shop, stay and eat at the same chain restaurants as they do at home. Not only does this not support the local economy, but it also prevents you from getting the true local experience while on vacation.

Prioritize stepping out of your comfort zone and instead choosing to support local businesses. Taste local food at family-owned restaurants or restaurants that use locally grown ingredients. 

Buy your souvenirs from locally-owned storefronts. Check out handmade goods, sustainable local boutiques, or thrift shops. 

6. Choose Locally-Owned, Sustainable Accommodation

When it comes to choosing where to stay on vacation, there are a few things to look for as a sustainable traveler. 

Look for family-run, locally-owned accommodation. These will typically be boutique hotels, bed, and breakfasts, or guest houses. Avoid staying in chain hotels or resorts. These properties tend to contribute to gentrification and rising prices. They also typically don’t use sustainable business practices. 

If you’re looking to stay in a rental property like Airbnb, try to book from a local host and avoid any properties that are run by third-party companies. 

Lastly, look for an accommodation that implements eco-friendly practices, like sustainable bedding, water-saving showerheads, composting, or energy-efficient lighting. 

Many booking platforms now allow you to filter by sustainable or eco-friendly properties. You can also use eco-friendly booking sites like Fairbnb to find sustainable accommodation. 

Just make sure that the eco-friendly accommodation you’re considering is transparent about the sustainable measures they’re taking so you can avoid greenwashing. 

7. Travel During Off-Season

When popular destinations get too many crowds during peak season, and none during the rest of the year, this causes instability for the locals that live there. Many businesses are forced to close during the off-season, which isn’t sustainable long-term. Plus, the cost of living may spike artificially during the high season, while crowds make it difficult for locals to go about their daily lives. 

Choosing to travel during the off-season is a great way to be a more sustainable traveler. 

Plus, it has numerous benefits: fewer crowds, cheaper prices, and a more local experience. 

Research the high and low seasons of the destinations you want to visit and plan your vacation outside of peak season. This is one of the best ways to combat overtourism as it gives destinations a break during high season but consistent tourism dollars year-round. 

8. Choose Locally-Run Tours

If you like to do tours while on vacation, try to choose sustainable, locally-led tours. In most popular destinations, there are large, chain, or internationally-owned tour companies. Many of these companies monopolize the tourism industry, easily getting the majority of customers by partnering with chain hotels or having kiosks at airports. 

While it can be convenient to book with the first company you see, take the time to research your options. 

Look for locally-led tour companies or tour guides, as well as sustainably run tours. This is especially important if you’re choosing an activity that involves interacting with the natural environment or animals. 

If you’re traveling in a city, research free walking tours. Most major cities offer these, and they are led by local experts that are so passionate about their city they are willing to lead you around for free. These tours will give you local insight and (through your tips) support locals directly. 

Lastly, if you have the option to work with a female tour guide, choose to do so. Female tour guides are largely underrepresented in the tourism industry. 

9. Stay Longer

When traveling sustainably, consider the amount of time you’re staying in each destination. If you’re planning to hop to several different places in a short time frame, chances are, this isn’t very sustainable. When we travel this way, we tend to check off the most popular tourist attractions and do not have enough time to support local businesses. 

If you’re able to stay longer, do so. This will allow you to have a more local experience, spend more money at local businesses, and lessen your carbon footprint by cutting down on the amount of transport you’re taking.  

If you only have a few days for vacation, consider choosing one location over several. If you really want to hop around, choose places that are close together or that don’t require taking additional flights. 

10. Be Mindful of Your Consumption

When we’re on vacation and not staying in our own homes, it can sometimes feel like a hall pass to do whatever we want. It may be tempting to take long baths in the hotel tub, get a fresh towel each day, or leave the AC and the lights on. 

Unfortunately, what we consume on vacation still adds up. Choosing eco-friendly accommodations that take measures to conserve resources can be a great way to minimize your impact. Packing your reusable items will also help you cut down on waste. 

Overall, try to be mindful of your consumption of resources like water, electricity, and plastic while on vacation. 

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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Designer clothing has long been a coveted, fashionable sign of status. Unlike “cheap” fast fashion brands, people often view designer clothing as a quality, luxury good. However, many consumers might be surprised to discover that designer brands can be just as unethical and unsustainable as well-known fast fashion labels like BooHoo.

Designer labels no longer guarantee quality or ethics. Instead, shoppers often shell out their hard-earned dollars to support brands that don’t align with their values. 

In this guide, we cover a few of the “worst” designer brands in terms of sustainability and ethics. We’ve also included a few tips on how to shop designer brands more sustainably. 

Are designer brands ethically made?

Despite the hefty price tag, designer brands often employ unethical labor practices including hazardous work environments, low wages, and forced labor. Much of the status attributed to designer brands is their mystique and inaccessibility. But that same lack of transparency applies to their production methods, allowing designer brands to use exploitative labor without question. 

Luxury brands rarely disclose how and where they produce their clothes, what the working conditions are like, and what they pay. According to Good on You, 111 of 174 luxury brands surveyed did not pay living wages throughout their supply chain. Many luxury brands have even been linked to sweatshops, such as Ralph Lauren, or exploitative wages, such as MaxMara and Fendi.

Unless a designer brand provides full transparency on its supply chain and allows a third-party audit to certify its labor standards, consumers can’t verify any ethically made claims. 

Why are luxury brands not sustainable?

There are two main reasons why luxury brands aren’t sustainable: a reliance on animal-based materials and a lack of transparency. 

Most luxury brands provide little to no information on efforts to reduce emissions, minimize waste, ethically source animal-derived materials, or use low-impact materials over hazardous chemicals. 

Consumers often mistakenly believe that the higher cost of luxury designer brands equates to superior standards. In reality, this often leads to a lack of accountability for these brands. Of the few designer brands that do claim to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the majority provide no evidence as to how.

Luxury and designer brands produce significantly less clothing than fast fashion brands, which has a positive impact. However, this alone doesn’t make them sustainable.

Unless luxury brands provide further transparency on each production stage, from sourcing to cutting to shipping, we can’t assume they are more sustainable than fast fashion brands. 

The 25 Worst Designer Brands to Avoid

Below, you’ll find several designer brands that we avoid supporting. The biggest reason why is a lack of transparency. 

Every designer brand below currently doesn’t provide verifiable information on how they are reducing emissions (despite many claims), nor do they report the wages and working conditions within their supply chain. 

While we’ve done our research, we also recommend researching any brand yourself to ensure that it aligns with your values. 

1. Dior

Owned by LVMH, a luxury group conglomerate, the Parisian fashion and beauty brand Dior has a long way to go when it comes to transparency. Despite LVMH’s supply chain code of conduct, Dior’s supply chain has no verified labor standards. 

When it comes to sustainability, Dior notably recycles some textile waste but rarely utilizes low-impact materials. Dior reportedly sourced cotton from Xinjiang, China, a region notorious for using forced labor. 

2. Hermès

Hermès is a French luxury designer brand that reports artisan craftsmanship and circular production. However, they don’t have any certified labor standards throughout their supply chain and have only reported living wages for certain workers. 

Hermès specializes in leather goods, so it’s encouraging that they only work with Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. However, despite having an official animal welfare policy, they don’t disclose the sourcing of most animal-derived materials used. 

Hermès makes several statements about how they prioritize sustainability, minimizing waste, and lowering their impact, but they currently don’t provide insight into how they do this. 

3. Louis Vuitton

A French luxury brand owned by LVMH, Louis Vuitton does have an official sustainability and supply chain code of conduct, but these efforts are largely unverifiable.

Louis Vuitton’s supply chain is largely unknown, with no verifications for safe working conditions, fair wages, or worker’s rights. They reportedly sourced cotton from Xinjiang, and it’s unclear if that’s changed.  

Louis Vuitton uses some Responsible Wool Standard certified wool, and Responsible Down Standard certified down, but the ethics and source of the remainder of their animal-based materials are unknown.

4. Chanel

Chanel rarely uses lower-impact fabrics, does not report any measures for reducing waste throughout their supply chain, and doesn’t have any animal welfare policy. 

Chanel obtained a supply chain score of 11-20% in 2022 by the Fashion Transparency Index. They reportedly conduct audits throughout their supply chain and are currently working to have it verified and certified for no forced labor. But, they currently don't disclose worker’s wages or working conditions. 

5. Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is an American designer brand that has been linked to unethical labor. In 2022, BBC reported that Ralph Lauren exploited their workers in an Indian factory, forcing them to work days on end with little to no breaks to meet production. Ralph Lauren has reported increasing wages and better working conditions, but their efforts are largely unverifiable.  

Ralph Lauren claims to implement some responsible materials and circular production methods by 2025, but they don’t provide sufficient information on what that means. The few stated concrete actions they plan to take, such as offering five Cradle to Cradle Certified products and some products with 100% recycled cotton, are frankly, not enough.  

6. CELINE

A LVMH brand, CELINE doesn’t appear to disclose workers’ wages or working conditions. They have a supply chain code of conduct and anti-trafficking policy, but their supply chain isn’t currently verified or certified to support this. 

CELINE has reportedly sourced cotton from Xinjiang. Despite tracing the origin of some of their animal-derived materials and not using fur, they don’t provide sufficient information on how their materials are sourced. 

7. Loro Piana

Loro Piana, owned by LVMH, is often associated with sustainable luxury, but they have many areas for improvement. Loro Piana produces durable, quality products with some lower-impact fabrics, and they recycle some textile waste. They also treat wastewater throughout production and utilize some solar energy. However, those are the only sustainable measures they currently disclose that can be verified. 

Loro Piana doesn’t report wages throughout their supply chain or transparency on their manufacturing process. When it comes to animal-derived materials, they don’t appear to ensure ethical sourcing or animal welfare.

8. Prada

Prada ranks low on the list of designer brands prioritizing animal welfare. While Prada doesn’t use fur, they do utilize numerous animal-derived materials including angora, with no apparent animal welfare policy. Prada doesn’t disclose any efforts to trace the source of their materials. They also do not certify or report labor conditions.

Prada has recently started to implement some sustainable initiatives, such as recycled packaging, utilizing solar energy, and offsetting some emissions. They now have two recycled collections using recycled nylon and recycled gold.

9. Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian designer brand now owned by the corporate luxury group, Capri Holdings Limited. While this group has a lengthy statement on their supply chain code of conduct and the audits they adhere to, Jimmy Choo’s supply chain doesn’t appear to be certified or verified. 

Jimmy Choo has set a goal to use more responsible and certified materials throughout their collections and to minimize packaging waste by 2025. While they now have notable goals for future improvement, these initiatives are currently largely unverifiable. 

10. Miu Miu

Owned by the Prada Group, Miu Miu states that they comply with international labor standards. But, they currently don’t appear to have any formal policies or verifiable efforts to ensure ethical working conditions and fair pay. 

As of December 2022, they have implemented several sustainable measures such as offsetting emissions, solar energy, and recycled packaging, but little is known about their production methods and impact. Miu Miu offers an upcycled collection and some low-impact materials, but they don’t appear to report their sourcing, including for animal-derived materials.

11. Givenchy

Givenchy uses the same unverified claims for reducing emissions and ensuring animal welfare as its fellow luxury brands owned by LVMH. They state that they recycle some textile waste, but not all, and they don’t provide transparency on their supply chain to verify that it meets any certified labor standards.

Givenchy also reportedly sourced cotton from Xinjiang, and it’s unknown if they stopped. Despite using Responsible Down Standard certified down, the sourcing of their other animal-derived materials is not disclosed.

12. Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo has set several environmental initiatives to be completed by 2025 and 2030. It’s unclear how much action has been taken, and their claims are largely unverifiable.

Salvatore Ferragamo does work with Leather Working Group tanneries and has an official animal welfare policy, including only sourcing wool from non-mulesed sheep. That being said, Salvatore Ferragamo doesn’t report worker's wages or working conditions. 

13. Tod’s

Tod’s, an Italian luxury brand, doesn’t appear to be working toward reducing waste, emissions, or hazardous chemicals throughout their manufacturing process. Tod’s supply chain doesn’t adhere to any certified labor standards, and it obtained a 0-10% supply chain score in 2022.

Tod’s has made claims that they work to minimize animal suffering, but they do not have any evidence of this, nor do they have a formal policy to protect animal welfare.

14. Versace 

Owned by Capri Holdings, Versace is a long-standing Italian designer brand that states they are committed to minimizing their environmental impact. However, little is known about their production process or how they are reducing waste. They do implement numerous responsibly sourced and certified materials, but not all. Versace has limited the use of animal-derived materials and banned fur, but they don’t have an official animal welfare policy.

Versace finalizes production in Italy, but they currently don’t provide transparency on workers’ wages or conditions throughout their supply chain. 

15. Dolce and Gabbana

Dolce and Gabbana is a particularly notable offender when it comes to sustainability. Dolce and Gabbana do not appear to be using low-impact materials, minimizing waste, or reducing water waste. Their only stated action on sustainability is eliminating plastic packaging by 2025. 

Their supply chain received a 0-10% score in 2022, and they do not disclose wages or safeguards. While Dolce and Gabbana have stated that they work to prevent animal suffering, they don’t have an official policy nor do they report sourcing. 

16. Maison Margiela

Maison Margiela is a luxury designer brand now owned by OTB Group. Maison Margiela uses almost no low-impact materials, nor do they report efforts to minimize emissions, waste, or water. 

Their supply chain isn’t verified to meet any ethical labor standards, and they received a 0-10% supply chain score in 2022. 

17. Elie Saab

While most designer brands struggle with transparency, Elie Saab provides notably less information. They don’t appear to offer any insight into how they manufacture, where they get their materials, or efforts to implement sustainable production methods.

18. Tom Ford

Tom Ford currently doesn’t provide transparency on their manufacturing, production, or sourcing. When it comes to sustainability, the only action disclosed is that Tom Ford is supporting the innovation of plastic packaging alternatives. 

19. Vera Wang

Much like Tom Ford, it’s difficult to discover any insight into how Vera Wang operates. No code of conduct or sustainability page is disclosed. 

20. Christian Louboutin

Little is known about Christian Louboutin’s production methods and supply chain. They do not claim to ensure animal welfare, cruelty-free materials, or sustainable manufacturing methods. 

There are currently no reports of living wages or safe working conditions throughout their supply chain. 

21. Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham is a popular designer brand with a long way to go when it comes to transparency. 

Victoria Beckham doesn’t claim to be reducing emissions, waste, or hazardous chemicals. It’s unclear who produces their products, under what conditions, and where. They also don’t claim to ensure animal welfare when sourcing animal-derived materials. 

22. Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang doesn’t provide information on how they produce their products and where, nor do they report any sustainable manufacturing initiatives. 

23. The Row

A beloved quiet luxury brand, The Row is notably quiet about how they produce their products. They don’t indicate that they are minimizing emissions or waste, nor do they provide evidence of fair and safe working conditions.

24. Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta is a renowned designer brand that unfortunately shows little interest in implementing sustainable production methods. They don’t have a formal Code of Conduct and the wages and conditions of their supply chain are unknown.

25. Gucci

Gucci is certainly not a sustainable designer brand, but they have made recent efforts to improve. Gucci has incorporated more eco-friendly and recycled materials and utilizes low-waste fabric-cutting methods. 

They are working to reduce emissions (though this isn’t verifiable), and are minimizing the use of harmful chemicals in leather. Gucci doesn’t provide information on how they abide by their animal welfare policy, or source all animal-derived materials.

A notable difference between Gucci and the above designer brands is their supply chain. Gucci does have a third-party audit of their final production stage. This verified living wages in their final production stage. The rest of their supply chain is unknown.

Beirut, Lebanon - March 5, 2020: Dior store in Beirut Souks shopping area in Beirut, capital of Lebanon

How to Shop Designer Brands More Sustainably

If you prefer to shop from designer brands, there are a few ways to do so more sustainably. 

• Shop Vintage: Choose vintage designer pieces over new. Online vintage marketplaces like The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective are wonderful places to start, as are local vintage stores. 
• Buy Pre-Loved: Some designer brands (Balenciaga, Gucci, etc) offer pre-owned, re-sell collections to minimize waste.
• Rent: While renting has a considerable environmental footprint, if you want a designer piece for a special event, this is a better option than buying new from the brand. However, if you plan to rent regularly, or would have worn the piece numerous times, consider alternatives like shopping second-hand instead.

Ultimately, designer brands have consistently ranked low in sustainability and ethics, but several luxury brands are beginning to make notable changes. If you have a favorite designer brand, monitor their progress to stay updated on how they are working to improve. 

Even better, let brands know that their current production methods don’t align with your values. Consumer demand is the only reason why some luxury brands are finally starting to take action, and thankfully, it’s working. 

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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Finding the perfect razor for a bump-free shave sometimes feels like a never-ending struggle. If you’re also trying to find a sustainable option, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the choices. That’s what we’re here for. Getting a sustainable and smooth shave is easy with any of the eleven eco-friendly razors we’ve featured below.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands - and us!

Image: EcoRoots

What makes a razor eco-friendly and sustainable?

Razors are one of the more wasteful products we use regularly. Conventional razors are made primarily from plastic. Reusable razors only last a few shaves before the blades are thrown away, while disposable razors are typically tossed after one use. This waste adds up, filling our landfills. 

Thankfully, eco-friendly and sustainable razors are the perfect solution to this. Eco-Friendly razors are made from natural materials and don’t contain plastic (unless it’s recycled, most of these are plastic-free razors). Safety razors are one of your most sustainable options - and we have several included here!

They will typically be reusable and built to last a lifetime. When your blades or razor need replacement, you can effortlessly recycle sustainable razors. These razors typically come from ethical companies that prioritize eco-friendly packaging and sustainable production methods.

The problem with disposable razors:

Disposable razors might seem convenient, but they come at a serious cost - to the environment and your wallet. Billions of plastic razors and cartridges are thrown away each year, and because they’re made from mixed materials like rubber, plastic, and metal, they’re nearly impossible to recycle through standard systems. Most end up in landfills, where they’ll sit for hundreds of years, or worse, contribute to plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.

In addition to their environmental impact, disposable razors often deliver a subpar shaving experience. They're usually made with cheap materials that dull quickly, meaning you have to replace them often. Many also include synthetic lubrication strips and harsh chemical coatings that can irritate the skin and cause bumps or razor burn.

Financially, they’re not a great deal either. Buying packs of disposables or replacement cartridges over time adds up - and you’re continually investing in something designed to be thrown away.

Making the switch to a more durable, eco-friendly razor reduces your waste and gives you a better shave with fewer replacements. It's a small change with a big impact.

The benefits of safety razors and reusable options:

If you're looking for a sustainable shaving option, safety razors are one of the best choices out there. Unlike disposables, safety razors are built to last a lifetime and only require you to replace the blade - often costing just pennies per shave.

Safety razors are usually made from stainless steel or other durable metals, which makes them fully recyclable at the end of their (very long) life. Many brands also ship with plastic-free packaging and offer blade recycling programs. Some even take it a step further by using carbon-neutral shipping and ethically sourced materials.

Aside from their environmental perks, safety razors offer a closer, smoother shave that many users find reduces irritation, ingrown hairs, and razor burn. With just a little bit of practice, they’re incredibly easy to use - and many people never look back after making the switch.

Other reusable options include razors with replaceable heads made from recycled plastic or bioplastic. While these may not be as low-waste as a metal safety razor, they’re still a major improvement over traditional disposables.

Our top picks for sustainable razors:

1. Leaf Shave 

Materials: Zinc, Stainless Steel

Price: $59-89

Leaf Shave is a wonderful brand designing plastic-free, sustainable razors. Each leaf razor is made entirely from metal and comes with ten different razor blades.

The design of the Leaf razor incorporates a pivoting head, which provides a smooth and comfortable shave while minimizing the risk of nicks and cuts—making these razors particularly suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.

Leaf Shave offers a variety of blade options, including a triple-blade version for those who prefer a closer shave and a dual-blade option for a balance of comfort and closeness. However, for beginners or those new to traditional shaving, they strongly recommend starting with their single blade, which is designed to offer a more manageable experience.

Leaf Shave is a climate-neutral certified company. They state that they have prevented 3+ million plastic razors from going to the landfill to date.

Shop Leaf Shave Sustainable Razors

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2. Hanni

Materials: Metal

Price: $42

Hanni has created a beautifully designed sustainable women's razor known as the “Weighted Razor.” This elegant product is not just aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly practical, available in three chic and feminine colors: deep burgundy, vibrant flame, and soft blush.

Their eco-friendly women's razor is plastic-free and made entirely from metal. They offer an extra-long handle designed to make your shaves smoother and easier. Their head curve is angled to specifically fit women’s curves. 

Aside from their razor, they also offer stylish blade holders and razor stands. Hanni is a woman-owned company that makes products for women.

Shop Hanni Sustainable Razor

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3. UpCircle

Materials: Chrome

Price: $42

UpCircle is a vegan skincare company that specializes in upcycling food waste to make sustainable products. 

One of their standout products is the chrome safety razor, designed to provide a smooth and comfortable shave. The elegant design not only looks great in your bathroom but is also built to last. Alongside the razor, Upcircle offers aluminum razor stands that ensure easy and organized storage.

What truly sets Upcircle apart is their eco-friendly refill program. You can conveniently send back your used razor blades, and they will responsibly recycle them for you. As an added incentive, you’ll receive store credit for your returned blades, encouraging both sustainability and repeat purchases.

Shop UpCircle Sustainable Razor

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4. EcoRoots

Materials: Stainless Steel

Price: $40

EcoRoots has great options for reusable, plastic-free, and zero waste razors. Their Rose-Gold or Black safety razors fit any style and skin. 

To complement their razors, EcoRoots has developed their own line of organic shaving soap, which is formulated to provide a smooth and moisturizing experience while helping to prevent skin irritation and bumps. Additionally, they offer an exfoliant designed to prepare the skin for shaving, promoting a bump-free finish.

While these safety razors are made to last, they can also be recycled when you’re done with them. EcoRoots is woman-owned and a 1% for the planet partner. 

Shop EcoRoots Sustainable Razor

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5. Zomchi

Materials: Chromed Brass, Bamboo

Price: $20-30

Zomchi has an extensive line of unisex safety razors made primarily from metal. They also have one bamboo razor available. Each reusable razor is meant to last and you can buy blade replacements easily from Zomchi.

Their razors come with a wonderful metal stand to make storage easy. 

Plus, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can purchase without stress. 

code: SustainablyChic10 for 10% off

Shop Zomchi Sustainable Razors

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6. Jungle Culture

Materials: Chrome, Organic Cotton, Jute, Bamboo

Price: $23-29

Jungle Culture razors are reusable safety razors made from a variety of natural materials. Their sustainable razors are unisex and built to last.

They have three different safety razors, as well as one bamboo razor, to choose from. 

Jungle Culture also has a lovely line of vegan shaving soaps for a complete, zero-waste shave. 

One thing I love about this company is that they work directly with local farmers and artisans in Vietnam to produce their eco-friendly products. 

Shop Jungle Culture Sustainable Razors

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7. Bulldog

Materials: Bamboo, Metal, Recycled Glass

Price: $15-20

Bulldog has four wonderful sustainable razors to choose from. This includes a bamboo razor and a glass razor. The glass is made from over 70% recycled glass. 

For each razor, they also offer a model designed specifically for sensitive skin. 

Bulldog is a US company. They offer an extensive line of sustainable skincare options for shaving, moisturizing, cleansing, and beard care. 

Shop Bulldog Sustainable Razors

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8. Preserve

Materials: Recycled Plastic

Price: $15

Preserve is a certified B Corp that produces more sustainable razors made from recycled plastic.

Each razor is fully recyclable and BPA free.

Plus, they make everything locally in the US. 

Preserve also has their own recycling take-back program. You simply look up the nearest drop-off center or ship your old razors directly back to them. They will then recycle them for you. 

Find replacement blades here.

Shop Preserve Recycled Razor

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9. Bevel

Materials: Brass

Price: $50

Bevel designs quality sustainable men’s razors available at Target. These eco-friendly razors are made to prevent bumps and ingrown hairs. They also offer a complete line of natural skincare products like pre-shave oil and exfoliating body wash. 

Bevel is a Black-Owned business that donates a portion of their proceeds to supporting formerly incarcerated Black men. They support programs that help to prevent recidivism by providing job training & education opportunities. 

Shop Bevel Sustainable Razors

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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avoid buying stuff with these experience gift ideas

Gift giving has become a staple of the holiday season or any special celebration. As such, this practice has become somewhat unsustainable, largely due to the number of unnecessary items bought. This year, instead of buying physical gifts for others, why not give experiences? In this article, we cover a wide range of experience gift ideas so you can find an eco-friendly gift for anyone, no matter the time of year or celebration.

What Are Experience Gifts?

Experience gifts are gifts that provide experiences instead of something material. These gifts require active participation from the recipient. Experience gifts can provide inspiration, education, and fun. 

An experience gift can be anything that you can “do.” If the gift isn’t a physical object, it’s most likely an experience gift. This can look like a ticket to their favorite vacation destination, a cooking class, or membership to their favorite yoga studio. 

Why Are Experience Gifts More Sustainable?

As a society, we frequently buy things that we don’t need and are often produced in unsustainable ways. When it comes to gift giving, this can often be a wasteful practice. We tend to buy gifts for people that they didn’t ask for, aren’t needed, and oftentimes, aren’t used. 

The corporations producing our favorite gifts, like fashion, beauty, and food brands, are significant environmental polluters. Traditional brands use plastic and synthetic materials, don’t pay their workers fair wages and produce unsustainable quantities of products that often end up in the trash. 

This gets tricky because we all want to give gifts to celebrate holidays or milestones. Giving gifts to our loved ones is how many of us show we care. What we choose to give, however, can have a major environmental impact. Choosing experience gifts over material items is one of the more sustainable ways to give gifts. 

Experience gifts don’t require the production of anything new. The businesses you support for experience gifts are often smaller or local companies, artists, and teachers, and they most likely don’t produce material things.  

We can also use experience gifts to provide education or a new perspective. Experience gifts not only have a lower environmental impact, but they tend to be thoughtful and personalized, giving your loved ones something that they will truly value and use. 

Plus, experience gift ideas can help you spend quality time together. You can book an activity that can be shared with your loved one, or with their family. 

Overall, when choosing experience gifts, prioritize locally-run or led options that use sustainable business practices when relevant. 

These are Our Top 16 Sustainable Experience Gift Ideas: 

1. Get Tickets to a Show or Concert 

This is an ideal experience gift for the person in your life who loves the arts.

You can get tickets to the ballet, their favorite artist's upcoming concert, a symphony, a play, or a comedy show. 

The options are somewhat endless, with thousands of shows happening throughout the year.

This is a great gift to enjoy together and will give them something to look forward to.

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2. Book a Refundable Getaway

A refundable getaway may be the perfect gift If you’re looking for something bigger and more intimate for your partner or family member.

Choose refundable or changeable plane or train tickets and accommodation. This will make it easy to surprise your loved one without having to confirm the travel dates before booking. 

This doesn’t have to be a faraway or expensive getaway either.

You can take them camping or on a staycation if a nearby getaway is a better fit.

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3. A Guided Outdoor Adventure 

For the adrenaline lovers in your life, booking an outdoor experience is the perfect sustainable gift.

Book a guided hike, trek, or climbing experience. Schedule a boat or hot air balloon ride. 

To be as sustainable as possible, look for locally-led experiences.

You can find numerous options on platforms like Get Your Guide and Airbnb.

For bigger tours or treks, support a sustainable tour company like G Adventures. 

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4. Create Coupons for Personal Experiences

If you’re looking for budget-friendly experience gift ideas, why not make your own coupons for thoughtful things you can give them? This is a great gift idea for intimate partners, close friends, or immediate family. You could create a coupon for an at-home massage, a home-cooked meal on the night of their choice, a picnic in the park together, or even offer to do all the house chores for a few weeks. Think about your skill set, and their interests, and see what you can create.

You can design the coupon for free, and without paper, on platforms like Canva. 

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5. A Travel Gift Card

A gift card to a booking platform is a wonderful gift for the travelers in your life. If you know they like to stay at Airbnbs, or they use a specific booking site to find accommodation, get them a gift card for it. 

Alternatively, you can also purchase a gift card for certain airlines, train operators, or car rental companies. Just make sure you’re choosing companies you know they frequently use so that the gift card doesn’t go to waste. This way they can use the gift card when they want and will think of you on their next trip.

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6. Do a Beverage or Food Tasting

For the foodies in your life, there’s no better experience gift than food and beverage tastings. If they live locally, you can even do this together. If they don’t live locally, it’s easy to find something in their area that they can enjoy. 

Book a wine, beer, or spirit tasting for those who love to drink. You can even book something at a nearby vineyard. Alternatively, you can also find great coffee or tea tastings. When it comes to the foodies, look for a food tasting or food tour you know they’ll love. You can find numerous tastings easily on Airbnb or through a local search. 

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7. Treat Them to a Dining Experience 

This can be a fancy or cost-effective sustainable gift idea.

It’s also a fantastic way to support local businesses and enjoy some quality time.

You can make brunch reservations, or treat them to dinner at a restaurant they’ve been dying to try. 

For fine dining lovers, book a tasting menu for a memorable and tasty dining experience.

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8. Sign Up for a Class or Workshop

For the forever student, they might love a masterclass or locally led class to develop a new skill or further their education. Whether they are interested in learning how to play guitar, speak a new language, or perfecting Italian cooking, chances are there’s a class for them.

You can also choose a one-day workshop or series that’s less of a commitment. Some fun ideas could be an art class, mixology, floral arrangements, chocolate making, essential oil mixing, cooking, or gardening workshops. Browse online booking platforms or search for local teachers to find the perfect fit. 

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9. Gift a Spa Day

If your loved one is into self-care, or badly needs some rest, a trip to the spa is a great gift. You can either give them a gift card or book them a specific treatment or package. 

This could look like a massage, a facial, a wrap, or a mani-pedi if that’s more their style. Some additional rejuvenating treatments include acupuncture, cupping, float session, salt cave treatment, or a day at a bathhouse. 

To make this gift more sustainable, prioritize supporting locally owned and run spas or facilities. 

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10. Get a Park Pass

An annual or seasonal park pass is a wonderful experience gift for your outdoorsy friends. If they love to hike, gift them an annual national park pass. If they’re more into camping, maybe a camping pass would be a better fit. If they love to ski or snowboard, a season pass to their favorite mountain will always be appreciated. 

Most state or national parks have a seasonal or annual park pass you can purchase.

Find out what their favorite park is, or where they’ve been dying to visit and gift them a pass. 

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11. Give a Subscription to their Favorite Platform 

There are numerous online services these days that make amazing sustainable experience gifts. Gifting a subscription to a platform they’d love is an easy yet thoughtful gift idea. If they love a certain creator, podcast, or artist, see if they have a Patreon you can subscribe to on their behalf. If they like meditation, you can get them a subscription to meditation apps like Headspace or Insight Timer. For readers, choose a subscription to their favorite online magazine or an audiobook app like Libro. FM. If they love music and don’t have Spotify Premium, pay for their subscription for a year. If movies are more their thing, sign them up for a streaming platform. There are endless options for subscription services that fit all interests and budgets. 

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12. Sign Up for a Gym or Studio Membership

Another sustainable experience gift idea is a membership to a studio or gym of their choice. Maybe they love to boulder, go to CrossFit, do yoga, or are interested in taking dance lessons. You can purchase a membership or class package at the fitness studio or gym of their choice. 

If your loved one isn’t into a specific workout but wants to get active, sign them up for a flexible membership on platforms like ClassPass or an online studio. 

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13. Book a Cameo

Cameo is a platform that allows you to pay for personalized messages from celebrities and public figures.

If you’re looking for fun experience gift ideas, especially for kids or teens, purchasing a Cameo is a memorable one. 

Choose their favorite actor, athlete, or musician and help them craft a message your loved one will never forget. 

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14. Go to a Game 

For sports-obsessed friends and family members, an experience gift they’d probably appreciate is tickets to a sports game.

You can go together, or get them an extra ticket to bring someone of their choice.

Whether it’s football, soccer, or tennis, chances are you can find an upcoming game they’d love.

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15. Choose a Cultural Tour

A cultural tour can be an educational and memorable experience gift idea. You can find something for just about any interest, whether it’s a history, street art, architecture, or nature tour. 

Find a locally-led tour on a topic you know they’d love for a sustainable experience gift.

This is a great option if your loved one is on the road or has any upcoming travels.

You can find something in their area, no matter where they are.

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16. Gift them a Photoshoot

If your loved one has a strong online presence or likes to be in front of the camera, a photoshoot is a fun experience gift idea.

This way you can support local photographers while giving them something they can have forever. 

A wonderful place to find local photo shoots is on Airbnb experiences.

Some options include tours or cover certain locations while others can be personalized to suit your friends' interests. 

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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The Best Fair Trade & Sustainable Chocolate Brands

It's rare to meet someone that doesn't love chocolate. This delicious dessert and ancient superfood is often a daily treat for many. Unfortunately, chocolate is one of the most common industries for exploitation. The chocolate industry is profitable thanks to a high-demand product with hard-to-regulate production. Many companies underpay their workers, provide unfair working conditions, and often use child labor. Thankfully, we don't have to stop eating chocolate to combat this. We can make a difference by supporting ethical and fair trade chocolate brands instead.

In this article, we'll cover the 12 best fair trade chocolate brands so you can enjoy this tasty treat without supporting the unethical side of the industry. 

What is Fair Trade Chocolate?

A great first step when figuring out if your chocolate was ethically produced is to see if it's fair-trade. Fair trade chocolate is produced in a way that adheres to certain ethical standards. Fair trade is a safeguard against exploitation and child labor. It guarantees that farmers are paid a fair and living wage, regardless of the market price of cocoa. Farmers are also given higher wages if they produce organic chocolate and an additional premium wage to reinvest in their business.

If a brand advertises that they are fair trade, check to see if they are Fair Trade Certified. This means that their production is verified by a third party to ensure it meets the above criteria. It's worth noting, that Fair Trade Certified isn't a guarantee that the company is entirely ethical. It's a good sign, but there's always the possibility that unethical practices went unnoticed. 

Lastly, if a company isn't Fair Trade Certified it doesn't mean they aren't fair-trade. Getting this official certification takes time and is often inaccessible to small businesses, particularly if they're located outside of the US. If a brand doesn't have fair trade certification, look for transparency in their business practices. Check to see if they use any of the terms below and if they provide information to back up these claims. If they do, chances are they are still an ethical chocolate company. 

Additional Terms to Look For From Fair Trade Chocolate Brands 

• Certified Organic: Chocolate that is grown in a way that adheres to the USDA Organic standards.

• Bean to Bar: This means the chocolate was made from scratch, literally from bean to bar. It often means the chocolate is handcrafted versus mass produced.

• Direct Trade: This means that the chocolate company directly buys from their farmers. It also means that the brand personally works with the producer so they can verify ethical production and ensure top quality.

• Single Estate/ Single Origin: Single origin means the cocoa comes from one type of chocolate grown in one region. Single estate means the cocoa was also grown on one specific farm in one region.

the 12 Best Fair Trade Chocolate Brands: 

1. Askinosie

Askinosie Chocolate company sources single-origin chocolate through a direct trade model. They personally work with their farmers to ensure fair-wage employment and ethical supply chains. Askinosie produces their artisan chocolate in small batches locally, in the US. What’s fantastic about Askinosie is that they published a Transparency Report to make it easy for consumers to verify their sustainable claims. They even offer tours of their factory in Missouri! You can find a large selection of chocolate bars at Askinosie as well as chocolate-covered candies and sipping chocolate. 

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2. Taza Chocolate

Taza produces organic, fair-trade chocolate using a stone ground method. This production method harvests minimally processed bean-to-bar chocolate and highlights the bean's full flavors. Taza sources their cacao from farmers in Haiti. They were the first chocolate brand in the US to create a Direct Trade Cacao Certification Program. 

You can get a large variety of chocolate goodies from them online, including bars, candies, bark, and chocolate wheels. 

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3. Hu Kitchen

Hu Kitchen was created after the founder struggled with an autoimmune disease and wanted to make healthier, more sustainable foods readily available. Their organic certified chocolate bars are made using only simple, natural ingredients and with unrefined coconut sugar. All of their cocoa and cocoa butter is Fair-Trade certified and non-GMO. 

If you’re looking for refined sugar-free, vegan, and gluten-free chocolate goodies, then Hu is the brand for you. 

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4. Dandelion Chocolate

Dandelion Chocolate produces small batch, bean-to-bar fair trade chocolate. Each batch is single-origin, sourced directly from one farm, and then handcrafted in San Francisco.  

If you’re in the city, you can take tours of their small factory and observe how they roast and make their chocolate. Dandelion has established hands-on, long-term partnerships with the farmers they work with to ensure transparent and ethical production. At Dandelion, you can get delicious chocolate goodies like truffles, candies, hot cocoa, and assorted chocolate boxes. 

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5. Beyond Good

Beyond Good produces single-origin chocolate from Madagascar and soon from Uganda.

They work directly with 93 local farmers to ensure a traceable and fair-trade supply chain.

They don’t just source their chocolate in Madagascar; they also produce it there in a small local factory. 

Beyond Good sells individual and variety packs of their chocolate, and you can also find sustainably sourced vanilla for sale. 

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6. Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange works directly with farmer cooperatives in Nicaragua. Each co-op they partner with produces fair-trade, organic chocolate (and coffee) ethically. What’s unique about Equal Exchange is that every farmer is a co-owner, with a share and a vote in the company. They currently work with over forty different farmer organizations and have spent years cultivating collaborative, transparent relationships. Equal Exchange sells different 12 packs of chocolate bars, hot chocolate, and chocolate minis. You can even find their products at Target. 

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7. Alter Eco

Alter Eco is a yummy, organic chocolate company that you can easily find in stores or online. Producing chocolate in an environmentally friendly way is their top priority. In addition to paying fair-trade wages, they are currently helping their organic farmers transition to regenerative agriculture. Alter Eco is a carbon-neutral company and they use compostable and recyclable packaging. 

At Alter Eco, you’ll find a wider variety of fair-trade chocolate flavors than most companies, including truffles, bars, and even granola. 

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8. Theo

Theo makes organic, fair-trade chocolate goodies that are sourced directly from farmers in the DRC. They started by partnering with an NGO to help train and invest in local cocoa farmers and have since built a sustainable, thriving cooperative. For each additional ingredient used in their chocolate bars, Theo lists who their suppliers are to be as transparent as possible. Their award-winning chocolate is handcrafted in their factory in Seattle. You can get chocolate bars, chocolate cups, cookie bites, hot cocoa, and a wide selection of chocolate candies from Theo. 

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9. TCHO

TCHO is another B Corp certified chocolate brand from California. They are committed to being as transparent as possible, creating their own source program. TCHO invests in their farmers, providing fair wage employment each step of the way and additional support to create better infrastructure, and training within the cacao industry. TCHO sells bars individually as well as offers several variety packs so you can try more of their delicious flavors. They even break down the origin of each chocolate and how that gives it a certain flavor. If you’re vegan, you’ll love TCHO’s plant-based line of chocolates like Toffee Time and Choco Latte. 

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10. Endangered Species

Endangered Species Chocolate has been around since 1993 and established quite a reputation for themselves due to their conservation efforts. They give back 10% of their annual profits to various organizations that support endangered wildlife. Endangered Species Chocolate sources cacao from fair-trade farmers in West Africa. They publish regular impact reports so you can easily verify their claims. Thanks to their long-standing prominence in the chocolate industry, you can find any type of chocolate you could want from Endangered Species Chocolate, including vegan options and baking chips. They don’t use additives or artificial sweeteners in any of their chocolate. 

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11. Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate is a B Corp Certified Chocolate brand that is co-owned by cocoa farmers. Their fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate is sourced from farmer co-ops in São Tomé and Ghana. One thing that sets Divine Chocolate apart is their focus on empowering women farmers. Over ⅓ of the farmers who co-own Divine are women. They’ve started several initiatives to provide educational and mentorship programs to support women’s professional development. At Divine Chocolate you’ll find various flavors of chocolate bars, including vegan and organic options, as well as baking chocolate and crispy thins.

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12. Ritual Chocolate 

This US-based chocolate brand sources their cacao from farmer co-ops that focus on sustainability. They work primarily with Indigenous farmers who own organic farms and list each farm and the region on their website. Ritual’s award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate is made in a small factory in the US using sustainable practices. Each fair-trade bar comes in compostable packaging with recyclable boxes. Ritual sells different lines of chocolate including single-origin, limited edition collaborations, and locally sourced bars. You can also find drinking chocolate & granola at Ritual. 

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About the Author

Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.

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MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

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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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