15 Brands Making Sustainable and Organic Face Masks for Safer Social Distancing
image from Sunrise Bliss
I hope everyone has been wearing their mask since COVID-19 became a pandemic, but since I know it is mandatory in many places, I thought this guide would be useful! I started wearing masks in public before it became mandatory because I knew it made other people feel more comfortable. As someone who has an autoimmune disease, I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t always have control over your health. I feel like this post was relevant to post again because we still have a few months or so until things feel more ‘normal’.
We started with a medical grade pack of masks in the beginning that Travis had at work, but even though I know those are the most effective, they felt so wasteful to use. I’d be lying if I said we don’t use them over and over again. I’ve felt comfortable wearing fabric masks, so if you do too, this post will be great for you! All of these brands are ones I’ve known throughout the years, and it’s so exciting to see the many different options we have for face masks. We can make it a fashion statement if we have to, right?! ;)
Amour Vert
Material | Modal, Organic Cotton, Tencel
Price | 3 for $20
Amour Vert’s non-toxic & sustainably-made masks are back! They are going zero-waste & designing with various deadstock fabrics for variety in comfort & fit. Each woven masks include a pocket for a filter, but knits masks do not. However; knit masks are pleated & have multiple layers. Not only are these masks zero-waste & sustainable, but each purchase ensures an essential worker in San Francisco will receive a non-medical grade mask!
Anchal Project
Material | Organic Cotton
Price | $20
Another great brand using zero-waste to create masks! Anchal's Organic Cotton Face Masks are sustainably-made using up-cycled fabric scraps. The fabric used is hand-embroidered by our artisans in India and then cut and sewn into masks by their team in Louisville, KY. All of the masks are reusable, adjustable and reversible. They are also pre-washed and sanitized using an industrial steam iron, & then sealed in bags by a gloved employee.
Arraei Collective
Material | Hemp, Organic Cotton & Lyocell
Price | $16
Arraei Collective is making sustainable zero-waste cloth face masks with natural fibers in Vancouver, BC. Through their Give Back philosophy, they donate 1 mask for every order to the Downtown Eastside Women's Center, to a local old age home, The Vancouver Police Department and to various charities. Plus, they have essentially used all of their fabric waste!!
California Cloth Foundry
Material | Organic Cotton
Price | $16
This is the mask I own, and I love that it matches some of their clothes. It comes with the elastic band, but they’ve added spaghetti straps made from their signature stretch fabric for added comfort as well as restringing. So it’s cool that you can wear them two different ways - 1. Wear behind head, slip-knot the elastic to adjust/tighten, OR Re-string elastic/spaghetti straps and wear behind ears.
Z Wraps
Material | 100% Cotton
Price | $12
Z Wraps has partnered with multiple organizations in Massachusetts that are working to resettle refugees and guide them on a path to independence. Plus, every mask purchase sends a $5 donation to people doing important work in community, sustainability, food access, and education—like the Black Teacher Project out of Oakland, CA!
Encircled
Material | Cotton
Price | 5 for $76
Encircled has made a non-medical, reusable, sustainable fabric face mask with adjustable ties. It is made from 100% jersey cotton, and each mask also includes a pocket on the inside to insert a filter or extra layer of fabric if desired. Each pack includes 5 black masks with black adjustable ties, and they are all Proudly made in Toronto, Canada. They also have an option to donate masks to essential workers and local organizations.
Groceries Apparel
Material | Hemp & Organic Cotton
Price | 3 for $15-30
You buy 3. They give 3! For every 3-pack purchased, a 3-pack is donated. You can find a few different types of masks - the hemp one pictured on the left & then a fun indigo-dyed one. The hemp one is made with a Hemp & GOTS Certified Organic Cotton Linen-like Woven Outer Layer and a 30% Hemp and 70% GOTS Certified GMO-free Organic Cotton Jersey Lining & Inner Pocket.
Sunrise Bliss
Material | Organic Cotton
Price | $5
Sunrise Bliss (formerly Lakeshore Dry Goods) make face masks with their t-shirt hair towel fabric scrap! It's breathable, lightweight, & holds up well to daily use. Each is made with GOTS certified interlock knit cotton. With each mask purchase they will donate a portion of proceeds to the following organizations: CDC Foundation Emergency Response Fund, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Human Rights Campaign.
Made Trade
Material | Recycled Hemp, Organic Cotton
Price | 3 for $40
Made Trade took their time to source the highest quality fabrics, made a bulk of prototypes to ensure the fit was just right and employed local Portland sewers to make our face masks. Their reusable, non-medical grade face masks comply with CDC and Kaiser Permanente's guidelines for cloth face coverings, are made with the highest quality sustainable fabrics and feel incredibly soft on your face!
Naturepedic
Material | Organic Cotton
Price | 6 for $29
Their lightweight, breathable masks are sewn in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and are durable, reusable and machine washable. They are made with two layers of 100% organic cotton material, certified to the GOTS organic standard, and have two adjustable straps to help keep the mask secure. They know a mask can get hot and uncomfortable so they have designed a comfy fit with good facial coverage.
Passion Lillie
Material | Cotton
Price | $11
Some more pretty patterns from a great fair trade brand! These masks by Passion Lillie are handmade in New Orleans.
They come in three different styles:
(1) Elastic strap and pleated with a pocket in the back to insert your own filter
(2) Elastic strap. No pocket, three layers and no pleats.
(3) Cotton ties with pleats.
Sustain by Kat
Material | Organic Cotton
Price | $16-18
Clean and simple face mask made with undyed colorgrown organic cotton (did you know cotton grows green?!) and natural rubber elastic. Natural rubber elastic is so hard to come by so I think this mask is absolutely great! They are longer length for additional protection and side opens for optional insertion of an extra filter. They are also zero-waste, and ethically designed and manufactured in LA using upcycled organic cotton production scraps.
Threads 4 Thought
Material | Modal, Recycled Polyester, Organic Cotton
Price | $10
This brand never thought they’d see the day they would be producing sustainable face masks to help protect us from a global virus. But, since they started their brand to play a part in protecting the planet, it makes sense to protect you, too! All sustainable face masks are lined with organic cotton and the outer part is made from recycled poly and modal.
Tonle
Material | Cotton
Price | 5 for $28
I’ve always loved this brand because of its zero-waste philosophy. Everything they make is from deadstock, so these masks are very sustainable! Their masks have three layers of quilted cotton, which has been the recommended practice for cloth masks. Tonle has also switched to making these with ties instead of elastic around the ears - to better support the different fit needs of their customers.
United by Blue
Material | Hemp, Organic Cotton, Recycled Polyester
Price | 3 for $20
I think these ones are great for men, too! For each 3 pack purchased, one mask will be donated to Chosen 300 to benefit Philadelphia residents experiencing homelessness. They are made from deadstock fabric with a blend of Hemp, Organic Cotton, & Recycled Polyester ethically is one of their primary apparel factories in China. They have a ton of different colors, and very good neutrals.
