Image: LowTides

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 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!

Brands Who Use Recycled Materials to Create New Sustainable Products

Some of the most interesting sustainable products are the ones made from other people's trash. So many brands recycle waste into new products for us to love again.

What Types of Recycled Materials Are They Using?

From recycled metals to recycled fibers, it's amazing what you can do to prolong an object's life. I love knowing the history behind what I wear and use every day, and with these products, you usually don't know what the first product was until someone tells you - 'oh yeah, that was made out of old t-shirts, OR that was made out of plastic bottles.' That's how advanced we are when it comes to recycling. These aren't your average home recycling projects. With each brand, I tell you what type of recycled materials they are using, and you can find everything from recycled food to recycled plastic. They are truly unique!

15 Sustainable Brands Using Recycled Materials:

1) Shades of Green

Materials: Recycled Fibers, Wood, Cast Iron, Plastic

This beautiful enameled cookware is made from 40% recycled cast iron.

These are just some of the few Shades of Green products made from recycled materials. You can also find blankets and other kitchen utensils.

This online marketplace only showcases products that have undergone rigorous evaluation and are made to last you many years.

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2) 2°EAST

Materials: Recycled Plastic Bottles

Like many eco-friendly brands, it started with a simple question: "Is it possible to produce a quality, everyday watch that doesn't cost the earth?". These watches are consciously made with the planet in mind, but they also think about our wallets and budgets with their more affordable price. Their interchangeable NATO strap line is made with 100% post-consumer recycled PET (RePET). Plus, their packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable.

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3) Allégorie

Materials: Recycled Apple & Mango Peels

More than 30% of mangos are wasted during harvesting and transportation, and another 7% are wasted in supermarkets.

Allégorie has collected discarded mangos from supermarkets. They’ve also collected apple peels from the juice industry since the juice industry generates 1.4 million tons of apple peel waste each year! They take both fruits and create textiles through eco-friendly processes.

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4) Atelier Saucier

Materials: Reclaimed Fabrics

ATELIER SAUCIER is a modern tabletop design house based in Los Angeles for sustainable + customizable linens.

With backgrounds in the food + fashion industries, founders (and best friends) Nikki Reed and Staci Inspektor set out to combine their varied experiences and shared passion for hosting; and introduce a fresh, elevated perspective to all things table linens. ATELIER SAUCIER is where entertaining, dining, and design intersect.

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5) Dr. Scholl’s Shoes

Materials: Recycled Plastic Bottles

I was so excited to partner up with Dr.Scholl’s this past spring to show you all the new sustainable initiatives they have been implementing over the last couple of years.

They have started using plastic bottles to create their range of shoes for men, women & children (plus many other sustainable materials).

You can read all about their more eco-friendly materials in their brand feature here.

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6) EarthHero

Materials: Recycled Plastic, Rubber, Paper, Etc…

This eco-friendly online marketplace is home to hundreds of brands, many of which use recycled materials to create new products.

I wrote a post on Eco-Friendly Office Supplies about a year ago showcasing some unique products they offer for your home workspace.

So many excellent recycled goods!

code: SustainablyChic10 for 10% off

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7) Lo & Sons

Materials: Recycled Plastic Bottles

I own one of their organic cotton duffles, and their quality is excellent. In addition to Lo & Sons’ organic cotton collection, they also have several pieces made from recycled polyester. Using this recycled fabric, you can find many of their designs, from backpacks to large weekend duffles. Recycled polyesters are great for traveling because they are easy to clean off, and you don’t feel guilty about using virgin plastics.

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8) LowTides

Materials: Recycled Ocean Plastic

With a truckload of plastic being dumped into our oceans every day (yeah, it’s terrible), there has to be something positive to come from all the waste.

Low Tides uses this ocean plastic to create its collection of chairs, and the prints are so fun! These chairs are very easy to carry with their two back straps.

They also have 2 cup holders to enjoy refreshing drinks while watching the waves.

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9) Made Trade

Materials: Recycled Plastic, Rubber, Yarn

I’m sure you have seen this shop on my site a few times already! Made Trade is home to several of my favorite sustainable brands - many of which use recycled materials to create their products.

I’ve attached a link with all of Made Trade’s goods composed of post-consumer waste, and there are A LOT of them!! From clothes to your closet to dining in your kitchen, it’s amazing how many products are created from waste.

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10) Micro Kickboard

Materials: Recycled Fishnets

Micro Kickboard is well-known for their kid scooters and fun helmets, but recently they released an ECO scooter made from recycled, discarded fishnets. My son loves this scooter, and we ride it around the neighborhood almost daily.

The Mini Deluxe is $90 and is for 2-5-year-olds, and the Maxi Deluxe is $140 and is for ages 5-12. They both come with a gold standard 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Indeed a superb buy!

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11) Paravel

Materials: Recycled Bottles

Paravel is a sustainable travel brand dedicated to exploring the world while minimizing our impact on it. They make one of the most sustainable carry-ons with a durable recycled polycarbonate exterior; recycled zippers, a lining made from 15 upcycled plastic water bottles; vegan leather details and wrapped steel handles; and an aircraft-grade recycled aluminum handle.

I own one, and it really is a nice piece of luggage!

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12) Look Optic

Materials: Recycled TR-90

Merging featherweight, fashion-forward design with 100% Recycled TR-90, LOOK OPTIC's collection of sustainable eyewear offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditionally disposable readers, blue-light glasses, and sunglasses. Actively giving back to promote a more sustainable feature, the brand partners with Lion's Club to help upcycle and redistribute old frames and TerraCycle to assist in repurposing hard-to-recycle elements (frames, lenses and hinges), transforming old frames into running tracks, playgrounds, & more.

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13) Malaika New York

Materials: Deadstock, Upcycled Bike Tubes, Recycled PET

Malaika New York’s unique zero waste designs embrace the female body, focusing on comfort, versatility, and timelessness. Their simple yet powerful designs can be styled in a variety of different ways. Malaika is a great choice if you feel like trends are wasteful and are building a high-quality capsule collection.

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14) All the Wild Roses

Materials: Surplus Fabrics

I've always thought of this brand as the ethical Free People. It's romantic, free-spirited, and all-around lovely.

All the Wild Roses uses a lot of surplus fabrics to create their designs. We love when brands use fabric that has already been created rather than something new. They are also now a Certified B-Corp Brand!

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15) RECOSIVITY

Materials: REPREVE® Recycled Polyester

RECOSIVITY’s buttery soft leggings are made from the number one recycled, certified, and traceable performance fiber, and they plant a tree for every order. In addition, all products are made in the USA, meaning they are one of the first activewear brands to combat the planet-killing CO2 emissions from overseas manufacturing. They also use innovations that reduce the amount of water and energy used in the dyeing process, and their sustainability promise extends to their packaging, which is 100% recycled and recyclable.

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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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related reading you may also enjoy:

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated, so we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. This post is also sponsored in part by Passion Lillie. We only add brands & products we truly believe in.

Affordable Sustainable & Ethical Dresses Perfect for the Minimalist

Looking to add a new ethical dress to your wardrobe? We’ve compiled a list of affordable, sustainable dresses perfect for the minimalist wardrobe. Most of these dresses here are under $125, and all are ethically made & out of eco-friendly fabrics. These are mostly solid colors to add to a capsule wardrobe easily, but there are a few neutral prints you may enjoy. We love versatile dresses that are comfortable and easy to dress up or down, depending on where you are going. Enjoy!

What Makes a Dress Ethical or Sustainable?

When thinking in terms of ethics - Does the brand pay the manufacturer fairly? Is the farmer growing the cotton treated fairly, as well? Depending on your values, you will look for different things when shopping ethically. For example, if you are vegan, you would ensure the dress does not contain animal products. 

I find sustainable fashion to be the main focus & includes the term ‘ethical.’ Typically, for a dress to be considered ‘sustainable,’ it should be eco-friendly, ethically made, lasting, and accessible. Of course, we could make a long list of what a sustainable dress should be, but these are the key characteristics I look for when deciding on my purchase. There is a simple checklist to find at the end of this post here, and in this post, you can learn much more about sustainable fashion and how you can participate in the movement.

Looking for something more formal? Click here.

& before I dive into this post… I have to get something off my chest.

What is ‘affordable’ ethical fashion?

I received this comment on Pinterest:

“literally none of these are “affordable” 😂 $128 for a dress i can buy at target for $25”

I’m sure some of you may be thinking the same thing… But if you are paying $25 for a dress, know someone is being taken advantage of - and cheap goods (like a fast-fashion dress at Target) only continue to support poverty. If you want to ensure the farmer and maker are paid a fair wage, paying only $25 for a dress is unheard of. This is not possible! $40 would be the absolute least inexpensive you could find in an ethical brand, and that dress would be very simple. If you can not spend $128 on a quality, ethically-made dress that will last you years and years, purchase a second-hand dress - or love the dresses you already have. Don’t go to Target or another fast-fashion store because you want to pay less. Fashion is not supposed to be cheap! There are people behind the clothes you wear, and those people need to make a fair wage for their work <3 

Clothing consumption is up 400% from nearly two decades ago. Most people purchase not out of necessity but out of want and to keep up with trends. Fast fashion only exists because of this - not because it caters to poor people. People who live on very low wages, who need clothing, and who are purchasing from fast brands are not the problem.

read more about sustainable fashion - here - and fast fashion - here -

Now, our top picks for minimalist dresses that are sustainable & ethical:

1) Jaya Wrap Dress

Brand: Passion Lilie

Price: $120

Material: Cotton & Recycled Cotton

This lovely dress is curve-friendly and flattering for all body types - even for nursing mothers! It is handwoven and handmade ethically in India.

Your purchase helps provide a secure job with fair wages and a positive working environment to artisans in India and the United States.

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2) Blaire Dress

Brand: Carve Designs

Price: $98

Material: Organic Cotton

This collarless button-down is paired with a flouncy tiered skirt and sweet ruffle detail - and comes in 4 different colors (navy, olive, white & pink). As a company born at the beach and endlessly inspired by the outdoors, Carve prides itself on crafting fashion-forward everyday designs made of sustainable materials.

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3) Ballet Dress

Brand: Kotn

Price: $118 (code KOTNCHIC10 for 10% off)

Material: Cotton

4) Mika T-Shirt Dress

Brand: 337

Price: $59

Material: Organic Cotton & Bamboo

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5) Your T-Shirt Dress

Brand: Pareto

Price: $68

Material: Organic Cotton

6) Chrysalis Cardi

Brand: Encircled

Price: $183

Material: Lenzing Modal® 

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7) The Linen Workwear Dress

Brand: Everlane

Price: $98

Material: Linen

8) Convertible Shirt Dress

Brand: Vetta

Price: on sale $89

Material: Organic Cotton & Recycled Poly

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9) Reese Dress

Brand: Ably

Price: $80

Material: Modal

10) Lite T-Shirt Dress

Brand: Organic Basics

Price: on sale for $39

Material: Tencel

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11) Jane Maxi Dress

Brand: ABLE

Price: on sale for $78

Material: Cotton

12) Airplane Tank Dress

Brand: Pact

Price: on sale for $70

Material: Organic Cotton

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13) Naomi Workout Dress

Brand: Girlfriend

Price: on sale $62

Material: Recycled Plastic Bottles

14) Zendaya Dress

Brand: Amour Vert

Price: on sale $67

Material: Tencel

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15) Poplin Dress

Brand: For Days

Price: $98

Material: Organic Cotton

16) Isla Dress

Brand: Whimsy & Row

Price: on sale $40

Material: Organic Cotton

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17) Denver Frill Dress

Brand: Thought

Price: on sale $25

Material: Organic Cotton

18) Cascadence Sweater Dress

Brand: prAna

Price: on sale $48

Material: Organic Cotton, Recycled Poly & Wool

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19) Fit + Flare Midi Dress

Brand: Happy Earth

Price: on sale for $52

Material: Organic Cotton

20) Royal Toscana Dress

Brand: Magic Linen

Price: $89

Material: Linen

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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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related reading you may also enjoy:

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 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!

the best sustainable eyewear brands for prescription glasses

Need a new pair of glasses, but prefer to find ones with an eco-friendly ethos? This post has got you covered! We have found a handful of brands making more sustainable glasses than you would find at your conventional eyewear store.

What we Look for In Sustainable Prescription Eyewear

Materials are always something we gravitate towards first. We love seeing brands use recycled materials instead of virgin - if possible. Until a handful of years ago, it was almost impossible to find glasses made from recycled plastic. Not anymore! Several brands below use plastic from discarded water bottles to create their frames. We also like to see brands that produce here in the States or have recycling programs for when you no longer can wear your glasses. Each brand we added below has a few sustainable initiatives we highlighted that we love!

our top picks for eco-friendly, sustainable eyeglasses:

1) MITA

Price | $139+

MITA starts with five water bottles and transforms them into a pair of wearable, high-quality, lightweight, and super cute eyewear. Their cleaning cloths and cases are made from recycled materials, too. In addition, the MITA community works with a few non-profit organizations to help clean up and protect our oceans and waterways. MITA carries prescription eyeglasses and blue light-blocking recycled glasses as well. I loved their virtual try-on feature—it really helped me choose which one to get!

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2) Proof Eyewear

Price | $65-180

A beautiful wooden eyewear company, Proof Eyewear is based out of Boise, Idaho, and was started by 3 brothers.

Besides making high-quality wooden frame eyeglasses, Proof Eyewear has made a point to give back. With your help, they have donated over 1,200 pairs of glasses, planted 200 trees, given almost 6,00 health & vision screenings, and 240 cataract surgeries - plus so much more! You can also send back your old frames with their recycling program.

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3) Look Optic

Price | $68-92

Merging featherweight, fashion-forward design with 100% recycled materials, LOOK OPTIC's collection of sustainable eyewear offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposable readers & blue-light glasses.

Actively giving back to promote a more sustainable feature, the brand partners with Lion's Club to help upcycle and redistribute old frames and TerraCycle to assist in repurposing hard-to-recycle elements (frames, lenses, and hinges), transforming old frames into running tracks, playgrounds, & more.

Each purchase donates to Charity: Water to provide clean water for all (as insufficient access to clean water is the world's leading cause of blindness), and as part of their Zero-Waste Donation Initiative, LOOKOPTIC allows customers to donate or recycle any old frames and receive 25% off their next purchase. 

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4) Article One

Price | $255-285

Based in Flint, Michigan, Article One frames are handmade in a small village in Northern Italy.

They work with a family-owned factory that is an expert at creating glasses.

Their quality is meant to take you through life because they do not believe in a throwaway culture.

With over 30 frames to choose from, I know you will find a style that is fit for you.

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5) SeaClean

by glassesusa

Price | $98

Frames from SeaClean by GlassesUSA are made entirely from up-cycled plastic bottles. It only takes five bottles to create a pair of glasses.

Plus, for every SeaClean pair sold, they will donate $5 to The Ocean Cleanup to help them in their efforts towards a plastic-free ocean by 2050. They are also quite affordable and priced at under $100. There are only two frame styles at the moment, but I’m sure we will see more in the future.

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6) Secondhand Frames

You can find many used frames if you love to thrift or search on Etsy & eBay.

All you have to do is change it with your prescription, and there you go!

This may be one of the most affordable ways of finding a pair of glasses.

We always encourage using products that have already been made if you cannot support a brand working towards a more sustainable fashion industry.

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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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related reading you may also enjoy:

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 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!

The Best Sustainable Leggings

Whether you wear them out of necessity or enjoy styling outfits around them, leggings have become an essential staple in many of our wardrobes. These form-fitting bottoms are often debated in regard to their place in the fashion world or whether they’re appropriate to be worn on their own. But regardless of your stance on leggings, they’ve become a foundational item that can be used as a base layer, for exercising or just to chill out in. 

The history of leggings dates back to 14th century Scotland when they were originally worn by men for both casual and military dress. They came in two pieces, one for each leg, and were secured at the waist, and at this time they would have been made from leather or chainmail. Up until the 19th century it was only men who wore these two-piece leggings. Fast forward to the 1950s and ’60s and leggings were now being created for fashion rather than just underwear, and experimentation with new materials brought about the lycra leggings in 1959. 

In the 60s, leggings were being worn by women for exercising and to form outfits, often styled with miniskirts, platform heels, or shift dresses. Through the 70s, 80s and 90s leggings have kept up with the changing fashion, adapting to the shifts in the popular silhouettes, materials and fabrics used throughout each decade.

Increasingly we have seen workout leggings being designed to take us ‘from the gym to coffee dates’ and, post-pandemic, it’s possible that the comfy, easy to wear nature of leggings have made them the go-to choice of bottoms as ‘comfort dressing’ takes the reins for 2022 and beyond. Fashion Psychologist, Shakaila Forbes-Bell, says “The need to not only be physically comfortable but psychologically comfortable in what we wear will likely remain as people have come to realize that clothing can be used as a tool to aid cognitive processing and general wellbeing.”

With the rise of the athleisure wear trend showing no signs of slowing down, leggings seem to have secured a place in the fashion world’s heart for good.

What can make your leggings unsustainable?

As leggings grew in popularity from the 60s onwards, so did the demand for clothing overall. Globally, we now consume about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year, approximately 400% more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago. As clothing has increasingly been made from poorer quality materials and at a much faster pace, these products are not lasting as long as they used to, and underwear and ‘basics’ are a large part of that problem. We are now discarding clothes at a shocking pace. The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year. That adds up to more than 11 million tons of textile waste from the U.S. alone.

Leggings are often one of the items of clothing consumers dispose of more frequently. Whether it’s due to ripped seams, fading of the material, or loss of stretchiness, leggings can lose their luster fairly quickly. Without easy access to local recycling schemes, many consumers choose to throw their old leggings directly in the trash, which is then sent to landfill or incinerated. 

The most commonly used materials for leggings are polyester, nylon, spandex, and non-organic cotton. For leather leggings, cow’s leather or faux leather is used, often with a synthetic lining. With the exception of cotton, all these materials can take anywhere from 40-200 years to decompose in landfills. As they decompose, these materials release toxic chemicals into the ground polluting the waterways and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

What eco-friendly fabrics should you look for in leggings?

One way to make sure the leggings you buy are more sustainable is to look for certain materials that are more sustainably produced than the ones mentioned previously. For a material to be classed as ‘sustainable’ (or at least more sustainable), it can depend on a number of different factors. For example, if a material can be produced using much less water or energy, or if it is made using no toxic chemicals. 

Generally speaking, natural organic fibers and recycled materials are the more sustainable choices when selecting leggings. Natural fibers often found in sustainable leggings can include organic cotton, bamboo (including bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose), and Tencel. The recycled materials used for leggings can be recycled nylon, polyester, rayon, or spandex. You may also see recycled elastane featured in some leggings; this is the material that gives leggings their stretch. 

If you choose leggings made with recycled synthetic fibers, just be aware that these do still shed microplastics, so best to wash them using a Guppyfriend or Cora Ball to catch the fibers. You can read more on how to reduce microplastics in your laundry here. 

Now, our top picks for comfy, sustainable leggings:

1) Purefit Legging

Price: on sale $23

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: organic cotton, elastane

The Purefit leggings from Pact are made with no toxic chemicals and organic cotton, resulting in soft, breathable fabric that’s not too thin.

They come in black, charcoal, dark red & a print and offer all-day comfort – what else could you need! Pact clothing is made in a GOTS certified and Fair Trade factory based in India.

code: SustainablyChic for 15% off

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2) Compressive High-Rise Legging

Price: $78

Sizes: XXS-6XL

Materials: RPET (recycled Polyethylene terephthalate), spandex

Girlfriend Collective claims this is the legging that started it all for them. The highly popular Compressive High-Rise leggings have gained massive popularity due to their inclusive size range and unrivaled compression fabric that makes you feel incredibly well-supported during any physical activity. Made with recycled plastic bottles and available in ten colorways, these are essential for any athleisure-obsessed woman!

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3) American Dream Leggings

Price: $89

Sizes: S - XXL

Material: REPREVE® Recycled Polyester, Spandex

RECOSIVITY’s buttery soft leggings are made from the number one recycled, certified, and traceable performance fiber, and they plant a tree for every order. In addition, all products are made in the USA, meaning they are one of the first activewear brands to combat the planet-killing CO2 emissions from overseas manufacturing. They also use innovations that reduce the amount of water and energy used in the dyeing process, and their sustainability promise extends to their packaging, which is 100% recycled and recyclable.

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4) Organic Stretch Legging

Price: $68

Sizes: XS-3X

Materials: organic cotton, spandex

The Organic Stretch legging by Mate the Label is made with organic cotton and designed for low to medium impact exercise.

They also break down the cost-per-wear of the leggings, for example, if you wore them once a week over a year the cost-per-wear would be only $1.36!

Available in nine gorgeous colourways, these leggings were made to be seen.

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5) Essential Bamboo Organic Cotton Thick Leggings

Price: $44

Sizes: 6-20

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane jersey

Perfect for styling with dresses or skirts in fall and early spring, the Essential leggings from Thought are made with super soft bamboo and organic cotton jersey, creating a natural and breathable fabric. Designed for lounging at home or doing light exercise (such as yoga) these leggings are the perfect balance of comfort and style.

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6) Active High-Waisted Leggings

Price: $82

Sizes: XS-XL

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton

Leggings with pockets have to be one of the best inventions of our time, surely? These high-waisted leggings from Boody feature three pockets, a wide waistband, and curved panel shaping on the side leg. Boody claims that 272.1 liters of water are saved with these leggings as organically grown bamboo uses 66% less water compared to conventional cotton. Available in olive, black, and grey marl, these leggings are the perfect addition to any wardrobe!

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7) Active Leggings

Price: $90

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: recycled nylon, elastane

The Active leggings by Organic Basics are made with sweat-wicking, stretchy recycled nylon that helps you stay fresh, meaning less need to add them to the laundry pile! Pick from black, dusty rose, dusty blue, olive, or burgundy for the perfect minimalist leggings. May they even be enough to motivate you to get to that exercise class you’ve been putting off?

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8) The Dressy Legging

Price: $152

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: bamboo rayon, lycra

Another one with pockets! The Dressy leggings from Encircled are a great pair for any smart-casual look, perfect to pair with a white tee and denim jacket. With two side pockets big enough for your phone or passport, these would be great if you’re out running errands and don’t want to bring a bag. Made with bamboo rayon and sewn, knit and dyed in Toronto, Canada, these leggings are ticking all the sustainability boxes for us!

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9) Rita Pocket Legging

Price: $78

Sizes: XS-XXL

Materials: recycled polyester, spandex 

The Rita Pocket legging from Threads4Thought is a carbon-neutral product as it has offset the carbon emissions throughout the production process, from raw material extraction to shipping.

Made with recycled polyester to create a double-brushed performance fabric, the leggings feature body-hugging compression that gives you the perfect amount of support. Choose from 12 different colors!

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10) Pax Leggings | Vege-Dye

Price: $88

Sizes: XS-4XL

Materials: organic cotton, spandex, vegetable dye

For those of you who like to stand out from the crowd, the Pax leggings by Groceries Apparel may be just what you’re looking for. Designed with a wide waistband that ends just above your natural waistline, these leggings will support you and flatter all the right curves. The GOTS certified organic cotton has been hand-dipped with vegetable dyes that use non-toxic ingredients like weld flowers and natural indigo.

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11) Bamboo Enduro Leggings

Price: $68

Sizes: 8-18

Materials: bamboo viscose, organic cotton, elastane

The Enduro leggings are a BAM icon, claiming that the fabric sculpts to your bum and legs and remains opaque through deep squats and downward dogs – one less thing to worry about!

Available in a wide range of colours and funky prints, the Enduro leggings can definitely bring an element of fun to your ‘basics’ wardrobe.

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12) Organic Cotton Base Layer Leggings

Price: $29

Sizes: S-XXL

Materials: organic cotton, spandex 

Maggie’s Organics has created the perfect Base Layer leggings, made with supersoft and stretchy organic cotton fabric designed to move with you. Maggie’s Organics products are made by union workers in their factory in India and they believe in real Fair Trade, from farm to finish. Choose from black or grey and enjoy easy layering and comfy hangouts.

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About the Author

Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on vegan fashion, sustainability and ethically made clothes. She campaigns for change in the fashion industry through her blog and on her Instagram page.

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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

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Image: East Fork

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 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!

The Best Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Coffee Cups & Mugs

The thought of curling up under a blanket next to the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning feels like comfort. On a recent beach vacation, I made tea in a ceramic mug, stepped outside, and took it with me while I walked on the beach most mornings. For some people, coffee mugs are more than an object; but sentimental mementos or collector items. I have a special handmade coffee mug from Siena from a family shop that has been in business for over 50 years. I hope to pass it on to my daughter one day.

Coffee mugs and teacups are an everyday staple for many of us, yet we rarely think about how it’s made or where it comes from. Like the rest of our household items, it is important to ensure that our choices are sustainable and ethical.

Why Is it Important to Purchase a Sustainable Coffee Mug?

Coffee cups might be a household item you keep for quite some time and use regularly, making them much less wasteful than single-use plastic. However, the impact of the materials used, production process, quality of the product, and human labor should be considered when shopping. Ensure that you feel as good about your choices as that morning cup of coffee makes you feel.

Most coffee mugs are made from ceramic, typically clay that is fired at medium to high temperatures until it hardens. The production of ceramic mugs can use a lot of energy and resources if they are mass-produced and made quickly at high temperatures. Cups from large producers that are even a bit irregular are often rejected and thrown away. The glaze used to coat coffee mugs can be harmful if lots of chemicals are used, or it contains traces of lead. Stoneware and porcelain are 2 types of ceramics usually made at higher temperatures, making them more resource-intensive. Some cups can be made from hardened plastics, which should be avoided, as they will wear out quickly and sit in a landfill for decades if you are finished with them. Look for hand-made mugs in small batches at lower temperatures and finished in a lead-free glaze to ensure they are more sustainable options.

Related Reading: Sustainable Coffee Brands

Our 10 Favorite Sustainable Coffee Cups & Mugs:

1) The Mug

Brand: East Fork

Price: $40

Material: Regionally-Sourced Clay

One day, you’re a person who grabs the first coffee mug in the cabinet, and the next, you’ve got an East Fork Mug; now, you’re forever fishing it out of the dishwasher. It’s simple and beautiful, and then there’s how it feels in your hand, that little bit of heft. East Fork is a B Corp & Climate Neutral Certified dinnerware manufacturer based in Asheville, North Carolina.

They pay all employees living wages, raise money for community partners, and craft beautiful, timeless dinnerware meant for everyday use from regionally-sourced materials. Their Mug has a cult following and now comes in three sizes: Big, Small, and Original (aka The Mug). In addition, all their pots come in 6 core colors, and they release limited-edition seasonal colors throughout the year.

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2) Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug

Brand: Verve

Price: $20 for a set of 2, 14 oz mugs

Material: Clay

These richly colored, cozy-looking mugs are handmade in Mexico.

According to Verve, the clay is sourced locally, and production is done with traditional tools and techniques, avoiding the waste of mass production.

The cups are lead-free as well. While these mugs look perfect for cozying up next to a fire with coffee or hot chocolate, the clay materials and internal glaze also work great for keeping iced coffee or tea cold. Due to their handmade nature, these are not dishwasher safe. You can jump on Verve’s site to meet the artisans and partners who make their products, which I love.

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3) The Mugs

Brand: Fable

Cost: $75 for a set of 4, 16oz mugs

Material: Clay, recycled when possible

This classy-looking mug set is hand-finished in Portugal, a country well known for its beautiful ceramics. You have 4 neutral colors to choose from, making it easy to fit into your kitchen. The clay is locally sourced in Portugal, and the glaze finish is lead-free. These mugs have over 300 5-star reviews & are dishwasher & microwave safe!

Fable’s sustainable practices include small-scale production, high-quality products, using recycled clay when possible, and shipping in eco-friendly packaging.

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4) Monday Porcelain Mug

Brand: Bright Angle

Cost: $55 for a 12oz mug

Material: Porcelain

The elegant Monday mug is carefully crafted to be easy to hold from the shape to slightly grooved edges, to the handle size. It comes in 5 neutral colors. Bright Angle’s materials are all sourced locally from their North Carolina location. Their pieces are molded using software and precise engineering techniques to reduce waste.

Every part of their design process is done in-house, creating high quality and a smaller carbon footprint. Bonus, the Monday mug is dishwasher and microwave safe.

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5) Handmade Ceramic Mug

Brand: Lafayette Avenue Ceramics 

Cost: $22.00 for a 16oz mug

Material: Clay

This sturdy-looking, large-sized mug comes in 7 colors, making it easy to match any kitchen décor. The wide and large handle makes it a good choice for those that like to carry their mug around most of the day. The mug is made with raw ceramics at a low temperature to reduce waste, then finished with a lead-free glaze.

Care is easy, as they are dishwasher and microwave safe. Lafayette Avenue is a small women-owned business that hand makes all of its products in Arizona. Plus, EarthHero ships their products in recycled and compostable packaging.

use code sustainablychic10 for 10% off

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6) Onyx Espresso Cup + Saucer

Brand: Obakki

Cost: $52 for 3oz cup and Saucer

Material: Black clay

If you want a stylish café-style cup, this is the choice for you. The rich color and large handle instantly make this cup stand out. The Onyx is fair trade and hand-made in Oaxaca, Mexico. The clay is locally sourced from where the artisans create the cups. Products are made in small batches to reduce waste.

The Onyx Cup and Saucer can only be hand washed. Obakki provides transparent information about the pottery artisans that make their products. They have also established a foundation to provide clean water in their partners’ communities.

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7) Meow Mug

Brand: Sana Hastakala at Ten Thousand Villages

Cost: $19.99 for 1 mug

Material: Ceramic

This mug is so adorable it is bound to put a smile on your face in the morning, no matter how tired you are. Of course, your kids might steal it for hot chocolate too. Like the other mugs we recommend, this one is handmade by fair trade artisans in Nepal. Sana Hastakala works to preserve the rich artistic skill and traditions of Nepali artisans.

Ten Thousand Villages works with partners who ensure fair trade standards are met and invests in long-term partnerships that set their artisans up for financial stability.

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8) Beaded African Mug

Brand: Uncommon Goods

Cost: $30 for 16oz. cup

Material: enamel, beads

For those who love color, Mibema Shanga’s beaded mugs will brighten your morning with each sip. The geometric patterns are made by hand in Kenya with hundreds of tiny beads. Choose either warm or cool colors. Uncommon Goods is an online store home to some of the most unique gifts you can find!

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9) Stoneware Mugs

Brand: United by Blue

Cost: $24 8oz mugs

Material: Ceramic stoneware

This hip stoneware mug set comes in 4 great colors. The large handle makes it easy to walk around if you have your morning coffee on the run while getting ready for the day. The glaze used on these stoneware mugs is lead-free and food safe. To maintain their beauty, only handwash these mugs.

Good news though, these are microwave safe if you forget your coffee multiple times a day. United by Blue is B-corp certified, uses highly sustainable materials, and removes thousands of pounds of trash out of the ocean every year.

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About the Contributor: Mindy Redburn-Smoak has enjoyed a 20+ year career in corporate learning as a consultant, designer, and manager. She is passionate about sustainable living, family, travel, and dog rescue. She has been on a mission to live more sustainably for several years, and loves the journey of learning and trying new things in this space. She is on another journey pursuing her dream of writing about things she is passionate about and that can make a difference in the world. The best way to connect with Mindy is via email at mredsmoak@gmail.com.

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