6 Cozy, Sustainable Vegan Knitwear Brands You Need to Know

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Sustainable Vegan Knitwear You Will Love

Getting rugged up and feeling cozy amongst the cold of winter and other cooler seasons is such a simple pleasure. While often we might not think of our knitwear choices beyond what it looks like, how it feels, and if it will keep us warm, there are environmental and ethical considerations worth making whenever we buy new clothes. For the sake of the planet, as well as human and non-human animals, sustainable vegan knits are great to seek out.

What can make knitwear unsustainable?

If we’re wanting knitwear that warms us up, while not contributing to the warming of our planet, there are a few things we can do. Before we even talk about material choice, it’s important that we think about how often we purchase knitwear. Even the most sustainably made knitwear can become unsustainable if we don't really want it, and it ends up going to waste.

Before buying any new piece of clothing it’s worth asking ourselves some questions, like, ‘do I really need this?’, ‘can I see myself wearing this hundreds of times, over years to come?’, ‘is this well made?’, ‘is this a timeless piece, or will it fall out of fashion quickly?’, and ‘do I absolutely love this?’.

If we ask ourselves these questions, we’re likely to slow down our clothing consumption, only buying things that we adore. This is a great win for the planet, as, across the globe, we consume 400% more clothing than we did just two decades ago, and globally, equal to one garbage truck full of clothing and textiles heads to landfill every single second.

Once we’ve made sure we’re being conscious about our knitwear purchases and how we make them, it’s a good idea to think about materials.

Why avoid synthetic knitwear?

As the fashion industry has sped up, we’ve seen the rise of synthetic fibers like nylon, acrylic and polyester. It’s worth avoiding knitwear made from these synthetic materials, including knitwear made with a blend of these materials (because organic cotton or wool knitwear isn’t going to biodegrade if blended with plastic) for a few reasons. First, while plastic fibers don’t biodegrade, returning to the earth, they do break down into tiny pieces. These microfibers can wreak havoc on already fragile ecosystems, including our oceans. There are more than 500 times more microplastic particles in the ocean than stars in our galaxy. These particles end up inside fish, marine mammals, and birds and make their way into almost all parts of the planet as they wash up on beaches and are even eaten by people. When it comes to knitwear, if you ever wash a synthetic sweater, it will shed these microplastic fibers, contributing to this problem.

What’s more, the production and sale of synthetic fibers like polyester and acrylic funds the fossil fuel industry – as these materials are made of said fossil fuels. Did you know that producing polyester, which made up 52% of all fibers produced in 2020, alongside other synthetics, means using an estimated 342 million barrels of oil each year? We need to be transitioning away from this industry entirely, not supporting it.

Is wool knitwear sustainable since it’s biodegradable?

Often, once people learn about the environmental devastation associated with synthetic knitwear, they will instead consider opting for knitwear made from sheep’s wool, or alpaca wool, cashmere, and so on. But is this the sustainable choice that it might first seem to be?

While it's true that (so long as animal hair isn't treated or dyed with substances that render it non-biodegradable) these materials do decompose, there's much more to material sustainability than this factor alone. The animal agricultural systems that produce these materials are hugely harmful to the environment, particularly when considering greenhouse gas emissions and land clearing.

The United Nations recognises the farming of animals as one of today's 'most serious environmental problems', which must be remedied with 'urgent action'. This isn't surprising, considering how much methane systems rearing animals, including sheep, alpacas, and goats, release. Higg's Material Sustainability Index shows that alpaca and sheep's wool are the most climate impactful materials to produce, only after silk. In fact, did you know that if you chose an Australian wool knit sweater over one made from Australian cotton, that choice would emit about 27 times more carbon equivalent emissions

Animal agriculture is also extremely land inefficient, with far more land needed to rear animals than to grow cotton, hemp, or other plant-based fibers (not to mention the benefits of recycled materials!). Given that forests, trees, and natural green landscapes can sequester so much carbon, this is also a climate issue. Using land for animal agriculture comes with a 'carbon opportunity cost', and if we transitioned to an entirely plant-based agricultural system by 2050, we could sequester 99-163% of our carbon emission budget to 1.5 C through rewilding of currently cleared land used for animal agriculture! If you're wondering how that works, consider that producing a bale of Australian wool requires 367 times more land than is needed for a bale of Australian cotton – and hemp is considered to be even more land efficient.

Are all plant-based knitwear materials sustainable?

Given both synthetic and animal-derived yarn used to produce knitwear come with serious environmental harms, it’s worth looking into plant-based materials. Unfortunately, not all plant-based materials are sustainable – let’s talk about conventional cotton.

Conventional cotton is often made in a very thirsty system, requiring significant amounts of freshwater to be used. Then, too, pesticides and fertilizer, which often run off farms and into waterways that are polluted and eutrophied – sometimes leading to dead zones – are often mismanaged and over-used in conventional cotton systems. These are all significant reasons to seek better alternatives.

Fortunately, not all cotton is grown equally, and it can be grown sustainably. Often, certified organic cotton is a great and sustainable choice. Some systems and countries have developed more sustainable production methods, and Australian cotton has come far in recent years. But, of course, recycled cotton is the most sustainable choice, making use of something which already exists, rather than requiring more resources to be made.

Other materials like hemp and lyocell produced in a closed-loop like Tencel, and blends of these, can be really sustainable options worth seeking out.

Is all knitwear ethical?

Of course, sustainability in fashion isn’t only about the direct impact that materials have on the planet. We cannot sustain injustice on this planet either, and so we need to think about the ethics of how our knitwear is produced.

Another reason to consider the materials used in knitwear more carefully is because of the individuals who are harmed in the making of some fibers. For example, if cotton isn’t certified to be made fairly, it is far too often grown and picked by children, people forced to work, and even people working in modern slavery conditions. Fortunately, ethical cotton and other plant-based materials exist.

Too, animal-derived materials don’t only have a harmful environmental impact, but their production harms animals. Not only are sheep often treated with extreme cruelty on farms and during shearing, but the wool industry is a slaughter industry, and sheep are killed when they are no longer of financial value because their wool quality has degraded as they age. This happens about halfway into their natural lifespan and is a practice across the alpaca wool and cashmere industries.

What’s more, even if an ethical and sustainable material has been used to produce knitwear, the knitwear itself won’t be ethical if it is knitted and sewn by a garment worker who is mistreated. Today, a shocking 98% of garment workers are paid a poverty wage, and exploitation and abuse are far too common in the industry full of people – largely women of colour – who make our clothes.

With all of this being said, buying knitwear might begin to feel impossible! But don’t worry, there are plenty of wonderful brands out there making knitwear that is good for the planet, people and animals.

1) Willow and Claude

This brand isn’t so much a brand, but a project from Collective Fashion Justice, a non-profit working to create a total ethics fashion system. Named after two rescued sheep, the project is made up of a collection of 100% Australian, sustainably grown and ethically made cotton knitwear – turtlenecks, scarves and crewneck sweaters – and an award-winning short film which explores the environmental and ethical issues of knitwear production, and a kinder alternative to these existing systems.

Shop Willow and Claude

2) Afends

This Australian brand grows its own hemp and offers beanies, knit sweaters, and other garments made from the planet, as well as from recycled and organic cotton.

The brand also provides details on how much better for the environment their hemp products are compared to others made across the fashion industry.

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC15 for 15% off full-priced items

Shop Afends

3) Will’s Vegan Store

Another brand offering both feminine and masculine styles is UK-based Will’s. Ethically made across Europe, the knitwear selection is largely made of recycled materials, like recycled cotton, as well as recycled post-consumer polyester, made from recycled clothing. If opting for a recycled synthetic garment, it’s worth considering a Guppyfriend or other microfiber catching bag to use in your washing machine.

Shop Will's Vegan Store

4) Kowtow

This gorgeous, New Zealand based brand offers a wide selection of knitwear like cardigans, crew neck sweaters, scarves, beanies and turtlenecks which are made ethically from certified organic and fair trade cotton. The cotton is dyed sustainably, and the knits feel weighty and luxurious.

Make sure to check the product details, as this brand also sells some wool.

Shop Kowtow

5) Kordal Studio

This beautiful label offers sweaters which are hand-knitted ethically in Peru, and botanically dyed.

While not all of the brand’s selected fibers are sustainable, Kordal offers a divine selection of organic cotton pieces like fisherman style sweaters, cardigans, and even knitted pants.

Shop Kordal

6) ArmedAngels

Offering styles for both men and women, ArmedAngels is a fairly made German brand which uses some excellent materials in their knitwear collections.

Through the site, you can set a specific ‘vegan’ search, and find knitted dresses, vests, jackets, sweaters, cardigans and more, made from materials like organic cotton and Tencel.

Shop Armed Angels

About the Author
Emma Håkansson is the founder and director of Collective Fashion Justice which seeks to create a total ethics fashion system that prioritizes the life and wellbeing of non-human & human animals, as well as the planet, before profit & production. She has written countless articles on ethics, sustainability, and fashion, and has two books due out over the next two years.

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Is Wool Sustainable?

Wool is a go-to fabric for most people who live in a four-season climate: this fabric is comfortable, warm and soft. Who doesn’t have any bulky sweaters or cozy socks made of wool?

It has actually been used for millennia before us, for various purposes and in many parts of the world. As it is made from natural fibers, wool is often seen as a sustainable fabric. We also imagine free-range sheep grazing in green fields and being happy to be shorn every year.

But what is really happening in the wool industry? Wool production comes with different environmental and ethical issues. This fabric is generally not as eco-friendly as we might think and animal welfare is often not a priority for sheep farms.

How sustainable and ethical is wool exactly? And why? Let’s find out together!

What is wool and how is it made?

What is wool?

Wool is a natural fiber obtained from sheep and other hairy mammals like goats and camels, and it is mainly used for garment production.

The story of wool begins in Mesopotamia, where it has been used since around 10,000 BC when sheep were domesticated. Back then, humans used their skin to keep warm, and they were a great source of food.

As a few millennia passed, humans learned to spin and weave wool to create warm clothes, boots, blankets and carpets. Wool production was exported far beyond the region, and between 3000 and 1000 BC, the Greeks, Romans and Persians distributed wool throughout Europe.

England, Spain and Italy became important producers and exporters, with thriving wool industries, especially during the medieval period. The Spanish wool trade helped fund the voyages of Columbus to America, and wool textile exports accounted for two-thirds of England’s foreign commerce in 1660.

At the end of the 17th century, the wool industry flourished in North America as European immigrants arrived on the continent with sheep.

The more modern production techniques and technology introduced during the Industrial Revolution greatly contributed to the soaring wool industry throughout the world. However, wool production fell in the middle of the 20th century due to the growing demand for synthetic fibers.

In 2018, more than a billion sheep were used to produce over two million kilograms of raw wool. To put things into perspective, this material accounts for 1.1% of the world’s global fiber market.

There are more than 1,000 sheep breeds around the world, and the largest wool producers are Australia, China and New Zealand.

Why has wool been so widely used?

Wool has been so popular around the world for so many centuries because it has many great properties.

Wool is a bulky fiber, which means that it retains a layer of air next to the skin, making it a good temperature regulator. As a result, wearing wool clothing helps insulate the body, keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Wool is comfortable to wear, has a high level of UV protection, and is both hypoallergenic and breathable, so it’s an ideal fabric for clothing. It is also very easy to spin, and it takes dyes beautifully.

Another great characteristic is that wool is very elastic as it can stretch up to 50% of its original length. So wool fabrics do not lose their shape or wrinkle easily.

Wool can also absorb up to 40% of its weight in water, meaning that clothes made of wool absorb body sweat, release it and dry by themselves.

It is also a very durable material, and it is resistant to flame without chemical treatment as each fiber contains moisture.

For all those reasons, wool has been used in various industries, the main one being the fashion industry. It is also commonly found in bedding, carpets, insulation, home textiles, and even in the protective garments worn by firefighters!

How is it produced?

We can find the most common wool from sheep, but we can also produce wool from many other animals, such as alpacas, Angora rabbits, camels, Cashmere and Angora goats…

Many breeds of sheep are also used, resulting in various types of wool fabrics, like Merino wool or Shetland wool. Some fabrics are even made from lambswool!

To produce wool, sheep are shorn once a year: the shearer shaves the sheep with a shearing machine and ends up with up to eight to twelve pounds of fleece.

The fibers are then divided depending on how thick and long they are, and they are washed to remove dirt, vegetable matter, grease and other impurities.

Clean wools are mixed together to help unify their colors and quality, and they are ready to be dyed. Wool can actually be dyed at different moments during the production process (at the fiber, yarn, fabric or garment stage).

The next step is the carding process, during which the wool passes through a system of wire rollers that help straighten the fibers and form a thin web of aligned fibers. This thin layer of material is divided into fine strips that are scoured, rolled and stretched into slivers.

If the fibers are shorter and coarser, the machinery twists the slivers into ropelike strands and winds them into balls that are spun into woolen yarns. If the fibers are longer and finer, the slivers go to the combing and drawing steps and are spun into worsted yarn.

Afterward, the yarns are either woven by interlacing two sets of yarn at right angles or knitted by interlocking rows of yarn and loops. The weaving and the knitting processes leave us with a very large variety of different wool items.

Finally, wool products undergo an inspection, and manufacturers can put them through different procedures to improve the wool quality. Depending on their end-use, several chemical treatments may also be applied to the fabrics.

How sustainable and ethical is wool?

Is it a sustainable material?

Since wool is made from sheep or other animals, it is a natural material. So we can easily think that it is sustainable, but it is not that simple…

As long as there are sheep on our planet, humans will be able to produce wool, so it is a renewable material, and it is also one of the most recycled fibers in the world.

Wool is usually biodegradable, so you can compost your wool clothing at the end of its life, as it will decompose naturally after only a few months. However, a large proportion of wool products are labeled "SUPERWASH", which means that they were treated so that they can be machine-washed. When it is the case, wool is contaminated with synthetic chemicals and is thus no longer biodegradable.

Moreover, wool products usually contain very harsh chemicals, dyes and finishes that can be released into the environment at different stages of the products' lifecycle.

Another major issue is that wool is the highest greenhouse gas emitter during the fiber production phase compared to all other fabrics. Indeed, sheep are ruminants, meaning they release huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere. And we need to remember that methane has 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide!

Producing wool requires a lot less energy and has a lower carbon footprint than many other fabrics. But animal farming requires huge portions of land to be kept clear to make room for grazing.

Even though sheep can be raised on non-arable land, deforestation is very common: trees are cut down, which releases carbon dioxide and causes many environmental issues, such as erosion, biodiversity loss, and increased soil salinity.

The increasing flock sizes also lead to overgrazing in certain regions of the world, like Patagonia. This contributes to the desertification of already fragile landscapes and the displacement of native wildlife.

To sum up, while wool has some environmental benefits, I don't think it is a sustainable fabric.

How ethical is it?

Since it is a fabric made from animal fibers, wool production comes with different ethical issues.

One of the most striking ones is that sheep often endure painful and inhumane practices, such as mulesing, tail docking and castration, generally done without pain relief when the lambs are only a few weeks old.

Tail docking, meaning cutting the sheep's tail, and mulesing are practiced to prevent flystrike, which happens when flies lay their eggs and burrow into the sheep's flesh. Banned in New Zealand but still practiced in other parts of the world, mulesing involves cutting skin from the lamb's buttock.

As you can imagine, such practices are very bloody and painful for the animal. Flystrike can actually be avoided without harming the sheep, yet mulesing and tail docking are still very common in the wool industry.

There is evidence of other inhumane practices that sheep and other animals must endure. A few years ago, a video was released showing an angora farm in China, where angora rabbits were ripped out of their wool so brutally that we could hear them scream in agony.

The organization collected video footage showing workers in a South African angora goat farm lifting goats by the tail and dragging them by their legs. They were also caught cutting the throats of fully conscious animals.

Workers in the wool industry are usually paid very poorly and by the volume. It means that they need to shear the animals as quickly as possible. This not only shows how stressful their working conditions are, but the extreme working rhythm contributes to the mistreatment of animals: they are often cut so deeply that they need to be stitched.

Not to mention the fact that animals are kept in increasingly cramped conditions, they are often sprayed with insecticides, which contain hazardous chemicals for the farmers and the sheep.

Sheep are generally killed for their flesh as soon as their wool quality degrades. Before they are slaughtered, they are sent on live export ships where they must endure conditions so bad that many die of starvation, stress and heat.

Another unethical issue is that, since sheep are usually bred to be born in the winter, millions of lambs die each year because of the cold, neglect and starvation. Breeders also selectively bred sheep to have more twins and triplets. Those tend to be weaker and die more easily, and their mother is more likely to have birthing complications.

All those harmful practices are common in the wool industry, making it a very unethical material.

Better alternatives to conventional wool

We saw the impact wool production has on the environment, workers and animals. However, there are different types of wool, depending on which animal produces it.

It is difficult to determine which type of wool is more sustainable, because there is little data on the topic. But a few types of wool are known to be better than others.

Chianti cashmere is a more sustainable and ethical cashmere. It is made from goats raised in Tuscany on abandoned and weed-covered lands to prevent overgrazing. The cashmere goats are not shorn but combed painlessly, and the farmers use predator-friendly tools to coexist with wolves.

Alpaca wool is also believed to be more sustainable than other types of wool. Mainly bred in the Peruvian Andes, raising alpacas is more gentle on the environment. These animals can live on poor pastures, and they have cushioned paws that do not damage the soil.

Alpacas also eat grass by cutting it instead of pulling it out by the roots, thus allowing it to grow again. They need very little food and water to live, and they produce enough wool to make four or five sweaters per year, compared to only once every four years for cashmere goats.

However, while alpaca wool is more sustainable than other types of wool and it is less prone to mass-scale farming, workers on a Peruvian farm were caught brutalizing alpacas and treating them very rough. It’s worth being aware that typically when these fibres are coming from a commercialised industry, the animals are slaughtered when they are no longer profitable, just like with sheep.

It shows that, even though some types of wool are more sustainable than others, it is difficult to know for sure if they are more ethical and if animals are treated well. So, how to find more ethical wool?

Wool certifications and standards

Two main certifications aim to ensure the fair treatment of animals in the wool industry: the Responsible Wool Standard and the ZQ Merino Standard. However, they are far from being perfect!

Both standards prohibit mulesing, but they allow tail docking, and they do not require pain relief to do so. They also do not prevent the practice of winter lambing.

What’s more, while neither the ZQ Merino Standard nor the Responsible Wool Standard allows selling sheep into the live export trade, they can be sold to slaughterhouses.

You can find a few other certifications, but like for these two, there is room for improvement.

Organic Wool

Organic wool seems to be a much more sustainable and ethical choice compared to the alternatives mentioned previously.

In GOTS-certified organic farms, sheep are allowed to roam and graze freely all year-round in very large portions of land, and they are treated a lot more humanely, with mulesing being prohibited. Tail docking is also prohibited shorter than the caudal fold, and precautions must be taken to minimize pain. Of course, it is not perfect, but organic wool is still better than non-organic one!

Organic sheep cannot be sprayed with insecticides, and chemicals are highly restricted. All livestock feed, forage and bedding must also be certified organic, and diseases are treated with a preventative approach, so antibiotics are not routinely used.

However, GOTS certified wool systems are permitted to slaughter sheep, and while they cannot be certified while mulesing sheep, tail docking is accepted, even without pain relief. This is a serious welfare issue for lambs.

Recycled Wool

Recycled wool is probably the best alternative to conventional wool (if we exclude other fabrics entirely).

Recycled wool involves reusing old wool garments and turning them into new products. Doing so diverts used wool fabrics from the landfill, reducing land use. In addition, it minimizes the use of chemicals and doesn’t contribute as much to environmental pollution.

Compared to virgin wool, producing one kilogram of recycled wool helps save 11 kg of CO2 and 500 liters of water. Recycling wool also does not cause any ethical issues because no animal is harmed or treated poorly in the process.

There are several certification labels you can look for if you want to make sure that you are purchasing recycled wool, the most famous one being the Global Recycled Standard.

And remember that buying second-hand wool is another way to “recycle” this fabric!

Conclusion

Thanks to its many beneficial properties, wool has been used for millennia, and it continues to be a popular fabric in the fashion industry in particular.

However, it is far from being sustainable, mainly because of the huge methane emissions produced by sheep. Wool production also comes with different ethical issues, especially regarding animal welfare.

Fortunately, some alternatives are more eco-friendly and ethical than conventional wool, even though most are not perfect. The best option seems to be recycled wool.

About the Author

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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Sustainable Wedding Gifts & Ideas for Your Registry

Weddings are always a memorable event, whether that is for the bride and groom or their friends and family. They are the ideal moment for you to show how much you love your newlywed friends and how much you wish them happiness.

One easy way to show them you care is by gifting them a meaningful, high-quality present they will cherish for years - something that will serve them for their new life as husband and wife.

But if the bride and groom are eco-conscious, or if you simply want to purchase things with a lower environmental footprint, why don’t you choose a well-made, sustainable gift for them?

You can find an eco-friendly version of almost anything and everything these days! It means that you can easily purchase something that won’t hurt the environment and that you can feel good about gifting to your friends.

Of course, you cannot go wrong by picking something on the couple’s wedding registry. However, if you prefer to buy something else or an extra present, we have compiled a list of 15 sustainable wedding gifts that eco-conscious couples will love!

WHAT MAKES A WEDDING GIFT SUSTAINABLE?

What makes a wedding gift sustainable depends on the item itself, but generally, choose presents made with eco-friendly materials and those that received an eco-certification, such as Fairtrade, GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

Buy from brands that are known to pay their workers fairly and provide safe and healthy working conditions. A wedding gift is also often sustainable when it is handcrafted, and it should always be high-quality.

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Again, the materials will depend on what you are buying, but try to look for natural and biodegradable materials, like linen, hemp, cork or organic cotton.

Recycled ones are another sustainable option since old materials are being upcycled and turned into new products. For instance, you could choose recycled polyester, reclaimed wood or recycled glass.

As a general rule, avoid synthetic materials or fabrics when they are not recycled because they are made from oil, which is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

NOW, OUR TOP PICKS FOR THOUGHTFUL, SUSTAINABLE WEDDING GIFTS

1) Towels from Anact

Materials: Hemp, Organic Cotton

Price: $60

Surprise your favorite newlywed couple by gifting them two towel sets from Anact!

The towel set includes a bath towel, a hand towel and a wash towel, and each is made from hemp and organic cotton.

Hemp towels are not only a more unique gift, but they are also very sustainable and practical. They dry quickly and are biostatic and ultra-absorbent.

Hemp also needs a lot less water and pesticides to grow compared to cotton, and it has a smaller environmental footprint than synthetic fabrics.

Anact’s towels are carbon-neutral, so you can feel good about your gift: the brand offsets the carbon footprint from the extraction of raw materials and the production process for this product. By doing so, it contributes to planting trees in a forest in Northern New Jersey.

Shop Towels from Anact

2) Bedding Set from Under the Canopy

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $76-118

This bedding set that includes a duvet cover and two shams is an ideal gift for newlywed couples. Made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, the sateen duvet set from Under The Canopy is extremely soft, well-made and naturally wrinkle-resistant. It has a 300 thread count and a more compact weave, making it a high-quality bedding set that will last for years.

The duvet cover also features a 9-button bottom closure and corner ties to keep the duvet insert in place.

This set is OEKO-TEX Made In Green certified, meaning that it has been tested for harmful substances and made in a more sustainable and ethical way.

To reduce plastic waste, the brand sends its bedding set in a reusable, organic cotton bag, which is ideal for a gift!

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3) Bathrobes from Coyuchi

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $148

The unisex Air Weight organic robe sold by Cuyochi will make anyone super cozy and comfy after a long, warm shower or bath.

It is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton that was grown and woven in India.

Very soft and featuring double belt loops, the robe is designed to dry quickly thanks to its absorbent weave.

Cuyochi’s bathrobe is Fair Trade and Made Safe certified, and the brand donates 1% of its sales to 1% For The Planet. This unisex model is perfect for a couple, and if you purchase two, you get 15% off!

You even get to see how much water is saved, how many emissions are avoided, and how much land is farmed without pesticides to produce this organic cotton robe compared to if it was made of conventional cotton.

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4) Cookware set from Caraway

Materials: Ceramic, Aluminum, Stainless Steel

Price: $395

This complete cookware set from Caraway includes two pans, two pots, their respective lids, and a practical storage solution to keep them organized in the kitchen.

Each piece is ceramic-coated, has an aluminum core and stainless steel handles. A true staple for healthy cooking, the Caraway cookware set is non-toxic and free of harmful materials like PTFEs, PFAs, PFOA or heavy metals.

The pots and pans can be used on induction, gas and electric stovetops, and they are oven-safe up to 550°F.

Ceramic cookware is naturally non-stick, which means that you need less oil for cooking. Caraway’s set also releases up to 60% less CO2 emissions during the production process compared to traditional non-stick cookware.

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5) Dutch Oven from Our Place

Materials: Ceramic, Aluminum

Price: $132

The Perfect Pot from Our Place is more than just a dutch oven: it is a multipurpose pot designed to replace a stockpot, a saucepot, a dutch oven, a steamer, a roasting rack, and other specialized cookware. Like a true kitchen must-have, it does everything a person may need, from boiling to roasting, baking to crisping. Available in seven colors, it features an integrated spoon rest, a built-in strainer and a removable roasting rack.

Not only is it compatible with all cooktops, but the Perfect Pot is also very lightweight as it weighs a third the weight of traditional dutch ovens!

Its body is made from aluminum to allow for quick and even heat distribution, and the coating is made of ceramic, meaning that it is free of toxic materials.

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6) Kitchen Knife Set from Ozeri

Materials: Stainless Steel

Price: $40

This 6-piece Japanese knife set with its rotating knife block and tablet holder from Ozeri is the perfect gift for your newlywed friends if they love cooking.

The set includes a chef knife, a bread knife, a utility knife, a slicing knife and a paring knife. Each one is handcrafted, made of Japanese 420J2 grade stainless steel in an elegant satin finish.

They feature ergonomic stainless steel handles that make chopping veggies very easy and comfortable, providing stability and control. The knives are highly resistant to stains, odors, tarnishing and rust.

The whole Ozeri set comes with a beautiful, sustainably-sourced rotating knife block made of acacia wood. The block also doubles as a tablet holder, which is very practical for people who regularly look for recipes on their phones or tablets.

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7) Wine Glass Set from Shades of Green

Materials: Recycled Glass

Price: $68 (set of 4)

The recycled wine glasses from Be Home Décor on Shades of Green's website are a meaningful gift for all wine lovers that also care about their environmental impact. Made from 100% recycled soda bottle glass, they come as a set of four glasses. These hand-blown glasses are made in Bolivia, and they are dishwasher and microwave safe.

With their beautiful shades of blue, they are a wonderful addition to any dining table!

The company that sells them is a small family-owned business and makes more than 90% of its glassware out of recycled glass. It has taken many steps to become more sustainable, from its materials to how its products are produced.

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8) Table Cloth from Minna

Materials: Cotton

Price: $165

The Stacks tablecloth from Minna is a neutral, yet beautifully designed tablecloth that is perfect to use for special occasions. Available in blue-gray or cream, it is also a lovely piece to decorate a table on a daily basis. The tablecloth is ethically made using 100% cotton and is dyed with eco-friendly, non-toxic colors. It is handwoven by a family-run workshop in Mexico, and it gets softer and more absorbent with every wash.

Minna is a certified B Corporation, which means that the brand meets the highest standards for social and environmental performance. Its products are sustainably made, and the company works with small artisans who have mastered traditional techniques for generations.

Shop Table Cloth from Minna

9) Serving Board from Newly Goods

Materials: Reclaimed Wood

Price: $78

A good serving board is an important staple to have when someone has company over. From bread to cheese to hors d’oeuvres, it makes everything look so much better! The Di Lusso serving board sold by Newly on Made Trade’s website is an elegant piece that will embellish any dinner table. It is hand-milled and fashioned from reclaimed wood, so all the serving boards have small details that make them even more unique.

The serving board is made in the United States and shipped in 100% recycled packaging.

Made Trade donates 1% of each purchase to 1% For The Planet. It is also climate-neutral certified, meaning that it offsets its entire carbon footprint (from the production process to the delivery).

Shop Serving Board from Newly Goods

10) Throw Blanket from Anchal

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $298

Throw blankets are a gift that everyone loves receiving: they make everything immediately super cozy and welcoming! Who doesn’t like a beautiful, soft throw blanket?!

The Prism quilt throw from Anchal has a modern design featuring prism-inspired geometric stitchwork. It is made with six layers of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, and it has the hand-stitched signature of the maker.

The throw blanket is Fair Trade and made by a woman artisan in India.

Purchasing a wedding gift from Anchal means that you are supporting a non-profit organization. The brand works with small artisans who left the commercial sex trade and helps them be more independent.

Thanks to Anchal, those artisans now have the means to invest in their health and their children’s education, and they can live a safer and healthier life.

Shop Throw Blanket from Anchal

11) Handwoven Basket from Obakki

Materials: Palm

Price: $118

This large woven palm basket from Obakki is a beautiful wedding gift that can be used both as a storage solution and a decor item.

Thanks to this sturdy and large basket, your newlywed friends will be able to tuck away their throw blankets, store their knick-knacks out of the way, or simply use it as a laundry hamper.

The Obakki basket has black and natural stripes, and it is made with sustainably-sourced palm and colored using natural dyes. The palm is hand-braided and sewn together by weavers in Mexico.

These talented artisans use traditional skills and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. Each Obakki item they create is handcrafted in limited quantities to make sure they are unique, well-made and sustainable.

Shop Handwoven Basket from Obakki

12) Rug from Kiliim

Materials: Wool, Cotton

Price: $95

This Bricks wool rug sold by Kiliim on Made Trade’s website will give any home a cozy, comfortable and home-like feel. Made of wool with a cotton base, it is a piece of art in itself!

This rug is handcrafted by artisans in Egypt who use traditional kilim weaving techniques.

The cotton used is premium Egyptian cotton that is sourced from local markets in Cairo.

The colored wool yarn is spun from upcycled remnants from local carpet factories that would have otherwise thrown them away.

The Kiliim rug is Fair Trade, meaning that the artisans who made it are paid a living wage and work in safe conditions. As mentioned previously, all Made Trade orders are carbon-neutral and the brand is a member of 1% For The Planet.

Shop Rug from Kiliim

13) Organic Kitchen Herbs Growing Kit from Gardener’s

Price: $60

For couples who love gardening or simply try to live more sustainably, why not give them a gardening kit with some organic seeds as a wedding gift? This would be a more unique and personalized present, and any gardener would be very excited to receive it! This galvanized organic kitchen herbs growing kit from Gardener’s is easy to use and ideal for people who love adding a few aromatic herbs to their homemade meals.

The kit includes five galvanized steel pots with drainage holes, a leak-proof tray, five packets of organic seeds, a mini trowel and an organic seed starting mix.

Whether your friends prefer to grow their herbs in a garden, in their kitchen, or on their windowsill, they will be able to pick some fresh organic thyme, basil, parsley, dill or cilantro at all times.

Shop Growing Kit from Gardener's

14) Composting Bin from Subpod

Materials: Polypropylene

Price: $150

If your friends who are getting married are into sustainability, they would probably love to get a composting system like the Subpod Mini!

The Subpod Mini is an in-garden composting system and worm farm that only requires five-minute weekly maintenance.

It is a great system for both first-time composters and more advanced gardeners.

The Subpod Mini is pest-proof and smell-free: its ventilation system disperses odors before we can even smell them. It comes with a food-grade, stainless steel aerator, a natural jute worm blanket and a practical composting guide.

With this composting system, your newlywed friends will not only divert their food scraps from landfills, but they will also improve the quality of their soil, and thus, will be able to grow healthy veggies in their garden.

Shop Composting Bin from Subpod

15) Luggage Set from Paravel

Materials: Recycled Polycarbonate, Aluminum

Price: $825

What better wedding gift than a luggage set to encourage your favorite couple to go on many adventures and trips together?

The Aviator luggage set from Paravel includes a carry-on and a bigger checked suitcase. Both feature 360° frictionless carbon steel bearing wheels, a telescopic handle, interior pockets, an accessories pouch, an interior compression board, side handles and a TSA-approved lock.

The suitcases are made with recycled materials: the exteriors are produced using recycled polycarbonate, while the waterproof interiors are made from a total of 36 recycled water bottles. The brand also uses aircraft-grade recycled aluminum for the handles as well as recycled zippers.

Not only are the materials sustainable, but the Aviator suitcases are also carbon-neutral: Paravel offsets the carbon emissions from the production process and shipping!

Shop Luggage Set From Paravel

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A Guide to Natural Cleaning

Over the past few years, demand for household cleaning products has drastically increased in the whole world. It is primarily due to the global pandemic and how consumers have become even more concerned about their hygiene.

Of course, it is crucial to clean our homes properly, to get rid of unwanted and harmful germs and viruses. But the main issue with it is that most of these conventional cleaning products are full of hazardous, toxic chemicals that do more harm than good.

These products and their ingredients are not required to meet any safety standards, and manufacturers can sell their products no matter how bad they are for us and the planet.

When we buy cleaning products, we want them to clean our homes efficiently, and maybe add a pleasant smell to our spaces. But it should not be our only concern.

We are breathing in and touching so many chemicals on a daily basis, pouring them down the drain, and creating huge waste by throwing their packaging away once we finish them.

But what is the actual impact of conventional cleaning products on our health and the environment? What chemicals should we avoid at all costs? And what ingredients are the best to clean our homes in a non-toxic, sustainable way?

Why you should stay away from conventional cleaning products

Not only is buying a variety of home cleaners for every room in our homes expensive, but they are also creating serious issues for our health and environment.

They are toxic to our health

Many people use thousands of substances, scents, detergents, cleaning agents, disinfecting wipes, without necessarily knowing that these are causing a lot of harm.

Most conventional home cleaners contain toxic and hazardous chemicals that threaten our health if we are exposed to them on a regular basis.

Conventional cleaning products are poisonous if ingested, but they are also one of the most important sources of indoor pollution. Therefore, they are products that should not be touched or inhaled frequently.

According to the 55 U.S. poison control centers, 10% of all poison exposures in 2019 were linked to cleaning substances.

When mixed together, some products are so dangerous that they can even cause death. For instance, combining chlorine and ammonia creates a chloramine gas that can be lethal to humans.

Even though these are more extreme cases, most cleaners may cause other major issues to our health. In the short run, being exposed to them can lead to respiratory or skin irritation, chemical burns, or watery eyes. In the long run, those products can induce more severe conditions such as chronic diseases or even cancer.

What's worse, cleaning products not only threaten adults’ health, but they are even more dangerous to children and babies (unborn babies included!). They are so not worth it!

They are an environmental hazard

Like many things that are toxic to human health, conventional cleaning products are toxic to the environment and animals.

When we pour those cleaners down our drains, thousands of chemicals are washed into water streams and oceans. While many are biodegradable, many others persist in the environment and cause serious issues, threatening wildlife and water quality, and ending up in the food chain.

In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey found that 69% of tested streams contained detergent metabolites and 66% had disinfectants. Many of those chemicals mimic the hormone estrogen, thus harming the reproduction of fish in waterways.

Others act as fertilizers, and as a result, lead to an overgrowth of algae, which contributes to the depletion of the water’s oxygen supply and, eventually, to the death of underwater fauna.

Another issue conventional cleaners cause is that a large proportion of them are made with petroleum-based chemicals. Oil is a non-renewable resource, and this industry is one of the most polluting in the world.

Volatile organic compounds that we can find in some cleaning products also add to our global air pollution problems.

Last but not least, the majority of those chemical cleaners are packaged in plastic bottles or aerosol cans that are hardly ever recycled. Disposable wipes also always end up in landfills or are tossed in the toilets, and they do not biodegrade at all.

Toxic chemicals to avoid in cleaning products

Conventional cleaning products are so bad mainly because of the hazardous chemicals they contain. While researchers are yet to study the health and environmental impacts many ingredients have, we already know the harmful effects of so many of them.

Some are worse than others, and we should be aware of them to make sure we eliminate them from our lives and homes as much as possible.

Here is a list of chemicals you should avoid when you are buying a home cleaner or any other products you might use, like toothpaste, make-up or shampoo:

Phthalates

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that alter hormonal balance and can lead to reproductive and developmental issues. They also damage the kidney, liver and lungs.

Parabens

Parabens are known to disrupt hormones and harm fertility as well as reproductive organs. They also increase the risk of cancer and cause skin irritation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Those chemicals often lead to nose, eye and throat irritation, can cause nausea and damage the kidney, liver and central nervous system. Formaldehyde is one of the most common VOCs you may find in conventional cleaners. Bleach is also believed to produce VOCs.

Triclosan

This pesticide, also found in antibacterial soaps and hygiene products, causes liver and kidney issues, and can lead to antibiotic resistance. It also produces toxic hormonal effects and has been linked to allergies, eczema and asthma.

Chlorine

Very commonly found in cleaning products, chlorine destroys gut bacteria, worsens asthma symptoms and is linked to bladder and colon cancer.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

This chemical is a hormone disruptor that has been linked to esophageal and stomach cancer in laboratory animals.

Ammonia

Ammonia causes eye and skin irritation, aggravates asthma, and long-term exposure can harm your respiratory system.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

These two toxins can irritate the skin for up to a week, and have been linked to neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, cancer and organ toxicity.

Fragrance

Fragrance is an umbrella term for thousands of chemicals that are potentially unsafe, and companies aren’t required to list their ingredients. It is linked to hormone disruption and can trigger allergies and asthma.

These are some of the most toxic and hazardous ingredients you should avoid in conventional cleaners (and other products) to make sure you stay safe and healthy.

Unfortunately, there are many others, but if you manage to eliminate those from your home, it will be so much better for you and your loved ones!

In general, always avoid buying a product if it is marked “danger”, “corrosive” or “poison” on the label. These are tell-tale signs that those products are bad for human health and the planet.

The safest way to go is to choose products that have as few ingredients as possible, and only natural ones, like those in the following section.

The best natural ingredients to clean your whole house

For both health and environmental reasons, we need to stay away from those toxic, hazardous chemical cleaners. Thankfully, some brands are creating more eco-friendly products, but it’s often difficult to know if a product is truly healthy and sustainable.

Many brands love greenwashing, which means fooling customers into thinking that their products are natural, eco-friendly and safe when they actually aren’t all that good.

Nowadays, it is so easy for us to buy a product believing it is good for us, when in reality, it contains a large number of pretty nasty ingredients, including lots of those mentioned previously.

Of course, we can find some truly sustainable products. But I think that the best way to make sure we are buying and using 100% natural and healthy products is by purchasing simple ingredients that have been used for centuries to clean our homes.

Not only are those ingredients harmless to our health and environment, but they are also very affordable, easy to find, and they clean our homes very efficiently, if not better than conventional cleaning products.

White Distilled Vinegar

White distilled vinegar is one of the most multipurpose ingredients you can find!

Made from acetic acid, white vinegar is very good for cleaning all kinds of dirt, grease, mineral deposit and grime. It not only leaves your surfaces sparkling clean, but it also kills bacteria.

I like to create my homemade all-purpose cleaner by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar. It is so easy and extremely cheap to make!

You can use it to clean countertops (except stone ones), glass surfaces, showers or bathtubs, faucets, toilets, and many other places around your home! It is also perfect for removing unwanted smells from refrigerators or trash cans and even limescale from appliances like electric kettles.

A downside to white distilled vinegar is that its strong odor can linger for about an hour, and it’s not the most pleasant.

But by opening the windows or adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil, you can easily mask it and make it disappear quicker. It is also a very small inconvenience when we know that white vinegar is 100% non-toxic, sustainable and safe to use.

Baking Soda

Used in baking, as you can tell by its name, baking soda is also used for cleaning purposes as well as in a variety of other hygiene products.

Baking soda is fantastic for deodorizing, cleaning various surfaces around the home, and whitening your laundry. In addition, since it is non-abrasive, you can use it to thoroughly scrub your pots and pans and tackle tough grease stains on them.

I love using it to clean my stovetop and oven, as it removes grease very efficiently. To do so, slowly add a little bit of water to ¼ cup of baking soda until you have a paste. Apply it where you want to clean, let it sit for a few hours, and after a good scrub, your stovetop or oven should be sparkling clean!

I have also removed countless stains from clothes with baking soda when nothing seemed to work! And if you want to prevent bad smells in your fridge, put a small container of baking soda in it, and it will remain odorless.

Castile Soap

Pure Castile soap is an oil-based soap created without any synthetic ingredients or animal fats, and it is available in bar or liquid form.

Coming from the Spanish region Castile, it is one of the most popular and widely used soaps. It is made using a few simple, natural and non-toxic ingredients, including vegetable oils, aloe vera gel, and essential oils.

While you can use Castile soap to wash your body and hair, it also has numerous uses to clean around the home, as it helps cut through grease and remove dirt and grime.

You can clean almost anything and everything with it without worrying about any hazardous chemicals. For instance, mixing one part water with four parts Castile soap makes an amazing dishwashing liquid!

Pure Marseille soap and Aleppo soap both work similarly to Castile soap, and they are also non-toxic alternatives you can choose if they are more commonly found or affordable in your area.

Lemon

Lemons are often a go-to ingredient for people who want to clean their homes naturally.

Lemon juice contains 5% to 8% citric acid, which is a natural bactericide and fungicide. Lemons are very acidic, and bacteria cannot grow in such an environment. This makes lemons ideal for disinfecting, sanitizing and cleaning various surfaces in your home!

It is so multipurpose that you can also use them to eliminate calcium deposits, soap scum and rust, dissolve lime and clean hard water stains and greasy surfaces.

The good news is that you can find lemons in all grocery stores, and you can use them to prepare your meals or have some lemon water before you even start cleaning with them.

Washing Soda

Washing soda is less commonly used compared to white vinegar and baking soda, but it’s another efficient, natural cleaner.

This ingredient is often used in homemade laundry detergents, in combination with castile soap, baking soda and essential oils. Its properties help make white clothes whiter and brighter and remove many types of stains on textiles, like clothes or sheets.

You can also use washing soda to eliminate tough stains on pots and pans, ovens and grills. Washing soda efficiently cleans your drains and helps you get rid of hard water residue. Like baking soda, you can use it to deodorize your trash can as well.

Salt

Salt is a kitchen staple that everyone has in their cupboards, but few know that we can clean our homes with it.

Salt can be used alone or in combination with lemon or baking soda to scrub sinks and get rid of soap scum and lime buildup in the bathroom. It’s also good for cleaning wooden cutting boards, leaving them odorless and stain-free, and for removing stains on clothing.

If you have a cast-iron pan that you cannot get cleaned, salt will do wonders without ruining the seasoning!

Essential Oils

Humans have been using essential oils for thousands of years to heal themselves and for their beauty rituals.

Besides adding a refreshing scent to your space, essential oils have antifungal and antibacterial benefits that make them ideal to use when cleaning your home in a non-toxic way.

For instance, you can add a few drops of high-quality essential oil to your all-purpose homemade cleaner made with equal parts water and white vinegar. They are also a great addition to DIY dishwashing liquids and homemade laundry soaps.

Some of the best essential oils to clean your home are tea tree oil, lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil and grapefruit oil. Lavender essential oil is also great for cleaning, and it will help you feel calm and relaxed!

Before buying essential oils, read our post, ‘How Sustainable Are Essential Oils?’ to learn more about which oils are sustainable and which are not.

Final thoughts

Conventional cleaning products and their hazardous ingredients are very dangerous for human health and the planet. So we should make sure to stay away from all of them!

Thankfully, it does not mean your home needs to be dirty and gross. Instead, by going back to the basics and cleaning with some simple, natural ingredients, your home will not only be sparkling clean, but it will also be healthier for you and the environment.

If you prefer to use already-made cleaning products, there are many brands we love and support in this post, 15 Sustainable Cleaning Brands That Will Become Your New Partners In Grime!

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Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Strollers

When you become a new parent, there are many things that you suddenly need to buy for your new life with your little one. A good baby stroller is one of the most essential items all parents need to be able to go outside with their baby.

But finding the right one can be overwhelming when we look at how many there are on the market. The stroller needs to be suitable for your lifestyle and how little your baby is.

You also need to make sure it is non-toxic and in compliance with all safety standards. And if you are environmentally conscious, you probably want your stroller to be well-made and sustainable.

One thing is certain: finding a stroller that ticks all the boxes can be complicated! To help you find the perfect stroller for your little one, we have selected seven brands that make high-quality, sustainable baby strollers.

WHAT MAKES A BABY STROLLER SUSTAINABLE?

A sustainable stroller is a high-quality one that lasts for years without breaking. You should be able to use it from the moment your baby is born until he no longer needs it, and potentially for other kids as well. This means that it should be able to adjust and grow with your child so that you do not need to buy another stroller later.

It is also better to choose a stroller that suits your needs and lifestyle, one that can be used in a variety of ways, so that, again, you won’t need to buy another one down the line because the previous one is not practical enough.

Of course, an eco-friendly stroller needs to comply with safety standards, but it is also non-toxic (to your baby’s health and the environment).

It should be free of harmful chemicals, like BPA, PVC, phthalates or fire retardants, which are all very toxic to human health. A sustainable stroller should also have a PFAS-free and PFC-free water-repellent.

The GREENGUARD Gold and the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifications both ensure that the products are free of hazardous substances, so try to find strollers with those certifications.

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Many sustainable strollers’ fabric is made using recycled plastic, which is great because it diverts plastic from landfills. Tencel or GOTS-certified organic cotton are other green options you can find on the market.

Frames can be made of recycled plastic as well, but aluminum is another eco-friendly alternative since it is infinitely recyclable at the end of its life. Some sustainable brands also use cork or wood in certain parts of their strollers.

NOW, OUR TOP PICKS FOR HIGH-QUALITY, SUSTAINABLE BABY STROLLERS:

1) Bumbleride

Price: $619-839

Bumbleride is an American company that has been selling eco-friendly strollers and car seats since 2004. The brand has different types of baby strollers, from classic to twin, to jogging strollers. They can be used with your newborn from day one, and they convert into infant mode with only a few snaps and no attachments. Bumbleride fabrics are made using 100% recycled water bottles: so far, the company has upcycled over one million bottles into new fabrics since 2011.

All the fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning that they are free of harmful chemicals, and they do not contain PVC, flame retardants, BPA or phthalates.

25% of the plastic frame components are sourced from recycled fishing nets that have been recovered from the local oceans near the Bumbleride factory in Taiwan. Bumbleride’s Era reversible stroller also features an adjustable, non-toxic handlebar made of cork.

The brand uses a durable water repellent that is PFAS-free, and it dyes its black fabrics using an innovative dyeing process that helps conserve 25 to 40 gallons of water per stroller.

If you are looking for some stroller accessories, Bumbleride has great ones all made of GOTS-certified organic cotton, which is a gentler option for sensitive skins and offers extra support and cushion for your baby.

Bumbleride also launched reRide, where the brand resells its returned products at a discounted price. A great initiative for your wallet and the planet!

Shop Bumbleride

2) Bombi

Price: $200

Bombi makes beautiful, sustainable strollers (and matching gear) that are affordable, compact and lightweight. The brand has a unique model, the Bēbee lightweight stroller, available in four different colors, & it can be used from six months up to around 50 lbs. It has one of the fastest folds on the market: the stroller folds itself in an instant, even when you have your hands full!

Soft and durable, Bombi fabrics are made from at least 56 recycled plastic bottles, while the frame is made using aircraft-grade aluminum. The brand’s manufacturing partner received the Global Recycled Standard certification, and in 2021, Bombi upcycled over 20,000 plastic bottles into new fabrics!

The Bēbee stroller is designed to make your life easier: it has a quiet magnetic peek-a-boo window that allows you to check on your baby while on the go. It also comes with a large storage basket with a hidden pocket, a cup holder, and a travel bag that can be carried over the shoulder or on your back.

Bombi’s stroller features a zip-out extension to provide extra shade and UV protection to protect your little one from harmful sun rays. The brand also sells a matching rain cover and mosquito net, all made from recycled plastic.

Bombi donates 1% of sales to 1% For The Planet, and it has eliminated all single-use plastics from its packaging!

Shop Bombi

3) Stokke

Price: $999-1,999

Created in 1932, Stokke is a Norwegian brand that is recognized worldwide for designing baby gear and accessories, combining superior quality and functionality.

The company makes a comfortable and easy-to-use stroller, the Stokke Xplory X, that can be used from six months up to four years old or 48.5 lbs, and for newborns with a carrycot or car seat (available separately).

The Xplory was the first stroller on the market with higher, parent-facing seating.

Its unique height adjustability is designed to bring parents closer to their baby, allowing them to make eye contact and connect at all times.

With its durable materials and timeless design allowing the stroller to grow with your child, Stokke’s stroller is made to be used for years. The brand is committed to craftsmanship and sustainability, and only uses the highest quality materials available. It is also a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative Norway.

Made in the Netherlands, the stroller is effortless to maneuver thanks to its swivel wheels, and it features three seat recline angles and both parent- and forward-facing positions. It also comes with a large detachable bag in which you can carry all your baby essentials.

Stokke fabrics offer UPF 50+ sun protection, and the Xplory’s water repellent is made using a fluorine-free recipe (PFC-free), making it a safer material for your baby.

Shop Stokke

4) Bugaboo

Price: $749-1,859

Bugaboo is a Dutch brand that sells a variety of strollers, car seats and play yards, as well as their matching accessories. The company produces full-size baby strollers, ideal for everyday use, but also a more compact model for traveling, and side by side double strollers for big families.

They can be used from birth up to four years old.

Committed to sourcing its materials responsibly, Bugaboo chooses the highest quality materials to make products that will stand the test of time.

Its strollers are tested for their safety well beyond industry standards.

The brand’s full-size strollers have large, all-terrain wheels with advanced suspension to ensure a smooth ride, and they are designed to be highly maneuverable and ergonomic. They are lightweight and all the fabrics are soft to the touch.

Bugaboo strollers also feature seats that can be reversed to face the parent and practical peek-a-boo windows in the canopy.

You can also choose between several kinds of double strollers, from strollers for siblings of different ages to strollers that are best suitable for twins, to strollers with extra storage.

The different parts of the strollers are easily replaceable as you can find them individually on Bugaboo’s website in case you need them.

The company conducts regular audits at its production facility to make sure workers are treated fairly and safely, and it received the ISO9001, ISO14001 and SA8000 certifications.

Shop Bugaboo

5) Joolz

Price: $449-1,099

Joolz creates ergonomic, high-quality and stylish strollers that are very easy to maneuver and fold. It also sells a variety of stroller accessories to provide even more comfort when you’re out and about.

The brand has different models of strollers, each with unique features to fit around your baby’s needs. They are all made using recycled PET bottles, which are upcycled and crafted into premium quality fabrics.

A rain cover is included with all Joolz’s strollers in case of unexpected rain showers. While they are all foldable, some are so compact that you can even carry them over your shoulder thanks to a strap!

The Day+ and Hub+ models feature integrated LED lights as an additional safety feature and to improve your visibility if you are out in the evening or the night. And if you already have or plan on having another baby, the Geo² is the ideal model for you: adaptable for a second child, you can add a second bassinet or seat to it.

Joolz offers a lifetime warranty and plants a tree in its Birth Forest in Colombia for every stroller sold. I also love that the strollers’ packaging is reusable and can be converted into a birdhouse, a lamp, a plane or a reindeer!

Shop Joolz

6) Nuna

Price: $350-1,250

Nuna is a sustainable brand creating all types of baby gear, from strollers to car seats, to cribs and high chairs.

It has multiple strollers to choose from, including double strollers, and each one features unique characteristics to make your outdoor adventures easier.

Nuna strollers are versatile and functional, and they fold very easily. Some even fold themselves in an instant!

They have large baskets, in which you can store all your baby essentials, and their canopy is UPF 50+. The seats are adaptable to all seasons, keeping your baby cool in the summer and cozy in the winter.

The brand uses eco-friendly materials to produce its strollers (and other products). For instance, its TRIV stroller is made using a Tencel blend, which makes the fabric very soft, breathable and able to adapt to temperature fluctuations. Nuna also uses organic cotton in some of its products, and those are OEKO-TEX certified.

Almost all the brand’s strollers received the GREENGUARD Gold certification. It means that they have been tested for thousands of chemicals, and they comply with some of the most stringent emissions standards. So Nuna strollers are safe for your baby!

The company has also been awarded 320 awards so far, and is a partner of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to promote child road safety education around the globe!

Shop Nuna

7) Greentom

*no longer shipping to US :( but a great option if you live in Europe!

Price: $376-800

Greentom is a Dutch brand that creates the “greenest stroller on Planet Earth”. It has three different models: a carrycot for newborns, a reversible stroller for babies between six months to 2.5 years, and a classic one suitable from 6 months up to four years. If you want to have the same stroller from birth to preschool, Greentom has you covered with its 3 in 1 stroller that can grow with your baby!

All Greentom frames come with a lifetime warranty, and both the frames and the fabric parts are entirely made using high-quality, non-toxic recycled plastic. By doing so, the company has already turned about 2.7 million PET bottles into new products since 2014!

For instance, the Greentom Classic stroller is made with 74 recycled plastic bottles. How cool is that?! The carrycot mattress is made of organic cotton, organic wool and organic flax.

In addition to being eco-friendly and functional, the brand’s strollers received the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, which means that the strollers are 100% free of harmful chemical substances. They do not contain any fire retardants, BPA, phthalate, PVC or parabens.

When folded, the strollers are very compact, lightweight and can even fit into the back of a small car. The brand has been awarded multiple prestigious international innovation and design awards!

Shop Greentom