Sustainable Cookware: A Guide to Non-Toxic Pots and Pans

Image: Kana Lifestyle
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the best Eco-Friendly & Non toxic cookware brands

When it comes to curating a sustainable home, pots and pans might not be the first items that come to mind. But sustainability in the kitchen is important too, since many pots, pans, and utensils contain toxic materials like teflon, heavy metals, flame retardants, and other chemicals—all of which can leach into food when heated.

Fortunately, an increased emphasis on eco-friendly kitchens has sparked the emergence of more sustainable, non-toxic cookware available for your home. Whether you’re roasting a chicken, braising veggies, or baking a batch of cookies, here’s what to look for when browsing cookware—plus a list of sustainable brands you can feel safe using.

How to Choose Sustainable Cookware

Opting for eco-friendly, healthy cookware isn’t difficult when you know what to look for. The first thing to stay away from is Teflon, a core ingredient in traditional, non-stick cookware. Teflon is the brand name for a waterproof chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the manufacture of which can cause the creation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—a known carcinogen.

In fact, ovarian, prostate, bladder, and testicular cancers have all been linked to PFOAs (also known as PFAs). While Teflon itself has mostly been phased out in new cookware creation, other non-stick coatings may still contain PFOAs, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Plus, PFOAs have endured in environments for many years. Since the FDA allows certain PFOAs in cookware and other consumer products, it’s important to steer clear of any cookware brands that don’t consider themselves PFOA-free.

Opting for certain cookware materials can reduce the chance of exposure to PFOAs and other toxins. The best options for cookware include:

Cast iron. As long as your iron levels aren’t high, cast iron pans are a durable, long-lasting solution for any kitchen. Plus, they’ll get seasoned over time, meaning the flavor will get richer (with minimal cleanup required).
Enameled cast iron. A step up from standard cast iron pans, non-toxic enamel surfaces help prevent sticking and rusting, so this kind of cookware may last longer than unenameled counterparts.
Stainless steel. Using stainless steel cookware is a smart choice, since it’s extremely durable and distributes heat well. They also wont tarnish or affect the flavor of your food—just make sure to prepare the pan properly to prevent sticking.
Ceramic. Today, ceramic is one of the best options for cookware, as it’s nontoxic and easy to use. Plus, it tends to be more eco-friendly (and comes in a range of colors and styles).

our top picks for sustainable, non-toxic cookware brands:

1) Kana Lifestyle

Kana Lifesyle's Milo cookware is responsible kitchenware that's made to be shared for generations. They are ethically made with 40% recycled cast iron, dishwasher safe, have enameled cast iron, and come in 10 different beautiful colors. You can also find non-toxic bakeware! Kana is among the few e-commerce brands to offset 100% of shipping-related carbon emissions, and they are also a proud member of 1% for the Planet.

Shop Kana Lifestyle

2) Our Place

Our Place has been advertised everywhere as of late, and for good reason. Their sell-out product, The Always Pan, is eight pieces of cookware in one, making it great for minimalists. It's made of non-toxic, non-stick ceramic and is free of harmful materials like PFOAs, lead, heavy metals, and more. Plus, it comes in a range of earth tones that look sharp in a modern kitchen. They also have knives, plates, and mugs that can accompany your new eco-friendly setup.

Shop Our Place

3) Caraway

Caraway is a newer company that cares just as much about consumer health as it does about design. This ceramic-coated cookware looks sleek and fresh, but operates at maximum non-stick capacity (without the chemicals). In fact, their ceramic coating is made from minerals and requires less oil or butter for easier cooking prep and cleanup. You can choose from items like sauce pans, dutch ovens, and sauté and fry pans. If that’s not enough to love, their cookware comes in a range of gorgeous color options like sage, marigold, and perracotta.

Shop Caraway

4) Xtrema

Versatile, non-toxic, and purely ceramic, Xtrema makes some of the best sustainable cookware options on the market today. Their cookware is known for retaining heat evenly across every pot and pan, offering a clean, regulated bake or sautée from start to finish. You can also use their pans anywhere, from the microwave, to the stovetop, to the barbeque, offering more creativity to bring all your imaginative cooking creations to life. The best part? They’re made to last forever—and then some.

Shop Xtrema

5) Great Jones

Great Jones makes trendy, functional cookware that empowers your greatest creations in the kitchen. Their non-toxic, enameled cast iron is non-stick and easy to clean. Additionally, these products are dishwasher-friendly and multifunctional, so they don’t cause a fuss to use. Great Jones is also known for its bakeware, including non-stick baking sheets that are PFOA-free and require minimal oil (and no parchment paper) for perfect baked goods. Another reason to love them: they’ve been known to take a stance against injustice and support equality initiatives both in-house and throughout society.

Shop Great Jones

6) Lodge Cast Iron

Since 1896, Lodge Cast Iron has been making high-quality cast iron cookware. Today, they sell a range of items spanning seasoned cast iron, enameled cookware, bakeware, and more. In addition to the fact that cast iron is a durable, long-lasting material that doesn’t contain toxins, Lodge is a company committed to sustainable practices. For example, they use biodegradable packaging, enforce company-wide recycling, and leverage equipment that minimizes energy usage.

Shop Lodge Cast Iron

7) Tuxton

Tuxton is one cookware brand that’s leading the way in sustainability. In addition to creating pots and pans that are 100% food safe and totally free from BPA, PFOAs, PTFEs and lead, they pursue company-wide eco-friendly practices, including recycling of materials like clay, plaster, and ceramic, plus a water recycling and energy reduction program. They also use recyclable stainless steel handles. Lastly, Tuxton is known for having an impressive non-stick coating that’s also non-toxic and long-lasting.

Shop Tuxton

8) Ozeri

When you want a transparent cookware company, look no further. The product developers at Ozeri chose to use Greblon ceramic in their cookware, a material that’s 100% free from PTFEs, PFOAs, APEOs, NMPs and NEPs. In other words, you won’t find any nasty chemicals here—but you will find lots of perks. Take the textured surfaces of their pans, for example, which distributes heat evenly for a solid cook. The base of their pans are made from heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum, which is long-lasting and free from heavy metals.

Shop Ozeri

Crafting a Safe Kitchen with Non-Toxic Cookware

From baking pans, to dutch ovens, to spoons and spatulas, the average kitchen is filled with opportunities for toxins and other unclean materials to seep into our food. Fortunately, opting for sustainable cookware is a healthy investment that protects both your family and the environment for years to come.

About the Author
Michelle Polizzi is an independent writer and storyteller with 7 years of experience creating content online. Her writing has appeared in leading publications like Bitch, WELL+GOOD, Insider, and Healthline, and she covers topics like sustainable living, mental health, and intersectional feminism. Currently, she's pursuing an MFA in creative writing.

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What is modal?

Over recent years, as we’ve become more aware and interested in the fabrics that make our clothes, you may have noticed a lot of new types of materials being talked about. Especially within the sustainable fashion world where materials are constantly battling to be named the most sustainable. One such fabric that you may have heard about is modal, but what do we actually know about it?

You may have spotted modal in your favourite activewear brand’s new collection, or even in the sheets and pillowcases of a bedding brand, and it has rapidly increased in popularity within sustainable brands. Known for its silky-smooth texture and being incredibly lightweight, modal has the versatility brands crave, and a sustainable accreditation to go with it only makes it more desirable. But it’s worth having a more in-depth look at modal to determine what the true sustainability factors are, and what is simply greenwashing.

When we’re deciding if an item of clothing is sustainable or not, we need to know what fabric it’s made of, what goes into making that fabric, and whether it’s been produced ethically. Being informed on the facts behind our fabrics helps us make better decisions when we shop, so let’s get to know modal a bit better!

The science behind the fabric

Modal was first developed in Japan in 1951 but was then produced by an Austrian company called Lenzing Fibers (now Lenzing) in 1964. The fabric belongs to the “rayon” family and is considered an upgrade to the fabric “viscose”. Originally, modal was developed in order to refine viscose by imitating the properties of cotton. Modal is known as a semi-natural fiber, as the original source it is made from is beech trees, but the process of turning the wood pulp into yarn requires chemicals. Because of this combination, modal fibers are also called “regenerated cellulosic” fibers.

The process of creating modal requires the harvesting of beech trees, which are then turned into small chips and then purified to extract their cellulose content. This cellulose is formed into sheets and immersed in vats of chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide before being broken down again and forced through a ‘spinneret’ to create fibers. These fibers are then woven together to make the modal fabric, which can be used on its own or in a textile blend with other materials like cotton.

In 1977, Lenzing invented a process of bleaching the wood pulp in a more environmentally friendly way. Today, Lenzing’s modal is made of wood pulp sourced from beech trees which are harvested in sustainable forests under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).

Where do you find modal?

To this day, the largest producer of modal fabric worldwide is still Lenzing, which is based in Europe but has factories all over the world, with some of their biggest modal fabric factories being in China. A variety of other companies also make modal rayon, and most of these companies are based in China, which is why China is now the world’s largest exporter of modal.

Originally, the fabric was used to create scarves as it was thought of as the perfect alternative to silk. Now modal is mostly used in underwear, nightwear, sportswear, t-shirts, and even bedding. In clothing modal is often used as an alternative to cotton or silk, as it has the same lightweight and breathable feel. Many sustainable brands have opted to use modal in their products as it’s also an eco-friendly alternative to viscose, and it can be marketed as a ‘plant-based material’.

In terms of the benefits of using modal as a fabric for clothes, the list is pretty long. Modal is stretchy, soft, breathable, water absorbent, durable, drapes well, doesn’t pill, color fast, shrink-resistant, doesn't crease, and is biodegradable. It’s no wonder that sustainable fashion designers were keen to start using this fabric in their collections!

You’ll often see that modal is blended with other fibers like cotton and spandex for added strength. Modal is considered a luxurious textile due to both its soft feel and high cost, as it is more expensive than either cotton or viscose. For this reason it is often favoured by more high-end designers, adding to the luxury appeal of their brand.

Sustainable brands across the world have also adopted the use of sustainably-produced modals within their collections, such as Amour Vert, TAMGA Designs, and Whimsy and Row.

What makes modal unsustainable?

There has been confusion over whether or not modal could be classed as a sustainable material. At a basic level, modal is made from trees which would suggest that, if sourced from sustainably-managed forests, it would be an eco-friendly material. However, the chemicals and processes involved to turn the wood chips into fibers have caused people to question it’s sustainability accreditations.

Forests

The main raw material for producing modal is wood from beech and softwood trees. However, due to the rise in popularity of modal, we’ve seen an increase in unregulated production, which has added to the global issue of deforestation. In a report by Canopy Planet, several producers of modal were sourcing trees from ancient or endangered forests. The Rainforest Action Network even ran a global campaign called ‘Out of Fashion’ to pressure fashion brands away from their use of unsustainable modal, rayon and viscose.

As with any material created from trees, there needs to be external audits carried out and certifications awarded to suppliers and brands who are following the appropriate guidelines to ensure sustainability. It can be incredibly difficult to trace back materials to their original source, so transparent supply chains are also crucial in sustainable modal production.

Chemicals

Another common objection to modal is the use of several chemicals involved in processing the fiber. Modal requires many toxic chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and carbon disulfide. The latter is a well-known neurotoxin that can enter the water or air through the processing of modal if it’s not manufactured in a closed-loop process. This then affects wildlife, aquatic life and humans, who can experience critical medical problems ranging from liver damage, blindness and even death.

Can modal be sustainable?

While there are unsustainable fiber producers, not all modal is created equal. Lenzing currently produces the most sustainable modal called TENCEL Modal®. They operate under a global certification system and have developed environmental processes for their modal, which are not currently commercially available to others. Lenzing’s technologies are less-toxic and have a high rate of recovery for process ingredients, meaning fewer chemicals end up being wasted. They also source their trees from PEFC or FSC accredited forests which have sustainably managed beech tree plantations. The environmental footprint of TENCEL Modal® is carbon-neutral, requires much less land per tonne than cotton fibers, and requires 10-20 times less water than cotton does.

To be clear, Tencel is a brand name that produces certain types of modal and lyocell. Check out our guide to Tencel and some of our favorite brands that use it!

Micromodal is a more recent version of modal that is even more lightweight and soft, rivaling even the highest quality of silk. In addition, it is considered to be more environmentally friendly than modal as it is highly homogenous, with only one company currently producing micromodal. Micromodal also requires far lesser concentrations of caustic soda during the processing of the fiber.

Sustainable modal production should encompass, at minimum, these main aspects:

Closed loop production. This means any chemical used once in the process is not discarded in the environment, and is instead reused. The only small amount that is discharged is also non-hazardous. Many rayon manufacturers have started to use “chemical scrubbers” or machines to trap the chemicals before they make their way into the ecosystem, further reducing harm.
Sustainably-sourced wood. Sustainable modal should be made of wood pulp sourced from beech trees which are harvested in sustainable forests.
Low water consumption. Modal requires a surprisingly low consumption of water during its production. Compared to cotton, its water consumption is about 20 times less. This means the Modal’s carbon footprint is also much less than other fabrics.
Biodegradable status. Although semi-synthetic, modal fiber is completely biodegradable. The production chemicals that are used are also biodegradable.

Sustainable alternatives to modal

If you can’t find TENCEL Modal®, there are other sustainable alternatives to look out for if you’re after something with a similar weight or feel to modal.

TENCEL™ Lyocell is a more sustainable alternative to modal as it is a completely organic form of rayon. It is made using an organic solution that replaces the sodium hydroxide used in modal production.

According to the ‘Environmental Benchmark for Fibres’ from materials experts Made-By, there are several materials that are classed as more sustainable than modal. These include organic hemp, organic linen, recycled wool and recycled cotton. Depending on these fabrics' thread count, they could be perfect alternatives to modal.

About the Author:

Sarah King 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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Sustainable Outdoor Clothing Brands

Spending time in nature is such a special way to remind ourselves of the beauty of this planet, and our responsibility to care for it and those living on it. That being said, many of the clothes that make spending time in the great outdoors more comfortable can often be harmful to the planet, as well as the people who made them, and animals. Luckily, there are some excellent sustainable outdoor clothing brands.

What makes outdoor clothing unsustainable?

Synthetic Fibers

The clothes that are made to keep us comfortable outside are often made of both virgin synthetic material and animal-derived materials. If we start with synthetics, here’s what we know: virgin synthetic fibers used to make leggings, rain jackets, coats and thermals, as well as winter warmers like fleeces, are made from plastic.

In fact, about 60% of clothes made today are made from petroleum. Even before we talk about what this means when it comes to washing our clothes, this is a problem. These synthetic, petroleum-based materials fund the incredibly environmentally harmful mining industry. In 2015 alone, more than 330 million barrels of oil were used to make cheap nylon, polyester, acrylic and other synthetic fibers. So when we talk about the need to move away from fossil fuels for the sake of the climate, that means in the fashion industry, too.

Synthetics are an issue too, because they shed non-biodegradable, plastic microfibers into the waterways, and ultimately the ocean, when we wash them.

Animal-derived materials

When it comes to animal-derived materials like wool, leather and down used in thermals, jackets, coats and accessories, environmental issues are also largely tied up in climate impact and greenhouse gas emissions. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations says that the farming of animals is one of today’s most serious environmental problems, requiring urgent action. Animal-derived materials are the most harmful to our climate, according to the best available data.

This is not only due to the fact that farmed animals and their waste release methane into the atmosphere, but because animal agriculture is land-intensive, requiring more land to be cleared to produce less material than could be made with plant-based, recycled, bio-based or in the future, lab-grown materials. When we clear land, we release carbon, and we also stop carbon from being sequestered (soaked in and stored) by the vegetation that could have been growing there.

Mass Production

The last thing to consider around sustainability in the realm of outdoor clothing is mass production. Brands that are producing endless amounts of clothing – no matter what they are made of – aren’t sustainable, as 33% of clothing made every year is sent unsold, directly to landfill. Here, clothes break down, releasing more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

What makes outdoor clothing unethical?

When we think about outdoor clothing that is sustainable, we also need to consider the ethics of how they are made – because we can’t sustain the unjust treatment of garment workers, or the exploitation of animals in fashion.

Some outdoor brands continue to use even the most controversial animal-derived materials, like fur, to line their coats and jackets, while materials like down and wool are far more common. These materials are all made in industries which harm and ultimately kill animals – even wool, despite common misperception.

Many outdoor clothing brands also use unjust and exploitative labor. Around the world, just 2% of garment workers are paid a living wage that covers their basic needs like food, clean water, shelter and medical care. Garment workers are also often made to work in unsafe conditions, and in a workforce made up largely of women of colour, unfortunately incidences of harassment and assault are common, too. It’s important we consider not only what our outdoor clothes are made of, but who made them.

Luckily, there are plenty of excellent outdoor clothing brands that consider and respect the planet, and everyone living on it! Below are some of the clothing brands that we love most for when we need some great clothes to suit the great outdoors.

Outdoor clothing brands we love:

1) Patagonia

Patagonia is one of those brands almost everyone knows of, and for good reason. The brand, which offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and gear, has long been a trailblazer for the sustainable and ethical fashion movement.

Having written a living wage standard into their code of conduct for the sake of garment workers, and using recycled and organic materials, including many which are clearly labelled to be animal-free, Patagonia has great options. Some of their quilted jackets are filled with PrimaLoft, the most sustainable, recycled jacket filling available, while many of their Fair Trade fleeces are made of recycled materials, too.

Shop Patagonia

2) Apricoat

Apricoat loves the planet, and knows you do too, offering stylish, sustainable and functional gear for any and every adventure. All products are made from 100% recycled materials with as much as 300 plastic bottles per jacket, and can also be sent across the globe with carbon-free shipping. Apricoat products are also produced based on waste reduction and spoilage free practices (pre-orders), and meets the fair labor factory certifications. The community based brand offers more of the most innovative adventure gear yet.

Shop Apricoat

3) Outerknown

Pro surfer Kelly Slater is behind this Fair Labor Association accredited brand which makes garments that 90% of the time, are made of recycled, organic and ‘regenerative’ materials.

The brand, which has lots of animal-free and sustainable options, has fleeces, rain jackets, activewear like leggings, joggers and shorts, and a bunch of other great garments.

Plus, the company works with three partners that are certified through Fair Trade USA.

Shop Outerknown

4) Ecoalf

This brand caters to people of all genders, and children, too! The brand uses a whole range of sustainable materials like those made from recycled plastic bottles, fishing nets and tires, as well as recycled cotton, nylon and more. Talk about champion recyclers!

This brand labels which of their garments are vegan, has certifications to show their social responsibility and safe work environment for garment workers, and is all round cool. We particularly love their range of 100% recycled puffer jackets, and comfortable basics.

Shop Ecoalf

5) Embassy of Bricks & Logs

This brand offers a range of quilted jackets, raincoats, and basics.

The brand, which offers feminine and masculine styles, prides themselves on producing ‘premium ethical attire’.

Designing for longevity with recycled, organic and other more sustainable, animal-free materials. Made ethically across small factories in China and Germany, this brand is dedicated to continually becoming more transparent and fair.

Shop Embassy of Bricks & Logs

6) Save the Duck

Using recycled and innovative materials, this brand has created advanced outdoor clothing that has seen the top of Mount Everest.

A certified B-Corp, this ethical, animal-free and sustainable brand is ticking all the boxes.

The brand offers clothes for men, women and children, like rain jackets, puffer jackets, ‘athleisure’ and more.

In 2019, PETA awarded them the Company of the Year!

Shop Save the Duck

7) Finisterre

Finisterre is a pioneering, sustainable outdoor brand, built to inspire a love of the sea and anchored in exceptional product.’

This brand is B-Corp certified, and extremely transparent about their ethical manufacturing processes.

Using lots of great materials worth looking for in their collection like Tencel, organic and recycled cotton, hemp, and recycled synthetics, the brand makes base layers, basics, rain jackets, puffers, beanies and more.

Shop Finisterre

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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6 Designers Share What It Takes to Run a Positive Impact Brand

I’m always curious what it takes behind-the-scenes to create a brand rooted in positive values that still makes enough money to be a viable, even successful, business. As a consumer it’s easy to demand perfection from brands (while also, somewhat ironically, wanting lower prices), but if we’re too disconnected from what it takes to make clothes at scale and run a real business, we run the risk of undermining good progress in our pursuit of perfection. Having spoken with many designers over the years, I’ve realized just how complicated running a sustainable or positive impact fashion business is, and I think it’s important to have a good understanding of—and healthy respect for—the nuances of the process.

The fact is, these businesses aren’t charities, and they have to make enough money to survive and thrive. If we want to work towards lasting change in the fashion industry and beyond, we have to find ways to create sustainable business models that work for everyone involved, from the planet and people at the bottom of the supply chain, to the founders and designers at the top—not to mention us, their customers.

I spoke to four founders of thoughtful fashion brands who generously agreed to share their experience of the tensions inherent in running a sustainable business that is financially viable for everyone involved. Their insights can help us, as consumers, know what to keep an eye out for when looking into the ethics of a brand, what questions to ask, and how to ask them.

Rebekah Murray, Founder, Virginia Dare Dress Company

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started Virginia Dare Dress Company?

Rebekah: I learned how much of our closet is made by a person, and how few people realize that. I talk to so many people who had always assumed robots or machines made our clothes!

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Rebekah: I wish they had more understanding for how difficult it is to be a sustainable business when trying to do things better. It’s easy to make requests or demands for how things are done, but if [consumers are] not willing en masse to pay the extra percentage [on the clothing price tag] that those changes incur, the business itself is not sustainable.

That’s been my goal from the beginning—learn how to build a sustainable business model and do the best I can to ensure quality, fair labor and ethical business practices. But it’s so difficult to do any of these things well. A smaller brand (even using cheap labor) has much higher costs because we can’t source fabric or supplies in as large quantities, so we have higher costs on multiple fronts making our profitability more difficult.

Do you have any tips to help consumers spot greenwashing and navigate making sustainable choices when purchasing new clothing?

Rebekah: Asking where things are made and what involvement the brand has with their production is a good place to start. And just noticing what they share about their manufacturing process.

But I encourage people to be respectful with these conversations—give your own reason for caring, instead of making it sound like an interrogation. I think brands can feel defensive when we feel policed by our customers, so making it a personal request and speaking to someone at the company is probably the best place to start.

I love knowing that some of my customers have convictions about only purchasing Made in USA, and I love getting to help direct them to the items that fit within their preferences.

I think finding a like-minded influencer or blogger is a good place to start, too. There are a lot of great people who have done the legwork to research brands and they can make it feel less daunting to know how to begin.

Dynasty Casanova, Founder, Dynasty George

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started Dynasty George?

Dynasty: I've been studying fashion design, draping, sewing, and pattern-making since I was in high school, so I knew all the time and effort it took to make a garment. I think my biggest obstacle was finding ways to make my product and business both profitable and affordable. Most people don't realize all the time and effort it takes to make clothing from scratch. The pattern process alone takes hours because there are a lot of revisions that have to be made once the sample is sewn. That alone takes hours—even days at times—which doesn't go directly into the pricing. So I wanted to make an ethical brand but not necessarily charge couture prices for my clothing.

My "eureka!" moment was when I found a system that worked best for me. I went from making different garments, dresses, skirts, tops, creating through hundreds of drapes and patterns to focusing on one dress style and recreating it in different deadstock fabrics. This allowed me to really perfect the fit of that one dress style and grade it to different sizes. It was when my business really started to flow and make a profit.

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Dynasty: They should know that big corporations run on a billion dollar budget which allows them to buy over 500,000 units of one shirt, one color, and priced at 1 cent each. This is not an exaggeration: after shipping, duties, and packaging, a t-shirt or blouse in the fast fashion industry is priced at five times above its cost in order to make a profit. Therefore a $5 shirt costs around 1 cent to be manufactured, and for a factory to promise 500,000 units of an item for the price of 1 -10 cents each, they need cheap and expedited labor. This leads to factories hiring kids, abusing women (mostly) to work 80 hours a week to make sure the factory itself makes a profit. It's a long line of people trying to make money and gain the most profit possible.

When a business is small, that alone is more sustainable in terms of not making 500,00 units of one product and the large scale of production these big billion dollar businesses have. As an ethical business, there's so much I take in consideration, like the livelihood of the people who make my clothing and how to reduce waste.

Textile waste is another problem with fast fashion companies, as they over produce textiles and clothing and throw away whatever doesn't sell. I try to eliminate that problem by purchasing deadstock fabric, the fabric they're throwing away to reuse to make new garments. I also work with a small family-owned factory in India that I'm in constant communication with. They're a husband and wife team with many male and female employers, who work with skilled artisans in their industry. Working with a family helps me pay them fairly, and the money exchange rate (the USD versus the INR) is so fast that I can pay them well and still make affordable clothing under $400 a unit.

Do you have any tips to help consumers spot greenwashing and navigate making sustainable choices when purchasing new clothing?

Dynasty: I'm still learning to spot these red flags myself. For clothing specifically I would say that it’s important to be realistic about the company. H&M could use organic cotton and still throw 100,000 units of organic cotton into our landfills; it's still not sustainable. I think it’s hard for super huge corporations to be ethical or sustainable because you need a big profit margin to grow and scale a business to that magnitude. Supporting small businesses will always be the best answer.

Jessica Townsend, Designer and Founder, House of Flint

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started House of Flint?

Jessica: I started House of Flint whilst studying for my masters degree, so there was a lot of research involved in many areas. I know I wanted to create sustainable and ethical clothing but I found there were so many different aspects to explore within this. It wasn't just a case of sewing the pieces myself and choosing the right fabrics—there are design features that can be the difference between something staying in your wardrobe or heading out the door; a life cycle of a garment to consider; packaging to think about, and so much more.

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Jessica: I think a big problem with those still on the fast fashion track is that they struggle to justify the price difference because they don't see the bigger picture. Fashion has become a quick decision to many, and something that can be replaced at the drop of a hat precisely because it is so cheap. But those on that path will generally end up spending more in the long run.

Sustainable and ethical clothing is more expensive, but it is intended to be worn time and time again to justify that. It is a purchase that must be more considered due to the price tag, but fashion should be considered to ensure that it is something you will wear and enjoy, and also that enjoyment does not come at somebody else's expense.

Do you have any tips to help consumers spot greenwashing and navigate making sustainable choices when purchasing new clothing?

Jessica: Brands that are making sustainable and ethical choices will not shy away from any questions you have in regards to where their garments are made, by who, or what fabrics they use. Look out for clear facts on this rather than paragraphs about sustainability that don't really give you any details. One detail I always look out for is how often they're releasing new products, and if they're encouraging you to buy something before it is gone every other week. Yes, we need to make sales to survive, but the bigger picture is important too, and asking our customers to spend spend spend is not the answer.

Catherine Huss, Founder and Creative Director, Siena & Co Swimwear

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started Siena & Co Swimwear?

Catherine: I thought it would be easy and possible to find partners to work with: factories who value transparency and ethical and sustainable practices, or all US-made materials.

I didn't expect so much pushback, or just straight up ignoring when requesting sustainable or ethical practices be looked into or enforced. So many in the fashion industry, and probably lots of industries, give the response "This is just how we do it, or how it's always been done" and coming in to rock the boat is not welcomed.

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Catherine: In the production world, making more product = lower costs because when you make more of something, you can use the assembly line effect, and churn out lots of product in short amount of time, it's a very efficient model. However, if there's not enough demand for all the product being produced, that is all extra waste that can end up in a landfill. All the resources have been wasted (materials, time, energy, etc.).

A lot of conscious brands, including Siena and Co., choose to make fewer products to ensure as little waste as possible is produced, which means much higher cost of production and goods is incurred, which is then passed on to the consumer buying the goods. This is one of the many reasons sustainable products have a higher price tag.

Do you have any tips to help consumers spot greenwashing and navigate making sustainable choices when purchasing new clothing?

Catherine: I've found with clothing manufacturing, actions speak louder than words. Here are some ways brands tell you by their actions how sustainable their efforts are:

How often do they come out with new designs/styles? Is it once or twice a year promoting high-quality construction and in-depth testing? Or is it more frequently than once per season, promoting inexpensive, low-quality manufacturing and frequent buying habits?
Are the styles timeless, evergreen and promote a capsule wardrobe? Or are the styles trendy, with only current colors and prints that will no longer be relevant in a season or two?
Slow fashion vs. Fast fashion: Does the marketing press and push sales and discounts with urgency and pressure to buy now? Or does the marketing help inform and teach the consumer about the goods and how they're made?
Do they have some type of recycling or re-sale model? One way a company can be sustainable beyond the materials they use is by promoting re-using, re-selling or re-cycling their products.

Rachel Faller, Co-Creator, tonlé

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started tonlé?

Rachel: I think the biggest surprise that keeps coming up again and again is how separate design and production are. As a maker myself, I always operated under the assumption (and I think a lot of customers do too) that making clothes is a big part of what brands do. I lived in a country for seven years that is primarily seen as a producing country for American and European fashion, and saw the impact of the fast fashion world through the perspective of makers.

On a very simple level, brands don't actually make clothes; factories, and the people who work in them, do. Brands are actually marketing houses that sell clothes. And those factories are not owned or operated by the brands, and in times of trouble, brands are also not responsible to make sure that factory workers are paid, it's the factory owners who have to do that. Because of this disconnect, the actual making of clothes is not a core part of what brands do. And that leads to all kinds of other disconnects.

This goes for both large and small brands alike. Sustainability work is not done by brands, it's done by factories and their workers. A lot of design work, fabric selection, figuring out the final details of how a garment is made, is not done by brands, it's done by factories. Yet, brands don't value the work that factories do, sometimes only paying them a price that represents two to five percent of the final garment's sale price. How is it possible that we've created a system where the actual product a brand is selling is so under-valued? And in a world where sustainability is supposedly a priority—and the sustainability work is actually done by a factory—also hugely under-valued?

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Rachel: What differentiates tonlé is that we are both a brand and a manufacturer. Because of that, we are directly and soley responsible to make sure each person working on our products is paid a fair wage and receives good benefits and works in a kind and friendly and fun environment.

Our production, design, and marketing work together to figure out not only how to design clothes that work for and are good for our customers, but that are good for our team. It's a symbiotic relationship between our customers and our team, as it should be, rather than a one way street of extraction. We can only do this because we have a vertically integrated model. And that is far, far from the norm.

Do you have any tips to help consumers spot greenwashing and navigate making sustainable choices when purchasing new clothing?

Rachel: When brands (again remember who don't actually make clothes or do sustainability work) are the ones who get to tell the story—it's natural that this story would be distorted. I would like to see a world where more factory workers and owners and managers—the people making the clothes—get to tell the story of sustainability. It's their story to tell, since they are the ones doing the work. I'm honestly so tired of hearing from brands who are essentially taking the credit for the sustainability work their factory is doing. That is most brands from large to small.

My biggest red flag is seeing a brand who is not appropriately crediting their factory or supplier. Unless they are doing their own production like tonlé is (that's rare), they are heavily dependent on a supplier who is actually providing them product and potentially already had sustainability practices in place. If all a brand is doing is finding a great supplier and riding on their coattails, and not properly giving credit, that is a huge red flag to me.

In addition, saviorism language around buying from suppliers (like we are helping or empowering this or that marginalized group) is really problematic and usually is a sign of bigger problems in the supply chain too, even in smaller brands. It shows the brand or founder is not aware that this is a mutually beneficial relationship in which they are getting a valuable service. Making clothes, making beautiful and intricate designs, dying fabric, weaving, beading, etc. are skills that many so called "western" countries have lost. If a person is going to another country and using the skills and labor in that country and then setting themselves up as a savior rather than acknowledging and crediting properly that this is a relationship of mutual partnership, I've found that this is usually a sign that there is exploitation afoot.

I usually look at a brand's website to see how much information they are providing; are they providing clear and transparent information about how they are producing and with whom and where? How do they share profit across their supply chain? Is profit redistributed into the communities they work with? Not just paying a fair wage, but thinking about equity across the board? For example, a lot of brands are now showing pictures of makers but don't provide specifics, and to me that's not transparency. I'd like to know the factory and the people who are making products and the country where they are producing. How is the brand ensuring that at least the minimum standards for labor are being met? Are they thinking about the incentives they themselves are creating as a brand to make sure the supplier and it's workers are paid fairly? Are they analyzing their own behavior and how that affects the supply chain, rather than just using a compliance mindset to police "bad" suppliers? Those are some of the big picture things I'd be looking for.

In terms of contacting a brand to ask them these questions, make sure to see what's on their website first. As a person running a small brand, we do get hundreds of questions a week of things that are already on our website. And we won't be able to answer all of them, which is why we've taken so much time to put those things on our website. But, if you do go through the website and blog posts and you still don't see answers to key questions, of course, reach out and ask.

We try to be as open as possible, but these are complicated questions, and we can't always provide a quick answer so please try to be kind and mindful of that. My first priority is always my team, and of course we want to provide the best information and services to our customers, but not at the expense of prioritizing taking care of our people internally first.

Tracy Reese, Founder, Hope for Flowers

What do you wish conscious consumers knew about what it takes to run a positive impact business?

Tracy: Consumers should know the importance of investing in good quality, mindfully designed, responsibly produced items that can be worn with pleasure and confidence time and again.The human cost of fast fashion and the fact that most items of clothing that are very inexpensive are indicators human rights abuse along the supply chain should make it repugnant to anyone who values human dignity.

What did you learn about the ethics of making clothing behind-the-scenes when you started Hope for Flowers?

Tracy: That creating a desirable product is just as important as creating a responsibly designed product. We have to be aware of both of these imperatives throughout the design process. The end product must excite the consumer and serve a purpose in their lives and wardrobes.

About the Author

Sophie Caldecott is a freelance writer living in a cottage on the edge of the moor in the South-West of England. She writes about grief, empathy, ethical fashion, and the things that connect us and make us human. You’ll most likely find her cozied up by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book.

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Zero Waste Bath & Beauty Brands

When it comes to waste, your bathroom is the crappiest (pun intended) room in the house. Bath and beauty products are one of the biggest culprits of plastic pollution — the global beauty industry is estimated to create more than 120 billion units of packaging every year.

I mean, just think about the plethora of products you use in the bathroom every single day. Toothpaste, face wash, body wash, shampoo, moisturizer, razors, tampons — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, we haven’t even gotten started on makeup yet. And each of these products comes packaged in its own individual tube or box or bottle, many of which are single-use, and almost all of which are plastic. `WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Given the sheer volume of these products, it can seem overwhelming to jump headfirst into a zero-waste bathroom routine. But sustainability has become trendy in the beauty industry over the past few years and there’s no shortage of choices for eco-friendly products. From delicious smelling soap bars to compostable toothbrushes to reusable razors, you name a product and there’s almost definitely a zero-waste alternative out there somewhere. To help you get started, here are some of our favorite zero-waste bath and beauty brands.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A ZERO WASTE PRODUCT:

One of the most important things to consider is the end of the product life cycle. Is it a circular product? Can the container be reused, recycled, or composted?

Is the brand using minimal packaging? Is it plastic-free?
It’s a big bonus if the brand is using upcycled ingredients (such as used coffee grounds, stone fruit pits, or bruised/discarded fruits) in their products.
Natural and non-toxic ingredients. A product may be zero-waste, but if it contains toxic chemicals, it’ll harm both you and the planet. Look out for products that are free from these nasty ingredients: Parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, phthalates, silicones.
Certifications like Leaping Bunny, B-Corp, ECOCERT, USDA Organic, and FSC (amongst others) are always a big plus.

OUR TOP PICKS FOR ZERO WASTE BATH AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS:

1) Plaine Products

For: Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Skincare

For zero waste bathroom products, this is one of Sustainably Chic’s favorite, by far.

Their clean and effective formulas are amazing, and it’s an incredibly easy zero waste swap you can make. Just send the bottles back when you are done, and they can be refilled.

Plaine Products was founded by two sisters, & all of the products are vegan, cruelty-free, and toxin-free. They even have cute little travel size bottles!

discount code: sustainablychic20 for 20% off

Shop Plaine Products

2) Izzy

For: Zero-waste mascara

Check out Izzy for the world’s first zero-waste mascara ($39 for a one-time purchase, or you can sign up for more cost-effective membership).

It comes with no outer packaging and is shipped in reusable mailers which have been made with upcycled materials. The tube doesn’t contain any plastic and is made from stainless steel. It’s designed to be cleaned and refilled over 10,000 times — so you basically never have to throw away another mascara for the rest of your life!

The wipers and brushes do contain plastic, but they’re reground and recycled by Izzy. The end result: A mascara that uses 94% less plastic than other leading brands. And of course, Izzy only uses certified organic, vegan, non-GMO, and paraben-free ingredients.

Shop Izzy

3) Nix

For: Mouthwash

This effective (& great tasting) mouth is made with high-quality ingredients, without any alcohol or toxic chemicals.

Although the bottle is plastic, you can forgo that option to use your own container and just purchase the glass jar with the refillable mouthwash formula.

Plus, 10% of profits go toward providing dental care to underprivileged children in the U.S. and abroad.

Shop Nix Mouthwash

4) By Humankind

For: Dental care

By Humankind has everything you need for a zero-waste dental routine that even your dentist will be proud of. From all-natural toothpaste tablets ($15) and mouthwash tablets ($15) which come in refillable glass jars, to compostable bamboo toothbrushes ($6), it’s got you covered. Its 100% biodegradable floss ($15) is made from silk and jojoba oil which soothes and moisturizes your gums and is flavored with peppermint or cardamom essential oils.

It comes in a refillable glass container, and the refills are packaged in a compostable pouch.

Shop By Humankind

5) Meow Meow Tweet

For: Deodorant sticks and creams

Meow Meow Tweet has the yummiest selection of all-natural deodorant sticks and creams – and they work. Its bestsellers include the Rose Geranium baking soda free deodorant stick ($14) and the Grapefruit baking soda free deodorant cream ($14). The stick is packaged in a compostable tube, and the cream comes in a reusable glass jar. Both are suitable for sensitive skin and are made from organic, vegan ingredients that are gentle and nourishing.

Bonus: It’s a certified B-Corporation, so you know it’s the real deal.

Shop Meow Meow Tweet

6) Tushy

For: Bidet

Did you know Americans spend more on TP than any other country? It also takes 437 billion gallons of water to press the paper down (not to mention the 253,000 tons of bleach and 15 million trees used in the process, too). You can replace that with a couple of sheets of bamboo TP and 1 liter of water.

Also, wiping with dry paper creates around 30 million annual cases of hemorrhoids, UTIs, yeast infections, anal fissures, anal itching, and other annoyances. So sustainability to us is about your health, too!

Shop Tushy

7) Oui The People

For: Safety razors

Switching to a safety razor can seem a bit daunting at first, but once you do, you’ll be obsessed with how clean and precise the shave is. This reusable rose gold safety razor from Oui the People ($75) is stainless steel, a durable and more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic razors. Plus, how gorgeous is the color?!

Once the blade wears down (after 5-7 shaves), simply pop it out, place it in a blade recycling tin that it comes in, and replace with a refill.

Safety razors are single blades, which actually makes them more suitable for sensitive skin by reducing irritation and ingrown hairs.

Shop Oui the People

8) EarthHero

For: An assortment of zero-waste bathroom products

EarthHero is your one-stop shop for all things eco-friendly — it’s a curated online marketplace of sustainable brands. They have a great selection of zero-waste bathroom products, including this 100% natural and biodegradable agave fiber exfoliating washcloth ($15.99) from Well Kept, this olive and clay shave cream ($15.99) from Fat and the Moon that comes in a reusable, plastic free glass jar, and this compostable bamboo toothbrush ($4.99) from Brush with Bamboo.

Shop EarthHero

9) Saalt

For: Menstrual cups

Menstrual cups are a great way to cut your bathroom waste — you only need a single cup for your entire cycle, and one cup can last up to ten years.

This one from Saalt ($29 is made from 100% medical-grade silicone and is BPA and chemical-free.

It’s meant to be inserted internally, so it collects rather than absorbs your period and needs to be emptied and rinsed every 6-12 hours.

Since one cup lasts so many years, it’s also way more cost-effective than single-use pads or tampons. If a menstrual cup isn’t up your alley, Saalt also stocks period underwear.

Shop Saalt

10) Elate

For: Pressed Powders (Eyeshadow, Blush)

A toxin-free, vegan & sustainable line with a mission to care for each other, our communities and our planet, Elate is using healthy ingredients to make clean cosmetics to add to your beauty ritual.

What we love about this brand is the fact you can buy one single palette to use forever and change out the powders when finished. The powders even come shipped in zero waste packaging that can be planted to grow flowers!

discount code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 10% off

Shop Elate

11) Superzero

For: Shampoo and conditioner bars

The natural step after soap bars are shampoo and conditioner bars, and we love superzero’s selection. Their products are natural and are free of sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances or colors. The brand is also totally plastic-free, and the packaging is either recycled or recyclable. Superzero recommends products based on your hair type, which is a big plus. Check out this nourishing conditioner bar ($18) enriched with theobroma cacao seed butter for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair, or this cleansing shampoo bar ($18) with green tea leaf oil and juniper berry oil for normal/oily hair.

Shop superzero

12) Axiology

Your new go-to for lipstick, Axiology has a range of shimmery, rich and creamy, sheer and soft textures, in a variety of gorgeous colors.

Their lipstick tubes are made from recycled aluminum, and arrive to you boxed in recycled card that can be either composted or recycled, depending on what’s available to you.

The brand is not only free from animal testing and ingredients, but from palm oil too, working to use natural ingredients as much as possible.

Shop Axiology

About the Author

Jyotika is a writer based in New Delhi. She writes about sustainable living and eco-friendly brands, covering fashion, food, travel, and wellness. Previously, she was the fashion manager at her family's bespoke fashion business, where in addition to her other responsibilities she worked on improving textile sourcing from local artisans to encourage grassroots production, as well as conducting sustainability workshops with employees regarding the eco-friendly disposal of fashion materials.