Image: illi

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. This post is also sponsored in part by Bario Neal, Valley Rose, Truvai & Aiden Jae. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the fashion industry a better place!

The Best Ethical & Sustainable Jewelry

People have adorned themselves with jewelry and decoration for as long as 75,000 years. Today though, some jewelry is made at a significant cost to both the planet and the people making them. So, how can we continue to accessorize with sustainability and ethics in mind?

The jewelry industry is stepping up to the challenge in a world that is becoming increasingly aware of the need for sustainability. Sustainable jewelry is not only exquisite and beautiful but also carries a profound purpose. With a commitment to social and environmental causes, sustainable jewelry brands are positively impacting communities. Their efforts contribute to fair trade practices, support local artisans, and promote eco-consciousness among consumers. This article delves into the brands leading the way in sustainable jewelry, highlighting their unique designs and the stories behind the pieces. Discover how sustainable jewelry is not just about adorning oneself but also about making a meaningful difference in the world. Join the revolution of conscious consumers who appreciate the beauty of jewelry with a purpose!

What Makes This Jewelry Sustainable?

When it comes to sustainable jewelry, there are many things we look for - Who makes it? What is it made from? Can you wear the piece for years to come? Transparency within the supply chain is so important to us. We want to make sure the person creating the jewelry is treated fairly and the planet is kept in mind during the entire process.

What Sustainable Materials Should Jewelry Brands Use?

There are also several materials we like to look for, like recycled metals and lab-grown gems. We have enough gold and silver circulating on this planet to reuse and not mine for more, and these brands are taking advantage of that! Also, the mining of precious gems is full of unethical practices, so sustainable brands are starting to create their gems in labs, reuse old gems or work with Fairmined sourcing (as well as other sustainable certifications).

You can read more about ethics and sustainability within the jewelry industry here.

Also, click to check out all of our favorite earrings!

Many minimalist designs below are perfect for any outfit, and you can feel confident they are easy on the planet and fair to the makers.

Our Top Picks for Sustainable Jewelry Brands:

1. Bario Neal

Price: $130-$5K

The team at Bario Neal was inspired to create pieces of jewelry representing deeply felt experiences, loves, and losses—armor, glitter, and vessels for meaning and value. But from the very start, they were committed to doing things in a way that’s better for the earth, the people and communities within the supply chain, and their customers. An industry leader in ethical sourcing and mindful production, Bario Neals’s jewelry reflects individualism, gender and marriage equality, and conscious values rooted in ethical origin from mine to market.

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2. Valley Rose

Price: $98 - 1,820

This stunning jewelry is designed and handcrafted by Northern California-based designer Brittany Groshong. Each design is made with a technique called lost-wax casting. Valley Rose uses the highest quality and ethical materials like Fairmined gold and traceable conflict-free gemstones. The mystery and beauty of the cosmos inspire the collection. Their new zodiac constellation pendants make for the perfect everyday necklace!

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3. Truvai

Price: $80-411

Truvai is a conscious, luxurious jewelry brand that creates micro-batch collections handmade by master artisans around the globe.

Pronounced /tro͞oˈvī/, Truvai means a lucky find; a chance encounter with something wonderful — and their pieces are just that! The brand was founded by Canadian designer Jenny Lillian, who works with artisans in Kenya, Indonesia, and Afghanistan using traditional handmade techniques.

Truvai focuses on creating the maximum positive social impact while using environmentally conscious & locally sourced materials. Their collections unite in a commitment to sustainability, empowerment, and cultural preservation — offering artisans a pathway out of generational poverty in Kenya, supporting Afghan jewelers affected by conflict, and preserving traditional Balinese techniques in Indonesia. If you love pearl earrings, we suggest checking out the gorgeous Fay earrings made with locally sourced mabe pearls. For a perfect everyday piece, look no further than the Margo Cuff bracelet, which contributes to the artisans' city's cleanup through upcycled local scrap metal. Truvai offers free shipping within the USA & Canada and affordable flat-rate shipping for international orders.

use code CHIC10 for 10% off your purchase

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4. Aiden Jae

Price: $55-485

Aiden Jae creates beautiful everyday jewelry made for you to live in. This woman-owned jewelry brand uses 100% recycled gold and conflict-free, responsibly sourced gemstones. For fine jewelry, their prices are accessible, and their minimalistic designs make it perfect for pairing with every outfit.

We love their signature texture in the Banyan collection, inspired by the distinctive roots of the Banyan tree. For those who like a little sparkle, we suggest their Star Light, Star Bright collection, which features diamonds, white sapphires, and rainbow moonstones.

Aiden Jae’s manufacturing partners are certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.

To top it all off, Aiden Jae uses eco-friendly packaging and carbon-neutral shipping, and they are a member of 1% for the Planet! 

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 15% off your purchase

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5. Aid Through Trade

Price: $15 - 62

Aid Through Trade (one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Federation!) is the original creator of the famous Roll-On® Bracelet. Now, the brand employs over 200 female artisans in Nepal. All of their Roll-On® Bracelets are made with the highest quality glass beads and hand-dyed cotton thread and come with a lifetime guarantee. They fit most wrists and come in a variety of colors.

code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC30 for 30% off

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6. illi

Price: $195 - 625

All of illi’s gorgeous and minimalistic pieces are made from lab-grown gemstones, and 100% recycled solid precious metals. This is one of the few brands that offer not only lab-grown diamond jewelry but also other gems like alexandrite, ruby, and sapphire! In addition, they carry necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that have a clean, simple aesthetic for true timelessness. The team at illi is committed to sustainability and is constantly improving its processes every step of the way.

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7. Laura Elizabeth

Price: $65 - 265

Austin-based Laura Elizabeth Jewelry is a timeless, elevated, and accessible jewelry line. Many of her designs are made directly from nature; whether it’s bark from an Austin oak tree, a starfish, or succulents, these organic pieces are classic yet unique. You can swim, sweat, shower, and sleep in your LEJ necklaces, and the rings are adjustable and stackable.

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8. Able

Price: $20 - 120

Able is a fashion brand that empowers and employs women to help them escape poverty. Initially, the company offered jobs to Ethiopian women from the commercial sex industry, but they have since expanded, and the jewelry is made in-house in Nashville, TN. Their jewelry collection is perfect for everyday wear and has several customizable options!

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9. Obakki

Price: $22 - 102

Available in both 18K gold plated and silver plated, each piece from Obakki’s gorgeous jewelry collection is made by one of their artisan partners. The team at Obakki loves taking something forgotten and turning it into something beautiful and new, so almost everything is made from upcycled and locally sourced materials. Obakki also carries artisan-made and small-batch home goods, skincare, organic apparel, and more. You’ll love this shop!

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10. Ten Thousand Villages

Price: $5 - 210

More than just a store, this market-to-market movement connects us to some of the most talented artisans worldwide. Our purchase is directly contributing to sustainable livelihoods and keeping crafts original.

Every product celebrates culture and the planet, so you know not one is compromised for the other. They have an extensive jewelry collection for anyone’s taste - we LOVE these earrings!

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11. Made Trade

Price: $30 - 198

This online destination has you covered with almost any aesthetic within jewelry but has an extensive collection of minimalistic designs. While shopping through the collection, you can learn about each piece's values. Is it Fair Trade? Is it Made in the USA? Is it POC owned? It's genuinely a different experience, unlike anything else you find online. They have so many brands under one roof that you don't have to search far.

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12. Ana Luisa

Price: $30-250

Ana Luisa is a sustainable jewelry brand on a mission to show the world that high-quality jewelry should not cost the planet. It crafts beautiful earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets, which are ideal for wearing on a special occasion but will also spruce up your outfits if worn daily. Ana Luisa’s pieces are produced in limited batches and made of gold-plated brass (with a thick layer of recycled gold) or recycled Sterling silver.

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13. Clean Origin

Price: $225 - 35000

Clean Origin ensures their hand-picked selections are ethical and gorgeous. Available in various shapes and colors, Clean Origin specializes in lab-created diamonds and only sells stones that are independently verified and graded for quality using the same scientific standards applied to mined diamonds. In addition, clean Origin offers free resizing, lifetime protection, and financing options. With dozens of jewelry styles and designs available, Clean Origin aims to provide diamonds without compromise.

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14. Aurate New York 

Price: $40 - 6500

Aurate is based in New York and strives to change the jewelry industry. Aurate uses only sustainably sourced materials, all gold is 100% recycled, and pearls and precious gems are sourced from family-run establishments supporting local communities. You can choose between lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds, depending on your preference. Since there are no import taxes, no unnecessary middlemen, and pieces are made-to-order, Aurate jewelry is much more affordable than conventional jewelry. 

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15. Catbird

Price: $14 - 3500

Catbird has been creating ethical jewelry since 2004. They work almost entirely with recycled gold and diamonds, make everything in their Brooklyn studio with a minimum carbon footprint, and always consider their impact at every step. If you love colors or stones other than diamonds, we recommend checking out Catbird’s selection!

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What Are Microtrends?

If you, like most people these days, enjoy spending at least a few moments a day on social media, you might have noticed that, often these days, certain items and styles blow up all of a sudden. 

Then their popularity grows even more, so much so that it looks like everyone loves them, and then give it some time, and they go back to relative cyber-obscurity, all in a few months at the longest. 

Seemingly random items like the Clinique black honey almost-lipstick, the House of Sunny Hockney Dress, the Stanley cup water bottle, bows, or specific niche aesthetics like "Slavic bimbo" have been the protagonist of a special kind of social media frenzy: microtrends. 

These trends might seem like another amusing or silly social media phenomenon, but they have an unexpected dark side. That's because while we might not be used to asking ourselves this question, it still stands: what happens to those trendy items when the trend gets left behind? 

Microtrends vs. regular trends 

Before we look at microtrends and how they might be more insidious than they seem, we first need to understand how radically different they are from regular fashion trends. 

Trends have existed arguably as long as human societies have. If you were to look at a few 19th-century portraits painted in different decades, you'd immediately see how certain styles, silhouettes, and even colors went in and out of style. The closet of the characters of Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Jane Eyre (1847) would have looked widely different from one another. 

In short, trends are nothing new, so much so that they arguably used to follow a pattern. Until recently, fashion trends rose and fell closely following Laver's Law. According to this fashion theory elaborated by Victoria and Albert Museum Curator James Laver in the '30s, fashion trends tend to follow a 20-year cycle.

In this cycle, they become popular, then said popularity dies down. A couple of decades later, it rises again, ready to be enjoyed and reinterpreted by a new generation. 

A ton of fashion trends from the 20th century followed this pattern. For example, trademark trends of '70s fashion, like wide-legged pants and crop tops, were back in the spotlight in the '90s. 

Unlike these "generational trends," microtrends barely come to define a few months, let alone a decade, but their emergence might have changed the game in fashion. 

The trend cycle is now much shorter, with people looking back at the mid-2010s for trends and aesthetics to dig back out, despite those styles being less than ten years old, as social media has already grown tired of trends from previous decades like those from the Y2K. 

The relationship between microtrends and disposable fashion

These internet-born trends, which are, as the name implies, short-lived and bound to become "cringe" at the drop of a hat once the internet grows tired of them, are, in fact, not only a symptom of how many people see fashion and clothing but also a potential catalyst for a further shift towards disposable fashion.

Like many social media phenomena, microtrends seem like something that sprouted out of nowhere. Still, their existence is one of the many results of the process that turned much of the fashion world into fast fashion. 

Throughout the last century, clothing went from being custom-made to ready-to-wear to being the product of an industry characterized by big brands releasing multiple collections each year. In this process, fashion has turned into a faster and faster business that produces more items than ever, generating a massive and multilayered environmental impact. 

This race to overproduction means that for these fast fashion companies to make the enormous profits they wish to make some trend has to always be on the way out while new ones are on the rise. 

Social media, too, are built around speed and short-term popularity. Unsurprisingly, if you marry these two, the result is disposable fashion content that banks on an item, brand, or style's short-term and robust popularity. 

An independent designer might develop an innovative design that many people like, just for its low-quality imitations, to get mass-produced and sold on Shein or Amazon and other fast fashion retailers for a few weeks before said microtrend gets labeled as "basic" and promptly forgotten about. Then another rolls around, and then it's "rinse and repeat". 

On social media, microtrends are like summer hits; to most people's ears, they don't have the same ring to them a few months later when their season has passed. Still, while these items' popularity might be fleeting, the environmental impact connected to their production and end-of-life certainly isn't.   

Microtrends, duping culture, and cheap fashion 

At first, a microtrend-induced implosion of the traditional trend cycle might seem like something that has nothing to do with you and me. Why should we care if Laver has to eat his hat? 

Much of what fashion brands sell us these days is intentionally not built to last but manufactured as cheaply as possible and designed to be replaced as soon as possible. 

In addition to the planned obsolescence of these garments, trends put further pressure on consumers to buy new clothes and promptly retire their old ones so as not to look unfashionable or unsophisticated. 

The proliferation of microtrends, as they come and go much faster than regular fashion trends, has been adding fuel to the fire in this regard, with certain items and styles ending up feeling outdated and overdone within a few months. 

While it's true that most people cannot afford to purchase every new trendy item at the drop of a hat or change their entire style every other season, the proliferation of mass-produced, lower-quality "dupes" of many viral products, much like fast fashion as a whole allow even people with less disposable income to partake in these microtrends and overconsumption. 

Let's take, for example, the viral Strawberry Midi Dress Lirika Matoshi that became extremely popular online in 2020 at the peak of cottagecore mania. Most people couldn't afford to purchase or discard a garment that costs hundreds of dollars. Still, a simple online search would allow any potential buyer to find dozens of cheaper, mass-produced imitations. 

As the endless amount of these "dupes" proves, microtrends and careless consumption can go hand in hand in many tax brackets. 

Not to mention that many other viral fashion items are far from expensive and are produced by fast fashion companies, like the viral nylon crossbody manufactured by fast fashion giant UNIQLO.  

The overlooked environmental impact of microtrends

While, of course, there is nothing wrong with adding a bow to your hairstyle because you saw it in some hairstyle inspo online or digging out some of your old mid-2010s clothes to give the "indie sleaze" aesthetic a go, there is no denying that microtrends don't do anything to keep clothes out of trash cans and donation boxes or shift many people's perception of fashion from something disposable to something to be cherished.

Given the climate crisis, any further shift to overproduction and a disposable fashion model can be problematic as the Global North generates a mind-boggling amount of textile waste. 

The European Union, for example, produces 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste each year on its own.

To make matters worse, most of the clothes produced by fast fashion companies in recent years are made of petroleum-derived, non-biodegradable synthetics like polyester, fabrics that fuel and, worse, the issue of microplastics in our oceans and sustain the fossil fuel industry. 

Should we get to "enjoy things" at the cost of the planet and people?  

While the people who regularly partake in and promote these microtrends on their platforms on social media are not responsible for designing a fashion industry built on the exploitation of nature and people, it cannot be denied that this thirst for what is new and trendy feeds into a relentless cycle of production and disposal that is consuming valuable resources, contributing to the ongoing climate crisis, and putting people at risk. 

As consumers, we should ask ourselves: is the irreversible damage being done to our environment and our money going to companies who exploit people worth temporary excitement? 

An excitement that might be cheap for many in the Global North but that is heavily paid for by the people living on the frontlines of climate change and the garment workers in the Global South who are fighting for their rights to a living wage and safe working conditions. 

While people's individual choices cannot change the way the fast fashion industry sees clothing as discardable and people as exploitable, they can change the way they see clothes and engage with fashion in their lives. 

The key to this evolution is putting our fellow humans and the planet first rather than short-term shopping-induced thrills and genuinely centering marginalized voices rather than our habit of using shopping as a short-term fix. 

The fashion industry can move away from the current unsustainable cycle and shift towards a responsible production model if consumers and institutions keep it accountable. 

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About the Author

Roberta Fabbrocino is a journalist specialized in climate change and sustainability-related topics. Her articles have been published in several international eco-publications. Roberta also works as a content writer for sustainable companies.

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How to Enjoy Your Winter in 2023-2024

Winter can be a somewhat divisive season. While some might be looking forward to winter wonderlands, the Holidays, and nights in, others might dread winter coming for the same reasons, especially those who live in colder climates and experience harsher weather this season. But even the people who spend the warm months dreaming of chillier days can find their mood worsening as the days get shorter and the nights longer.  

That's why, as the season changes and winter marches towards us, it is essential that regardless of our stance on the season, we find ways to enjoy winter and prioritize our well-being to spend the next few months feeling as happy as we can. To help you enjoy this winter and those to come, in this article, we will share some sustainable tips and tricks to enjoy the winter months by getting in touch with nature and following the season's natural rhythms.  

Let's create a cozy home environment 

For better or for worse, winter is the season of slowness and stillness. After all, many animals, like chipmunks and bears, hibernate to save energy and survive these darker months. While we might not be able (or willing to) to bypass this period in full by dozing it off, we might want to take a page out of our fellow animals' book and embrace rest and coziness in the coming season by creating a cozy home environment.

This endeavor can look like many different things depending on your budget, the amount of time you have on your hands, or even the degree to which you are free to modify your home, but the goal is adding warmth and comfort to your living space regardless. Regarding décor, you can get some soft blankets, rugs, and pillows from your favorite thrift store or by lighting your space with soft lights placed below eye level, like table lamps instead of ceiling lights.

Bringing some natural elements inside the house, like seasonal flowers or herb cuttings, can also make your place homelier and more comfortable by giving it a lovely organic touch.

Another easy way to create an inviting home atmosphere is by ensuring that it smells nice. To accomplish this, ventilate your home regularly to eliminate stale air and foul smells, and fill your place with fragrance with a petroleum-free candle or a wintery simmer pot. By implementing these simple changes, you can create a warm and welcoming environment that will make nights-in much more enjoyable.

Enjoy winter fashion more by creating new sustainable winter outfits 

Fashion can be a powerful tool and a lot of fun. The right outfit can improve your mood and make you excited about the day ahead. The same goes for seasons, as creating new outfits you look forward to wearing in the coming months can also make you look forward to the upcoming season. 

Finding the perfect balance between style and warmth is vital to genuinely enjoying winter fashion, so embrace layering and the rich, thick textures that characterize the more winter fabrics, and don't forget to have fun with wintery accessories like hats, gloves, and earmuffs not only for warmth but also to give your outfits some extra pizzazz. 

To make this process sustainable as well as fun, build your winter outfits with the clothes you already have at home, and if you find yourself in need of some new winter-appropriate clothing, try to get them secondhand, borrow them, or if you have a bigger budget, get them from ethical and sustainable fashion companies. 

With the right toasty outfits that suit your taste and make you feel good about yourself, you are ready to enjoy the season ahead. 

Give restful activities and hobbies a try for a cozy, rejuvenating winter

Making time for restful activities can maximize your enjoyment of this time of year, as winter, with the weather turning colder and the days getting shorter, is the perfect season to settle into relaxation and embrace the comfort of cozy indoor activities.

Even if you tend to opt for more active, outdoorsy downtime activities, you can still find a more relaxing indoor pastime to enjoy during the colder days of the year. After all, there are plenty of choices: reading, knitting, drawing, or watching movies can all enhance your enjoyment of this cozy season. 

Curling up with a good book or watching movies this season can allow you to escape to new, fantastic worlds. That effect is maximized if you pick a film or a novel filled with wintery vibes. On the other hand, activities like crocheting or painting can help de-stress by engaging your head and hands with a soothing, repetitive task, at the end of which you will end up with a lovely, handmade addition to your home.     

By taking some time to engage in any of these restful activities, you can better embrace the beauty and tranquility of the winter season, finding joy in everyday moments of relaxation. 

Connect with nature's rhythm by spending time outside 

Winter has understated, quiet beauty. Connecting with nature's slower winter rhythm by spending time in nature can be a lovely way to appreciate the season's gentle beauty and create a deeper appreciation for the natural world. 

If the weather allows, going on walks at the nearest parks, exploring local trails, going on a staycation to the mountains, or just enjoying the snow in your area can help you soothe your soul by giving you a chance to reconnect with nature and observe the seasons change the landscape, the plants and the animals that live in your region.  

On these little adventures, you surely won't be bored, as, with its milky skies, fragrant and crispy air, and delicate snowflakes, winter does offer you plenty of natural wonders to enjoy even without going far from home. 

In addition to its benefits for the soul, spending time outside will bring your mind and body many health benefits year-round while acting as a natural mood-booster, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. So get your comfortable winter shoes, don your favorite scarf, go outside, and let nature help you take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.    

Embrace the beauty of home-cooked, seasonal meals 

The chiller, darker winter days are the perfect time to indulge in homemade, comforting, warming meals and embrace the joys of making and eating meals you love. Spending time at home, in your kitchen, and experimenting with cozy meals made with local, seasonal foods is a fantastic way to get into the spirit of winter sustainably and appreciate the hearty, tantalizing flavors of the coldest season. 

Turn on the stove, preheat your oven, and take out your favorite dinnerware to prepare and savor cold season classics like strews, soups, and savory pies with wintery ingredients like root vegetables, squash, and leafy greens. Prioritizing local and seasonal produce as much as you can will not only allow you to support local farmers and businesses but also ensure that the ingredients you are employing are at their peak flavor and freshness, making our meals more sustainable and tastier. 

This is the perfect recipe to bring into your life a more profound sense of connection to your local community and nature this winter and beyond.  

Take some time to socialize and build connections

During the colder season, the word "self-care" might evoke images of warm baths or piping-hot drinks enjoyed under a thick, cozy blanket. While a healthy dose of alone downtime is vital to recharge our batteries after demanding days and to pursue our hobbies and interests, socializing and building connections are just as crucial to our physical and mental well-being, even in winter.

Spending time with our loved ones and meeting new people might feel more accessible during the warm season while the sun shines bright, the days never seem to end, and spending time outside feels like a no-brainer. But even though going out might feel counterintuitive as the days get shorter, trying to set aside some time to socialize is still beneficial. Humans, after all, are social animals, and our need for community and friendships doesn't drop when temperatures do.

Take this upcoming season as an occasion to host brunches and dinner parties for your friends and family or to find out what kind of "third places" your area has to offer and explore them with your loved ones. Regarding new connections, taking some classes can be an excellent way to make new friends in winter, especially for those who work for themselves or from home. 

Winter is the season of slowness and rest. Embracing winter and following its natural rhythm can help us appreciate the beauty and wisdom of the Earth and recharge along with the rest of the natural world, making this a season we can welcome with open arms rather than a time to dread. We hope that with these simple, planet-friendly tips and tricks, we can help you create a more enjoyable winter experience this year. 

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About the Author

Roberta Fabbrocino is a journalist specialized in climate change and sustainability-related topics. Her articles have been published in several international eco-publications. Roberta also works as a content writer for sustainable companies.

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through & make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in! Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the world a better place!

The Best Zero-Waste Gifts

With the holiday season just around the corner, finding the perfect gift for your loved ones can be challenging. But why not make it an opportunity to spread some eco-friendly cheer? This year, consider ditching the excessive packaging and plastic-wrapped presents for thoughtful zero-waste gifts that are not only sustainable but also meaningful. Our list of 10 zero-waste gift ideas will help you celebrate the season in a way that aligns with your values. From plantable stationery and reusable storage bags to natural skincare products and tip books, these gift ideas promote a zero-waste lifestyle while supporting local businesses and artisans. Each item on our list is not only practical but also beautiful, making them a perfect choice for the conscious consumer in your life. This holiday season, let's prioritize sustainability and show our loved ones that giving thoughtful gifts doesn't have to come at the planet's expense. Join us in embracing the joy of giving sustainably and discover a world of thoughtful zero-waste gift ideas for a truly meaningful holiday season.

Our Top Picks for Zero Waste Gifts:

1. Sustainable Straw Paper Print

Price: $11.50-17.25

Printed on low-waste paper made from wheat straw left after harvest with archival inks, these unmatted prints feature original illustrations - and we just love the Woodland Meadow one! Find them in two sizes (8x10 and 5x7) and packaged in a vegetable-based clear sleeve with a recycled cardboard backer. A great way to sustainably decorate a zero-waste home! Click here to see all eight pieces of artwork - we don't want you to miss out on the sweet Mushroom print.

Not to mention, 10% of profits are donated to LGBTQ+ and ecological organizations. Looking for more eco-friendly gift ideas? Small Victories specializes in plantable seed cards, original illustrations, pronoun badges, and accessories!

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2. Refillable Holiday Candles

Price: $34

Grow Fragrance is a North Carolina-based brand that creates certified 100% plant-based and toxin-free candles and air and fabric fresheners. 

It has a great selection of beautiful scents for every ambiance, including a few limited editions that you can only get at certain times of the year.

The company is a B Corporation that is also a member of 1% For The Planet and Leaping Bunny certified.

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3. Eco Gift Boxes by Superbee

Price: $149

The gifts that keep on giving! Check out these gorgeous gift boxes from SuperBee - a social enterprise that empowers women and supports animal care foundations! Perfect for zero-waste beginners to pros, these bee-autiful sets are packed with eco goodies for every room in your home - from vegan toothpaste tabs to stylish beeswax wraps, handmade with love. Can it get better? YES! Each gift box includes a surprise gift! Available in S, M, L.

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4. 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste Book

Price: $12.99

Goodbye, Amazon — we like to support small businesses like EarthHero! This one by Kathryn Kellogg is an excellent book for beginner and intermediate zero wasters. It’s got SO many great tips for reducing the amount of waste in your home… and so many things we wouldn’t think of! And, of course, it’s printed on FSC-Certified Paper and with soy-based inks. Shop gifts like this on  EarthHero, an online marketplace for eco-friendly goods from over 200 brands. They even have a curated collection of zero-waste goods.

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5. Refillable Non-Toxic Makeup from Elate Cosmetics

Price: $8-40

A vegan and animal testing-free brand, Elate sells refillable blush and eye shadow compacts. Refills are sent out in seed paper envelopes that grow flowers when planted – super cute. The brand also offers lipsticks and other makeup with less plastic packaging, made from Forest Stewardship Certified bamboo and glass. Their packaging materials can be sent back to be effectively recycled – something that often isn’t possible for cosmetics through home recycling systems.

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6. Rechargeable Candle Lighter

Price: $30

Know someone who burns a lot of candles in their home? Here is a zero waste alternative to traditional butane lighters! This lighter comes with a lithium-ion battery that can be charged by simply hooking up a USB to the computer. You’ll know it is completely charged up and ready to go once the green light disappears. The lighter uses plasma lighting technology, so you don’t have to refill it. Plus, it’s meant to last forever, and they are shipped in recyclable packaging.

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7. Colorful Reusable Storage Bags

Price: $10-34

Stasher bags are one of the most versatile reusable items you can have in your kitchen.

These bags are made from platinum silicone and are completely free of BPA, BPS, lead, latex, and phthalates.

They come in many different sizes, and tons of gorgeous colors!

I think any zero waster in your life wouldn’t mind owning a few more Stasher bags.

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8. Zero Waste Cleaning Kit

Price: $32

A perfect zero waste starter kit with plastic-free cleaning products for the home & kitchen!

This zero waste cleaning kit comes with dish soap, bamboo soap dish, and wooden cleaning brush.

Everything is made from sustainable materials, organic & vegan ingredients, and is biodegradable.

It even ships in plastic-free, recyclable packaging.

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9. DIY Composting

Price: $100-220

Say goodbye to kitchen waste with this backyard composting system from SubPod!

Subpod is a below-ground vermicomposting option that has dual chambers, smell-proof, pest-proof and effective at creating and maintaining the perfect compost.

The Subpod mission is to make composting part of daily life with their easy to use system and of course, their packaging is home compostable!

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10. Green Onion Regrower

Price: $54

How cool is this kitchen gadget?

One trip to the grocery yields weeks of green onions!

It’s easy - all you have to do is insert each of the unused end pieces into this kit's growing lid.

It is lined with naturally absorbent coconut fiber so just add water. Your onions will continue regrowing up to 3" per week.

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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

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A Guide to Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Christmas Trees

Having a Christmas tree for the festive season is a tradition that dates back to the 15th century. It all started in present-day Germany, but as centuries passed, it became widespread all across Europe. The tradition was later exported to the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 

Still to this day, most families who celebrate Christmas love having a decorated tree in their homes during the holidays. But now that we can choose between real and artificial trees, many people wonder which option is better for the planet. 

For the longest time, I thought that fake Christmas trees were more eco-friendly as I believed it was bad to chop down trees to enjoy them for just a few weeks. Was I right? Read on to find out!

In this article, you will learn about how sustainable both real and artificial trees are, and how you can minimize the environmental footprint of your tree whichever you choose to have.  

How sustainable are real, natural Christmas trees? 

The environmental benefits of real Christmas trees 

Trees are some of the most important resources we have on our planet: they help combat climate change and come with many benefits for ecosystems and wildlife. But does that mean that cutting down a tree to enjoy it for a few weeks at most is bad? Not really. 

According to Anne Mari Cobb from the Soil Association Forestry, the majority of Christmas trees are grown as horticultural crops and are not sourced from pre-existing forests. It means that by picking a real tree for the holiday season, you are not contributing to deforestation and habitat loss. 

Buying a Christmas tree from a properly managed farm can even help support forests, wildlife, and ecosystems. In fact, out of the 350 to 500 million Christmas trees growing on farms in the United States, only 30 million of them are harvested each year. So for each tree that is cut for the holidays, there are more than 10 times as many trees left standing on the farms. 

What’s even better is that every time someone purchases a real Christmas tree, farms plant one to three seedlings in its place. As a result, when you buy a real tree, you are financially supporting those farms and helping them maintain forests. 

These forests are vital for countless species that depend on them to survive, like mammals, birds, and insects. They also provide many benefits to the local environment as they help purify the air and groundwater and they stabilize the soil. 

Trees also absorb CO2 and remove it from the atmosphere: it is estimated that Christmas tree farms in the US sequester around 35 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. This number is equivalent to the amount of CO2 generated to provide electricity to three million people for a year!   

Another great thing about real Christmas trees is that they are entirely biodegradable and can be recycled when we no longer want them. For instance, trees can be chipped and used as mulch in parks and gardens. They can even be used as bird nesting grounds or fish habitats, and they are great for preserving freshwater marshes and preventing beach erosion.    

But there are issues we cannot ignore

As with most mass-produced crops, the majority of Christmas trees are heavily treated and sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers during their growing phase. 

63% of Christmas trees produced in the United States are grown in six states (Oregon, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas). In these six states alone, trees are sprayed with around 270,000 pounds of pesticides every single year.  

Not only is the quantity of pesticides used astronomical, but most of those pesticides are also highly toxic to human health, wildlife and ecosystems. Farmers are exposed to high levels of chemicals, which may lead to serious health issues in the long run. 

Pesticides and fertilizers also end up in the soil, groundwater, and nearby waterways. Over time, this can cause eutrophication, a process by which a body of water contains too many inorganic nutrients. As the quality of water deteriorates, eutrophication can create dead zones where aquatic fauna and flora cannot survive. 

Another issue is that Christmas tree farms rely on huge petroleum-driven equipment to harvest their trees. Since the farms are incredibly massive and contain very few roads, the harvested trees are often helicoptered out of the fields.   

Then, machines are used to wrap them in twine, and the Christmas trees are loaded onto trucks and trains to be shipped to distribution centers around the country. Some farms use refrigerated trucks or containers, which have an even bigger environmental footprint. 

Finally, according to the Carbon Trust, the carbon footprint of a natural, 2-meter-tall Christmas tree that is sent to a landfill is 16kg of CO2. This is 80% more than if the tree is replanted or chipped to be reused in the garden (around 3.5kg of CO2). 

And the issue is that, after the holiday season, a large portion of (natural) Christmas trees are discarded in landfills. Plus, when a tree decomposes in a landfill, it releases greenhouse gas emissions, including methane which is more than 25 times as potent as CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere, thus contributing to global warming. 

Are artificial trees better for the environment? 

In the United States, around 10 million fake Christmas trees are bought every year for the holidays. But are they more eco-friendly than real trees? 

The main benefit of artificial trees is that they can be reused for many years, if not decades if stored and taken care of properly. And the longer we keep and use them, the more their environmental impact is reduced. 

However, we need to take into account the fact that their total environmental footprint is substantial and we cannot ignore it. 

Most fake Christmas trees are made from metal and polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC), a type of plastic that can contain harmful substances like lead and other toxins. During its whole life cycle, PVC causes serious problems for human health as well as the environment. 

To produce PVC, manufacturers use a lot of chlorine, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer and is the building block of many environmental issues. 

Producing PVC also creates dioxin, a persistent organic pollutant that accumulates and stays in the environment for long periods of time. It is believed to be one of the most toxic chemicals we can find.   

But that is not all: PVC is also made from petroleum. The oil industry is one of the least sustainable in the world, massively contributing to water, air, and soil pollution as well as global warming.  

We should also take into consideration where artificial Christmas trees are manufactured: around 80% of them are produced in China, where electricity is usually generated by burning one of the most polluting fuel sources, coal. Once they are made, they are then shipped across the world in diesel-fuel-powered ships to reach their final markets.

So both the production and transportation processes generate huge quantities of CO2 emissions. In total, it is estimated that a two-meter fake Christmas tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Finally, an issue we should not ignore when it comes to artificial trees is that even though they can be reused many times, the average family keeps them for about five to six years. Plus, according to a 2017 survey, 14% of people said that they prefer discarding their fake tree after only one use. 

Because of the materials artificial trees are made from, they cannot be recycled or composted. As a result, those that are thrown away end up in a landfill where they will stay for hundreds of years. In the meantime, they will shed tiny particles of plastic that will pollute the nearby environment and be ingested by local wildlife. 

So, should you buy a real or a fake Christmas tree? 

This question is not simple. There are positives and negatives on both sides, whether you choose a natural or a fake Christmas tree. Choosing the more sustainable option will depend on your lifestyle, your circumstances, and what is available to you. 

If we take a closer look at the numbers, we can see that artificial Christmas trees have a carbon footprint that is 2.5 times larger than that of a real tree discarded in a landfill. But if the natural tree is recycled into mulch or burned (not sent to landfills), the carbon footprint of a fake tree is 10 times bigger. 

In other words, an artificial Christmas tree is a more eco-friendly option if it will be reused for at least 10 holiday seasons compared to if you were to buy a commercially grown tree every year. 

To sum up, a real tree has a lower environmental footprint per holiday season, but the longer a fake tree is reused, the more its impact is reduced.  

However, we also need to take into account our individual situations. If you already have an artificial Christmas tree, it makes more sense to keep reusing it year after year instead of buying a natural one. 

But if you do not already have a fake tree, it might be more sustainable to buy a real one if you have access to locally grown trees nearby and you can recycle it after Christmas. On the other hand, if you live in a tropical climate, choosing a real tree might not be the best option as it would need to be shipped halfway across the world to arrive in your home. 

Also, ask yourself if you have the space to store an artificial tree in your home. If you live in a tiny apartment with no storage space, a fake tree might not be practical and you may prefer a small natural one. 

Finally, would you be able to recycle or dispose of a natural tree responsibly? If you cannot burn or compost it, and your city does not offer to take them back to recycle them, you should probably go for an artificial tree. But only if you commit to reusing it season after season. 

Helpful tips for a more sustainable Christmas tree

In the end, whether you choose to buy a fake or a real tree for the holidays, there are different things you can do to help reduce the environmental footprint of your Christmas tree. 

How to make your artificial tree more eco-friendly?

Since fake trees have a significant environmental footprint if only used once, the best thing you can do if you choose to buy an artificial tree or if you already have one is to reuse it for as many years as possible. 

So try to take good care of it and make sure to store it properly when not in use. Commit to using it for many years, ideally decades. Even better, pass it down to the next generation. This will drastically reduce its environmental impact!

To be able to reuse it for many years, invest in a high-quality tree that will stand the test of time, and that you will be able to repair if it breaks. 

If you can find an artificial tree second-hand, it is even better as no new tree has to be produced and you are giving a new life to a pre-loved one. From thrift stores to online marketplaces, there are many places where you can buy a used Christmas tree. 

If you cannot find a second-hand tree, you could choose a new tree that is made with recycled materials or wood. These are less common than plastic trees, but they are a lot more unique (and sustainable)!

You could even build one yourself using natural materials or upcycled elements you can find in nature, like branches and pine cones. This would be a super fun project if you love being creative, so check Pinterest for DIY Christmas tree ideas.

How to choose a more sustainable, natural tree?

If you and your family prefer a real tree to a fake one, there are also many things you can do to make it more eco-friendly. 

For instance, you could buy a still-living tree that still has the root ball attached and replant it once the holidays are over. Of course, this only applies if you live in an appropriate climate and have a garden. But it is a great option because the tree will be able to continue to provide fresh air and a home for wildlife for many more years.  

Similarly, if you live in an apartment with a balcony, you can buy a potted tree that you will be able to bring inside for the holidays and leave outside for the rest of the year. 

Another sustainable option is to choose a Christmas tree grown on an organic farm. Organic farms do not spray pesticides and other harmful chemicals on their trees, so it is a lot better for the environment. 

Unfortunately, only one-tenth of the 30 million real trees sold every year in the United States are organic or certified natural. So it is more complicated to find organic trees, but it is definitely possible. 

So check if there is an organic tree farm in your local area, you never know! But if organic trees are not available to you, try to find ones that are FSC-certified, or at least, grown locally. 

Some companies also allow us to rent a tree for the festive season. After Christmas, they take it back and replant it until the following year. The tree can be re-rented for seven years on average, and after that, it will be planted for good so that it can continue to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Finally, make sure to always dispose of your tree in a responsible way, and do not send it to a landfill. There are more than 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs in the United States, so check if your city offers to take your tree back. 

You can also compost it, or chip it and use it as mulch in your garden. And, you can even chop it into firewood so that it can heat your home during the winter. 

Conclusion

Both real and artificial Christmas trees have a negative impact on the planet, though natural ones also seem to benefit the local environment. 

Real trees have a much smaller carbon footprint per season, but if an artificial tree is used year after year, for more than a decade, it becomes more sustainable than its natural counterpart. 

No matter which tree you decide to choose for Christmas, there are different things you can do to make your tree more sustainable. That way, you can feel about your choice and enjoy the holiday season even more!

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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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