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Fashion companies that employ responsible social and environmental practices tend to be more expensive compared to fast fashion companies. Sustainable practices are not the standard in manufacturing. We live in a highly capitalistic society, and therefore most businesses put profit at the forefront of their business model even if it means sacrificing their ethics. Fast fashion companies are also notorious for preying on desperate communities to get the best deal possible. This results in cheap wages, unsafe working conditions, and pollution in the local community.

Visit Known Supply’s sister brand for handmade headwear + accessories:
Krochet Kids

RELATED POST: 3 Reasons Fashion Should Be Plastic-Free (Including Reycled Plastic)

RELATED POST: Slow Fashion Brands: 100+ Labels to Love

RELATED POST: 8 Plant-Based Textile Innovations Changing the Fashion Industry

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Essential oils have gained popularity ever since western consumers have been hunting for alternatives to chemical-ridden household products. With such high demand it raises the question, what are essential oils environmental impact? Although essential oils are seen as holistic remedies the industry can actually be quite wasteful and damaging.

Essential oils are sold in small bottles for a reason; they are concentrated and powerful natural resources. The production of oils is quite extensive, for instance it can take 50 petals to make a single drop of rose essential oil. To fill a 1oz bottle that contains about 600 drops that means it takes approximately 30,000 petals! Hence, why we only need a few drops for the effects we’re after. Another shocking example of how damaging the industry has become is how  frankinscense forests are now under threat.  For years frankincense was always harvested sustainably until the global demand changed everything.

When looking for essential oils keep in mind the following:

1. Are there essential oils available locally?

Every country has its own native species so not every oil on your wishlist might be available from a local farmer or distiller. However, you might be surprised where you find oils in your area and see first-hand how they are produced.

2. Is the essential oil you want at risk or on the watch list?

A good resource is  United Plant Savers  where you can find a frequently updated list of wild medicinal plants that are currently the most sensitive to the impact of human activities. By purchasing oils from at risk plants you are contributing to the deforestation of these plants since our demand is higher than their growth rate.

3. Is the supplier transparent about where and how their oils are sourced?

Transparency is key for us as consumers to make the best buying choices. The supplier should be closely connected with their farmers and anyone else in their line of production. Suppliers might not want to give away specifics but they should be open about general information such as certifications, sustainability, ect.

DISPOSAL

It can be difficult to remember essential oils are highly concentrated, flammable substances that should be treated like other hazardous materials such as paint thinner, pharmaceuticals, gasoline, ect. While it’s ok to pour a couple drops of essential oil down the drain, large quantities should not be dumped in the sink because these substances can come into contact with water supplies, vegetation, and animals. Your retailer or supplier should be able to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each essential oil that has information on safety, storage, usage, and disposal.

You can also contact the  Waste Management Department  in your community for advice on how to properly dispose of your oils. 

Sustainable Essential Oil Brands

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FOREST REMEDIES

Forest Remedies’ essential oils and botanicals are harvested by responsible producers across the globe. They are dedicated to transparency and responsible environmental management, and work directly with growers and producers to improve practices, quality, and yields. Every time you purchase a Forest Remedies product, they contribute to the planting of a tree through their partnership with One Tree Planted. Also, with every purchase from the Jane Goodall Collection, they donate 5% of the sale price to the Jane Goodall Institute and their mission to protect wildlife and empower local communities.  |  SHOP

BURSERA

At Bursera, they are committed toward lessening their climate impact through carbon offsets projects, fair-trade working conditions, cruelty-free manufacturing, using environmentally friendly supplies and materials. Bursera values and policies also extend to their suppliers. Bursera has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant young trees across six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and financially supports the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. They also donate to 1% for the Planet.  |  SHOP

EDEN’S GARDEN

Eden’s Garden is an eco-conscious company and chooses sustainable practices whenever possible from soil to bottle. All of the oils come from plants grown in their indigenous locations and sources all their products from organic growers and distillers. No pesticides, synthetic chemicals, herbicides, GMOs, harmful chemicals, or fertilizers are ever used during any stage of the growing or distillation process.  |  SHOP

SIMPLY EARTH

As a company fighting to end human trafficking, Simply Earth sources oils in small batches when they can, and always from small, ethical farms all over the world, wherever that particular oil grows best. They are committed to donating 13% of profits to organizations that are on the front lines of fighting the injustice of human sex trafficking. All oils are are free of fragrances, fillers, and contaminants.   |  SHOP

ROCKY MOUNTAIN OILS

Rocky Mountain Oils uses the latest cutting edge scientific studies, world renowned chemists, aromatherapists, and expert technicians to craft premium essential oils. They support small farms, work with qualified distillery technicians and world-renowned labs. The packaging is created from 100% recycled materials and they have the industry’s first Glass Bottle Recycling Program.  |  SHOP

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The 7 Sins of Greenwashing:

The 7 sins of greenwashing were created by a Canadian-based environmental marketing agency – Terra Choice. The goal is to help consumers identify products that make misleading environmental claims.

TerraChoice conducted a series of studies in the United States and Canada, testing large numbers of products with green claims against best practices and official guidelines. The results showed that green marketing is increasingly popular and that a vast majority of the green claims are misleading.

1. Hidden Trade-Off

This sin means classing a product as green based on a narrow set of information or attributes. For example, labeling a product as “made of recycled content” when other attributes are not addressed like the energy use of manufacturing the product or the toxic chemicals used in the process, which can make a bigger impact on the ecological footprint as a whole.

2. No Proof

No proof means making an environmental claim without providing easily accessible evidence to back it up on either the label or the product’s website.

3. Vagueness

This sin invloves using feel-good terms that are too broad or poorly defined to be properly understood. For instance, a company may label a product as “chemical-free” but yet everything contains chemicals, even water is a chemical.

4. Irrelevance

The sin of irrelevance is to make a claim that is techincally truthful but not a distinguishing factor when looking for eco-friendly products, and is actually unimportant and unhelpful. For example, a product might be advertized is “CFC-free” but CFCs have been banned by law for nearly 20 years.

5. Lesser of Two Evils

This sin involves claiming to be greener than other products in its category when the category as a whole might be environmentally un-friendly. This ultimately distracts from the fundamental problems with these products.  Examples include “organic cigarettes” or “vitamin infused vodka.”

6. Fibbing

The sin of fibbing is when companies make environmental or health claims that simply aren’t true. For example, products labeled as Energy Star certified or registered, when they haven’t been endorsed by that entity. 

7. Worshiping False Labels

This last sin was just recently added. It means to imply that a product has a third-party endorsement or certification that doesn’t actually exist.

Examples of Brand Deception

from detergent to gasoline

TIDE PURCLEAN

If you take a peak on the back of  Tide purclean™ laundry detergent, you’ll find that it reads, “a powerful, plant-based clean you can feel good about.” This misleading statement is guilty of the sin of vagueness. The laundry detergent is only 75% plant-based, and the remaining 25% consists of non-plant-based ingredients, including some derived from petroleum. In August 2020, the National Advertising Division recommended (and Tide agreed) to modify its plant-based claims to avoid conveying the unsupported message that the laundry detergent is 100% plant-based, or that the “powerful cleaning power” is derived solely from plant-based ingredients.

Photo by Tide.

LULULEMON

Lululemon sparked controversy after launching their VitaSea line claiming to have many health benefits becuase it is made of SeaCell™. SeaCell, is an innovated fabric made of wood pulp and organic seaweed found in the Icelandic Fjords. Several lab tests revealed that the garments were almost devoid of the plant. The brand touted it’s benefits: reduces stress and provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hydrating and detoxifying benefits, yet Carolyn J. Otten, director for specialized services at Chemir Analytical Services, a lab in Maryland Heights, Mo. said “we searched specifically for those vitamins, and we didn’t see them.” The brand ended up removing all claims alleging health benefits from seaweed from the line of clothing.

KAUAI COFFEE

Kauai coffee offers a “100 percent certified compostable” single-serve coffee product. However, not all items can be composted at home. The packaging’s fine print states, “Compostable in industrial facilities. Check locally, as these do not exist in many communities. Not suitable for backyard composting.” The National Advertisment Division recommended that Kauai prominently disclose the reality – and that the coffee pods are not certified for backyard composting – in ads that boast the “100% compostable” claim. Kauai said it would comply with the recommendations.

MOONLIGHT SLUMBER

In 2017, the FTC approved a final consent order against Moonlight Slumber, a manufacturer of baby mattresses. The company made claims that its “organic” and “eco-friendly plant-based” mattresses had earned the “Green Safety Shield,” which made it look as though the product had been endorsed by an independent third party. In reality, it was a made-up certification Moonlight Slumber had awarded itself. 

NESTLÉ

Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey employ hundreds of thousands of people annually in order to sustain their chocolate empires. According to the World Cocoa Foundation, nearly 60% of the world’s cocoa is produced in West African countries of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These cocoa crops are mainly grown on small, isolated, underdeveloped, family-run farms.

Nestlé, a leader in the chocolate confectionary industry, received negative press over their usage of child slave labor and the lack of transparency within their cocoa supply chain. In April 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Nestlé  for allegedly deceptively labeling chocolate products by using phrases such as “sustainably sourced” and “supports” farmers to make consumers believe the cocoa was produced following environmentally and socially responsible standards. According to plaintiffs, the cocoa comes from farms that use child and slave labor, and the company’s supply chain has no evidence of any environmental standards in place. The chocolate industry is responsible for destroying rainforests in West Africa, and using chemicals that pollute waterways, kills wildlife, and harms communities.

Sometimes a company is so bad they are required by the government to deal with the problem they’ve created.

BP

In 2010, BP was responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Initially, they received a lot of negative press and faced huge fines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, BP was able to recover from the negative press by targeting their advertising to play on emotions in a heartfelt manner. 

Many companies will do this to cover up their past mistakes. It doesn’t make them green, but rather skews consumer perception.

H&M

H&M, another company with a bad rap, launched their “Conscious Collection” and a clothing recycling program after they came underfire for evidence of unethical practices throughout their manufacturing process. These practices include sweatshop conditions in the factories their clothing is made, and to the fact that their cheap clothing is filling up landfills (I recommend watching THE TRUE COST documentary on Netflix). In 2013, H&M found itself in the center of controversy and disaster after the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, a deteriorating garment factory, that killed 1,138 people. The largest fashion companies like Zara, Gap, and H&M, pledged to make changes to their supply chain and their harmful impact on vulnerable people and the environment.

H&M’s recycling program that turns old, unwanted clothing into new garments is more of a marketing campaign to retain customers and persuade them into buying more clothes. When a person drops off a bag of old clothes, they receive a $5 off voucher to be used on their next purchase, contributing further to the fast fashion industry’s profits at the cost of the environment. To add to the scheme, environmentalist Elizabeth Cline says that  less than 1% of the clothes collected actually get recycled and made into new garments. According to I:Collect, the company that handles the donations, says of the clothes sent to H&M’s sorting plants only 35% of what’s collected is recycled at all, and ends up being used for products like carpet padding, painters’ clothes or insulation (not the H&M Conscious Collection). Many of our clothes are made of blended fibers that don’t break down easily, and when cotton and wool is recycled it diminishes the quality of the material (it weakens the strand and gives a lesser product).

Photo by H&M.

H&M also has failings in the fair labor department. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) said H&M had not met the commitment made in 2013 to ensure its suppliers would pay a living wage to some 850,000 textile workers by 2018. The CCC report found that workers in H&M supplier factories in Cambodia earned less than half the estimated living wage, dropping to about a third for those living in India and Turkey. In Bulgaria, workers reported that they have to work overtime just to earn the statutory minimum wage.

So while H&M promises to lead the way in sustainable fashion, it is something to be taken with a grain of salt. Unfortunatly, H&M’s marketing makes it seem as though the company is more environmentally friendly (and worker friendly) than it actually is.

RELATED POST: Slow Fashion Brands: 100+ Labels to Love

Unregulated Common Terms

The unrestricted use of these vague phrases by any company is possible because there are no legal definitions for them:

• Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Fragrance-Free
• Ethical
• Sustainable

The Effect of Executional Greenwashing

on the subconscious

Companies can imply environmental stwardship by using nature evoking elements in advertising. It induces false perceptions of a brand’s ecological image without referring to the actual environmental features of advertised products. This method is known as executional greenwashing.

Photo from an ad for H&M’s Conscious Collection.

How To Avoid Being Greenwashed

• Don’t assume what you read or see is true. Always be skeptical, ask questions, and research the company until you feel you can trust them. Is this company owned by a parent-corporation? Where and how do they source their ingredients and materials? Are they transparent about their operations or do they have something to hide? Don’t be afraid to email or DM the company if you can’t find the answer you are looking for.
• Learn how to read labels, educate yourself on ingredients, and familiarize yourself with green certifications.
• When possible, support small, independent, or local businesses over big box retailers.

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Photo via Unsplash.

Coffee’s Conflict with Ethics and Ecology

Coffee is a fruit, a fruit that evolved in the Ethiopian highland forests where it only grew in the shade for the first several hundred years of human cultivation. The warriors of the East African tribespeople used it to invigorate themselves for battle!

In the 1970s, agronomists started to believe that growing coffee in direct sunlight could increase photosynthesis, prevent disease, and allow greater density of shrub planting. So farmers started to cut down the tree canopies that shaded their shrubs. The native wildlife that naturally supports the ecosystem started to disappear. They compensated for the loss of natural insect-killing birds and bats by applying more pesticides. They compensated for the loss of the trees’ soil-fertilizing leaves and roots by applying more chemical fertilizers.

Monocropping became the standard farming practice alongside ‘sun cultivation’ methods. The coffee industry erupted and has now become one of the world’s most tradable commodities, not too far behind oils, metals, and other crops. WWF reports that because of this, 2.5 million acres of forest in Central America have been cleared to make way for coffee farming, and deforestation is on the rise in coffee-growing countries. Incidentally, 37 of the 50 countries in the world with the highest deforestation rates are also major coffee producers.

The coffee industry also has serious labor problems. Coffee is on the U.S. Department of Labor’s list of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. An investigative report revealed “conditions analogous to slavery” on Brazil’s (the largest producer of coffee) coffee farms. It was found that on average, coffee farmers in developing countries receive only 10% of the retail price of the product. Combine this with competition among growers that has led to price reductions and undercutting, it leaves growers with no safety margin when the supply drops or bad weather strikes. Fair Trade International emerged in 1997 to mitigate the disparities between small farmers in developing countries and large, subsidized ones in industrialized countries.

Fair Trade – an arrangement designed to help producers in growing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships.
Direct Trade – direct trade in coffee is when a roaster buys coffee straight from a producer, as opposed to purchasing through brokers or importers. 
Organic – plants grown and produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. This results in cleaner beans, air, land, and water.
Shade Grown – shade grown coffee mimics the natural way that wild coffee grows, under a canopy of trees in a balanced and diverse ecosystem. These plants grow more slowly than sun-grown coffee, but it is believed that this results in superior flavor.
Single Origin – means that it comes from a single producer, crop, or region in one country. It supports the work and income of small farmers. It’s different than mass-market coffee, which is generally a blend of beans from multiple regions that is less expensive.

Coffee can be sustainable. It is best grown without chemicals, under shade-canopy, at high elevations. It is best cultivated by farmers who employ fair trade or direct trade practices. By supporting sustainable coffee companies like the ones listed below, we are casting our vote for a better industry:

Affiliate Disclaimer: this website is supported by its audience and contains affiliate links. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. (read more)

1. Biodynamic Coffee

Berkeley, CA

Biodynamic farming takes a holistic approach and considers the entire ecosystem including the interconnectedness of soil fertility and the health of plants, animals and people.

•   Fair Trade
•   Direct Trade
•   Demeter Certified
•   Regenerative + Biodynamic Farming
•   100% Compostable Packaging

Biodynamic farming goes beyond sustainability – it’s regenerative to the planet’s ecosystems, enhances biodiversity and boosts the soil’s natural fertility. It’s a clean, holistic approach to farming that eliminates the need for herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers. The result is healthy, nutrient-dense coffee plants that produce great tasting coffee. Below is an ariel view of Apricot Lane Farms, a family-run regenerative farm.

VISIT BIODYNAMIC COFFEE

2. Equal Exchange

St. Paul, MN

Equal Exchange’s co-op has over 100 worker/owners and each holds an equal share and voting rights in the business.

•   Fair Trade
•   Direct Trade
•   USDA Organic
•   Single Origin
•   Worker Owned

They have organized themselves as a democratic worker cooperative, now one of the largest in the country. A worker cooperative is an alternative for-profit structure based upon standard democratic principles. It is not designed to maximize profits, nor returns to investors, but rather to bring to the workplace many of the rights and responsibilities that we hold as citizens in our communities.

VISIT EQUAL EXCHANGE

3. Pachamama

Sacramento, CA

Pachamama introduced Traceable Coffee, a World Bank funded platform enabling consumers to “Tip the Farmer”.

•   Fair Trade
•   Farmer Owned / Direct Trade
•   USDA Organic
•   Single Origin
•   Shade Grown

Pachamama (translates to “Mother Earth” in indigenous Andean culture) is a coffee cooperative where farmers are the owners. These farmers grow, farm, and sell coffee directly to coffee aficionados in the US. The company works with five cooperatives in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Ethiopia, each of which has a member on the company’s board of directors.

VISIT PACHAMAMA

RELATED POST: 11 Ethically Sourced Fair Trade Chocolate Companies

4. Higher Ground Coffee

Leeds, AL

Higher Ground is constantly improving their process towards their goal of a completely sustainable business model. In order to offset their daily energy usage, they purchase wind power credits through Renewable Choice Energy, which helps subsidize wind farms.

•   Fair Trade Certified
•   USDA Organic
•   100% Shade Grown

Higher Ground Coffee is creating positive relationships by establishing partnerships with non-profits such as The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Black Warrior Riverkeepers, and The Cahaba River Society. Customers can enjoy sustainable coffees from around the world while supporting the preservation of our wild areas close to home.

VISIT HIGHER GROUND COFFEE

5. Peace Coffee

Twin Cities, MN

Peace Coffee is committed to forming long term partnerships with farmer cooperatives and consistently purchases their coffee at fair prices.

•   Certified B Corporation
•   Fair Trade
•   USDA Organic
•   Small Batch
•   Shade Grown
•   Single Origin
•   Women-Led

The company started bike delivering their coffee before they could afford their own roasting machine!  After expanding they faced new challenges including figuring out a cost-effective and earth-friendly way to deliver coffee to customers. Having seen the ingenuity of coffee farmers at origin, they took a cue from their transit tricks and adopted a bike delivery program, which still delivers over 50% of their Twin Cities coffee orders all year long.

VISIT PEACE COFFEE

8. Driftaway

Brooklyn, NY

Sustainable Coffee Certifications

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade certified is administered by Fair Trade USA and is available, not only to co-ops, but also to single farms of any size and groups of non-landholding laborers. 

Fair Trade International

Fair Trade International is administered globally by Fairtrade International and by Fairtrade America in the U.S. Its certification is exclusively available to cooperatives of small coffee producers. 

Rainforest Alliance Certified

The Rainforest Alliance seal means that the certified product or ingredient was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

Smithsonian Bird Friendly

This certification focuses on small producers who aready have an organic certification. Bird Friendly coffee supports fair and stable prices for coffee producers, healthy environments for communities, greater biodiversity and protection for bird habitats, and equal access to markets for Bird Friendly coffee producers.

SOURCES

•   List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor  |  US Department of Labor
•   Nestlé admits slave labour risk on Brazil coffee plantations  |  The Guardian
•   Timber Industries  |  WWF
•   Coffee has a latte problems  |  EarthDay.org

Sitting Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

Lavatory

Office and Craft Room

Gym

Housekeeping

Pet Supplies

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Photo by Polina Tankilevitch via Unsplash.

Affiliate Disclaimer: this website is supported by its audience and contains affiliate links. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. (read more)

Alter Eco

AlterEco is known for their organic, regenerative, and fair trade chocolate bars and truffles. The award winning chocolate company is in-setting carbon emissions by means of large-scale reforestation/conservation programs in the cooperatives that produce its crops. They are also working towards 100% compostable packaging.

•  Certified B Corporation
•  USDA Certified Organic
•  Fair Trade Certified
•  Climate Neutral Certified
•  Non-GMO
•  Certified Gluten Free (excluding Dark Salt & Malt)
•  Palm Oil and Soy Free
•  Amazon Alliance Partner

SHOP ALTER ECO

UnReal

Unreal is reinventing our favorite classic candies like peanut butter cups and mounds bars but with better ingredients, and better ethics.

•  Certified Fair Trade Chocolate
•  Organic Ingredients
•. Most Products Certified Vegan
•  Most Products Certified Gluten Free
•  Certified Kosher
•  Non-GMO Project Verified
•  Corn and Soy Free

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Loving Earth

•  Fair Trade
•  Regenerative Asháninka Cacao
•  Plant-Based Ingredients
•  Certified Vegan
•  Certified USDA Organic
•  Kosher
•  Gluten, Dairy, Soy, and Cane Sugar Free
•  Made in a Solar Powered Factory
•  Chocolate Wrapper is Entirely Home Compostable

SHOP LOVING EARTH

Hu

•  Fair Trade
•  Certified Vegan
•  Certified USDA Organic
•  Non-GMO Project Verified
•  Certified Paleo and Keto
•  Certified Gluten Free
•  Kosher
•  Palm Oil, Soy, Dairy, Cane Sugar, Refined Sugar Free

SHOP HU

Theo

•  Fair Trade
•  Certified USDA Organic
•  Non-GMO
•  Kosher
•  Gluten + Soy Free

SHOP THEO

Beyond Good

•  Fair Trade
•  Certified USDA Organic
•  Some Vegan Options
•  Gluten Free
•  Heirloom and Single Origin Cacao
•  Publishes a Social Impact Report

SHOP BEYOND GOOD

Evolved

•  Fair Trade
•  Rainforest Alliance Sourced Cacao
•  Certified Organic
•  Vegan
•  Gluten, Dairy, and Soy Free
•  Paleo/Primal Friendly (except Oatmeal Cookie Dough Filled Bar)

SHOP EVOLVED

Moka Origins

•  Fair Trade Certified
•  Certified USDA Organic
•  Rainforest Alliance Certified
•  Direct Trade
•  Single Origin Cacao
•  Small Batch
•  Committed to Planting Thousands of Trees

SHOP MOKA ORIGINS

Rad Chocolate

•  Fair Trade
•  Certified Organic
•  Single Origin Cocoa
•  Vegan
•  Paleo Friendly
•  Gluten, Soy, and Dairy Free

SHOP RAD CHOCOLATE

Honorable Mentions

Endangered
Species Chocolate

•  Fair Trade Certified
•  Rainforest Alliance Certified Chocolate
•  Non-GMO Project Verified
•  Certified Gluten Free
•  Certified Kosher
•  Palm Oil Free
•  Publishes An Impact Report
•  Some Vegan Certified Products
•  Partners w/ Conservation Organizations

SHOP ENDANGERED SPECIES
CHOCOLATE

Lily’s

•  Fair Trade Certified
•  Non-GMO
•  Certified Gluten Free
•  Vegan Options
•  Supports Non-Profit Organizations

SHOP LILY’S

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Why does zero waste matter? A zero waste approach helps to conserve natural resources and reduces pollution from extraction, manufacturing, and disposal. This ultimate list of zero waste swaps can help you live a less impactful lifestyle without sacrificing the things you love. Starting with the top four worst offenders:

2.  the bag

It is said, that on average we only recycle one plastic bag for every 200 we use. Each year, it is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute! Unfortunately billions end up as litter each year. Swap to a reusable bag. For produce, organic cotton or muslin bags are perfect. For shopping use totes that you can store in your car, there are even foldable shopping bags to keep things compact. The stasher bag is a great choice to swap out zip lock baggies for snacks, sandwiches, and other food.

4. The coffee cup

Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day or equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year, making the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the world. 25 billion of those coffee cups are thrown away every year. If you don’t make your own coffee at home, bring your own to-go reusable coffee mug. I like the Keep Cup, or this tall ceramic travel mug with a dual purpose – it contains a tea infuser for those who like their tea on the go.

Compartment food storage containers for easy meal prep. These are air tight, leak proof, and come with a BPA-free lid. They are microwave, oven (up to 450°F), freezer, & dishwasher safe.

Portable, flexible silicone wine glasses are perfect for backyard parties because they are unbreakable. These are dishwasher safe & stain-proof.

Double walled sweatless stainless steel cups are great for the outdoors. They are labeled so you will always know who’s is who’s.

For the beer lovers. This was made for a trip to the local pub or grocer for fresh craft beer.

Ditch the popcorn bags and make your own on the stove top. Almost all microwave popcorn varieties come in wasteful bags lined with perfluorooctanoic acid – a toxic chemical that can stay in the environment and our bodies for long periods of time and is linked to numerous health hazards, even being labeled a carcinogen.

A reusable and durable scrubbing wand for cleaning dishes.

Swap out dryer sheets caked with chemicals for a wool dryer ball. Drop a few essential oils of your choice for your desired scent.

There are over 7 billion people in the world, most of which brush their teeth with a typical plastic toothbrush. Use a bamboo toothbrush instead. Olas toothbrushes are biodegradable and come in a recyclable cardboard box.

A dentist-formulated mouth rinse that is free of alcohol, fluoride, artificial colors and other harmful additives. It is packaged in a glass bottle.

Swap out cotton balls and makeup wipes for these reusable pads.

Another zero waste option if you are less comfortable with a cup during your period. These washable cotton pads are easy to use and come in a variety of sizes.

Highly recommended by doctors, bidets are considered far more hygienic than conventional toilet paper. This one is easy to install and has adjustable settings.

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Affiliate Disclaimer: this website is supported by its audience and contains affiliate links. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. (read more)

Our favorite natural chews and bones!

Benebone

Benebones are made with USA-sourced nylon and flavored with USA-sourced real ingredients (real peanuts, white meat chicken, or bacon).

•  Made in the USA
•  Made with real food ingredients
•  Long-lasting
•  Good for aggressive chewers

TOP PICKS: Dental Chew and Maple Stick

VISIT BENEBONE

Earth Animal

Earth Animal’s no-hide chews are free from raw hide and easily digestible. The company was founded by a couple eager to create healthier, safer products.

•  Made in the USA
•  NO Raw Hide
•  Ingredients sourced from local farms

VISIT EARTH ANIMAL

Himalyan Pet Supply

The original chews were born from an ancient hard cheese snack. Himalayan Pet Supply spent years re-engineering the people-grade cheese to make it lactose free & safe for dogs. They collect the product from rural community co-ops in the Himalayas, and purchase directly from farmers.

•  Fair Trade
•  Grain + Lactose Free

TOP PICKS: Original Dog Chew and Churros

VISIT HIMALAYAN SALT SUPPLY

Buck Bone Organics

Buck Bone Organics carefully collects and crafts the antler into a premium, eco dog treat. Every year wild White Tail Deer across the U.S. naturally shed their antler leaving behind an incredible natural resource. They naturally clean teeth, and are gluten-free & odorless.

•  USA Made
•  Naturally Shed Antlers
•  Long-lasting
•  Good for Aggressive Chewers

VISIT BUCK BONE ORGANICS

EcoKind Pet

EcoKind Pet is a family-owned and operated company. They offer treats that are always free from any additives, preservatives, or chemicals.

•  Made in the USA
•  USDA Organic
•  Naturally Shed Antlers

TOP PICKS: Braided Bully Sticks and Elk Antlers

VISIT ECOKIND PET

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Photo of Sampson & Maya.

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Find the perfect bed that both you and your dog can feel good about!

1. West Paw

West Paw dog beds are handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana using only American-made textiles. They are filled with IntelliLoft® fiber and recycled plastic. The beds are easy to clean – machine washable and dryer safe. The Heyday Bed has been certified safe by Oeko-Tex.

VISIT WEST PAW

2. Harry Barker

Sustainably made luxury beds! Harry Barker beds are made with durable exteriors and stuffed with an eco-fiberfill made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The bed covers are machine washable.

VISIT HARRY BARKER

3. Molly Mutt

Molly Mutt’s duvet covers are made of 100% cotton canvas. They are unique in that they are designed to be stuffed with your own old materials (like t-shirts or pillows) so it smells like YOU! Their sheepy-wool filled beds are made of wool that is responsibly and humanely sourced in California. 

VISIT MOLLY MUTT

4. The Foggy Dog

The Foggy Dog proudly handcrafts their products in San Fransisco where they can bring small-batch manufacturing back to their home town. Their manufacturing partners are family-owned businesses, where skilled craftspeople are paid fair wages. The dog beds are stuffed with 100% recycled fiber spun from plastic bottles. They also use repurposed fabric scraps and natural fabrics when possible.

VISIT THE FOGGY DOG

5. Cycle Dog

Cycle Dog’s hand sewn products are proudly made and tested in Portland, Oregon. They use post-consumer recycled water bottles to fill each bed. The beds are also easy to clean by either wiping clean or tossing in the washing machine. The Waterproof Barrier Nestle and Layout Beds are made of waterproof materials combined with anti-bacterial and anti-mite treatment, and their Duraplush Chew-Resistant beds are made with double stitched turned seams.

VISIT CYCLE DOG

6. Brentwood Home

Brentwood pet beds are handcrafted to order in their California factory using non-toxic materials like CertiPUR-US certified foams that are safe to sleep on (and chew on, if they must). Inside, a waterproof liner protects the two foam layers from accidents.

VISIT BRENTWOOD PET

7. The Wolf Nest

Wolf Nest beds are handmade in downtown Los Angeles using recycled, deadstock fabric. Their best seller features a durable canvas bottom, hypo-allergenic memory foam filling for optimal joint support, and a removable lavender sachet in the outer puch that is calming for your pet. They also have machine washable covers for easy cleaning.

VISIT WOLF NEST LINEN DOG BED

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Photo featuring Sampson with his West Paw Hurley Bone.

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Why non-toxic dog toys are important:

Pthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are used in plastic manufacturing to provide elasticity to products. These chemicals have the potential to harm your beloved pet’s health. There isn’t the same oversight and strict regulation that you might find in children’s toys. A study done by The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry simulated dog saliva, then simulated chewing by squeezing dog toys with stainless thongs to age and weather them. Phil Smith from the Texas Tech University who co-authored the study stated, “we found that the aging or weathering the toys increased concentrations of BPA and phthalates.” A project of The Ecology Center, Healthy Stuff, created an online database of their research on toxic chemicals in everyday products. Archived Pet Supply Data has testing results on various pet supplies. Here are a few of their findings:

•   From the 400+ pet products tested, 45% had detectable levels of one or more hazardous toxins, including arsenic, chlorine, and bromine.
•   Of the tennis balls tested, 48% percent contained detectable levels of lead.
•   7% of all pet products had lead levels higher than the 300 ppm allowed in children’s toys.

Dog toys offer enrichment, mental stimulation, and entertainment. They can be beneficial for alleviating separation anxiety, boredom, chewing problems, excessive barking and/or digging. They can also aid in teaching, crate training, teeth cleaning, weight management, exercise and so much more making them an important accessory in a dog’s life – which is why the materials they are made of are so important. Here are a few options for non-toxic eco-friendly dog toys:

West Paw

•   West Paw is a certified B Corporation.
•   Toys are made of their proprietary BPA-free Zogoflex material that can be continuously recycled through their recycling program.
•   Toys are handcrafted and manufactured in Bozeman, MT, in a state-of-the-art environmentally conscious building.

TOP PICKS: Hurley Bone *built for tough chewers* + Zisc Frisbee *it’s floatable!*

VISIT WEST PAW

Mammoth Pet

•   Mammoth has implemented initiatives to create products and supply chains that are resource friendly.
•   Toys are made out of materials that are safe, nontoxic, and can also be recycled after use like natural rubber and cotton.
•   Committted to financially helping a plethora of organizations from animal rescue groups to medical aid groups.

TOP PICKS: Flossy Chew *great for tug* + TireBiter *for extreme chewers*

VISIT MAMMOTH PET

Planet Dog

•   Planet Dog is a founding member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), an industry-wide collaboration to provide tools and education to accelerate environmental and social sustainability.
•   Toys are made from BPA, lead, and phthalate-free materials.

TOP PICKS: Orbee-Tuff Sol Ball *bouncy & buoyant* + Orbee Tuff Snoops *interactive treat dispensing*

VISIT PLANET DOG

Cycle Dog

•   Cycle Dog’s Factory is located in Portland, Oregon where they handcraft products.
•   Uses discarded inner tubes (rubber doesn’t allow bacteria to grow) and post-consumer plastic for many of their dog products.
•   All Cycle Dog hand-sewn products will be repaired at no charge for the useful life of the product.

TOP PICK: High Roller Ball *floats!* 

VISIT CYCLE DOG

Classic Kong

•    Classic KONG, a tough-to-destroy rubber chew toy which can be stuffed with treats.
•   Made from natural rubber in the USA.
•   Recommended by veterinarians and trainers worldwide.

VISIT KONG

Otter Hemp Rope

•    A small Wyoming start-up that aspires to deliver the finest, eco-friendly pet products crafted and/or grown in the USA.
•   Rope toy is made from 100% All Natural Hemp.
•   Naturally Mold & Mildew Resistant.
•   Biodegradable.

VISIT OTTER

Goughnuts

•    Goughnuts is a family business in the USA.
•    “The Last Chew Toy You’ll Need” – made for aggressive chewers.
•    Made from the same rubber the astronauts use –  reinforced natural rubber designed by engineers that make rubber for spaceships and aircraft!
•    Lifetime warranty. There is a red safety layer if your dog chews through the toy.

VISIT Goughnuts

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