Ah, summertime; the time for outdoor adventures, vacation destinations, and soaking up the sun… well, maybe not in these crazy heat waves. Regardless, if you’ve got some adventures planned, we’re sure you’re also looking to purchase some essential items. Sustainable brands are in, especially for the summer. So whether you’re just starting your conscious consumer journey or an avid sustainable shopper, we’ve got you covered with the top sustainable brands for all your summer shopping needs!
Recommended Sustainable Brands for the Summer
Backcountry
Category: Camping, trail running
Backcountry is known for its quality outdoor gear with expert-level knowledge that’ll help prepare you for your next outdoor adventure. They offer a wide range of outdoor gear, clothing, and expertise in various activities like camping, trail running, skiing, mountaineering, and more.
Sustainability Efforts: Backcountry employs 3D design software to minimize excess sampling in the pre-production phase and promotes fabric reuse in multiple designs. They also prioritize using synthetic fibers, natural, and organic materials, free from pesticides or hormones. Their packaging materials, including plastic, cardboard, and polybags, are all recyclable, with cardboard sourced from 100% recycled materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
REI
Category: Outdoor gear
REI is a local outdoor co-op, offering top-quality gear, apparel, expert advice, rental equipment, and outdoor experiences. They also sell some of your favorite fitness brands, including shoes and clothing, for a variety of activities indoors and outdoors. Personally, we love shopping at REI for all our outdoor needs!
Sustainability Efforts: REI is committed to stewarding the outdoors and supporting sustainable business practices. They have a grassroots advocacy program, with over 78,000 members advocating for the outdoors and supporting climate action. In our previous article highlighting REI as one of our favorite sustainable brands, we mentioned that REI closes all stores on Black Friday to encourage employees and customers to #OptOutside, promoting outdoor experiences over consumerism.
Cotopaxi
Category: Outdoor gear, bags, and backpacks
Cotopaxi is known for its commitment to adventure, gratitude, and ethical business practices. Not to mention, they sell amazing gear, bags, and backpacks for all types of outdoor activities. My friend got me my first Cotopaxi backpack years ago, and I’ve used it on every hiking, camping, and adventuring trip. It has never failed to carry all the things I need through the great outdoors! Committed to ethical sourcing and creating durable products, 94% of their products include repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials. Even better, each purchase supports global poverty alleviation initiatives.
Sustainability Efforts: Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corp working with ethical suppliers and factories, allocating 1% of annual revenue towards environmental initiatives. Committed to ethical sourcing and creating durable products, 94% of their products include repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials. Even better, each purchase supports global poverty alleviation initiatives, aligning with the Gear for Good® promise. The Cotopaxi Foundation provides grants to nonprofits aiding communities facing extreme poverty, and Cotopaxi is a member of 1% for the Planet, committing to donating 1% of revenue to environmental causes.
Patagonia
Category: Summer outdoor clothing and gear
Patagonia is known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and activism, and it’s one of my favorite outdoor clothing brands! They use sustainable materials to create amazing products, and their clothing is especially soft and comfortable. Their commitment to using recycled materials, fair trade practices, and environmental activism makes them more than a brand – they’re a movement for mindful living.
Sustainability Efforts: Patagonia is dedicated to using recycled and environmentally friendly materials in its products, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. 99% of the products in their Spring 2024 line are made with some preferred material input, including recycled materials, and over 85% of their products are made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Patagonia is also a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of sales to grassroots environmental organizations.
Columbia Sportswear
Category: Summer outdoor clothing and gear
Another one of our favorite outdoor and activewear clothing brands, Columbia Sportswear produces quality clothing and outdoor gear for any adventure through all four seasons. We especially love summer clothes like t-shirts, shorts, and windbreakers for the premium quality materials! Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, their products are tested in their own backyard, ensuring quality and performance for outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.
Sustainability Efforts: Columbia is dedicated to preserving outdoor adventure spaces and partners with many conservation-focused nonprofit organizations to provide product and cash donations, contributing to the conservation of natural areas. They’re also committed to giving back and responsibly using resources, particularly water. Columbia has a longstanding partnership with Planet Water, constructing 24 water towers since 2016 to provide clean drinking water to disadvantaged communities globally. Columbia also partners with the Planet Water Foundation to combat the global water crisis and support communities in need.
Fair Harbor
Category: Swimwear, summer clothing
Fair Harbor is a Certified B Corporation with a mission to reduce plastic waste in the water and at the beach. Not to mention, they have great swimwear options for men! The company began by transforming plastic bottles into swim trunks and has expanded its product line to include shirts, pants, and more, all made from recycled materials.
Sustainability Efforts: Fair Harbor has made a positive impact on the environment since its launch in 2014, using recycled materials, responsible partners, and ethical, earth-friendly practices for all its apparel. By transforming over 30 million recycled plastic water bottles into lifestyle apparel, Fair Harbor demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and reducing plastic waste in oceans and waterways.
TenTree
Category: Activewear, summer clothing
Tentree is an eco-friendly brand that specializes in clothing and activewear made from recycled, post-consumer waste materials. The company has a unique initiative where they plant 10 trees for every item purchased, how neat!
Sustainability Efforts: At Tentree, all products are created with an Earth-First approach, ensuring fair, safe working conditions and using only sustainably sourced and recycled materials. They prioritize using organic or recycled materials like TENCEL™ lyocell, organic cotton, or REPREVE® recycled polyester to reduce wastewater and emissions associated with apparel manufacturing. They have planted over 100 million trees to date and aim to plant 1 billion trees by 2030, contributing to ecosystem regeneration and carbon capture.
United By Blue
Category: Summer bags, accessories, and clothing
United By Blue is a brand committed to environmental conservation, with a unique initiative to remove one pound of trash from oceans and waterways for every product purchased. They are an outdoor lifestyle brand focused on ocean conservation that offers sustainable clothing, bags, and home goods.
Sustainability Efforts: United By Blue prioritizes minimizing environmental impact through their materials, focusing on reducing harm, reusing forgotten fibers, and recycling existing waste. To date, they have removed more than 5.2 million pounds of trash, emphasizing the importance of consumer support in cleaning up marine environments. United By Blue follows a low-waste, slow-fashion business model and partners with ethical, certified manufacturing partners who adhere to their Supplier Code of Conduct.
Cariuma
Category: Summer sneakers
Cariuma is a Brazil-based shoe brand known for its comfortable, high-quality shoes made from fair-trade cotton, rubber, and recycled plastic bottles. Their shoes are eco-friendly, with some models like the Ibis being 100% vegan, meaning no animal products are used in their fabrication.
Sustainability Efforts: Cariuma is committed to environmental conservation and has a program for ecological restoration, focusing on rebuilding rainforests in Brazil. The founders, David & Fernando, prioritize quality over quantity, encouraging conscious consumption and eco-conscious decision-making throughout the sneaker-making process. 65% of their products are 100% vegan, and they continuously strive to increase their vegan shoe offerings, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and catering to conscious consumers.
Beyond Meat
Category: Summer outdoor BBQ, using vegan meat, plant-based food
All I can say is YUMMY! Beyond Meat is an innovative brand that specializes in plant-based meat that is not only eco-friendly but also delicious. Kevin loves Beyond Meat, and it’s now our first option when it comes to quick, simple, and delicious vegan meals. This brand revolutionizes your plate by crafting delicious plant-based alternatives, and I’m telling you, it’s delicious. Reducing environmental footprint, their products are truly a tasty testament to sustainable and cruelty-free dining.
Lettuce Grow
Category: Plant fruits, vegetables, and herbs outdoors for the summer
Lettuce Grow is a movement designed to inspire people and families to demand better from the food system, promoting improved health, climate change mitigation, and addressing global resource constraints. Their hydroponic gardens allow you to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in one tower, indoors or outdoors, making gardening accessible to all.
Sustainability Efforts: Lettuce Grow prioritizes sustainable practices, avoiding the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides in their gardening systems. Through their Lettuce Give program, they have donated Farmstands to over 2,000 deserving classrooms and nonprofit organizations nationwide, providing students with accessible and healthy food and empowering the next generation. Through Lettuce Grow, 5,426,645 fruits and veggies were grown, 180,887,985 gallons of water saved, and 3,690,118 pounds of carbon saved.
Outerknown
Category: Swimwear, summer clothing
Outerknown is definitely one of the best sustainable clothing brands out there with gorgeous summer styles for the 2024 season. Co-founded by pro-surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown is known for its effortless and casual beach styles rooted in sustainability and transparency. Their beautiful minimalist styles are perfect for your beach or island vacation.
Sustainability Efforts: Outerknown offers a range of denim styles, activewear, and more, all made with a commitment to sustainability. The brand prioritizes the use of preferred fibers, such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled cotton, and responsible wool, in their products to enhance sustainability and circularity potential. Through their partnership with Project Vermont, Outerknown repurposes materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, rescuing 960 lbs of denim and recycling 400 lbs of wool sweaters to create new products like bags, mittens, and blankets.
Paka Apparel
Category: Summer outdoor clothing (hiking, camping)
Paka Apparel is a brand founded in Peru, with a mission to create natural, all-purpose clothing for outdoor enthusiasts. They innovate with alpaca fiber and other materials to produce products that are healthier for people and the planet, encouraging consumers to make more conscious choices and support the communities where their products originate.
Sustainability Efforts: Paka Apparel allocates 1% of all sales towards improving the livelihoods of farmers in Peru and promoting regenerative alpaca practices, demonstrating their commitment to supporting local communities and sustainable sourcing. As a founding member of the Good Ocean, Paka has partnered with Cristina Mittermeier to contribute to ocean conservation efforts, aiming to turn the tide for the world’s oceans and promote environmental sustainability.
Klean Kanteen
Category: Water bottles to stay hydrated for summer activities
Klean Kanteen offers a range of reusable products beyond water bottles, including insulated cups, food canisters, metal straws, and more. Founded in 2004, Klean Kanteen initiated the Bring Your Own™ revolution by introducing the first reusable stainless steel water bottles in the United States.
Sustainability Efforts: Klean Kanteen has expanded its product line to include alternatives to disposable items like coffee cups, drinkware, to-go cartons, food storage containers, and straws, demonstrating a commitment to reducing single-use plastics and promoting sustainability. Since 2008, Klean Kanteen has donated over $4.1 million to environmental non-profits through their participation in the 1% for the Planet program. The company is a certified B Corp and certified Climate Neutral in its operations, reflecting its dedication to social and environmental responsibility.
Pottery Barn
Category: Outdoor home and garden (perfect for summer)
Pottery Barn is a popular interior design and home furnishing brand with beautiful products to elevate your space. This is certainly one of my favorite home decor brands! But Pottery Barn goes beyond stylish home decor; it’s a pioneer in sustainable furnishings. With a commitment to responsibly sourced materials and eco-friendly manufacturing, it’s nice to know that my cozy corner at home not only looks good but does good for the environment too.
Sustainability Efforts: Pottery Barn focuses on using sustainably sourced materials, such as FSC-certified wood and organic cotton, in their products. The brand emphasizes reducing its carbon footprint through energy-efficient practices and aims for zero waste in its operations.
Girlfriend Collective
Category: Women’s activewear, summer clothing
Activewear gets a green makeover with Girlfriend Collective. I love that the material is so soft, comfortable, and long-lasting! From leggings and bike shorts to sports bras and dresses, Girlfriend Collective’s designs are perfect for any summer activity. Their chic styles are made from recycled plastic bottles, turning fashion waste into sustainable activewear. Looks good and feels good, inside and out.
Sustainability Efforts: Dedicated to sustainability and ethical manufacturing, Girlfriend Collective focuses on creating high-quality athletic wear from recycled materials like water bottles and fishing nets. They also prioritize eco-friendly packaging and encourage customers to recycle their old garments through their ReGirlfriend program. Their transparent supply chain ensures fair labor practices and environmentally friendly production processes.
Everlane
Category: Women’s summer clothing
Everlane is your go-to for chic essentials with a conscience. They are a little pricey but the materials are of such high quality, it makes the price tag worth it. With a commitment to radical transparency, ethical factories, and sustainable materials, they redefine fashion as a force for good.
The Body Shop
Category: Summer skincare products
The Body Shop is more than a beauty brand. They embrace cruelty-free practices, promote fair trade, and source their materials ethically while empowering communities worldwide. Plus, their products smell great and feel even better.
Lush
Category: Summer skincare and hair products
Lush is known for their premium bath bombs that leave you feeling soft and lush for days. I only get bath bombs from Lush. Not only do they feel amazing, but knowing that this brand is a crusader for cruelty-free, handmade cosmetics makes me feel more at ease in the tub. With a dedication to reducing packaging waste, transparent ingredient sourcing, and fighting against animal testing, Lush delivers products that are as good for the planet as it is for your skin.
Other Brands to Consider
VEJA
- What are they known for? Shoes for summer activities, running shoes
Vitamin A
- What are they known for? Women’s swimwear, beach wear, summer clothing
Pact
- What are they known for? Women’s summer and travel clothing
Reformation
- What are they known for? Women’s summer clothing
MUD Jeans
- What are they known for? Summer jeans and shorts
