The Best Eco-Friendly Brands Every Man Should Know About
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Earth Day is April 22, and this holiday comes once a year to remind us to be more eco-friendly. Obviously, not everyone has the option to live in an agricultural commune where you eat only what you grow and don’t use electricity. But there are ways that each one of us can reduce our carbon footprint both with our daily habits and our shopping decisions.
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Changing our buying behavior can actually have a bigger impact on the environment than you think. The fashion industry is responsible for a lot of pollution, both in producing clothing and in clothing that we throw away. That cotton t-shirt you’re wearing? It probably cost a lot of water to produce. It can take up to 20,000 liters of water to grow 1 kg of cotton. Not only that, but the synthetic fabrics that make up our clothing often end up as microplastic polluting the ocean, a fast-growing problem for marine life.
Now that the effects of global warming are becoming harder to ignore, numerous brands have popped up that offer eco-friendly alternatives to products we use every day. From grooming supplies to furniture to athletic clothing — there are new sustainable brands paving the way for green shopping, and we’re happy to bring some of them to light today.
Keep reading to find:
Our Favorite Sustainable Men’s Clothing Brands
Sustainable Footwear for Men
Our Favorite Sustainable Grooming Brands for Men
Eco-Friendly Furniture Products
Eco-Friendly Accessories to Consider
To mark Earth Day 2020, we wanted to highlight these awesome men’s brands. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but all of these brands make it a point to offer high-quality products without placing undue burdens on the planet’s natural resources. Consider supporting these sustainable menswear brands and grooming companies this Earth Day. Plus, you know, switching to low-energy light bulbs and shutting off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
Our Favorite Sustainable Men’s Clothing Brands
Prana
Prana is a clothing brand dedicated to making sustainable clothing through the use of recycled materials, organic cotton and environmentally conscious practices in their factories and shipping methods.
The Slope Short
These men’s athletic shorts are made of recycled polyester and organic cotton that’s been woven into a high-performance blend fabric. It’s got a durable water repellent finish that’s quick-drying and moisture-wicking with a UPF rating of 50+. The elastic waistband comes with a drawcord and it’s got secure pockets all around for protecting your goods. These shorts come in three different colors including teal (pictured here), a grey stripe pattern and a green and grey textured design.
Heiro Short
The Heiro Short is designed for an active lifestyle all the way around — from your morning lift to your long afternoon they’ll hold up just like other, more expensive brands. Plus, they’re made of recycled polyester and designed for both comfort and mobility. They’ve got compression shorts built right in so you’ll feel snug and secure, and they are designed to wick moisture away so you’ll stay smooth and dry as you turn up the heat.
Hybridizer Jogger
These lightweight jogger pants are super comfortable and versatile, even for men’s pants. They’re made of lightweight fabric that’s breathable enough to be activewear while looking like real pants. The polyester is made of 83% renewably-sourced DuPont Sorona fibers so you know you’re making an environmentally-conscious choice along with a high-quality one. The elasticated leg cuffs will pair well with sneakers to show off your ankles and the pockets in front and back are mesh-lined for extra protection.
Buy: Prana Hybridizer Jogger $89.00
ROF Anorak
This oversized quarter-zip Anorak is made for the springtime as it’s easy to pull on and off with changing temperatures and has an adjustable hem and hood. It comes in two colors, a darker grey-green and a bright orange — both of which were made using a garment-dyeing technique that’s far less toxic and water-consuming than traditional fabric dyeing. It’s made with a cotton, nylon and poly blend to keep you dry and comfortable into the spring, summer and beyond.
Thought
Thought is a brand dedicated to environmentalism through the fabrics they use in their clothing production. Using hemp, bamboo, organic cotton and recycled polyesters, the brand’s clothing is high-performance, super soft and nice to the planet. Here are some of our favorite pieces from their spring 2020 collection.
Mattia Jacket
This blazer design of theirs is a best seller for a reason. It’s super comfortable, unlined and features lapels, pockets and buttons to close. It’s made with 100% organic cotton and pairs well with khaki pants and a white tee shirt.
Christian Hemp Grandpa Top
This relaxed long sleeve tee shirt is made with a super-soft jersey fabric that’s 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton — both sustainable fabrics. It’s a perfect tee for layering under a jacket or sweater and has buttons to fasten in front. Pair it with jeans on a breezy day in spring for a casual look that’s environmentally conscious.
Buy: Christian Hemp Grandpa Top $50.19
Nudie
Nudie is a company dedicated to sustainable denim — an industry that’s normally not great for the environment. From dyeing to cotton production to water usage, the footprint of your favorite pair of jeans might be higher than you’d like it to be. Nudie wants to change that. They don’t just use recycled fibers, they recycle the fabric itself to make it even greener. Their pre-worn denim jeans are well-made and leave zero environmental impact in their wake. They’re a little pricier than fast fashion denim but will last far longer. Plus, they’re pretty fire. Check them out.
Steady Eddie II Dry Selvage
Steady Eddie is one of their roomier fits and isn’t as skinny as other options. The denim used is called Kaihara selvage and has aging properties worth writing home about and is one of the materials that instilled confidence in the company in the first place. It’s able to last so long without wear and tear and looks good while doing it. This fit also comes in about five other colors of light and dark washes.
Buy: Steady Eddie II Dry Selvage $280.00
Thinn Finn Mid Blue Ecru
This solid pair of pants is a thinner fit designed for those who want a skinnier look in their high-quality, environmentally-conscious jeans. The denim is comfort stretch so they’ll move with you and have an ecru back pocket embroidery for an added design element. The crispy wash has some soft mustache and honeycomb abrasions that give it texture, and the slubs enhance the character of the fabric even more. Pair these with a white t-shirt and low-rise boots or sneakers for a classic look. This design is also available in five other washes.
Buy: Thin Finn Mid Blue Ecru $199.00
WAMA Underwear
Sustainable undies? Yup. WAMA Underwear is made with hemp, an ultra-sustainable fabric that’s also naturally anti-bacterial and odor-reducing, making it perfect for use making undergarments. Take care of your junk without the planet taking a hit with WAMA Underwear! Who knew environmentalism could be so sexy?
Hemp Trunks
WAMA promises that your purchase of these hemp trunks saves 121.4 days of drinking water and 127.5 hours of LED lightbulb energy. Pretty cool, huh? Hemp is the world’s strongest natural fiber so you know these will last you a while, the material is breathable and hemp naturally kills bacteria and has a UPF rating of 50+ so your junk won’t get sunburned in these.
These are form-fitting and comfortably move with you with a blend of hemp and organic cotton. This design is shorter in the leg for far less bunching and the fabric increases airflow and wicks away moisture so you’ll rest comfortably knowing you made the right choice for the planet and yourself.
This same fabric also comes in boxers, boxer briefs, and briefs. Shop the entire men’s collection and choose what’s right for you!
Sustainable Footwear for Men
After shopping some of our top sustainable men’s clothing brands, it’s time to consider your shoes. From the plastic materials they’re made of to the factories they’re made in — footwear can come at a steep price for the environment. Fortunately, there are brands paving the way toward lower carbon footprints for shoe manufacturers. Here’s one of our favorites.
Allbirds
In case you haven’t heard of this SF sock-less comfortable work shoe start-up yet, they’re also environmentally-friendly, making them the perfect eco-conscious footwear purchase. Allbirds makes some of the best wool sneakers in the world, and their goal is a zero carbon footprint. They’re already solidly on their way there with an average emittance of 7.6 kg of CO2e with each shoe. The average shoe, for perspective, emits 12.5 kg of CO2e. They’re aiming to accomplish this by closely monitoring their use of materials and natural resources, as well as offsetting their practices by investing profits into projects that neutralize their carbon footprint.
They’ve got shoes designed for spring, winter and casual wear. They’ve also got a whole line of socks to check out.
Men’s Wool Dasher Middles
This lightweight runner was one of their first shoes and has a carbon footprint of 7.1 kg CO2. The upper wool material is super soft and itch-free on the inside and durable on the outside. The laces are 100% recycled polyester and the sole is made with castor bean oil which additionally trims off the carbon output when compared to petroleum-based foam. Brazilian sugarcane SweetFoam makes up the outer sole of the shoe and is the world’s first carbon-negative green EVA. The S-curve in the sole mimics your feet’s flexibility and gives you equal weight distribution as you walk.
These come in a variety of fabric and sole colors and are designed to keep you warm in colder months.
Buy: Wool Dasher Mizzles $135.00
Men’s Tree Toppers
This environmentally-conscious and refreshingly simple design is a modern take on the classic high-top made out of a proprietary mesh knit textile that breathes in and out with your movement. The fabric comes from sustainably gathered eucalyptus pulp and bio-based TPU creates the eyelets in the material from unique microorganisms that are both resilient and friendly to the earth.
These breezy casual high tops come in a variety of colors so you can pick which one suits your style the best.
Buy: Men’s Tree Toppers $170.00
Top Sustainable Men’s Grooming Brands
Men’s grooming products can contain harsh chemicals, synthetic dyes and parabens that are not only bad for your body, but also end up in our water system and are bad for the environment as well. The following eco-friendly grooming brands are trying to do things differently.
Art of Sport
Art of Sport is a men’s grooming and hygiene brand designed to keep pro athletes and all men comfortable and well taken care of with their whole line of sports-focused products that are rich in natural botanicals.
CEO Matthias Metternich made conscious environmental practices and effectiveness a dual priority when he developed his line with Kobe Bryant. These products are now used by numerous pro athletes looking for high-performance products that don’t harm them or the environment. Their line encapsulates everything you’d need for grooming including body washes, deodorants, shampoo and conditioner as well as men’s face wash. Here are some of our favorite go-to products.
Deodorant
The deodorant is made with high-performance matcha and arrowroot instead of aluminum and parabens, is odor-blocking and goes on clear without leaving stains on your clothes. Stay cool under pressure and focus on the grind knowing your deodorant is working with you and environment at the same time.
Buy: Art of Sport Deodorant $8.95
2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner
We know, normally 2-in-1 shampoo + conditioner formulas are sketchy, but this product’s high-quality ingredients and thoughtful formula make it an exception to the rule. Save yourself time and environmental guilt by using this combined formula made with natural botanicals including coconut oil and witch hazel. It’ll deeply cleanse, nourish your scalp and hydrate your hair from root to tip so a dry scalp and oily strands will both be in your past.
Buy: Art of Sport 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner $8.95
Ursa Major
Ursa Major is an environmentally-conscious skincare company with a core belief that “skin is skin” and deserves natural products that work well.
Their products contain no petrochemicals, parabens, synthetic fragrances or colors. They’ve got everything your body needs to make it easy to always have your favorites within reach. Their products feel light on your skin while still containing powerful active ingredients that will accomplish what you want them to without clogging, crusting or leaving behind any nasty residue.
4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic
Don’t want to worry about a long skin care routine at night? Skip it, with this Essential Face Tonic that acts as a cleanser, exfoliator, soother and hydrator all in one. In one fell swoop, it removes dirt and grime, brightens, hydrates and leaves behind a non-oily matte finish. Useful for all skin types and genders.
Buy: Ursa Major 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic $26.00
Stellar Shave Cream
This shave cream is super nourishing and non-lathering making it easy to get a close, perfect shave without all the fuss. It provides a cushion against razor burn while actively nourishing your skin and smoothing over your shave with a coniferous blend of ginger, grapefruit and bergamot. These natural ingredients are your new favorite shave buddies with this sulfate-free cream alternative. Do your face and the planet a favor and make the switch.
Buy: Ursa Major Stellar Shave Cream $24.00
Top Eco-Friendly Furniture Brand
From the harvesting of wood to the means of transportation, furniture buying, selling and producing is not always the greenest of practices. Vote green with your dollar when spending bigger bucks on larger items in your home, because it’s possible to find high-quality, great looking furniture that’s also making a conscious effort to care for the planet. Here’s a brand to consider the next time you’re buying a new mattress. You can also opt for thrift stores or second-hand furniture that’s inherently green through cutting down on the demand for newly built materials.
Avocado
Avocado offers natural mattresses as well as dressers, end tables and other furniture pieces that are 100% organic certified, made with low emissions, contain no polyurethane foams and are handmade in California. Their materials include GOLS organic certified latex that’s sustainably harvested as well as GOTS organic certified wool and cotton that are both harvested ethically. They also own their Los Angeles factory where everything is made.
Avocado Green Mattress
Their mattress is their signature product, and thus it’s our favorite. It contains no polyester, polyurethane or toxic fire retardants. It’s got up to 1,414 support coils for helping you sleep a guilt-free, environmentally-conscious slumber, and you have the option of adding a pillow top for two more inches of their soft, plush organic latex.
This organic mattress will change how you view bedtime and has a 25-year warranty on it.
Buy: Avocado Green Mattress Starting at $899.00
Sustainable Accessories to Consider…
There are so many smaller items you can gather throughout your house that will help you cut down on your waste production. Whether it’s reusable grocery bags, water bottles, coffee mugs or chewable toothpaste — there are many ways to make your habits more eco-friendly. Check out this sustainable brand below for your next purchase.
Wild Minimalist
Wild Minimalist is your one-stop shop for low and zero-waste products including zero-waste kits, reusable bags and low-plastic grooming essentials among others. Founded by a couple who opted to go zero-waste during three months of travel together abroad, their products are high-quality and deliver the same results as their plastic-heavy counterparts. Check out a few of our favorites below.
Zero Waste Lunch Kit With Coffee Cup
Pack your lunch to work kinda guy? This kit will help you do so in style, sustainably of course. Make this kit a regular part of the rotation rather than using takeout containers all the time and feel the satisfaction doing your part environmentally can provide. This kit has everything you need for a quick bite including a full silverware set, reusable metal straw, coffee cup and large entree container. Pick it up and be the coolest environmentalist in the break room.
Buy: Zero Waste Lunch Kit With Coffee Cup $129.99
Cotton Mesh Produce Bags, Set of 5
Ditch those thin plastic bags from the grocery store that probably aren’t the best for the environment or your health. These mesh produce bags are made with 100% organic cotton and offer a sustainable alternative that will help you fruit last longer in a breathable environment in the fridge. They’re see-through so you won’t come off as sketchy to anyone and the cashier will still be able to ring you up quickly and easily.
Buy: Cotton Mesh Produce Bags, Set of 5 $29.99
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