Posts in Lifestyle Four
7 Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents to Take Better Care Of Your Clothing
 
non-toxic-laundry-detergent

The way we take care of our clothes isn’t just about making sure our garments last longer; it’s about our health, too. We want our homes to be as non-toxic as possible, including what we use to clean the things we wear daily. There are several eco-friendly & non-toxic laundry detergent brands today, and they work just as well - if not better - as the leading conventional brands. All the ones listed here are made with ingredients that are safe for your skin & easy on fabric so that you can enjoy your clothes for many years.

1) Blueland

Price | $18 for starter pack

Blueland is on a mission to reinvent household products to end single-use plastic waste.

Its products are all refillable, meaning you buy the bottle once and only need to purchase the refills.

All of their products are formulated without water, so each is lighter and smaller, which significantly reduces the environmental impact of shipping!

Blueland only uses ingredients on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List, all vegan and cruelty-free.


2) Cleancult

Price | $55 for starter pack

Clean Cult is a sustainable cleaning brand that has created a smart refill system for cleaning products.

From all-purpose cleaners to laundry detergents, all of its refills are sold in FSC-certified paper-based cartons that are 100% recyclable.

In addition, the formulas are free of toxic substances like phthalates, petroleum-based ingredients, phosphates, dyes, SLES, and SLS.


3) Dropps

Price | $18 with subscription

Dropps is one of the best zero-waste cleaning brands you can find! It has everything you may need, from different laundry detergents to dish sprays to all kinds of cleaning tools.

Its detergents are encased in a water-soluble pod that dissolves upon contact with water.

Their ultra-concentrated formulas are completely free of harmful ingredients and are formulated with plant and mineral-based ingredients.


4) Grove Collaborative

Price | $25 for starter pack

Grove Collaborative has a huge selection of non-toxic household products, including approximately 300 cleaning products and tools from various sustainable brands.

All the products are ethically produced, cruelty-free, and healthy to use!

The company makes sure only to sell products made with plant-based formulas. In addition, they only contain essential oils and other botanical-based ingredients, all disclosed on the website.


5) Clothes Doctor

Price | $26 for up to 64 washes

Clothes Doctor's goal is to change mindsets and time horizons and help drive the movement toward reducing fashion pollution and waste. They offer plastic-free, vegan clothing care products packed full of natural fragrances. Explore their specialist detergents, eco-friendly laundry products, and plastic-free clothing care tools, all with the ethos that we should nourish and nurture our clothes, not toss them aside. Get hold of their laundry and wardrobe essentials to make clothing care a pleasure, not a chore. Find your new favorite biodegradable, cruelty-free, vegan laundry detergents, or explore clothing care kits, specializing in suit and leather care.


6) Laundress

Price | $66 for a gallon & 256 washes

This one is my husband’s favorite, but I wish it was more zero-waste.

They have pretty much any type of laundry detergent you could need - from wool to baby to sport to denim. And to be honest, their signature detergent is the best smelling of any detergent I have ever tried.

Their non-toxic formula is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way!


7) Tru Earth

Price | $19.95

Tru Earth is an eco-friendly laundry detergent brand selling ultra-concentrated laundry detergent sheets.

These are free of parabens, phosphates, added dyes, bleach, and other toxic chemicals.

You can choose between different scents; it even has laundry sheets specially formulated for baby clothes! The strips are biodegradable and dissolve quickly in both cold and hot water. The formulas are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and you can find a list of all the ingredients used on the company’s website.

 
A List of Black-Owned Sustainable Brands
 
image from 54kibo

image from 54kibo

As a white woman taking space in the sustainable fashion community, it’s my job to help put an end to white supremacy and support the voices of Black men & women. A great way we can all support their community is putting our money towards Black-owned sustainable businesses, and this list will constantly be updated throughout the year to include more brands. Please, feel free to add some in the comments to direct readers to those, as well. Thank you!

Black-owned Sustainable Fashion Brands

photo from Knotzland

photo from Knotzland

AAKS: Handbags - Hand Crafted Summer Raffia Bags. Each collection silhouette is unique and tells a different story through detail, colour and shape.

Arlokea: Jewelry - Artisan made in Ecuador and Vietnam from locally-sourced, eco-friendly, and upcycled materials.

beRESONANT: Clothing, Accessories - The first-of-its-kind destination for inclusive, creation-driven clothing.

Devi Collective: Jewelry - Handmade ethical jewelry made in Vancouver. They use recycled sterling silver & gold, and ethically cut gems.

Galerie. LA: Men’s & Women’s Clothing, Accessories, Home, Beauty -  Sustainable Clothing & Lifestyle Goods. Clean Beauty.

Grant Blvd: Women’s Clothing & Accessories - Sustainably sourced, socially conscious style, women-led apparel brand committed to supporting those who are currently incarcerated & formerly incarcerated.

House Of Aama: Men & Women’s Clothing - Folkways, Black Experience, Timeless Garments. Mother Daughter Design Duo. 100% Produced in Los Angeles, California.

Kaeci Concept: Women’s Clothing, Handbags, Jewelry - Statement pieces matching your skin tone + your body shape. 10% goes to non profit Wings of Kaeci, A Creative Entrepreneur School for disadvantaged young people in Cameroon.

Knotzland: Men’s Accessories - Artisan Bowties made in small batches inside their tiny studio in Pittsburgh. Made from 98.9% reclaimed fabric & materials.

Omi Woods: Jewelry - Contemporary heirlooms that are ethically and individually handcrafted with fine metals, gemstones and conflict-free gold.

Pamoja: Leather Bags - Elevated everyday bags handcrafted in Spain out of locally-sourced leather. Pamoja (which means ‘togetherness’ in Swahili) works with the Kujuwa initiative in Kenya on educating young women and girls on sexual reproductive health.

Sancho’s: Men & Women’s Clothing, Accessories, Home, Beauty - Helping us change the world by choosing sustainable and ethically made clothes. Black Woman owned Indie Shop.

Salomé: Women’s Swimwear - Sustainably sourced and ethically produced by women in limited quantities in Dominican Republic.

Selva Negra: Women’s Clothing & Accessories - The collection represents drive, holistic energy, united empowerment, careful craftsmanship, and engineered comfort.

Tree Fairfax: Women’s Belts & Handbags - Handmade Leather Goods. Never Mass-Produced. Each piece is created with love and care by hand. 

Two Days Off: Women’s Clothing, Jewelry & Accessories - Ease Everyday. Sustainably made to order in LA. Climate neutral. Independently woc owned by Gina Stovall.


Black-Owned Sustainable Beauty Brands

photo from Rooted Woman

photo from Rooted Woman

AcARRE: Skin Care & Hair Care -  Multi-use skin and scalp moisturizing oil. Enjoy multi-levels of hydration nourishing and rejuvenating your skin.

beelove: Skin Care - An all natural line of raw honey & honey-infused body care products.

BLK+GRN: Bath & Body, Skin Care, Makeup, Hair, Menstrual Care, Mom & Baby - Non-toxic marketplace by all Black artisans. One stop-shop for Black-owned natural products.

Breed Love Beauty Co: Natural Oils, Bath, Body, Face Care, Hair Care - Luxury & affordable natural skin & hair care products handmade w/ natural & organic butters, oils & clays| CBD Skincare.

Briogeo: Hair Care - Clean, High Performing Ingredients Personalized For Your Unique Hair Type. Cruelty-Free. 2020 Allure Award Winner. No Animal Testing. No Sulfates or Parabens.

GOLDE: Wellness - Superfood health and beauty for every body. Shop matcha, latte blends and superfood face masks.

Goodnight Darling Co: Wellness - Beauty + Wellness + Herbal Apothecary. A Lifestyle Brand Dedicated To Teaching Women How To Sleep Well. 

hanahana beauty: Skin Care - a skincare brand committed to empowering women of color, handcrafting all products using 100% natural products.

Kobee’s: Organic Lip Balm - A sustainable lip balm brand, committed to to sustainability by providing all organic products in plastic free packaging.

Mented Cosmetics: Makeup - Collection Designed For Any Skin Tone. Founded by Women of Color. Proudly Made In The USA. Non-Toxic. Without Parabens. Ideal For Deep Skin Tones.

Naturall Club: Hair Care - Hair Products So Natural, You Have To Refrigerate Them. Hand-Made. Sulfate-Free.

nyakio: Skin Care - Hand made small batch beauty secrets using cold-pressed oils crafted with ethical, sustainable, and natural ingredients from around the world.

Oui the People: Razors - Shop razors to last a lifetime and body care that will leave you feeling hydrated. Paraben & Cruelty Free. Reduce Ingrown Hair. Premium Women's Razor. No More Razor Burn.

PiperWai: Deodorant - If you’re looking for a natural deodorant that keeps you feeling fresh, check out PiperWai. It’s the first charcoal deodorant to neutralize odor and absorb wetness using only clean ingredients.

Rooted Woman: Non-Toxic Nail Polish - They are committed to local and small batch production for less environmental impact.

Uncle Funky’s Daughter: Haircare -  All-Natural Hair Products For Your Hair To Promote Growth.

Zeme Organics: Skincare -  Discover your favorite cosmetic products helping to save the planet.


Black-Owned Sustainable Home & Lifestyle Brands

photo from Aya Paper Co.

photo from Aya Paper Co.

54kibo: Home Decor, Furniture, Kids - Unique and exclusive selections of contemporary African design and home accessories that are inspiring the global design landscape.

Aya Paper Co: Stationery - 100% recycled stationery & gifts.

Bole Road Textiles: Linens, Home Decor - Modern textiles for the home, Handwoven in Ethiopia, Designed in Brooklyn by Hana Getachew.

EcoVibe: Home Decor, Furniture, Plants (clothing, too) - Portland-based clothing brand and home goods store focused on affordable, ethical, fashion for men and women. 

Goodee: Home Decor, Furniture, Kitchenware, Bathroom - A journey towards discovering curated products and content by designers who believe in doing good. It's a marketplace built for a better world.

Jungalow: Home Decor, Wall Paper, Planters, Art - Celebrating the human/nature connection. Buy 1 product, 2 trees get planted.

Pur-Home: Cleaning Products - Earth Safe. Human Safe. No Yucky Ingredients Household Cleaners & Laundry Detergent that Works. Changing the Way You Think About Clean.

Trade Street Jam Co: Food - Low sugar, vegan jams for spreading on everything.

Zero Shop Co: Groceries - Local. Organic. Accessible. Zero Waste. SF Bay Area. Coming soon to LA & NYC.

image from Kaeci Concept

image from Kaeci Concept

 
5 Organic & Sustainable Essential Oil Brands for Home & Body
 

Do you like to use essential oils in your home? Today, you can find many brands selling essential oils and aromatherapy. After all, essential oils have been used since ancient times in civilizations worldwide. However, not all of them are created equal. As someone who likes to use refreshing scents throughout the house (& for my own body), I’ve created a list of trusted brands that make essential oils with the best sustainably-sourced ingredients. My absolute favorite is lavender whenever I wind down from a long day and get ready for bed. As a little girl, my mom would put lavender next to my pillow if I couldn’t sleep well. It always worked, so I’ve continued to use essential oils throughout my life to this day.

1) Appalachian Botanical Co.

Since 2019, this West Virginian sustainable essential oil brand has grown lavender and raised bees on reclaimed coal mine land.

It is incredible how they are creating new economic opportunities on this type of land while also employing people with limited options for decent-paying jobs.

What’s interesting is the fact lavender thrives on this type of rocky-soil land, making it the perfect crop.


2) Bursera

This essential oil brand is the complete package.

From sustainably-derived ingredients to ethical manufacturing, Bursera is taking aromatherapy to the next level.

Plus, with every purchase, they plant a tree. Bursera has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant young trees across six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also are carbon-neutral and use 100% sustainable packaging. In addition to planting trees, they help ocean clean-ups and donate to 1% for the Planet!


3) RE Botanicals

A little different spin on using essential oils.

RE Botanicals mixes CBD with essential oils to give you some fantastic roll-on products. I use them in my everyday life and love them.

RE Botanicals is the first national brand to sell U.S.-grown, USDA-certified organic hemp. All their products are grown, extracted, and bottled at their USDA organic farm in South Carolina. If you are new to using CBD oils, they are great for several things, from stress to depression and acne to pain.


4) Thrive Market

Have you tried Thrive Market yet? It’s one of my favorite places to buy sustainable food and beauty products. You can find great deals on many different products, and they have their own line of essential oils.

Their line is crafted from the highest quality, organic, and non-GMO ingredients. The ‘specially selected botanicals are harvested, sorted, and then gently extracted using steam distillation to reduce deterioration of the aroma’.

They are a Certified B Corp, & for every membership, one is given to a family in need.


5) Vitruvi

You may recognize this brand from social media. It’s a pretty popular one, and their diffusers look amazing.

Vitruvi is an expert in natural scenting. Using the founders’ knowledge of botanicals and traditional blending methods, they have created sophisticated essential oil products for everyday life.

Using non-toxic, all-natural, 100% pure essential oils, they expertly source and blend unique aromas to help you take ownership of your space.


 
10 Sustainable Furniture Brands for the Eco-Friendly Home
 
image from The Citizenry

image from The Citizenry

This post contains affiliate links. As always, products and brands are truly loved! Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the industry a better, fairer place!!!

Looking for sustainable beds, dressers, chairs, couches, tables, etc.?! Today, there are so many wonderful brands creating ethical & eco-friendly furniture for your living room, dining room, bedroom, and beyond. Some are more affordable than others, but all prioritize people and the planet above profits. Many of these sustainable brands are loved within our own homes - so we know they are great!

Made Trade

Categories | Chairs, Beds, Desks, Shelves, Dressers, Tables, Barstools, Cabinets, Sofas, Nightstands, Outdoor

I highly recommend checking out Made Trade when shopping for sustainable furniture. This place is home to several sustainable, eco-friendly & ethical furniture brands. They have some of the most unique pieces you can find, and it’s great to be able to search through them under one roof. You can easily shop by values like Fair Trade, Made in USA, POC-owned, etc.


The Citizenry

Categories | Chairs, Ottomans & Poufs, Headboards, Tables, Shelves, Bathroom

I own a chair from this brand (the one pictured at the beginning of this post), & I love it so much. Their team travels to each country where their goods are made in order to use local materials & establish sustainable relationships with artisans. This enables them to cut out the middleman, & they can offer high-quality, handmade goods at more reasonable prices.


Avocado

Categories | Bed Frames, Nightstands, Dressers, End Tables

You may recognize this brand from their organic mattresses, but they actually have a beautiful collection of beds and small furniture made with 100% FSC-certified maple and reclaimed wood, as well. They even have these cool bed frame accessories where you can add shelves to your bed so you can easily access your drinks & books. What an awesome idea, right?!


Burrow

Categories | Sofas, Chairs, Storage, Tables, Benches

I love finding brands who produce furniture locally to cut down on their footprint. They make everything in the US, and are known for their innovative modular design which can live on with you for many years in many different homes. They also use several different conscious materials like sustainably-forested wood, strengthened steel hardware, & top-grain Italian leather.


Medley

Categories | Sofas, Chairs, Storage, Bedroom, Living Room, Dining Room, Office, Poufs, Benches, Ottomans

This is another brand handcrafting all of their furniture in the US - LA to be exact. Medley’s customizable furniture is made within 12 weeks by a team who has 170 combined years of experience. They also do not use any harsh chemicals or fire retardants on their products, and have a 100 day trial period with free returns.


Sabai

Categories | Sofas

I’m really loving what this BIPOC-owned sustainable furniture brand is all about. Sabai Design’s mission is to create beautifully designed, affordable furniture that doesn’t cost the earth. Their pieces are modular and customizable, and made in High Point, NC. They also use sustainable materials like natural fibers, recycled water bottles, FSC certified wood, certiPUR-US certified foam, and recycled fiber pillows.


Simbly

Categories | Dining Tables, Desks, Coffee Tables, End Tables, Benches

Simbly’s goal is to become the world's first climate positive furniture company, & they are definitely on the right track. 100% of their wood comes from sustainably managed, FSC certified forests. They also choose materials & food-safe finishes that avoid toxins, and they manufacture in Asheville, NC. Plus, for every purchase, a tree is planted & carbon is offset.


West Elm

Categories | Living Room, Dining Room, Office Space, Entryway, Storage, Bedroom, Outdoor

West Elm basically covers any type of home furniture you need. Their prices do tend to be a bit more affordable than others, as well. However, not all of their pieces I would consider ‘sustainable’. I’ve linked up their ‘Fair Trade Certified’ page so you can have a better idea of what would be the more sustainable option.


VivaTerra

Categories | Accent Tables, Sofas, Chairs, Dining, Benches, Stools, Cabinets, Chests, Desks, Shelves

This brand is dedicated to operating in harmony with nature and is inspired by modern, eco-conscious design. They’re well known for things like block-printed textiles, and reclaimed wood furnishings. They work with talented artisans from around the globe & are concerned with the who, what, where & how surrounding their products.

sustainable-furniture-companies

This post is sponsored in part by Made Trade & Knaughty Log, and contains affiliate links. As always, views are genuine and brands are truly loved. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make this industry a fairer and cleaner place!

 
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7 Eco-Friendly, Zero-Waste & Non-Toxic Dish Soaps and Dishwasher Detergents For a Sparkly Clean
 

Image: CleanCult

Non-Toxic Dish Soap & Dishwasher Detergents

Are you searching for non-toxic dishwasher detergents and soaps?

Nowadays, several brands offer eco-friendly and sometimes even zero-waste soaps for a greener and healthier kitchen. It is essential to use soaps that do not contain harmful chemicals for our health, water systems, and land. Many of these brands offer subscription services where you can easily get them delivered to your home when you run low.

Blueland

The Dish Duo

$34

Blueland is on a mission to reinvent household products to end single-use plastic waste. Its products are all refillable, which means that you buy the bottle once and you then only need to purchase the refills. 

Blueland only uses ingredients that are on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List, and all of them are vegan and cruelty-free. 

The brand is also Climate-Neutral and B Corp certified, and all its products and packaging received the Cradle To Cradle certification. 


Meliora Dish Soap from GreenEcoDream

$9.99

Meliora sells sustainable home cleaning and laundry products, all of which are Leaping-Bunny certified.  The company formulates its products using only a short list of natural ingredients, such as baking soda, soap made from organic coconut and sunflower oil, sodium percarbonate, washing soda, organic essential oils, and glycerin produced as a byproduct of soapmaking. The brand is a B Corporation and a member of 1% For The Planet, and all its products are MADE SAFE certified and rated A by the Environmental Working Group.


Castille Zero-Waste Dishwashing Kit

EarthHero

$36 - *use code SustainablyChic10 for 10% off

This kit comes with a highly concentrated 12oz block of castile soap that's handmade in the USA, a bamboo and recycled plastic dish brush, a copper scouring pads and two Swedish dish cloths to up your cleaning game!


Cleancult

Dishwasher Tablets $14.45

Liquid Dish Soap $15.45

Clean Cult is a sustainable cleaning brand that has created a smart refill system for cleaning products.

All the products are also cruelty-free and Leaping-Bunny certified, and you can choose between different all-natural scents that will remind you of nature. 

If you do not already have a bottle at home, Clean Cult sells several kinds of reusable, shatter-resistant glass bottles with a protective silicone base to prevent them from breaking. 


Dropps

Dishwasher Detergent Pods

$18.75 with subscription

Dropps is one of the best zero-waste cleaning brands you can find!

It has everything you may need, from different laundry detergents to dish sprays to all kinds of cleaning tools. Dropps discloses all its ingredients, so you know exactly what you are buying! The brand even sells all-natural cellulose sponges, Swedish dishcloths made from FSC-certified cellulose and repurposed cotton, wool dryer balls, and different kitchen brushes made of bamboo, sisal, and coconut fibers.  


Public Goods

Dish Soap $4.25

Dishwasher Detergent $6.95

Public Goods has a large selection of cleaning products and cleaning tools, all of which are very affordable. They even sell organic castile soap, which can be used to clean everything around the home, from clothes to surfaces to dishes! All the products are formulated with safe, non-toxic ingredients and are free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals. The bottles are also made from 100% recycled plastic, every shipment is carbon-neutral, and the brand plants a tree for every order placed.


sustainable-dish-soap

ThreeMain

Liquid Dish Soap with Bottle $12.99

Liquid Dish Soap Refill $7.25

ThreeMain is the newest cleaning brand I’ve introduced into our household, and it’s been great! Their refillable bottles help reduce waste by 80% - less plastic, water, energy, and carbon than a standard cleaning bottle.

I suggest beginning with their Starter Kit since it takes care of the major household cleaners you use daily.