5 Sustainable Clothing Brands for Tween Fashion (2024)

Image: Mightly
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sustainable brands that tweens Will love

During my time working in tween retailing, I gained valuable insight into the often-overlooked world of tween fashion. While children’s clothing brands typically cater to sizes up to 12/14, tweens inhabit a unique space of their own. They're not quite children, yet not fully teens who are ready to transition to adult brands. What’s more, it's challenging to find sustainable clothing brands that offer sizes for tweens, as many stop at size 10. It's been a personal mission of mine to discover and curate a list of sustainable brands that cater to this age group, leveraging my expertise in tween fashion to make shopping an exciting experience for tweens.

What is a tween?

Tweens, typically aged 9-12, represent a unique demographic in the fashion world. Traditional fashion brands like Justices, Abercrombie Kids, and others cater to this age group, but there is a rising interest in sustainable alternatives to these brands.

What do tweens look for when choosing clothes or fashion?

Tweens tend to have stronger preferences when it comes to fashion compared to younger children. They are beginning to develop their own sense of style and are eager to convey their individuality through their clothing choices. While they desire to move away from shopping at children's stores, they often find themselves in between sizes, not quite fitting into adult sizes yet. Many of us can likely relate to this experience of wanting to transition from kids' clothing to something more mature during our tween years.

Does tween fashion fall under children’s brands? Or do they have unique fashion brands for their age group?

Many fast fashion brands have carved out their own niche in the industry. If you're in your 30s, you may have fond memories of shopping at Limited Too, which is now known as Justice. These brands primarily offer clothing in children's sizes but target the tween and young teen demographic. Sustainable fashion is gaining traction in the industry, but there isn't yet a dedicated brand for this age group. However, there are several children’s brands that offer sizes suitable for tweens and feature fun and expressive designs that cater to their tastes. Without further ado, let's delve into our top recommendations for the tweens in your life!

Brand Rating Guide:

❤︎ = we like ❤︎❤︎ = we really like ❤︎❤︎❤︎ = we LOVE

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Our top pics for tween sustainable fashion brands:

1. Mightly

❤︎❤︎

Mightly offers a range of Fair Trade certified clothing, including tees, leggings, dresses, hoodies, and pajamas. These items are sourced from India and are made from GOTS organic cotton, using non-toxic, tween-safe dyes. Many of their designs are gender-neutral, which were created by Lili Arnold, an artist and designer from Santa Cruz, California. The brand's carefree spirit and fun prints make it a great choice for tweens looking to express themselves through their clothing.

Shop Mightly Tween Clothing

Sustainably Chic | Sustainable Fashion Blog | Sustainable Clothing Brands for Tweens | Hanna Andersson.jpg

2. Hanna Andersson

❤︎

If your tween loves Disney, prints, and colors, Hanna Andersson may be their new favorite clothing brand! Started in Portland back in 1983, Hanna Andersson was perhaps the first sustainability-focused kids’ brand. Made from natural materials like organic cotton (note: not all their clothing is made with organic cotton), their clothing is made to wear and wash over and over then handed down. They even have swimwear and accessories; plus, a secondhand shop to shop even more sustainably.

Shop Hanna Andersson Tween Clothing

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3. Infantium Victoria

❤︎❤︎

Infantium Victoria is a one-of-a-kind and exquisite brand designed specifically for tweens. Julia Gaydina and Dinie van den Heuvel established the brand in 2014. Their focus is on creating high-end organic and vegan fashion for children up to size 16, drawing inspiration from romance and nostalgia. Every garment is produced ethically, utilizing only organic materials and following sustainable sourcing, production, and distribution practices. As a tween, I would have adored this brand for its commitment to style and sustainability.

Shop Infantium Victoria Tween Clothing

Sustainably Chic | Sustainable Fashion Blog | Sustainable Clothing Brands for Tweens | Jackalo.jpg

4. Jackalo

❤︎❤︎❤︎

This brand is committed to creating clothing that encourages play and is always mindful of its environmental footprint. Recently, a contributor highlighted the advantages of circular fashion, and this brand is a shining example of this concept. They actively recycle all leftover fabric from their production process, promote a culture of repairing and reusing, and even provide discounts on future purchases to customers who return their used Jackalo™ products for repair or upcycling. It's a great model for other brands to emulate!

Shop Jackalo Tween Clothing

5. Primary

❤︎

If your tween loves color, Primary will be your new favorite! The creators of this brand were tired of the common gender stereotypes in clothing - pink for girls, blue for boys and the need to spend a fortune for quality. They also didn't like slogans on everything, dictating who kids are and what they should be. So, they created a brand where colors aren’t associated with gender, and there are no labels or slogans. The clothes are made from soft and sustainable fabrics, and they provide great customer service!

Shop Primary Tween Clothing

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Plant-Based Packaging

Supporting your lifestyle with sustainable goods feels great until they arrive in traditional packaging. Even if your purchases don’t harm the earth, cardboard and plastic do. It’s one of the reasons why many companies are moving toward plant-based packaging. Check out the sustainability benefits of eco-friendly shipping materials to better picture the future of green shopping.

What Are Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions?

Eco-friendly packaging solutions are shipment materials that don’t produce environmental waste during manufacturing or after arriving at consumers’ doorsteps. Enough global companies use them that the eco-friendly packaging industry is worth $292.71 billion and will continue to grow through 2029. As long as consumers can place orders online or in stores, packaging materials will be necessary for every business sector.

Do Consumers Want This Packaging Alternative?

Companies may switch to plant-based packaging for various business reasons, but consumer demand is among the most crucial. Experts estimate that 60%-70% of consumers will pay more for green shipping materials. They may opt for green, eco-friendly packaging due to their sustainable lifestyles or general concern for the planet’s well-being.

How Does Traditional Packaging Hurt the Planet?

Traditional packaging includes materials like plastic and styrofoam. Those solutions aren’t biodegradable, so they pollute landfills and break down into chemicals that harm ecosystems. Given that around 11 billion tons of goods are moved across the world by ships annually, non-biodegradable materials are used extensively. Eco-friendly packaging solutions would remove a large amount of waste from landfills and places where those materials become litter, like the oceans.

Different Kinds of Plant-Based Packaging

Anyone interested in eco-friendly shipping materials should learn about plant-based options. They might become available from your preferred manufacturers or restaurants, giving you more opportunities to live a greener lifestyle.

1. Paper and Corn Starch Liners

When you order food to-go, it likely comes in a small plastic container. Restaurant owners prefer these containers to cardboard because they’re nearly leak-proof. The delicious contents won’t soak the material and render it soggy. That’s been the primary challenge of swapping them with cardboard alternatives, but now there are special liners to reduce obstacles.

Manufacturers making restaurant delivery supplies produce containers featuring liners made with 90% renewable materials drawn from corn starch and paper. They withstand liquids well and even provide moderate temperature regulation when the lining is thick. It could help more restaurants replace polystyrene — also known as styrofoam — with these sustainable liners.

2. Dissolvable Packing Peanuts

You’ve likely made at least one purchase that arrived in a box of packing peanuts. The styrofoam pieces absorb shock and cushion fragile goods, but they also don’t break down when you throw them away. Even worse, they’re the perfect size for animals to confuse with edible food.

Manufacturers can create the same type of insular packaging with packing peanuts made from natural starches. They’re so easy to produce that grade school classrooms often make them for science experiments demonstrating the life span of eco-friendly shipping materials.

If you were to receive a box of these peanuts, you could toss all of them into a bowl of water. The water would instantly break down the primary starch ingredient, liquifying your packing peanuts into their biodegradable starch compounds. It’s a significantly greener alternative to petroleum-based styrofoam products.

3. Plantable Boxes

If the idea of washable paper made with cellulose fiber blew your mind, you’re going to love plantable boxes. They’re green packaging that naturally breaks down, like starch-based cardboard or paper. After you retrieve your order, you can bury your packaging in your yard. Instead of remaining in a landfill forever, it would decompose until the seeds hidden inside could form roots in your soil.

This alternative to traditional shipping materials restores ecosystems with specific seeds, like flowers for pollinators. If you choose a company that ships things featuring seeds native to your hometown, your purchase would be twice as green. You’d add plants to your local environment that insects and animals would instantly recognize, rather than a new plant or a potentially invasive species.

4. Bioplastics

You might try to make your lifestyle greener by recycling any plastics you buy. While that helps the environment, you can go even further. Companies are making so much bioplastic packaging that the industry will produce 7.4 million metric tons of it annually by 2028.

Bioplastic is a material made with biobased polymers that microorganisms break down through digestion. They don’t leave any waste behind after entering a processing unit, like a composter or anaerobic digestion equipment. Feeding them contributes to the nutrient profile of the soil around them as well, fueling the environment instead of polluting it.

This revolutionary plant-based packaging can ship everything from pharmaceuticals to consumer goods, so keep an eye out for this green shipping option when you make future purchases.

5. Bagasse Materials

Although you might not have heard about bagasse before, you’ve likely enjoyed the sugary products related to it. When sugar cane manufacturers process their harvests, the sugar cane leaves behind a natural waste called bagasse. Researchers started studying this fibrous waste for its potential in shipping materials. It’s an ongoing form of waste that will exist as long as people eat sugar cane products, which aren’t going away anytime soon.

Bagasse pyrolysis economically benefits its production regions while utilizing an unlimited natural resource. When processed into a solid material, it easily replaces cardboard as a sturdy shipping option. It could reduce the level of deforestation currently contributing to cardboard production, so companies are jumping on board.

6. Mycelium Containers

Mushrooms aren’t just delicious ingredients that eliminate free radicals in your body after you eat them. They’re also another tool in the green packaging world. It all comes down to their roots.

When mushroom spores start growing in the woods, they form intricate root systems. Experts call the entirety of the root system a mycelium, which contains many thin hyphae strands that send nutrients to the mushroom.

Mycelium systems utilize tough natural fibers. They’re perfect eco-friendly packaging solutions because they’re easy to replicate without removal from the natural environment. When fortified for packaging purposes, mycelium containers ship products safely and biodegrade in compost bins. This material is so reliable that people are even combining it with wood to make greener houses made of mushroom roots.

7. Pulp-Based Packaging

Many people think of fruits like oranges when they hear about pulp. Sustainably-minded consumers imagine the boxes their next online order will arrive in. Pulp is one of the leading ways companies ship their products, but it doesn’t come from fruit.

Instead, manufacturers partner with recycling companies to purchase their paper goods. Consumers drop off widely used materials like office paper, toilet paper, newspaper and cardboard at their local recycling facilities. Those facilities ship them to manufacturing partners who process them into pulp.

The resulting waste paper products can become new paper or cardboard. Eco-centric companies might use pulp-based packaging to contain their goods and paper using the same material to print the receipts in each shipment. When you finish using this material, recycle it just like other paper products to restart its evergreen life cycle.

8. Seaweed Plastic

Seaweed can do so much more than hold your favorite sushi ingredients. It’s one of the next materials that could replace plastic. Students in Australia turned seaweed into edible water bubbles, eliminating the need for plastic bottles. They also found that it was a stable replacement for other plastic products like disposable gloves and laminating pockets.

Researchers in Australia even found ways to make seaweed into grease-resistant paper, like the paper wrapping your burger when you get fast food. The revolutionary material would continue supporting consumer needs while transferring the world to biodegradable alternatives.

9. Bamboo Packaging

Bamboo is a great material for tasks like cutting boards and flooring. Although it grows in lush forests, experts consider it a sustainable material because it grows much faster than trees. It’s an excellent option for sustainable packaging, so it’s already replacing materials like plastic.

Manufacturers can remove the fiber composites within the bamboo to create the foundation for their shipping materials. They combine it with polymer to reinforce the material and make packaging with much less polymer than before. Not all polymers are plastics, so it’s an excellent way to make a greener alternative for supplies like food packaging.

10. Coconut Husks

People around the world already harvest coconuts for various food products. It’s a delicious fruit that’s also a promising source of plant-based packaging. When manufacturers keep the husks discarded by larger food producers, they break down the coir fibers that make up most of the brown husks.

The organic fiber is strong and doesn’t absorb water very easily. Due to these benefits, it could become a more widely used ingredient in eco-friendly packaging for food products. If more manufacturers partner with companies already processing coconuts, they would reuse a consistent form of waste that would otherwise get thrown in garbage dumpsters.

Embrace New Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions

Eco-friendly packaging solutions offer numerous sustainability benefits. Creative materials reduce the use of limited natural resources, minimize waste and innovate alternative ways to use packaging waste once you finish using it. The next time you make a purchase, see which options are available with your preferred retailers or restaurants.

About the Author

Mia Barnes is a health and beauty writer with a passion for sustainable living and wellness. Mia is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine, an online publication that covers healthy and eco-friendly living. Follow Mia and Body+Mind on Twitter and LinkedIn!

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The Best Sustainable Baby Carriers

Whether we choose a sling, a wrap, or a more structured model, baby carriers are an essential tool to have around when we welcome a new baby into our families.

Humans have been using them for centuries to keep their babies safe and close as they move and are out and about in the world.

Carriers help us create a deep bond and connect with our babies, all while freeing up our hands. They allow us to get things done and provide our babies with the contact they need to feel calm and secure.

Unfortunately, many baby carriers are produced with unsustainable fabrics like polyester. Several also contain hazardous chemicals like flame retardants or toxic water and stain repellents.

But thankfully, more and more brands have been making healthier, more sustainable options so that we can safely bring our little ones with us wherever we go.

In this article, we have selected 11 sustainable brands selling high-quality, ergonomic baby carriers, wraps, and ring slings. Let’s make babywearing healthy and sustainable together!

What Makes a Baby Carrier Sustainable?

A sustainable baby carrier is one made with eco-friendly materials and dyed using non-toxic, low-impact dyes (or undyed).

It should also be free of hazardous substances or chemical treatments. The best way to ensure the carrier is 100% healthy and safe to use is to look for models certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX.

Of course, a sustainable baby carrier is also compliant with the CPSIA and ASTM safety standards. But it should also be built to last and of very high quality, because we do not want it to rip when we are carrying our little one!

Finally, it should be made by a company that provides its employees with a safe working environment, pays them fair wages, and treats them humanely.

What Non-Toxic Materials Should Your Baby Carrier Be Made Out Of?

The best sustainable fabrics for baby carriers, ring slings, and wraps are GOTS-certified organic cotton, hemp, and linen.

There are also great options made from TENCEL lyocell, TENCEL modal, or bamboo fabric crafted with bamboo grown organically in responsibly managed forests.

Some brands also make their carriers from recycled materials, like recycled polyester produced from old plastic bottles.

Our Top Picks for Non-Toxic, Sustainable Baby Carriers:

1. Boba

Materials: Bamboo, Organic Cotton

Price: $40 - 160

Boba has been creating practical baby carriers using thoughtfully selected materials for the past 15 years. It has a great selection of wraps we can use for newborns and babies up to 18 months, as well as more structured carriers for toddlers up to 36 months.

The brand has been closely working with experts to design products that are good for both parents’ and babies’ bodies.

Each of its carriers promotes healthy hip and spine development for our little ones, and Boba has even been certified hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

The company’s products enable a front carry position facing the wearer, but its more structured carriers also have a back carry option, which makes them very practical. Plus, they are all machine washable and breastfeeding-friendly.

Boba’s wraps are also very adaptable and flexible, and the structured carriers have double-adjustable shoulder straps and an alterable waistband that allows for a perfect fit for both plus-size and petite wearers.

Boba’s baby carriers and wraps are made from cotton, nylon, or more eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and bamboo viscose. You can also choose from beautiful colors and fun prints featuring constellations, rainbows, mountains, or cute animals.

We’ve made sure to link the organic and bamboo carriers to this post for the most sustainable option they offer.

Shop Boba Sustainable Baby Carriers

2. LILLE Baby

Materials: Linen, Organic Cotton, Modal, Cotton, Polyester

Price: $40 - 170

LILLE Baby is on a mission to empower families with comfortable, innovative baby carriers that will encourage them to go on adventures with their little ones. The brand offers a wide range of carriers for every growth stage, body, and lifestyle. It has many options for infants and toddlers up to 45 lb, as well as carriers designed for children from 25 to 60 lb.

LILLE Baby’s flagship product is its COMPLETE 6-in-1 carrier, which is everything you need to carry your baby from birth through the toddler years! It is available in five versatile styles and features a classic design, six ergonomic carrying positions, and great lumbar support.

The company sells many other baby carriers, including beautiful slings and wraps that are all very breathable, lightweight, and comfortable. All of them are CPSIA-compliant and ASTM safety-certified, and they are free of harmful substances like lead, phthalates, flame retardants, or toxic dyes.

Many of the carriers are made of cotton and polyester, but you can also choose models made from organic cotton, modal, or linen. All the fabrics used are very soft and durable!

Shop Lille Baby Sustainable Carriers

3. Nuna

Materials: Cotton, Mesh Fabric, Organic Cotton

Price: $220 - 400

Nuna is an award-winning company selling high-quality car seats, strollers, and baby gear, including two versatile baby carriers. These are recommended for newborn babies up to 3-year-old children, provide ergonomic positioning and promote a healthy spine and hip development as your child grows. Both offer a front carry position with your baby facing in or facing out, but you can also have them on your back or in newborn mode.

They have magnetic buckles that automatically lock into place for a secure attachment, and each of them comes with two GOTS-certified organic cotton bibs.

Nuna makes sure to include head support, an attached hood to protect babies from the elements, and innovative leg openings that easily adjust for a customized fit for smaller babies. The baby carriers are very comfortable to wear with their padded shoulder straps and adjustable buckled waistbands, and they distribute the baby’s weight evenly.

The brand makes its CUDL baby carrier from OEKO-TEX-certified fabric, so it is completely free of toxic substances. Both carriers are also crafted with mesh fabrics allowing air to flow, which is ideal for the warmer months. Some of the styles also feature an ultra-soft, mercerized cotton fabric.

Shop Nuna Sustainable Baby Carrier

4. Tula

Materials: Hemp, Linen, Cotton, Bamboo Viscose

Price: $99 - 578

Tula sells functional, ergonomic, and stylish baby carriers that are made to withstand the wear and tear of our lives with kids.

There are six different models to choose from, all of which are available in a huge selection of colors and expressive prints.

You can pick bright or muted colors, fun and fancy geometric patterns, multicolored designs, or the most adorable prints featuring cute animals, flowers, and many more!

Tula has different models intended for use for newborns and toddlers, but it also has different styles made for bigger babies and even extra-large carriers for preschoolers (up to 70 pounds). You can also buy one of its beautiful handwoven ring slings: they are ultra-soft and adjustable to fit babies from 8 to 35 lb.

Tula even sells ultra-compact, travel-friendly carriers that fold into their attached storage waistband when not in use. Perfect for parents who are constantly on the go!

The brand makes its baby carriers using cotton, linen, hemp, or bamboo viscose, so they are all very breathable. They can also be adjusted to comfortably fit a wide range of body types.

Shop Tula Sustainable Baby Carriers

5. Stokke

Materials: Cotton, Linen

Price: $149 - 189

Stokke is a Norwegian company creating high-quality strollers, high chairs, and other nursery essentials that are designed to grow with your child. It offers two models of baby carriers for infants and toddlers, available in an array of timeless, beautiful patterns and neutral colors. Both of them are adjustable as your baby grows, are very easy to use, and provide ergonomic support and comfort.

Their front and back carrying options will give you a lot of flexibility, and with the Limas Carrier, you can also carry your baby on your hips! The Limas Carrier Flex even allows you to turn it into an onbuhimo, a traditional Japanese carrier, by simply removing the waist belt.

Stokke makes its baby carriers from 100% cotton, except for one of its designs, which is crafted from a blend of linen and cotton. The fabrics are breathable and made to last for years, and they are certified OEKO-TEX Standard 100, meaning they are free of harmful and toxic substances.

Both carriers have also been recognized as hip-healthy products by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, so they are 100% safe to wear.

Shop Stokke Sustainable Baby Carriers

6. hope&plum

Materials: hemp & organic cotton

Price: $80 - 285

Hope&Plum handcrafts all of their carriers in Minnesota, so if you are looking to support an American-made brand, this is great option! We also love that they are size-inclusive and create carriers for all different body types.

Pictured is one of their most sought-after baby carriers, the Lark. Meticulously designed to adapt alongside your growing child, The Lark provides versatile carrying options that allow for both front and back carrying positions. This flexibility makes it suitable from the earliest months to toddlerhood, ensuring that you can keep your little one close, whether they are a tiny infant in need of soothing or an active toddler ready for adventure. Available in two distinct sizes, The Lark offers a snug and customizable fit for parents of various body types, maximizing comfort during extended wear.

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Shop hopeandplum sustainable baby carriers

7. Wildbird

Materials: Linen, TENCEL Modal, Polyester, Nylon

Price: $55 - 268

Wildbird is a sustainable baby carrier brand selling beautiful ring slings and more structured carriers. Its ring slings are made from 100% European linen or a blend of TENCEL modal and linen dyed with low-impact dyes.

Recommended for babies from 8 to 35 lb, the slings are great for quickly getting toddlers in and out and allow for multiple carrying positions. They are also very versatile as they can fold compactly into diaper bags and can be used as nursing covers or sunshades.

Wildbird also has a structured buckle carrier you can use to carry your baby in the front or on your back. It is made in a Fair Trade factory using natural linen as well. The carrier features padded cross-back straps, a folding hood, and a waist belt for comfort. Plus, it comes in two sizes and provides full lumbar support.

Wildbird only uses long-staple linen fibers, resulting in stronger yarns and extremely smooth and supple weaves. They are sourced from Europe’s oldest linen factory (founded in 1778) and are extremely durable and absorbent.

The brand is CPSIA and ASTM-compliant, and its slings and carriers have been acknowledged as “hip-healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

Shop Wildbird Sustainable Baby Carriers

8. Ergobaby

Materials: Recycled Polyester, Cotton, Viscose, Polyester

Price: $39-249

Ergobaby creates innovative, ergonomic baby products, from strollers to bouncers to different baby carriers.

There are many styles of structured carriers to choose from, including all-in-one models that provide all the carrying options you need as your baby grows from newborn to toddler.

Ergobaby makes sure to include many practical details in its carriers, including comfortable padded shoulder straps, side pockets, privacy hoods, and lumbar support waist belts.

We particularly recommend the brand’s Aerloom baby carrier, which is made from GRS-certified post-consumer recycled polyester yarns. It is also produced in limited quantities to avoid overproduction and unsold inventory. Plus, some of Ergobaby’s carriers received the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.

Ergobaby also sells different baby wraps featuring a viscose fabric made from eucalyptus and acacia trees. It even has hip seats that are very convenient to use in every new mom’s daily life!

The brand’s baby carriers won many awards, and they were named “best baby carriers overall” by Forbes. Ergobaby also regularly supports nonprofits promoting the well-being of babies and parents, and you can even shop for refurbished carriers on the brand’s website!

Shop Ergobaby Sustainable Baby Carriers

9. Baby K'Tan

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $70

Baby K’Tan is a babywearing brand that created a ready-to-wear wrap allowing us to wear our babies in multiple positions without complicated buckling, adjusting, or wrapping.

The carriers have a patented double-loop design that includes two loops connected by a third smaller one.

They function as a sling, wrap, and baby carrier all at the same time, but without the complicated steps. We simply need to slip the carrier on like a shirt in three simple steps, and we are good to go!

Baby K’Tan’s carriers can be worn five different ways, and we can even breastfeed our babies using them. They are recommended for use with babies from 8 to 35 lb and are available in sizes XXS to XL.

The brand designs its carriers in many solid colors, as well as several beautiful prints. They are machine washable and are made from organic cotton, cotton, or a blend of synthetic fabrics. We’ve made sure to link up the *organic cotton carrier for the most sustainable option!

Baby K’Tan carriers are recognized as a hip-healthy product by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and the ergonomic positions they offer promote healthy infant development.

The brand won numerous awards for its baby carriers, and it devotes a percentage of the proceeds from all sales to the American Heart Association and the National Down Syndrome Society!

Shop Baby K'Tan Sustainable Baby Carriers

10. Oscha Slings

Materials: Organic Cotton, Linen, Bamboo Viscose, Silk, BCI Cotton, Hemp, Wool, Cashmere, Cotton, Recycled Yarns, TENCEL Lyocell

Price: $89 - 379

Oscha Slings has been an expert in baby slings, wraps, and structured carriers for more than ten years. It sells an incredibly wide range of products, featuring gorgeous styles and colors.

From floral prints to vibrant tones, there are styles for everyone.

It even got exclusive rights from Middle-Earth Enterprises to create a unique collection of wraps, slings, and carriers inspired by The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit!

Its ring slings and baby wraps are infinitely adjustable, and its Cairis carriers are very quick and easy to put on. They are very soft and practical and can be used by multiple caregivers.

Oscha Slings’ products are all ethically handmade in the British Isles using responsibly sourced yarns, including hemp, linen, organic cotton, TENCEL lyocell, bamboo viscose, wool, and recycled fabrics.

All the fabrics are cut and stitched in the brand’s solar-powered workshop in Scotland and are finished without the use of any chemicals. Oscha Slings also has a zero-waste approach because it collects all fabric scraps and resells them.

The brand is also carbon-neutral, and each sale contributes to growing its grove in the Caledonian forest in the Scottish Highlands!

Shop Oscha Slings and Sustainable Baby Carriers

11. Happy Baby

Materials: Linen, Modal, Organic Cotton, Hemp, Cotton, TENCEL Lyocell

Price: $55-189

Happy Baby is a small, family-owned company selling machine-washable baby carriers and wraps, all of which are made by stay-at-home moms in the United States. Its soft, structured carriers are custom woven from linen or a cotton-linen blend, and they are dyed using non-toxic dyes in an array of lovely solid colors.

You can use them for babies ranging from newborn to 45 lbs, and one of the models offers a forward-facing option.

Happy Baby’s carriers have a minimal design, are fully adjustable, and can grow with your child. They also feature practical details such as comfortable wide shoulder straps, a purse holder on each shoulder, and an oversized hidden pocket.

The brand also has a Japanese-inspired waistless onbuhimo carrier, which is designed to support a high back carry position, as well as toddler carriers made from TENCEL lyocell, linen, cotton corduroy, or a hemp-cotton blend.

You can also buy baby wraps made from organic cotton and modal, and different ring slings and wraps from the brand Apple Blossom Wovens.

Plus, Happy Baby donates a portion of the proceeds from every onbuhimo carrier sold to several Japanese charities, and a percentage of all other product sales to other nonprofits.

Shop Happy Baby Sustainable Baby Carriers

About the Author

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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Circular Economy and Tech Innovations

Our current world economic systems are broken. These systems were built on consumerism and capitalism and focused on earning more, consuming more, and creating more — without much thought to Earth’s finite resources.

These mistakes are catching up to us now.

The planet is rapidly losing its resources. According to The World Counts, “If Earth’s history is compared to a calendar year, modern humans have been around for 37 minutes and managed to use up one-third of Earth’s natural resources in the last 0.2 seconds.”

That’s not good.

If we continued at our current pace, we’d require almost one more entire Earth to sustain our ravenous systems. Something’s got to give.

And it has. Conversations around circular economy frameworks are quickly gaining ground. Researchers, scientists, and economists are collaborating to figure out how to optimize the use of Earth’s resources so we give back to the planet more than we take.

Technology will play the main role in turning these conversations into actions. If you want to know what that will look like for our future, stick around as we open our discussion

What Is A Circular Economy?

An economy where businesses and consumers are focused on using materials and goods for as long as possible through constant repairing, mending, fixing, and reusing.

Things are rarely thrown away in a circular economy. Instead, they are donated or repurposed but always kept in circulation. More importantly, the circular economy uses raw materials sourced ethically and sustainably from the land to bring the net effect of human impact to an absolute zero.

Sure, currently in its infancy, the circular economy seems like a lofty concept rather than a workable reality.

But tech innovation is bringing that reality into the present. Businesses are becoming more aware of the good circular economy brings and how it propels sustainability to new heights. Here’s a great post on the potential of circular fashion to end clothing waste.

When we demand circulatory practices from our favorite brands, we incentivize businesses to make long-lasting, enduring products. On the one hand, it helps humanity and the planet, and on the other, it emphasizes quality over quantity, putting an end to fast living and careless consumption.

The Relationship Between Circular Economy and Tech Innovation

Circular economy and tech innovation are in a co-dependent relationship. If the circular economy has to become a dominant reality, it must be built with tech innovation or it won’t be sustainable.

Similarly, for tech innovation to continue and accelerate, raw materials and components needed to sustain its pace and direction must be sourced responsibly and ethically, or soon, there won’t be enough around to help innovate technologies.

As this relationship becomes more entrenched, our future becomes a more hopeful possibility. A zero-waste future, resource-generative manufacturing, and sustainable tech advancement can all become a reality.

Look at this next section to see how it has already started.

5 Ways Circular Economy and Tech Innovations are Shaping Our Future

Secondary Electronic Markets Reducing E-Waste

Electronic waste is the fastest-growing toxic waste stream in the world. We can’t talk about sustainability without addressing the challenge of e-waste. Electronic waste refers to discarded or outdated tech items we throw away in landfills as waste.

Environmental exposure causes these discarded electronics to disintegrate and leak toxic chemicals into the air, water, and soil. This ecological contamination affects the environment and harms human health and communities.

However, technology and circular economy principles have come together to provide several solutions.

One of these solutions is secondary electronics markets. Places like eBay but more niche. These hyper-niche electronic re-sale platforms enable you to sell your old laptops or smartphones for cash. For those who find recycling a chore and have no professional e-waste recyclers nearby, these secondary markets allow them to put their old tech items back into circulation.

LASER Framework Greenlighting Tech Innovation

We all know technology must innovate to sustain life and the economy, but most tech innovation ignores environmental costs when taking the next leap.

The LASER framework, developed by the World Economic Forum, is a groundbreaking model of sustainable tech innovation that puts circular economy goals at the center of everything. It forces tech experts and innovators to consider if their proposed innovation is circulatory enough.

If it’s not, they must go back to their research and drawing board and improve the technology to ensure it has what it needs to participate in the circular economy.

The LASER framework consists of the following 6 steps:

Alignment of internal and external factors
Life cycle of the product innovation
System enablers and value chains
Economic viability
Resource planning for efficient execution
Alignment for commitment and action

By being LASER-focused on circulatory principles, innovators and leaders develop better, more enduring, and more purposeful innovations for the economy and the planet.

Industry 4.0 Offers Greater Supply Chain Visibility

Industry 4.0 refers to the digitization and automation of manufacturing processes by constantly creating and evolving solutions and technologies that optimize resource use. It directly connects with the circular economy by ensuring fewer resources are used to achieve the means and by designing (and producing) products that can be easily disassembled and repaired.

In a typical economy, supply chains are guarded, and end users usually don’t know how their products are made. Circular economy models reject these standard practices.

Circular economies, by default, are more transparent. Every step of the supply chain is visible to those in the next stages of the cycle to ensure optimal resource use, efficiency, and productivity. This enables consumers to choose ethical and sustainable products and services incentivizing businesses to continue innovating sustainably.

AI Facilitates 3D Modeling Reducing Sample Manufacturing

Sample manufacturing is integral to several industries, including fashion and textile. Samples are used to analyze the functionality and efficiency of the product, constantly iterating and making it better. This requires rapid prototyping of several sample sizes, types, and features — making this a resource-expensive process.

Fortunately, tech innovation has made AI-enabled 3D modeling an ideal solution to this problem. Businesses can nowcreate several unique samples simultaneously, iterate at scale, and speed up production.

3D modeling also eliminates excessive resource use and encourages circulatory manufacturing.

Biodegradable Materials Research Ensures Regeneration Of Natural Systems

Biodegradable materials are those that break down naturally from environmental elements. Either through bacteria or living organisms in the soil. Making our stuff with biodegradable materials ensures that everything we use, or the waste we generate, goes back into the Earth, giving back its resources in some way.

This is called the regeneration of natural systems — which is critical in addressing Earth’s dwindling resources.

Resource regeneration is fundamental to the circular economy, too. It ensures we use fewer resources and give back to the Earth more than we take. Tech innovation is making this desire a functioning reality. Thanks to material researchers,we now know multiple ways to sustain regenerative natural systems.

For example, blockchain technology tells us how our food has reached us and if it has used exploitative logistics or distribution to travel to our plates. Thanks to NASA, we’ll soon become able to detect and sense deforestation in ecologically sensitive areas and hopefully act in time. Thermal imaging is another innovative technology that helps WWF to go after wildlife traffickers.

True, these technologies have a difficult road to travel until they become mainstream and empower quick actions. Still, if we remain steadfast, we can hope for a much greener future than our present right now.

Conclusion

The circular economy holds immense promise for our world. We can use it to fix the economy, the planet, and the future. But alone this great solution has very little power. Technology must play its central and existential role in the revolution.

Innovative technologies within the circular framework are designed to be enduring and sustainable. They also give birth to systems that naturally lean towards sustainability and look at all innovation from that angle.

Perhaps, only a miracle will make it happen but if we succeed in creating sustainability-first tech innovation, a circular economy will emerge as the only viable way to do business. And that will be a wonderful thing for our future and the future of Earth.

Hummingbird International, LLC offers top-quality e-waste management solutions to businesses, corporate groups, commercial entities, and the residential sector. With over a decade of experience in the field, they excel in e-waste disposal, recycling, computer upgrading, dispatch, and making electronic items reusable. Their e-waste collection services are currently available in major regions in the US. Click here to learn more.

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THE BEST Eco-Friendly & SUSTAINABLE SANDALS

Sandals are go-to wardrobe staples in most closets during the warmer months. They are the ideal shoes to wear when it is hot outside or when we go to the beach!

But as we wear them all the time in the summer, they can quickly wear out and break, especially if we do not initially invest in quality. Worn-out sandals, which are by the way often made with unsustainable materials, then end up in landfill where they will not biodegrade for at least several centuries.

As a conscious consumer, you might want to reduce the environmental impact of your shoe collection and be on the lookout for durable and sustainably made sandals. Thankfully, thanks to many ethical brands, we can now purchase models that are not only comfortable and made to last but also crafted with the planet in mind.

In this article, we have rounded up 12 sustainable brands selling beautiful sandals that you will be able to wear for all your summer outings!

WHAT MAKES SANDALS SUSTAINABLE?

Sustainable sandals are shoes that are built to last and that you can wear for multiple seasons. They are made with eco-friendly materials with longevity and quality in mind.

They are also crafted ethically by workers who are paid fair, living wages and offered employee benefits, and who work under safe, healthy, and dignified conditions.

Sustainable sandal brands should also be transparent about their manufacturing processes, produce their shoes in an eco-friendly way, and make them in smaller batches to avoid waste and overproduction.

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Sustainable brands use a variety of eco-friendly materials to produce their sandals. You can find models made from recycled plastic, organic cotton, cork, jute, or even deadstock and upcycled materials.

Some companies also use more innovative materials made from the byproducts of the food industry, like piñatex, apple leather, and VEGEA.

The outsoles are often made with natural rubber, and heeled pairs can feature a heel produced from sustainably-harvested wood.

Some sustainable brands choose to make their sandals from leather, which is generally not an eco-friendly material. However, if it is vegetable-tanned and sourced responsibly and from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, leather can be a great material for crafting very durable sandals that can last for years.

Brand Rating Guide:

❤︎ = we like ❤︎❤︎ = we really like ❤︎❤︎❤︎ = we LOVE

Click here to learn how we rate brands on Sustainably Chic

OUR TOP PICKS FOR COMFY, SUSTAINABLE SANDALS

1. Nisolo

❤︎❤︎❤︎

For: Women & Men

Materials: Leather, Wood, Rubber

Price: $55 - 138

Nisolo offers a wide variety of women’s sandals, from heeled sandals and flip-flops to slip-on models and closed-toe sandals. The company has a style for every occasion!

Men can also choose between different models, including slip-ons and huarache sandals that are perfect for dressing up or down.

The brand makes its sandals using water-resistant leather, meaning you can even wear them at the beach!

The leather is sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry, and it comes from Mexican or American tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group. Nisolo also partners with tanneries using vegetable tanning, which is a lot more sustainable.

The company is B Corp and Climate-Neutral certified, and it was ranked as the best-performing brand in terms of transparency in Remake’s 2021 Accountability Report. It even has a shoe reclamation program!

Shop Nisolo Sustainable Sandals

2. Biankina

❤︎❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Recycled Microfiber, Natural Rubber, Cork, Jute

Price: $60

Biankina is an eco-conscious footwear brand that operates out of the city of Barcelona. Specializing in vegan shoes, they offer a diverse range of sandals tailored to women.

Each sandal from Biankina boasts a timeless, contemporary, and sophisticated design, ideal for both formal and casual occasions. Available in an array of colors, including metallic hues, these sandals are lightweight and offer exceptional comfort and support for all-day wear.

The uppers in the sandals are crafted from Global Recycled Standard-certified recycled microfiber, while the soles are made from 100% natural rubber and feature memory foam insoles for added comfort. Furthermore, the cork midsoles naturally absorb shock as you walk, and the incorporation of jute fiber reduces heat conductivity, making these sandals ideal for the summer months.

Every pair of Biankina's slides is meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans in an ethical workshop in Spain, ensuring that each shoe is made with expertise and care. Additionally, all of the brand's products are vegan, and the production process is free from harmful chemicals and glues. As a bonus, when you purchase the one-strap style from Biankina, the brand pledges to plant two trees on your behalf!

code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 10% off

Shop Biankina Sustainable Sandals

3. Sézane

❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Leather, Rubber

Price: $205 - 245

Sézane is a French luxury fashion brand committed to sustainability and ethical production. It crafts beautiful leather sandals for women, all of which will complement your summer outfits.

You will particularly love its braided leather sandals: they are handwoven in the brand’s Portuguese atelier and are incredibly easy to dress up and down!

You can even pick one of its metallic leather styles if you want more unique pieces.

Some of Sézane’s leather sandals are made using vegetable tanning, and everything is shipped in recycled or FSC-certified cardboard boxes.

The brand is a certified B Corporation, and it has recycled over 13,000 pieces since the launch of its recycling program. It has also raised over four million euros for its philanthropic program supporting education and equal opportunities for children all over the world.

Shop Sézane Sustainable Sandals

4. Able

❤︎❤︎❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $61

Able is one of our favorite sustainable clothing brands here at Sustainably Chic! It sells different pairs of sandals, all of which are very stylish and will make your feet look amazing.

Along with its beautiful heeled models, the brand has several flat sandals that are good wardrobe staples to wear all summer long. It even has a white Birkenstock-style pair of sandals for those of us who prefer this look!

Most shoes feature a versatile design, making it easy for you to style them with any outfit! They are all made from high-quality leather upcycled from discarded cowhides.

Able prioritizes durability and longevity when it produces its pieces, and it aims to empower both the women who make them and those who wear them. It also works with leather partners who use a recycled closed-loop water system and utilize deadstock and scrap materials to minimize waste.

Shop Able Sustainable Sandals

5. Adelante Shoe Co.

❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $172 - 180

Adelante Shoe Co handcrafts gorgeous leather shoes in its small workshop in Guatemala. It has three styles of women’s sandals, all of which are made to order.

This means that they are produced when you order them, so there is no overproduction or unsold inventory.

The heeled and flat sandals are all available in many colors, including red, blue, and caramel. They are made from full-grain leather that comes from less-processed hides and is incredibly durable. They are also fully resoleable, so you will be able to wear them forever with proper care.

Adelante Shoe Co works with a tannery using non-toxic, vegetable-tanning methods. The tannery also uses solar panels and water-saving processes, and it repurposes its waste and byproducts.

The company offsets its carbon footprint, and it pays its artisans more than twice the local wage!

Shop Adelante Shoe Co. Sustainable Sandals

6. Will's Vegan Store

❤︎❤︎

For: Women & Men

Materials: Bio-Based Vegan Leather, Polyurethane, Recycled Plastic, Jute, Cork, Rubber

Price: $59 - 104

Will’s Vegan Store is an ethical vegan shoe company selling different styles of sandals for both men and women.

Men can choose between slip-on models designed with shock-absorbing cork footbeds and arch support, and a comfortable sports pair featuring a lightweight Vibram outsole.

The brand has even more options for women, including elegant heeled sandals and stylish slides that can be worn both at the beach and while walking in the city.

Will’s Vegan Store makes its sandals in Italy or Portugal using only vegan materials, from the uppers down to the glue used in its shoes.

Most of its sandals are made from Italian bio-based vegan leather produced from cereal crops, and the outsoles and insoles contain recycled materials.

The company also ships its shoes in a carbon-neutral supply chain using plastic-free packaging.

Shop Will's Vegan Store Sustainable Sandals

7. Poppy Barley

❤︎❤︎❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $174 - 217

Poppy Barley is a Canadian-certified B Corporation producing eco-friendly shoes and accessories. It has two models of women’s sandals, both of which are made ethically in a women-owned factory in Mexico. Designed with all-day comfort in mind, both sandals feature flexible soles, cushioned footbeds with arch support, square toes, and adjustable ankle straps. The Fisherman sandals, which are available in four colors, are even sold in bright purple!

Poppy Barley makes its sandals using leather that comes from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group, and that is a byproduct of food production. The leather lining is also vegetable-tanned and chemical-free and is produced using less water.

The brand even started a scholarship program to help the children of the artisans Poppy Barley works with gain access to post-secondary education! It also partners with Soles4Souls to give pre-loved shoes a new life.

Shop Poppy Barley Sustainable Sandals

8. Okabashi

❤︎❤︎❤︎

For: Women & Men

Materials: Soy-Based Material, Recycled Materials

Price: $25

If you are on a budget and trying to live more sustainably without breaking the bank, this brand is for you! Okabashi has some of the most affordable, sustainable sandals you can find on the market. The company crafts several pairs of slip-on sandals and flip-flops for men and women, all of which are waterproof & machine washable.

Each pair features slip-resistant soles, supportive heel cups, superior arch support, and a comfortable toe rest. Designed with foot therapy in mind, Okabashi’s shoes even have massaging beads placed on the footbeds to promote better circulation!

The brand makes its sandals in Georgia (USA) using a combination of soy-based and recycled materials. It also operates in a closed-loop manufacturing system and reuses its scrap materials.

You can even send back your worn-out Okabashi sandals, and the company will turn them into new products.

Shop Okabashi Sustainable Sandals

9. Vivaia

❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Recycled Plastic, Rubber

Price: $69 - 119

Vivaia is a sustainable brand creating women’s shoes out of recycled plastic bottles saved from the ocean.

So far, it has turned almost 3.5 million bottles into new footwear!

It sells stylish yet comfortable sandals that are all very breathable.

They feature durable rubber outsoles and supportive insoles designed to prevent foot odors. With their square-toe design and small heels, the Jade sandals are the ideal summer shoes for looking put together without sacrificing comfort!

Combining sustainable practices with modern technology, Vivaia produces its shoes using an eco-friendly process that helps reduce production waste by over 30%.

The company ships its shoes in recycled cardboard boxes. It also regularly donates money and shoes to charities like Dress For Success and SOS Children’s Village.

Shop Vivaia Sustainable Sandals

10. Deux Mains

❤︎❤︎

For: Women & Men

Materials: Upcycled Tires, Leather

Price: $60 - 100

Founded after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Deux Mains is on a mission to honor the country’s ancestral wisdom by crafting beautiful shoes and accessories all while creating empowering jobs for the locals. The brand offers comfortable slip-on sandals for both men and women.

There is also a pair of flip-flops for men as well as simple ankle strap sandals for women.

If you want to add color to your shoe collection, take a look at Deux Mains’ gorgeous hand-painted slide. Its design is inspired by the atmosphere of a busy Haitian marketplace!

The company’s sandals are all handcrafted in small batches using responsibly-sourced leather and upcycled tires found on the island.

Deux Mains also produces everything in its solar-powered, women-owned factory, and it makes sure all its pieces are made to last so that you can wear them for years.

Shop Deux Mains Sustainable Sandals

11. Nae

❤︎❤︎

For: Women, Men, Unisex

Materials: Piñatex, Cork, Apple Leather, Organic Cotton, Vegan Leather, Recycled PET

Price: $39 - 98

Nae, which stands for No Animal Exploitation, is a vegan footwear brand making cruelty-free shoes in its certified, ethical factories in Portugal.

It has a huge selection of sandals for both women and men, and it sells some unisex models as well.

You get to choose between many heeled sandals, slip-on models, Birkenstock-style shoes, and some more elegant pairs that you can easily wear at weddings or other special events.

Nae makes its sandals using sustainable materials such as cork, organic cotton, and recycled plastic. It even has some cool pairs made with piñatex (produced from pineapple leaf fibers) and apple leather (obtained from the waste of the apple juice industry)!

Plus, the brand also sends its products in recycled and recyclable packaging.

Shop Nae Sustainable Sandals

12. 1People

❤︎❤︎

For: Women

Materials: Recycled Plastic, VEGEA, Rubber, Cork, Jute, Piñatex, Wood, Recycled Brass

Price: $60

1People is a Danish fashion brand designing timeless pieces using innovative, sustainable materials.

It creates several models of sandals for women, including a lovely heeled pair that is perfect for wearing at work or during an outdoor brunch. The sandals are all versatile and provide a simple, yet stylish look!

1People makes its sandals using eco-friendly materials such as GOTS-certified piñatex, recycled plastic, and VEGEA (produced from grape marc from wine-making waste).

Its heels are crafted from ethically harvested teak wood, and some of its insoles contain rubber, cork, and jute collected from post-industrial waste. Each sandal also features the brand’s signature logo made of recycled brass.

What’s more, 1People offers carbon-neutral shipping and collects its material waste to produce new yarn and fabric. It even invests part of its profits in projects promoting education and helping eradicate hunger around the world.

Shop 1People Sustainable Sandals