I don’t know about you, but I tend to get completely overwhelmed by sustainable shopping.
Of course, I want to protect the environment.
Of course, I want to do everything I can for the health of the planet.
And, of course, I want all people and animals to be treated ethically and compassionately.
But here’s where my struggle comes in: figuring out which companies genuinely care. I find it all so confusing to identify companies that truly stand behind everything they’re marketing.
And there are so many certifications and standards to consider: recycled materials, organic materials, fair trade, animal welfare standards, etc., etc.
It can take a ton of time and research and hard work to figure it all out!
And then, of course, there’s the added hassle of finding sustainable products that are also high quality and durable.
So, to eliminate all of that confusing hard work, here are five sustainable brands that I’ve personally tested and loved.
These products have stood up against the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of my own little boy, and I don’t think there’s any tougher standard than that!
I’ve also done my research and believe that each of these companies is dedicated to a truly sustainable mission.
My hope is that this post makes sustainable shopping simple and stress-free during this crazy, busy back-to-school time of year!
PlanetBox
I was going through so many Ziplock bags with Tru’s packed lunches, so I set a goal of eliminating some of the plastic waste we use in our household. And then I found PlanetBox! The whole aim of the company is to sell plastic-free, sustainable lunchboxes and accessories.
Here’s everything I love about PlanetBox:
- Their stainless steel lunchbox containers have several compartments, plus a couple of small spill-proof food containers. Perfect for picky eaters like Tru!
- The lunchbox containers are made from premium food-grade stainless steel, so there’s zero leaching of toxins. And the food containers feature silicone lids.
- Stainless steel is made to last a lifetime. Although it can look a bit pricey at first, PlanetBox is a one-time investment that completely eliminates the need for single-use plastic.
- Stainless steel and silicone are easy to clean and dishwasher safe. An absolute necessity for busy moms!
- PlanetBox also makes Carry Bags that are perfectly sized to hold the stainless steel containers. They’re made from 100% recycled polyester, and they even have extra space for thermoses, utensils, and ice packs.
The only downside I’ve experienced with PlanetBox is that, since the containers are stainless steel, they’re a bit heavy. His backpack seems a little weighted as he walks into school, but Trevor hasn’t complained at all.
PlanetBox offers lots of cute designs for the Carry Bags. Tru, of course, picked an outer space theme. Plus, the stainless steel containers come with magnets so kids can decorate the containers and label them with their name.
Mini Mioche
I’ve purchased a lot of kid’s clothing from Mini Mioche over the past few years, and I’ve consistently found their products to be very high quality and durable.
Their focus is on really comfortable basics in modern styles and colors. I keep going back to this brand!
Plus, Mini Mioche does so much to be the most sustainable company possible. They are truly going above and beyond by:
- Having a carbon neural certification and donating portions of their profits to offset their carbon footprint.
- Using 100% GOTS certified organic cotton in their all of their cotton clothing. GOTS is the trusted gold standard for organic certifications.
- Using organic wool and recycled plastic in their wool and fleece clothing.
- Working exclusively with ethical factories.
- Having some of the most sustainable packaging I’ve seen! My shipment was wrapped in recyclable brown paper and compostable plastic.
For back-to-school, I got Tru a few comfy basics: a few pairs of sweat pants in trendy styles and a long-sleeve cream-colored tee. I love the reinforced knees and drawstring waist.
Everything shown here is 100% certified organic cotton.
Burt’s Bees Baby
I love Burt’s Bees Baby. They hit pretty much every mark:
- Adorable, quality clothing that lasts
- Affordable prices
- All of their products are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. (Again, GOTS is the trusted gold standard for organic certifications.)
- They also use recycled polyester and plastic in buttons and thread, etc.
- Even their recycled packaging and eco friendly factories have tons of sustainable features
The one and only downfall: their product line is mostly just for babies and toddlers. However, they do have the most adorable pajamas for kids (and adults too)!
I fell in love with this adorable pumpkin pajama set. It’s perfect for chilly fall nights, made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, and so soft. Even the tag is recycled!
Hanna Andersson
Hanna Andersson is amazing for offering a wide variety of stylish clothing options for kids. And I’ve consistently found that their products are extremely durable.
They offer some clothing options that are 100% GOTS certified organic, and some items that are made from recycled materials.
However, the majority of their product line (and everything I found for Tru for fall) had only the OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification. This certification is still helpful for sustainability. It means that every aspect of the clothing (including fabric, dyes, and trim) is tested and guaranteed to not contain thousands of harmful chemicals.
Although I’d love to see a lot more organic and recycled products from this company, they’re definitely committed to sustainability.
I thought this comfy baseball tee and these soft dinosaur sweat pants were completely adorable.
And all Tru wants are athletic basics like these red wind pants.
I love all the quality details like the adjustable waists and reinforced knees.
H&M
I don’t think most people think about sustainability when they think about a giant global clothing brand like H&M. But I’ve consistently found that H&M is doing a lot of great work to transition into more sustainable and eco friendly practices.
Here are just some of the sustainable practices H&M has implemented. They:
- Ban both child labor and forced labor in clothing factories. And they strive for fair wages across all of their factory suppliers.
- Use mostly organic or recycled cotton in their cotton clothing.
- Use eco friendly materials like organic linen, recycled wool, and lyocell (a renewable and all-natural plant-based material).
- Ban fur and seek out suppliers with animal-welfare standards.
- Offer the world’s biggest “garment collecting program.” Recycling boxes are available in stores around the world, and customers can drop off unwanted clothing (from any brand and in any condition!) for recycling.
Organic and eco friendly products tend to be expensive, but brands like H&M make sustainable shopping more affordable and accessible to a much wider audience. In my opinion, that’s a major plus!
Just keep in mind: only some of their clothing is made from organic, recycled, and other sustainable materials. And, unfortunately, they haven’t yet made it easy to sort and shop sustainable products on their website.
My best suggestion is to go shopping at your nearest H&M store and check the tags for organic and recycled materials.
I found this adorable Mickey Mouse sweatsuit that’s made from 50% recycled materials. (Even the tag is recycled.)
Plus this lightweight windbreaker that’s the perfect basic for fall and made from 100% recycled materials.
