Last Updated on July 16, 2024
It’s officially summer! Summers in Maine are relatively mild and breezy compared to when I lived in California. It’s beautiful out and it makes me want to spend all my time outside.
I love enjoying the outdoors, be it from my deck or in nature. Summer is a great time to connect with nature through picnics, hiking, swimming, farm trips, or just simple strolls through the park.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.
It’s also a great time to explore and go on vacation. Or, do a staycation. Maybe play tourist in your hometown and hit up local parks, beaches, museums and farm stands.
Whatever you choose to do this summer, you don’t need much to make it a memorable one. But there are certain items I’ve been LOVING lately and wanted to share them with you.
Here are some sustainable summer must-haves I’ll be keeping beside me all summer long.
1. water-safe sandals
Everyone needs a nice pair of water-friendly sandals. Think of days spent leisurely sunbathing by the pool or on white sandy beaches. I just put in an order for Reef Water Vista sandals and I cannot wait to try them out. They’re quick to dry and comfortable even when wet.
Reef utilizes natural materials like cotton and jute. Their eco foams are also made with a percentage of recycled materials. Plus they’re PVC-free.
Additionally, Reef are partners in conservation with Urban Surf 4 Kids, The Mega Lab and Better Beach Alliance.
2. beach towels
Everyone needs a trusty beach towel – or two. One for drying off, and one for lounging on the sand with friends and snacks.
I really love Sand Cloud because they use 100% Turkish organic cotton and 10% of the profits go towards marine conservation. Plus, they’re packaged plastic-free.
They have some beautiful and fun designs, so there’s something for everyone. You can shop body or party blankets, depending on how big you need your beach towel to be.
3. cute swimsuits
My favorite swimwear brand is YouSwim. They craft swimwear designed to move and change with your body. Their swimsuits come in two different sizes – stretch l (US 2-14) and stretch II (US 14-24).
Their suits are made using premium quality OEKO-TEX certified materials. They offer timeless designs that will always be in style, making it a suit that will last years rather than one season of your life.
Here’s a list of the best sustainable swimsuits on the market.
4. reef-friendly sunscreen
Coola is one reef-safe sunscreen brand I love that’s vegan and cruelty-free. They make both solid and spray-on sunscreens that utilize 70%+ certified organic ingredients.
Also, they use recycled materials in their packaging and all of their tubes are made of over 40% post-consumer recycled material. They have SPF 50-70 options.
RELATED: 20 Eco Friendly Sunscreens to Keep You Protected
Also, if it’s too late and you already got sunburnt, here are some natural sunburn remedies that can help speed the healing!
5. sunhats!
There are so many cute sunhat options to choose from in the summer. I recommend using what you already have of course, or finding one secondhand (just wash it before you use it!).
If buying new is more your speed, I love Vitamin A’s straw bucket hats: They come in three different colors and are hand-woven. They’re crafted entirely from straw, so they’re plastic-free. It gets delivered in recyclable packaging as well.
6. deodorant
Lets be real: We all need deodorant, especially in the summer. But it’s natural to sweat! Avoid anti-perspirants and instead reach for some natural deodorants.
Wild Deodorant is a favorite of mine because it’s refillable, vegan and made using natural ingredients. You get to choose the color and design on your forever case, then just order a refill in whatever scent you’d like to try.
Here’s a mega list of the best natural deodorants on the market.
7. a bike!
Who doesn’t love a nice bike ride in the summer? Especially when it’s sunny and there’s a nice breeze out. Biking is great exercise, plus it’s a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint.
You can get a secondhand bike, or a new one from a sustainable company. Pampro Bikes crafts bamboo bikes using plant-based eco-resin epoxy. Bamboo is a sustainable material because it consumes CO2 as it grows. Plus, it’s renewable and grows back fast after being cut.
Additionally, the sale of every bike helps young people in rural Ghana develop skills and an income that will set them up for the future. Their employees receive a decent wage, social security, lunch and health care benefits and they indirectly support 200 farmers across the region.
When I moved to Maine, I sold my car and got a bike. It’s a great way to get to know your town better because there are so many things you miss when you zip past them in a car.
Also, if you’d like a little more power behind your wheels, consider getting an ebike conversion kit.
8. a beach read (from the library)
What’s better than sunbathing with a fun beach read? Maybe grabbing it from the library.
Supporting your local library is a great way to also support the sharing economy. This helps reduce overconsumption and ultimately leads to less stuff.
Here’s a list of my favorite climate books. And FYI, my new book,101 Tips For a Zero Waste Kitchen, is available for pre-order now!
9. iced tea!
Who can get through summer without drinking iced tea?! Not me.
I really love supporting Arbor Teas because they not only have organic loose leaf tea (which is available online), but they also come in completely compostable packaging. It’s all plastic-free.
Their teaware is also super handy: I’m obsessed with their cold brew iced tea maker because it’s a glass pitcher and has a filter at the top to catch any bits as you pour it into your glass. Here’s how to make iced tea with loose leaf tea.
You can also get loose leaf tea at your local bulk food store! Or, support tea companies that use plastic-free tea bags, like Yogi and Pukka.
So what do you think of these sustainable summer must-haves? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
The post 9 Sustainable Summer Must-Haves appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.
A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!
So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?
First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.
When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:
- Responsibly Sourced Materials: most bookshelves are made primarily with wood. While natural, unsustainable wood sourcing can be a cause of deforestation, so we want to see that the wood was from responsibly managed forests or made from reclaimed or repurposed wood. Some bookshelves may feature metal, in which case recycled materials here are important.
- High Quality Construction: sustainability includes longevity — how long will you be able to use that furniture piece before it goes to the landfill and gets replaced? Look for transparency around craftsmanship and woodworking processes. Another sign of quality is the length of warranty a company has for its products.
- Ethically Made: this one is straightforward in theory — were the people making it paid fairly and working in safe conditions? — but is unfortunately not always easy to find information. In this category, I look for transparency in practices, what relationship the brand has with the manufacturer (some produce in-house which is the best case scenario for transparency!), where it was made, and how well the makers were paid.
Ideally a sustainable bookshelf would also be non-toxic — as toxic chemical fumes aren’t exactly sustainable! But this isn’t always the case. For example, if a company prioritizes upcycled materials, they don’t necessarily have control over what inputs were part of the original materials. And sometimes a company focuses more on ethical artisan partnerships and sustainable wood sourcing, more than, say, using non-toxic finishes.
But when it comes to non-toxic bookshelves, this is what I look for. (Note that non-toxic doesn’t necessarily mean safe for all chemical sensitivities. Nor does it mean zero potentially irritating chemicals.)
- Solid Wood (where possible): MDF or pressed wood contains glue to stick the various wood pieces together, which can contain added formaldehyde. I prefer solid wood, or if it is engineered wood, I’d make sure the company is transparent around the type of glue used and/or they at least have a product certification like GREENGUARD. (More on that in a second.)
- Low or Zero VOC Finishes: most wood furniture is completed with some sort of finish to provide a protection against scratches or moisture. Many of these finishes are synthetic, and some can contain high levels of toxic chemicals. Look for a natural finish like linseed oil or beeswax or a low VOC synthetic finish.
Relevant Certifications
You’ll see a few certifications referenced throughout this guide. Here’s what each one covers:
- FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed; this is not a finish, foam, or textile guarantee.
- GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold Certified = the finished product was tested for low chemical emissions, including VOCs, with Gold representing the stricter tier.
- Fair Trade Certified
= verifies that a factory meets standards for fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical labor practices. - Cradle to Cradle Certified (Gold) = evaluates a product or material across material health, circularity, clean air/climate, water/soil stewardship, and social fairness.
Where to Find Sustainable Bookcases and Shelving
I’m always a secondhand first proponent, and that goes for furniture, too. While your local thrift store might not have used bookshelves, check for dedicated furniture resale shops near you or estate sales. (I use EstateSales.net to find ones near me.) You can also find gently used pieces on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or AptDeco.
If you can’t find something you love secondhand, and you don’t want to DIY your own bookshelf, then the next best choice is to shop from one of the sustainable furniture companies below. (If you’re simply looking for a bookstand, I’d suggest browsing Etsy for a collection of solid wood, bamboo, and reclaimed wood book stands and cookbook stands!)
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links which helps us continue to run this website and create resources like these. As always all brands meet strict sustainability criteria and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Medley
Best for: low VOC wood bookcases
Medley’s bookshelves are elegant and elevated, perfect for a living room. Each piece is made with 100% solid FSC-certified hardwood for the tops and sides, though low-VOC CARB 2 compliant plywood is used for the shelves.
Every eco-friendly bookcase is handcrafted in the US (California or North Carolina) and completed with a low-VOC wood finish.
Price: $2,395 – $2,995
Materials: White Maple, American Walnut Wood
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, US-Made, FSC-Certified Wood, Natural Finish
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