A hot cup of tea can bring us comfort, joy, and warmth when we need it most — and choosing fair trade, organic, and zero waste tea can help ensure that we’re sipping in good conscience.
The conventional tea industry faces no shortage of problems between well-documented labor issues, including child labor and environmental destruction, such as land degradation and deforestation. There are also health concerns to be aware of when it comes to what may be lurking in our tea like high levels of pesticide residues or microplastics.
While there are significant challenges facing the industry, there are sustainable and ethical tea brands paving a better way for the planet and the growers behind our tea.
What is sustainable tea?
“Sustainable” is a broad word, but for this guide, it means:
- The tea was grown organically, regeneratively, and/or biodynamically without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or insecticides. Most brands included here are certified organic and there are a few using regenerative farming practices.
What is zero waste tea?
- Generally, zero waste tea is loose-leaf tea. Bonus points if you can get the loose-leaf tea from a bulk store! However, when shopping online for zero waste tea, it’s not possible to go completely package-free, though reusable and recycled options can make it lower waste!
- Or, the tea comes in plastic-free and compostable zero waste tea bags.
What is fair trade tea?
For this guide, it means that the tea was sourced ethically either through transparent direct trade from farm to brand or through a fair trade-certified partner. Many brands included in this guide source from Fair Trade-Certified farms, which is included in their descriptions.
All brands in this guide follow one or both of these standards — you’ll see which one (or both) of the standards each brand follows in their descriptions.
Now let’s dive in so you can get to sipping on some sustainable tea!
Note: This guide includes affiliate links. As always, all brands included meet high standards for responsibility and all opinions are my own.
Ethical and Sustainable Tea Companies to Know
1. Firebelly Tea
Firebelly Tea crafts flavorful tea blends with all natural, high-quality ingredients. The loose-leaf teas are USDA-Certified Organic and arrive in at-home compostable bags and the boxes are recyclable, making them one of our top zero waste tea picks! I’ll be composting the packaging in my own compost and will keep you posted here how it goes.
If you’re searching for a gift, or just want a starter set to get going, Firebelly Teas has Tea Samplers and Tea & Accessory Bundles. I sampled their Uppers and Downers as well as their Shades of Earl Grey tea. My personal favorites were the No Ordinary Joe (from the Uppers sampler) and After Dinner Mint (from the Downers sampler).
Conscious Qualities: USDA Organic Certified Teas, Rainforest Alliance Certified Teas, Compostable Packaging
2. Art of Tea
The Art of Tea imports high-quality organic teas, including many loose-leaf options. Their eco-friendly loose-leaf tea options include many different varieties — like green, black, herbal, yerba mate, and caffeine-free — as well as multiple flavor note options — such as citrus, floral, crisp, refreshing, and fruity. The ingredients used in the brand’s teas are USDA-certified organic
Conscious Qualities: Certified Organic
Explore Art of Tea’s Organic Teas
3. BLK&BOLD
My personal favorite spot for finding loose-leaf tea, BLK+BOLD is a coffee and speciality tea company with black, green, and herbal teas. I love their Earl Grey Black Tea and Chai Green Tea. I drink their Earl Grey nearly every day and the Chai is delicious hot in the winter and iced in the summer.
The Certified B-Corp also donates 5% of profits to organizations serving in-need youth. You can subscribe to their subscription plan to save and make sure you never run out of your tea!
Conscious Qualities: Black-owned, loose-leaf tea (not individually packaged), B-Corp, Gives Back
4. Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange is a worker-owned company with ethically-sourced food and beverage products. A worker co-op structure means that Equal Exchange’s employees and farmer partners all have a voice and vote in the operations of the for-profit organization.
Believing in social responsibility throughout their supply chain, Equal Exchange also follows fair trade standards, like increasing and stabilizing wages and promoting safe farming practices and working conditions. Equal Exchange’s teas are also USDA Organic-Certified.
Conscious Qualities: USDA Organic-Certified, Fair Trade Practices, Worker Co-Op Structure
Explore Equal Exchange’s Organic Fair Trade Teas
5. Guayakí
Guayakí goes a step beyond organic, using regenerative practices to grow their tea. The brand is actually in the Regenerative Organic Certification Pilot Program!
And, by using sustainable, ethical sourcing practices, Guayakí is helping preserve the South American Atlantic Rainforest and promoting the self-sufficiency of Indigenous communities.
Conscious Qualities: USDA Organic-Certified, Regenerative Practices
Explore Guayaki’s Regenerative Organic Teas | Find Guayaki at Whole Foods
6. Sacred Blossom Farm
Sacred Blossom Farm is a localish-to-me (about 300 miles away) small-scale farm in Wisconsin producing herbal teas free of pesticides, herbicides or flavor additives using low-input, sustainable, innovative farming practices.
Working to mimic natural systems practices, Sacred Blossom Farm relies on the interconnectedness of nature to maintain the fertility of their fields and to support the health of their plants instead of synthetic fertilizers.
Using practices like minimal tillage, innovative polyculture systems, inter-seeding strategies, intensive cover-cropping, and hand-scale harvesting, Sacred Blossom Farm is really challenging the status quo when it comes to quality botanicals.
In addition to all of this, beginning this year, Sacred Blossom Farm is tracking ALL of the inputs used on the farm. This includes not only the tangible inputs used on the farm but also the fuel for the tractor and even all the miles the owner drives for the business.
Sacred Blossom Farm will also be launching completely plastic-free and biodegradable packaging this summer.
Conscious Qualities: Organic, Biodynamic Farming Practices
Explore Sacred Blossom Farm’s Sustainable Teas
7. Numi
Numi sources fair trade-certified and USDA-certified organic teas. The brand is also B-Corp certified (which is a holistic certification for companies ensuring social and environmental responsibility) and they’ve partnered with farming communities to ensure access to clean drinking water through an initiative called Together for H(2)OPE.
On top of all of this, Numi also uses packaging made up of 85% post-consumer waste and biodegradable paper tea bags and they invest in carbon offsetting through Carbon Fund.
Conscious Qualities: Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade, B-Corporation, Gives Back, Offsets Carbon Emissions
Explore Numi’s Organic, Fair Trade Tea
8. Pukka
Pukka is a B-corp with a lovely range of organic, fair trade teas suited for any situation or time of day, including “Tumeric Active”, “Clean Matcha Green”, and “After Dinner”. Each package of organic tea comes in plastic-free tea bags and a recyclable envelope.
Pukka is also a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of revenue to environmental causes.
Conscious Qualities: B-Corp, Soil Association Organic-Certified, Member of 1% for the Planet, Fair for Life-certified
9. Arbor Teas
Arbor Teas offers an exceptional selection of organic loose leaf teas, including black, green, white, oolong, Pu-erh, rooibos, and herbal teas. Many of Arbo Teas tea options are Fair Trade-Certified as well (about two thirds).
In addition to sustainable sourcing, Arbor Teas offsets their carbon emissions from transportation through Carbon Fund, powers their packaging facility using solar energy, and has backyard compostable packaging.
Conscious Qualities: USDA Certified-Organic, Many Fair Trade-Certified Teas, Compostable Packaging, Offsets Carbon Emissions
10. Organic India
Organic India is another tea brand going beyond organic and sustainable by using regenerative, biodynamic farming practices. Committed to sustainability throughout their supply chain, Organic India’s facility is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified.
Having partnered with both Ayurvedic and Western physicians, Organic India has tea formulas specifically created with both traditional wisdom and modern science in mind.
Conscious Qualities: B-Corp, USDA Organic-Certified, Regenerative Practices
11. Choice Organic Teas
Choice Organic Teas were truly industry pioneers, having been the first exclusively organic tea company in the U.S.! The brand also purchases renewable energy credits for 100% of the electricity used by their facility and packages their teas sustainably, using 100% recycled paperboard and unbleached tea bags made with natural fiber.
The majority of Choice Organic Teas tea varieties are Fair Trade Certified and the brand has a map where shoppers can get more information about the farms that Choice sources from.
Conscious Qualities: USDA Organic-Certified, Many Teas are Fair Trade-Certified, Eco-Friendly Packaging
12. Outwoken
On a mission to think consciously outside of the box, Outwoken sells looseleaf teas that are grown by small-batch farmers around the world in at-home compostable packaging. This sustainable small tea business has unique teas that you don’t see elsewhere, such as Purple Kenyan Tea, a Colombian black tea + Colombian coffee mix, Chocolate Besos (my personal favorite!), and Bold Blue, which is a Chinese black tea mixed with butterfly pea powder from Thailand.
If you can’t decide, go with Outwoken’s gift box, which contains 5 different teas! (Pictured above.)
Conscious Qualities: Sourced from Small-Batch Farmers, Compostable Packaging, Donation Initiatives
Explore Outwoken’s Sustainable Teas
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The post 12 Fair Trade & Zero Waste Tea Brands to Sip On Sustainably appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
This is a sponsored article about a brand that was independently assessed by our rigorous ratings system. We’re proud to only collaborate with “Good” and “Great” rated brands. Learn more.
US brand Toad&Co has a socially and environmentally responsible approach to clothing, creating pieces inspired by the outdoors and with a lower impact on the environment. Not to mention an enduring commitment to helping everyone get outdoors through its work with non-profits. Read on to discover the brand’s environment-first ethos.
Focusing on what matters most
“We make feel-good clothes for positive impact—fostering community around doing good, enjoying life’s simple pleasures, and embracing the unexpected,” says Sarah Palladino, director of people and impact at Toad&Co as she introduces the Californian brand. This “simple pleasures” concept applies to Toad&Co’s approach to design, too, and prioritises quality and responsibility over trend-led items. This, in turn, means the brand focuses its energy on clothes that are comfy and practical enough for everything from work to outdoor exploring, and on maintaining its ongoing commitments to using lower-impact materials, partnering with cleaner factories, and looking for new ways to do more with less.
Since day one, it’s been about more than just clothes. From choosing sustainable practices in every corner of our business to supporting programs that protect the planet and make the outdoors more accessible to everyone—knowing we stand for more is what keeps us going
Gordon Seabury – CEO at Toad&Co
Lower-impact materials and producer responsibility
Opting for lower impact materials is one of the core ways brands can address their impact on the planet: “Sustainable materials make a world of difference,” Toad&Co says. “We use organic cotton, recycled fibres, and other high-quality materials known for low-impact growing and cleaner manufacturing.”
The brand’s selection of more sustainable materials includes organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL Lyocell, and recycled fabrics like wool, cotton, and polyester. It also looks to third party clothing certifications like bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, and Global Organic Textile Standard, and it publishes its list of restricted substances for all to see.
Toad&Co also operates a resale platform, called ToadAgain, online and at its IRL store in Maine, US, to keep its clothes in the loop.
Supporting non-profits and access to the outdoors
Toad&Co donates 1% of its profits to organisations working to empower others and, in particular, enable better access to the outdoors for all.
In 1996, Toad&Co partnered with Search, Inc. to co-found the Planet Access Company, a full-functioning warehouse that trained and employed up to 70 adults with disabilities annually.
Determined not to stop at the front door, the brand also co-founded Search for Adventure in 2004, a unique travel program to facilitate vacations for adults with disabilities. Over 20 years later, the social venture partnership has evolved—and includes a flagship store in Chicago, a program called Visibility Arts that nurtures creativity through sharing Search, Inc. artist’s work, neurodiversity and disability awareness training, and an expanded Search for Adventure program. In 2024, the brand supported 147 nights of camping for adults with disabilities through the program.
We give back to—and partner with—organisations that align with our three pillars of giving: conservation for human enjoyment, equity and accessibility, and do the right thing
Sarah Palladino – director of people and impact at Toad&Co
One of Toad&Co’s key partnerships is with Brave Trails, which is dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership, to support it in putting on accredited camps, mentorship programs, and meet-ups for LGBTQ+ youth.
Shop favourites from Toad&Co’s new collection
Read on to discover some of the standout items that balance style with practicality from Toad&Co’s lineup.
Woven with a beautiful alpine jacquard pattern, this hoodie is made from non-mulesed Merino wool and features pockets at the sides. It’s ideal as a mid-layer under a longer coat when you’re out exploring, or as a cosy item for grabbing a post-walk hot chocolate.
This Alpineglo sweater is a blend of 50% organic cotton and 50% non-mulesed Merino wool, so it’s going to help regulate your temperature in most climates. On top of that, the neutral tone and straight fit make it really versatile—you’ll be reaching for it on the regular.
Toad&Co calls these cropped trousers “sweatpant comfortable, going-out presentable”, which makes sense, given they’re made with organic cotton and Tencel Lyocell for softness and have a comfortable wide waistband, not to mention a pretty floral pattern.
This Nomader jacket is reversible, packable, and water-resistant. In other words, it’s the ideal item to take with you for outdoor adventures. It’s made from recycled nylon and lightly quilted for warmth.
Toad&Co picked the crepe-like organic cotton for this jacket so that you could fold it away in a bag and have it still look presentable when you pull it out. It’s also packed with recycled polyester padding for extra warmth.
Balsam Cutoff TrousersThese Balsam Trousers are made with a tiny bit of stretch and a special waistband for comfort, so they’ll flex with you and feel good all the time. The neutral brown colour also goes with so many options.These Balsam Trousers are made with a tiny bit of stretch and a special waistband for comfort, so they’ll flex with you and feel good all the time. The neutral brown colour also goes with so many options.
Going from a walk to dinner? From the office to drinks? This Kennicott shirt jacket fits the bill for all of the above. The smart twill fabric incorporates recycled Italian wool.
This is Toad&Co’s Re-Form Herringbone: a blend of recycled cotton and polyester that offers a soft drape and an attractive herringbone weave that looks smarter than the average checked shirt.
Like the women’s equivalent, these Balsam trousers have a touch of stretch and a comfortable ‘FlexForm’ waistband that mean they’re going to feel comfortable from the get-go—and you won’t need to worry about a belt, either.
Discover more of Toad&Co’s clothes.
The post How Toad&Co’s Clothes Help Everyone Enjoy the Outdoors appeared first on Good On You.
Last Updated on November 21, 2025
If you’re on the handmade Christmas kick this year, you’re not alone. So am I!
I’m choosing presence over presents this year and bringing back the 90s Christmas I loved as a kid – simple, crafty, low pressure, and full of small moments that feel meaningful.
If you want to gift thoughtfully, and without breaking the bank, these DIY Christmas presents are for you. There’s something for everyone on this list – whether you prefer easy or complex DIYs.
I’ve included all kinds of DIYs – beauty, cooking, fashion, and practical gifts alike. Best of all? Many of these tutorials are zero waste (or close to it).
what are good homemade Christmas gifts?
Good homemade Christmas gifts include consumable items, like homemade nut butters, vanilla extract, or jams. But not all homemade gifts are edible – you can also make items like bath bombs, candles, body scrubs, beeswax wraps, and so much more.
If you’re extra crafty, you could even make wooden gifts (like shelving or tablet holders), ceramic items (like mugs or jewelry), or knitted/crocheted pieces (like blankets, scarves or hats).
It all depends on your level of skill, time at your disposal, and ingredients/materials you have access to.
what are good inexpensive Christmas gifts?
Some good inexpensive Christmas gifts are DIY cornstarch ornaments, handmade body or lip scrub, seasoned salt blends, and homemade treats (like these chocolate chip cookies or vegan sugar cookies).
And never forget to hit up your local thrift store – you can find so many great items that would make affordable gift baskets!
Wrapping DIY Christmas gifts also doesn’t have to be expensive. Reusing gift bags and ribbons from last year, upcycling packaging paper, or even repurposing a scarf for furoshiki wrap are all low-waste and affordable!
RELATED: Gift Wrapping: How to Keep It Easy, Eco and Chic
how can I make a last minute gift?
You can make a last minute gift by getting crafty using the materials you have on hand!
For example, if you have a cardboard box, why not try making an upcycled cardboard dollhouse, vehicle, or pirate ship for a child? For adults, a DIY storage container or a shoe rack works.
One of my fav last minute gifts is scented bath salts in an upcycled glass jar – just a little Epsom salt and essential oil blends will do the trick!
Here’s my list of DIY Christmas gifts – something for everyone and every skill level.
- Bath salts
- DIY makeup like mascara/eyeliner, or lip to cheek
- Bath bombs
- Lip scrub
- Lip balm
- Face mask
- Body lotion
- Natural perfume
- Dry shampoo
- Shampoo bar
- Body soap
- Deodorant
- Rose water toner
- Hand-poured coconut/soy/beeswax candles
- Simmer pot in a jar
- Cookie, brownie, soup mix or hot cocoa mix in a jar
- Handmade seasoning blends
- Vanilla extract
- Vegan caramels or plant-based butter wrapped in compostable parchment paper
- Herb or citrus infused olive oil
- Peanut butter + jam
- Beeswax wraps
- Apple or pumpkin butter
- Sourdough or no-knead artisan bread
- Finished embroidery hoops
- Embroidered pillows, tote bags, clothes or cloth napkins
- Sewn cotton rounds
- Knitted scarf, hat, gloves, sweater, or blanket
- Hand warmers
- Quilt blanet, quilted coat or quilted wallet
- Tie dyed secondhand silk scarves, clothing or sheets
- Hand painted or drawn artwork
- Air dry clay paint palette
- DIY wooden frame for paintings or print photos
- Handmade ceramics (mugs, chawan, chasen holder, vase, spoon rest, etc.)
- Woodworked items (birdhouse, shelving, bookcase, wall guitar mount)
- Carving wooden bowls by hand
- Natural branch coasters
- Plant propagations in one of these DIY planters
- Seed balls using native seeds
- Handwoven baskets or bowls
- Macrame produce bag
- Macrame plant hanger
- Fabric paper mache bowls
- Upcycled paper earring jewelry
- Clay earrings
- Handmade plush toys
- Felt ‘food’ toys
- Wooden toys (like vehicles, blocks, or dollhouses)
- Knit or crocheted baby clothes
What do you think of these DIY Christmas presents? Let me know in the comments!
The post 50 DIY Christmas Presents Anyone Can Make appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Last Updated on November 6, 2025
Did you know most rugs are made from polyester, aka plastic? Arguably, a good chunk of our furniture and home decor is nowadays.
And lets not forget – rugs can get a lot of foot traffic. If it’s made from polyester, chances are those plastic fibers are going to shed and get onto us. Or worse, in us.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.
Microplastics have been found in human feces, blood, and even placentas. And according to a study from Stanford University, those who had microplastics in their plaque had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death than those who didn’t.
On top of this, 5 billion pounds of rugs go to waste each year – that’s 2% of total US landfill. And if they’re made from plastic? They won’t biodegrade.
It’s more important than ever to reduce our exposure to microfibers where we can. Which is why I’ve rounded up the best non toxic rugs on the market.
what is the least toxic rug?
The least toxic rug will have sustainable materials and use no harsh chemicals (like PFAs) in their production.
Here’s what to look for when purchasing a non-toxic rug:
- Sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, jute, sisal or wool
- Low-waste packaging + delivery
- Natural, non-synthetic dyes
- Third-party certifications like OEKO-TEK, Fair Trade, GOTs
- Easy to spot-clean or machine wash
- Available in various styles, patterns + colors to suit your needs
do all rugs have PFAS?
According to Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), only four samples of 201 carpets and rugs were found to contain more than 100 parts per million in their fibers, indicating PFAS were intentionally added to the products.
However, while PFAs may not be a huge concern for rugs, microplastic pollution is, specifically if your carpet is synthetic. Your best bet is to check the material your rug is made from and choose natural fibers whenever possible.
what is the best non-toxic rug for nursery?
The best non-toxic rug for a nursery would be made from natural materials like wool and organic cotton (which are soft on baby’s skin).
I recommend also checking for natural latex for the rug backing and underlay pads. Brands on this list that offer kid-friendly sizes and patterns include Lorena Canals, Nestig, Quince, and Loomy (more on each below).
what brand of rugs are non-toxic?
The brands of rugs that are non-toxic are listed below. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.
1. hook and loom
- Various rug sizes, shapes + patterns
- Made from GOTs certified organic cotton, recycled cotton + wool
- No dyes or harmful chemicals
- No latex
2. lorena canals
- Various rug sizes, shapes + patterns
- Handmade by artisans using recycled materials like organic cotton + wool
- Nontoxic dyes
- Make your own option
- Machine washable
- Rugcycled line made from recycled materials in their own factory
3. sabai
- Field rug
- Woven using wool + jute
- Available in 3 varying sizes
- Rug pad add-on available for reduced movement
- Certified B Corporation
4. quince
- Various sizes + patterns, best known for vintage-inspired looks
- Made from natural materials like wool, jute, + cotton
- Handcrafted by artisans in India
- Transparent pricing practices
- Compostable poly bags + recycled plastic mailers
5. west elm
- Rugs for every area of the home, in varying sizes
- Made from wool, jute, hemp, cotton, TENCEL + recycled materials
- Handspun by skilled artisans in India
6. nestig
- Area + washable rugs made with fun shapes/designs for babies + kids
- Washable rugs made with organic cotton + nontoxic dyes
- Area rugs made with cotton + each colored element crafted from recycled cotton
- Handmade in Brazil
7. cold picnic
- Various rug shapes + sizes, abstract patterns + bold colors
- Made with wool, bamboo silk, cotton, hemp, + deadstock materials
- Designed in a Brooklyn studio, handmade by artisans in India
- Committed to reducing packaging waste where possible
8. loomy
- Various rug sizes, shapes + patterns
- Made from banana silk, hemp, jute, recycled fiber, viscose, or wool
- Any colored yarn dyed using low-impact techniques
- Handcrafted by indigenous artisans
So what do you think of these non toxic, sustainable rugs? Let me know in the comments!
The post 8 Best Non Toxic Rugs For a Sustainable Home appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
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