Making eco-friendly decisions can be tricky. We want to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and slow the spread of microplastic. But as much as we try to tread lightly on the earth, we still need to wear shoes and clothes, and occasionally drive a gasoline-powered vehicle.
We’ve highlighted some of our favorite companies and products that are making a few of these decisions just a little easier. From bags, sweatshirts, and yoga mats, you can buy these products knowing that you have the planet’s welfare in mind.
Updated on April 20: We’ve added the Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus and Couch Guitar Straps, and removed the now-unavailable Sunski Manresa.
When you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
-
Photograph: Rothy’s
Rothy’s Copper Flat
Rothy’s shoes are a WIRED staff favorite. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and come in a bewildering variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The knit uppers are made of 100 percent post-consumer plastic bottles, and the foam components are made from other recycled shoes. The shoeboxes are also made from 85 percent recycled materials, and—it should go without saying, but—the boxes are 100 percent recyclable too.
-
Photograph: Green Toys
Green Toys Indoor Gardening Kit
There’s no better way to get your favorite young ‘un to celebrate the environment than by introducing them to gardening, and this nine-piece gardening set is as simple as it gets. It includes a planter tray, pots, seed pods, seeds, and an adorable tiny trowel—and it’s made entirely from 100 percent recycled plastics. It’s also packaged in recycled, recyclable material, and it’s dishwasher-safe for when you want to start next year’s seed crop. We saw more of Green Toys’ charming products at the 2020 Toy Fair, and all are just as impressively made and easy to care for.
-
Photograph: Everlane
Everlane ReNew Fleece Sweatshirt
This fleece sweatshirt’s loose, boxy fit and ribbed cuffs make it perfect for schlepping around the house or to your favorite dive bar. I wear mine every other day, and still would even if I didn’t know that the fabric was made from 35 recycled plastic bottles. It’s Everlane’s first step into cutting virgin plastic entirely out of the supply chain.
