Fun Stuff for Summer

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The 16-oz. Lifefactory reusable water bottle is made of glass and has a silicone sleeve to protect against beaking and provide a secure grip. Its flip cap is BPA-free. Lifefactory’s bottles are made in France and the caps are made in the U.S. The wide mouth makes it easy to add ice cubes, lemon wedges or tea bags.  Lifefactory also has glass baby bottles and attachments to turn them into sippy bottles. 

Thes travel Berkey water filter system is a great size for camping or taking on vacation. It's also ideal for apartments or the office. Berkey is one of the best water filter brands and there's very little plastic. The outer cylinder is stainless steel. The charcoal filter elements remove or greatly reduce more than 200 contaminants that might be in fresh water sources. No electricity needed. 

Each pair of these organic cotton socks supports the planting of ten trees through Trees for the Future. They are available in two sizes and have a terry cloth padding for extra comfort. The cotton is grown in India, which is the largest producer of organic cotton in the world. They are non-gmo, pesticide-free and Fair Trade certified. 

These elephant socks are certified organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and uses less water than regular cotton and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Certified Fair Trade too. Each pair supports Conservation International and their work to save elephants and other animals. 

This beautiful hardwood serving board is made from retired olive trees that no longer produce olives.  The platter is slightly scooped in the center to keep food in place. Olive wood is nonporous so no germs or odors stay on it.

This fun and cozy cotton alphabet rug is great for a child's bedroom, quietly educational and stylish at the same time. From Lorena Canals, it's handmade in India of 100 percent cotton and uses natural non-toxic dyes. Five feet round. 

I love these natural cork handbags from Corkor. Sustainably made in Portugal from responsibly grown and harvested cork, an eco-friendly raw material. They're stylish and practical. Cruelty-free and plastic-free. 

This beautiful women's style faux leather belt is made in Portugal from sustainably-grown and harvested cork. Taking cork bark from trees does not harm the tree. It grows back and, in doing so, encourages the tree to absorb more carbon dioxide from the air, more even than if the cork were not removed. Non-toxic and free of pesticides.  

This three-in-one Bento Box metal lunchbox is made from stainless steel and has three different compartments that snap together. Great for taking lunch to the office or on picnics. It's crack-resistant, lead-free and plastic-free. No phthalates, PVC or BPA.

This sturdy organic cotton dog-motif tote is made through the Tote Project, which fights modern slavery and supports survivors around the world. It is sewn in India by women who have escaped the sex trade and into freedom. The Tote Project also donates a portion of their profits to Two Wings, to help survivors of human trafficking in the United States. The totes are sold through Ten Thousand Villages.

This knit unisex cap is made by a family-run business in Japan of 100 percent hemp with an elastic closure. The hemp beanie is naturally cooling so it's great for both late summer and fall. Hemp needs less water to grow than cotton and hemp growers do not use pesticides. 

If you're planning a painting project non-toxic Ecos Paints is a good choice. The non-toxic line of paint is water-based and made without the harsh chemicals found in conventional paints, including zero VOCs. Made in South Carolina. They also have an EMF-shielding primer great for reducing your exposure to radiation.

This stylish all-around canvas bag is the best in eco-friendliness. It's made of organic sustainable cotton, is biodegradable, reusable, recyclable, and is GOTS-certified for both ecological integrity and social responsibility. Ships in paper packaging. 

So many fabric lunch bags out there are made of toxic synthetic (plastic) material. This GOTS-certified lunch bag is organic cotton. Healthy, safe, breathable, good for you and the Earth. Ships in paper packaging. 

This plastic-free water bottle is made of high quality food-grade double walled stainless steel with a bamboo and stainless steel lid with loop carrier, and silicone ring as a water seal. It's suitable for both hot and cold beverages. Stainless steel is considered sustainable because it is recyclable into the same product. Bamboo is also highly eco-friendly.

 Sunski’s contemporary sunglasses are made from recycled post-industrial scrap plastic. And they are mailed in a cardboard box cleverly folded inside to cushion the glasses and avoid the need for additional cushioning or a protective plastic bag. The lenses are 100 percent UV protected and polarized. Sunski is a member of One Percent for the Planet, donating one percent of profits to environmental causes.

This chess set is made in Pakistan through Dominion Traders, which works with underprivileged artisans who make stone and shesham wood crafts in Karachi. It is hand-made of zebra and coral stones. It's sold through Ten Thousand Villages.  

Full of advice and practical tips, this great book is a handy guide for reducing plastic in your life. It was written by a couple who began their plastic-free journey after being concerned about the toxins in their new baby's plastic bottles and their difficulty finding glass ones. The book strives to create more awareness about BPA-based products, polystyrene and other single-use plastics, and provide readers with ideas and alternatives.

Cork yoga mats are naturally anti-microbial since cork from tree bark is anti-microbial. So grime and odors don't build up them. This mat from Ananday is made of renewable cork and natural tree rubber. No plastic. No harsh chemicals. No toxins. 100% biodegradable. Cork is one of the most earth-friendly materials available. The bark is stripped by hand every nine years and regenerates itself. A harvested cork tree absorbs up to five times more CO2 than one that isn’t cultivated.

This travel yoga mat from Ananday, a maker of eco-friendly yoga products, is made of renewable interwoven jute and tree rubber. Non-toxic, biodegradable and plastic-free. Like cork, jute is also an eco-friendly and versatile material. It returns nutrients to the soil and doesn't require any chemical fertilizers/pesticides to grow. Rubber trees are a renewable resource that capture, store, and reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

While most sunscreens come in plastic, some of Badger's sunscreens are packaged in handy round tins. Badger uses zinc oxide as its active ingredient and it's safe for marine life, unlike most chemical sunscreens. Its ingredients are all natural and  it's  broad spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It's cruelty-free and made in the U.S. in a solar-powered factory. This  is a carry-over from summer  favorites because you need sunscreen all year long. 

These fun blocks for children feature constellations. They're solid and well-made and educational for both kids and parents. This is just one of many topics covered by Uncle Goose Blocks. Made in Michigan from domestic basswood, the blocks have other themes like insects, planets, chemical elements, mythology and sea life.  

Hemp is one of the most eco-responsible materials available for making a wide variety of non-toxic products, including fabrics. This organic hemp and cotton hippy style backpack is handwoven, sustainable and, eventually, compostable. It supports fair trade practices by empowering local women in Nepal, who make the bags and other crafts.

This tufted taupe throw blanket from Healthier Homes is hand-woven in India of natural undyed cotton. Designed in Spain by Lorena Canals. It has a two-toned horizontal pattern and braided tassels. Machine washable.