Eco-Friendly summer Supplies

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Buying organic cotton beach towels is just as important as choosing organic cotton for bath towels. Cotton grown without pesticides is better for the soil, wildlife and region it's grown in and a lot safer for you because embedded chemicals in the fabric do not wash out quickly. Coyuchi's large beach towels are made of GOTS-certified organic cotton grown in India and they're woven in Portugal. One side is velour and the other is an absorbent loop weave terry.

These fringed boho style beach towels are made from certified organic Turkish cotton, grown without pesticides, additives or GMOs. They also contain no harsh chemicals or dyes. The thin but strong design and large size makes drying off after a swim faster. 

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.

Raw Love's coral-safe sunscreen is plastic-free, like others in tins. It uses non-nano zinc oxide, which provides effective broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection without penetrating the skin, making it safe for sensitive skin. It complies with Hawaii's Reef Act, which bans the sale of sunscreens containing coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate.

These wide-brimmed summer hats from Wallaroo are made from natural raffia fiber from Madagascar. This one is adjustable via a drawstring around the interior circumference. Wallaroo -- which was inspired by the strong Australia sun and the need for protection from it -- has a huge line of summer hats. 

 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 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.  

This basket is hand woven in Uganda from banana fiber and raffia palm. It is made thought Uganda Crafts, the oldest and largest craft shop in the country. The organization brings a sustainable and fair income to their artisans, most of whom are either people with disabilities, widowed, or others often excluded from the global economy.  Brought to the US by Ten Thousand Villages.

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. 

This lip balm in a tin is infused with a hint of rose extract, which is said to calm skin irritation and condition skin. Lanolin, cotton seed and jojoba oil  hydrate and heal chapped lips and dry skin on the face, hands and body. It's cruelty-free and made in the US. 

I love these natural cork handbags from Corkor. Sustainably made in Portugal from responsibly grown and harvested cork, a raw material that helps the environment in a variety of ways, including drawing CO2 from the air. Cork is a major carbon sink in fact, drawing even more of it in as the harvested bark grows back. This bag is stylish and practical, cruelty-free and plastic-free. 

If you're planning a painting project this summer eco-friendly Ecos Paints is a great 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 at home in at work.

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. 

This bamboo cutlery from EcoRoots is reusable and compostable and perfect for picnics and traveling. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and biodegradable and an environmental superhero. These come in plastic-free packaging.

These eco-friendly cups and lids are made entirely from sugarcane fiber and are biodegradable, even the lids. They are free of harmful chemicals and are a great alternative to plastic. 

These disposable picnic plates are stronger than paper yet are still biodegradable and plastic-free. They are made from naturally fallen palm leaves so are sustainable and eco-friendly. They're USDA BioPreferred Certified, free from harmful chemicals, BPA, dyes, and toxins. With a natural woody look they are also more attractive then plastic or even paper plates. 

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.

These travel-friendly shampoo and conditioner bars from EcoRoots are vegan and plastic-free. They are made in the US and are cruelty-free and also free of parabens, phthalates and Silicone. Each is handmade from natural ingredients like plant oils and minerals.

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.  

Handmade in Vietnam from real coconuts, these bowls are great for summer entertaining. They also make nice gifts. They're organic, biodegradable and completely natural. Each is made from coconuts grown without pesticides or other chemicals and the spoons are made from reclaimed wood. 

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.

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.

Rothy's Espadrille Mary Jane's are made from hemp, organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles. They estimate each pair removes about six plastic bottles from the waste stream and likely from the ocean too as Rothy's sources their discarded bottles from coastal communities without recycling programs to help keep plastic from the ocean.  

Rothy's stylish vegan summer sandals are made of natural rubber soles and upper fabric made from recycled plastic pulled from the ocean.  It's manufactured in Rothy's LEED and TRUE Zero Waste factory. Rothy's has a wide variety of eco-friendly shoes and bags made from ocean plastic and great materials like hemp. 

This summer tote from Rothy's is made of hemp, organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles that were likely headed for the ocean. Rothy's sources its used plastic bottles from coastal regions to help keep them from going in the ocean. Hemp is one of the oldest textiles and now has modern importance due to its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

This garden shed from Eartheasy is made of western red cedar and an SPF (spruce-pine-fir) blend. Inside there are two storage shelves on one side and open space on the other for rakes and other larger tools. The cedar is rot-resistant and the shed even has a quaint cedar roof. The wood is not pressure-treated and there are no toxic preservatives used in the shed's construction. 

Garden Helper has made gardening tools in Japan since 1960. Using mostly traditional uncomplicated materials like steel and birch wood, the tools are made in Sanjo City, a hub for Japanese cutlery and hardware. All the hand tools have a hole at the end of the handle for easy hanging. Plastic-free and cruelty free (no leather loops for hanging). 

Push mowers are lighter than they used to be ut still a work-out and pollution-free option. This one from American Lawn Mowing Co. mower  is compatible with this sharpening kit. The grass clippings provide moisture and nutrients and will benefit the lawn before biodegrading naturally. The downside to the reel mower is the cut is not as close or as even as with a power mower. If you want more of a golf course look, this may not be the best choice. 

Eartheasy’s stainless steel hose hanger is stronger than plastic and better for the environment. A lot more attractive too. It’s suitable for residential, commercial and marine uses and can be used inside or out. This one holds up to 200 lbs. and is best for lighter hoses and extension cords. The larger “saddle” model is better for heavier hoses. Check the specs on the two descriptions to be sure which is best. These hanger are made in the U.S. and will not rust. 

Grampa’s Weeder makes it easy to pull weeds from the lawn while still standing up. This tool’s long handle avoids the need to get down on your hands and knees. It’s made of bamboo and a four-claw steel head design. This was invented in 1913 in Seattle, Washington and was widely used until 1941 when production stopped so the metal could be used for the war effort. But in 1999, the founder of Grampa’s Weeder happened upon the tool one day in a family shed and was so impressed with the weeder he started Grampa’s Gardenware Co.