The Best Eco-Friendly Supplies for Winter

Featured here are Good as Dirt’s best recommendations for eco-friendly winter supplies.

Top Picks

Organic Cotton Gauze Blanket from Avocaco

The organic cotton muslin blanket from Avocado Green Mattress might be the only blanket you’ll ever need again. Good as Dirt has this blanket and it’s out of this world. It’s made with four layers of GOTS-certified organic cotton muslin. It’s lightweight and breathable but also warm and cozy. These features make it comfortable in all four seasons. In summer it’s a nice light layer but it’s plenty warm in winter too. Being organic, it’s non-toxic and beneficial for you and for the environment. We recommend cotton blankets over wool for a lot of reasons: Being washable is one. Wool isn’t washable without shrinking and dry cleaning is toxic. Cotton is also breathable. It’s a porous plant fiber that pulls moisture away from the body instead of trapping it. It’s also less expensive than wool, not scratchy like wool can be and it’s vegan and cruelty-free. Some wool is cruelty-free, some is not. Cotton is also hypoallergenic and non-irritating for sensitive skin. Synthetic blanket are plastic, toxic, bad for you and the environment and have a shorter shelf life than cotton. These petroleum-based disasters are non-porous and trap heat so are often uncomfortable and hot. Don’t buy plastic blankets (including polyester-filled comforters). For all these reasons, organic cotton is Good as Dirt’s top choice for blankets and we love this one from Avocado.

Hemp and Algae Boots

from 8000 Kicks

8000 Kicks hemp shoes aren’t just made of the world’s most eco-friendly fiber, they are also really good-looking. Now they have a hemp boot too., that also has soles made with algae. They call it the Crossover Hemp Chelsea and it’s made for both men and women. You can have any color you want as long as it’s black. (No word on why they’re only in black but maybe they’ll expand their color options in time.) This vegan waterproof boot is made of organic hemp upper, hemp insoles, a thin recycled polyester lining and the EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) sole is made partially with algae, which helps clean harmful algae blooms from eutrophic waterways. Hemp is a textile superstar that’s naturally anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, biodegradable, durable and temperature-regulating. It’s also an effective carbon sink so growing hemp and using it economically directly helps to fight climate change.

Most decorative and fragrant candles are toxic and should be avoided. They are usually made with paraffin, a petroleum byproduct that releases carcinogens and central nervous system toxins when burned. Further, their artificial scents contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals including phthalates and VOCs like formaldehyde. By contrast, these candles from The Bare Home, are non-toxic and safe for you and the environment. They’re made in Canada with ethically-sourced soy and coconut waxes, natural fragrances from plant-based essential oils and they have a wood wick, which melts the wax more efficiently. They don’t release any toxins into your home. They’re poured into attractive reusable glass jars with wooden lids. They have yummy scents like bergamot, citrus, cedarwood, sandalwood and lavender. An added bonus is knowing that three percent of your purchases goes to support local mental health charities in and around Barrie, Ontario. Read more about these great candles here on The Bare Home blog. They can be purchased singly or in a set, as shown here.

Eco-Friendly Supplies for Winter

  • Natural Pine Bird Feeder

    Feeding birds — and other hungry wildlife — is a fun and rewarding winter pastime and a good way to help introduce children to wildlife. This natural wooden feeder from Eartheasy is made in the US of sustainably-grown eastern white pine from Robbins Lumber mill in Maine. Robbins Lumber is a leader in responsible forestry management practices. They replant where they harvest, secure the soil from erosion and preserve wildlife habitats.

  • Wooden Winter Roost

    This convertible rustic roost provides a safe winter shelter for backyard birds while also being a bird house in the summer months. This roost-to-nest box design is a great option for species like wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, bluebirds and more. It’s made in the US of eastern white pine sustainably grown in Maine by Robbins Lumber mill, a leader in responsible forestry management. .

  • Plastic-Free Lip Balm

    Winter can be chapped lips season without a good lip balm and it’s important to have a non-toxic one. Most balms are full of toxic ingredients and then housed in plastic. This vegan lip butter from Zero Waste Outlet is made with all plant-based non-toxic ingredients like candelilla wax, cocoa butter and nut oils. It comes in a biodegradable push-up cardboard tube. The butter offers long-standing moisturizing because it is absorbed into your skin rather than sitting on top. 

  • Badger Sunscreen

    Sunscreen is just as important in winter. While most come in plastic, some of Badger's mineral options are packaged in handy plastic-free 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. Mineral sunscreens create a barrier to protect skin from the sun’s rays and are safer than chemical sunscreens.

  • Cork Belts for Women

    This faux leather cork belt is a great accessory to a winter wardrobe. It has the classic look and feel of leather but entirely vegan and cruelty-free. It’s made by Corkor, a family-owned business in Portugal that makes a large line of cork products, including belts for men.

  • Men's cork belt, vegan faux leather

    Cork Belts for Men

    This stylish faux leather belt for men is made entirely of cork. Vegan and cruelty-free. It’s a great accessory for winter and comes in several shades. It’s made by Corkor, a family-owned business in Portugal.

  • Terra Thread Organic Travel Duffel

    Winter s a great time to travel. Terra Thread'‘s Bumi Eco Duffels are made from certified Fair Trade Organic cotton canvas. It’s a good middle sze for weekend getaways or longer vacations for light packers, this sturdy bag has a large main compartment and exterior and interior pockets. They are handmade in a Fair Trade factory in India.

  • Organic Flannel Cotton Robe for Women

    This very stylish flannel cotton robe from Coyuchi is made with 100 percent organic GOTS-certified cotton grown in Turkey and woven in Portugal. Its smart tailored design includes details isuch as a tapered waist, shawl collar, dog-earned belt loops and on seam pockets.

  • Cozy Organic Terry Robe

    Avocado's gender-neutral French terry cotton robe is made with 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton ethically grown in India. It’s thick, wrinkle-resistant, temperature-regulating and cozy. Organic cotton has about half the carbon footprint of conventional cotton (grown with pesticides) and uses around 70% less water.

  • Coyuchi Cirrus Organic Cotton Throw

    Coyuchi’s softest throw is made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. It’s available in several soft earthtones.

  • Coyuchi Casa Loma Throw

    Soaring Heart's naturally soft organic cotton knit throw is made from 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton grown and woven in India. It has a fishbone stitch and ribbed hem.

  • Cotton blankets from Morocco

    Moroccan Cotton Blankets

    These unique blankets from Morocco made with hand-dyed, natural cotton that softens over time, decorated with oversized pompoms and metallic flecks for added texture and sparkle. The weaving process is carried out on home looms by Moroccan artists, supporting local craftsmanship and minimizing industrial energy consumption.

  • Colorful organic cotton socks for fall, cozy socks

    Colorful Organic Cotton Socks

    Maggie’s organic cotton socks are 98% cotton and just 1 % each of nylon and spandex for stretch. The cotton is woven to wick away moisture and keep feet dry. They’re made in the US. .

  • Recycled Cotton Socks

    Eartheasy’s cozy upcycled cotton socks are knit in the US with recycled cotton yarn and intentionally mismatched for a fun color scheme. The recycled yarn is created by recovering the scraps left over from the production of cotton t-shirts. It’s certified by Oeko-Tex to be free of harmful toxins. Using recycled cotton reduces the amount of cotton waste sent to landfills.

  • Recycled Cotton Baby Socks

    These darling cozy baby socks from Eartheasy are made in the US of recycled cotton yarn. They’re colorfully mismatched and come in sets of five — two pairs and a spare! The recycled cotton yarn is created by recovering the scraps left over from the production of cotton t-shirts. Using recycled cotton reduces the amount of cotton waste sent to landfills. The yarn is certified by Oeko-Tex to be free of harmful toxins.

  • Organic Cotton Garment Bag

    This organic cotton garment bag from Coyuchi is a great way to store your warm weather clothes over the winter. It’s made of organic cotton grown and woven in India. It’s GOTS and Fair Trade Factory Certified, so you know it is not only organic and non-toxic but also ethically-made. It has a side zipper for easy access and doubles as a laundry bag.