• Photograph: Nimble

  A Portable Charger

  Nimble Champ

  We may love being able to charge our phones on the go, but batteries aren't the best for the environment. Those little guys are full of plastic, chemicals, lithium, cobalt, and other rare metals. But since everyone needs one, Nimble houses its batteries in 72 percent post-consumer plastic. Its packaging is plastic-free too. That's why the Champ is our favorite portable charger.

  It's not just environmentally smart, though. It's one of the lightest batteries you'll find, and it can charge two devices at once with its USB-C and USB-A ports. A fully charged pack can juice up your phone for a week before it needs to be plugged in itself.

  $50 at Nimble (10,000 mAh)
• Photograph: Klean Kanteen

  A Better Water Bottle

  Klean Kanteen Recycled Steel Bottles

  Swapping out single-use plastic for a reusable water bottle is a big step on its own to reduce waste. Whichever bottle you like to drink out of is the one you should go with. But Klean Kanteen also now makes some of its options from 90 percent recycled stainless steel. Even better? You can put them in the dishwasher.

  There are a handful of sizes available already, from a small camp mug ($25) to a 64-ounce bottle ($65), and the company says it hopes that 95 percent of its line will be made from recycled steel by 2023. Klean Kanteen is a member of 1% for the Planet and is climate-neutral certified.

• Photograph: Solgaard

  A Timepiece

  Solgaard Shoreline Watch

  Solgaard's Shoreline collection takes plastic collected from beaches and other waterways to create its material, Shore-Plast. The result is a beautiful, hexagonal 42-millimeter watch face available in six nice colors—I particularly love the Laguna Lilac. The comfortable strap is made from biodegradable silicone. The quartz watch is waterproof down to 165 feet (50 meters), and it comes with a 100-day trial.

  For every purchase of its products, Solgaard collects 229 more bottles headed for our oceans and recycles them. 

  $175 at Solgaard

• Photograph: Cariuma

  Sustainable Shoes and Flats

  Recycled Shoes

  • Cariuma the Vallely Vegan Sneaker for $89: We love Cariuma's Catiba Pros already, so we were pumped to hear about this Mike Vallely collab. Vallely is a lot of things: famous skateboarder, skate industry entrepreneur, lead singer of the punk band Black Flag (yes, really), and outspoken animal rights activist. The vegan suede will withstand the rigors of skateboarding, and even the webbing, mesh lining, laces, threading, and logo labels are recycled. There's also natural rubber and bio-based foam, as well as cork. Gear editor Michael Calore says they're comfy and fit him true to size. Reviews editor Adrienne So loves these for skateboarding and biking as well.
  • Munjoi All-Dai Shoe for $98: I'm a Vans girl, but these shoes are so comfy they've become a part of my regular rotation. These transition from sneakers to slides to mules to peep-toe sandals in a second—remove the insole, push the toe and/or heel down, put the insole back in. The foam cushioning in these convertible shoes is made with polluted algae collected from waterways, combined with sugarcane-based EVA.
  • Sanuk Nopal Sustainasole Sneaker for $75: These sneakers are really cushiony and look cool too. Their soles are made with pre-consumer recycled rubber and ground waste foam, and the rest of the shoe is made of recycled cotton, polyester, and repurposed suede. The soles are grippy and squishy, but also extremely squeaky, so you may need to wear them in a bit before you venture into a quiet library. I tried the Grateful Dead version, which might've made me feel like a poser, except the tie-dye looks so incredibly cool I don't care.
  • Rothy's Copper Flat for $125: 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 the boxes are 100 percent recyclable.
• Photograph: Wolven

  The Softest Joggers

  Wolven Joggers

  These might be the most comfortable pants my legs have ever had the pleasure of touching. They feel like suede butter. I usually find joggers to be a bit annoying around the ankles, but these ones aren't tight. Better yet, they're made from 51.8 recycled plastic bottles. I tried them in the turmeric color, but I'm already eyeing the rest of the shades for the other six days of the week.

  Wolven has a list of other products, like flared leggings, matching tops, and bathing suits, and a men's shop. All are made from recycled bottles—you can find out exactly how many in the product description.

  $98 at Wolven
• Photograph: For Days

  A Loungewear Set

  For Days Recycled Jersey Blend Sweats

  Wolven's joggers are incredibly soft, but I loved having this more traditional matching sweatsuit for comfy days in. Each piece in this set is made with 25 percent recycled polyester—the rest is organic cotton—and the jacket looks nice on its own with jeans too. The brand has a bunch of other recycled clothing (the tees we link to below). All purchases get you 10 percent back in “Closet Cash," and once they've reached their life term, you can recycle them for $5 to be used there.

  For Days has a Take Back Bag to help recycle your old clothes of any brand, turning them into things like insulation, rugs, and cleaning materials, instead of sitting in landfills. The bag costs $20 to cover shipping to and from you, but you'll get $20 of credit to use at For Days. If you were planning on tossing them, you might want to consider this option.

• Photograph: Seljak

  A Warm Wool Blanket

  Seljak Earth Blanket

  The Australian company Seljak makes beautiful blankets out of 100 percent recycled materials—mainly wool and polyester, but the company says 15 percent is other recycled fibers. Even better, each blanket is made from production scraps, so there's little waste. This is a pricey blanket, but it's one you can feel good about (while keeping warm).

  It's wool, so the blanket has a little grit to it, but I liked using it as an extra layer in bed. It's the perfect material for sitting on at the park or under around a campfire. Seljak donates $5 to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne, Australia, for every blanket purchase.

  $275 at Seljak
• Photograph: JENNY COLLEN/Camas Lilly Co.

  A Dead Stock Robe

  Camas Lilly Co Heron Robe

  I consider myself a bit of a robe connoisseur, with options for whatever mood I'm in. Now I can add the Camas Lilly Co. Heron robe to my favorites list, not just for being beautiful and adorned with fringe, but because it's made of upcycled fabrics.

  All the robes—available in ready-to-ship and made-to-order versions—are made from dead stock sourced from Los Angeles suppliers. These fabrics, coming from large brands, fashion houses, and textile mills, might have minor flaws that the brands can't sell or are simply a result of overproduction—either way, they'd typically be on their way to the landfill. Once the robe is made, the leftover scraps are turned into accessories like scrunchies and headbands. The downside is that the brand offers only two sizes, one size or one-size plus. I wish they had a few more options.

  $178 at Camas Lilly Co
• Photograph: Freitag

  Bags, Bags, Bags

  Recycled Bags

  Recycled bags now come in all styles and sizes. These are the ones we tried ourselves. 

  • Moment MTW Tote for $120: This is a durable bag with enough pockets to keep you organized and your expensive gear protected. The weatherproof exterior is made of recycled nylon.
  • Bellroy Tokyo Tote for $129: The Bellroy tote's design and organization is similar to Moment's, and it's made of recycled plastic bottles. I love the rubbery grip on the handles, too, which keeps it from slipping off your shoulder.
  • Longchamp Le Pliage Green Shoulder Bag for $155: The Le Pliage is a classic designer bag. Longchamp's Green line is made from recycled polyamide canvas, which comes from waste like fishing nets and old carpets.
  • United by Blue Convertible Carryall for $118: If you want a shoulder tote sometimes and a backpack other times, this carryall converts easily, thanks to straps hidden in a zippered compartment. Nearly the entire bag is made of recycled materials; the interior and exterior are recycled polyester, and recycled nylon is used for the straps and zipper pulls.
  • Fjallraven Samlaren Totepack for $45: This cute tote is made from Fjallraven’s leftover fabric and is mainly recycled polyester. It has shoulder straps and handles, a main compartment, and a smaller side pocket. It's just the right size for a kid's beach gear.
  • Freitag F640 Rollin for $240: Freitag has been using recycled truck tarpaulins to make bags since the 1990s. But its Tarp on PET collection combines truck tarps with material spun from PET plastic bottles. Freitag uses recycled plastic yarn for the inner lining and more flexible parts of the bag. That makes the bag much lighter, while the heavy-duty truck tarps add durability where the bag needs it most. The Rollin is its roll-top shoulder bag, which you can take to work, and it expands to carry your weekly groceries on the way home.
  • Mafia Bags Deep Blue Bag for $195: San Francisco-based Mafia Bags makes its backpacks, duffels, and totes out of recycled sailcloth, which is light and durable. Industrial designer (and surfer) Yves Béhar designed the Deep Blue Bag, which incorporates old climbing ropes, seat belts, and wet suit neoprene, and it has fun, hidden details, like a loop at the bottom of the bag so you can hang it upside down while it dries. All profits from the bag go to the nonprofit Sustainable Surf—specifically its Waste to Waves program, which focuses on recycling Styrofoam packaging.
  • Baggu Reusable Bags for $14: These affordable bags are made from 40 percent recycled nylon and come in a huge array of colors and styles. They're durable, with straps big enough to make carrying heavy loads comfortable. Each standard-size tote can hold as much stuff as three of the plastic bags you'd usually get at the store. They also fold down into a neat little square pouch when you don't need to carry stuff.
  • Incase ARC Daypack for $130 and Tech Tote for $80: Incase's rectangular line of bags is made of recycled polyester. They also have pockets to block radio frequency identification.

• Photograph: Preserve

  Recycled Toothbrushes

  Preserve Toothbrush

  I was initially skeptical about the extreme angle of the Preserve Toothbrush, but it feels more natural than typical straight toothbrushes. It comes in ultra-soft, soft, and medium firmness levels and an array of colors. The handle is made of 100 percent recycled plastics, like yogurt cups, and you can mail in your used brush so it can be recycled again. (You can even pack those old brushes in a used plastic bottle you've been meaning to recycle.)

  ★ Alternative: The Bogo Toothbrush ($9) is also made of recycled plastics and comes with a stand you can stick to a bathroom counter. Its bristles are soft on gums but felt sufficiently firm when cleaning my teeth and tongue.

  $17 at Amazon (6-Pack)
• Photograph: Saalt

  Period Underwear Made From Plastic Bottles

  Saalt Period Underwear

  Period underwear is my (Medea's) new favorite product. I've tried, and love, a bunch of brands, but Saalt has an edge over the competition because its pretty designs are made of post-consumer recycled water bottles. 

  Depending on the style you want, they range from $29 to $39. Saalt offers two absorbency levels, a light level and a regular to high level that only absorbs two to three tampons worth. If you're planning on leaving tampons behind, you may have to buy heavier absorbency underwear from other brands.

  $36 at Saalt
• Photograph: Fair Harbor

  Recycled Swim Trunks

  Fair Harbor Anchor Swim Trunks

  WIRED senior writer Scott Gilbertson loves these Fair Harbor trunks made of 12 recycled plastic bottles and 88 percent recycled polyester. Instead of the scratchy mesh interior you might be used to, these have a soft, quick-drying liner similar to a boxer brief—the liner is made from recycled bottles as well. The Anchor shorts have an 8-inch inseam, but the brand has a bunch of other lengths.

  ★ More board shorts: We previously recommended surfer Kelly Slater's Outerknown Evolution Pocket Shorts, but they aren't currently available. We'll try some other options from that brand, but we're pretty confident in their entire lineup. Outerknown uses Econyl, a nylon that's made from abandoned fishing nets, to make its board shorts and jackets.

  $68 at Fair Harbor

• Photograph: Suga

  Eco-Friendly Yoga

  Suga Mat

  Surfers need wet suits to conserve body heat in cold water. So it's unfortunate that those wet suits are made from petroleum-derived products that never break down. Suga—based in Encinitas, California—collects used and damaged wet suits and turns them into dense, comfortable, and attractive yoga mats. As a bonus, the irresistible smell will remind you of the ocean.

• Photograph: Bureo

  A Skateboard Made of Fishing Nets

  Bureo Ahi

  Discarded plastic fishing nets are a big threat to ocean wildlife. California- and Chile-based Bureo keeps discarded fishing nets out of the water by turning them into recycled plastic products, like skateboards, sunglasses, and clothes. The Ahi is its performance cruiser, designed in collaboration with Carver Skateboards. It has Carver's patented trucks that let you pump the skateboard and feel like you're surfing on land. This package also includes custom grip tape and 65-millimeter wheels.

  $195 at Bureo
• Photograph: Portland Design Works

  For Bikers

  Portland Design Works Sodapop Fenders

  Bicycle fenders are helpful when you're pedaling through wet or muddy roads to keep that gunk from splashing off your tires and onto you. These ones are made of 97 percent recycled beverage bottles, and there are options for city bikes and mountain bikes. Plus, it's a small company that believes in making sustainable choices and is a member of 1% for the Planet.

  $21 at PDW

• Photograph: Bed of Nails

  Relax Your Back

  Bed of Nails Eco Acupressure Mat and Pillow

  You can get cheaper acupressure mats from Bed of Nails, but the Eco Mat and Pillow are made of sustainable materials like linen—which requires less water to grow than other fabrics—100 percent recyclable high-impact polystyrene, biodegradable coconut fiber filling, and biodegradable buckwheat hull. The tan color is a nice, calming hue compared to the brand's usual bright pink or green.

  They'll soothe your sore back and neck after a long day of hunching over a laptop. The round “nails” massage the areas of the body typical acupuncture targets, minus the needles. They're firm, but no, it doesn’t actually feel like you’re lying on nails.

  $180 at Bed of Nails
• Photograph: Bret Lemke/Girlfriend

  Sustainable Workout Leggings

  Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Legging

  Cheap leggings fall apart quickly and are often at least partially see-through. The Girlfriend Collective's compressive leggings are as high-quality as they are high-waisted. (I have a long torso, and these come up above my belly button.) They aren't see-through, and they don't need much pulling and readjusting when you're moving around. These leggings are made of 25 plastic bottles and 79 percent recycled polyester. The packaging is made of 100 percent recycled materials and is recyclable.

  I also tried the brand's Paloma Bra ($46), which is made of 11 plastic bottles and is just as comfortable and supportive as the leggings. When you've outgrown or no longer wear these items, you can send them back to Girlfriend Collective to be recycled again and get a gift card in return.

  $78 at Girlfriend Collective
• Photograph: Patagonia

  A Useful Jacket

  Patagonia Nano Puff

  Patagonia has been recycling plastic soda bottles into fleece since 1993, so it's been at this longer than most companies. Today most of its Capilene base layers, shell jackets, board shorts, and fleece incorporate recycled polyester. The iconic Nano Puff—aka the most useful jacket you will ever own—has a 100 percent recycled polyester shell, with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco that is made up of 55 percent recycled content. Once you're ready to upgrade, you can trade it in at a Patagonia location, where it will be sold through the company's Worn Wear program.

  $199 at REI

• Photograph: Looptworks

  A Simple Handmade Wallet

  Looptworks Card Sleeve Wallet

  Portland, Oregon–based Looptworks intercepts excess materials from other industries on their way to the landfill, upcycling them into backpacks, laptop cases, and apparel. Its simple card-sleeve wallet is made from leather that was once destined to become a motorcycle jacket. It has two pockets, is handmade, and is backed by Looptworks' lifetime guarantee.

  $20 at Looptworks
• Photograph: Everywhere

  Perfect Tees and Other Tops

  Upcycled Shirts

  • For Days Recycled Ribbed Jersey Oversized Tee ($52): We recommend For Day's joggers and bomber jackets above. The brand also has a bunch of t-shirts made of recycled materials too. This one comes from 22 percent recycled cotton, and the colors are nice and muted
  • Everywhere 100% Recycled T-Shirt for $24: Everywhere's tee is comfy, slimming, and stays put. Some unisex T-shirts are cut for men’s bodies, but this one looks good on all body types. (There's a women's specific cut too.) Each shirt is made of 50 percent recycled plastic—about four or five single-use plastic bottles each—and 50 percent recycled cotton, saving 650 gallons of water compared to standard tees. (It typically takes about 713 gallons of water to produce enough cotton for one T-shirt.) The white version could be a bit thicker, as you can see a slight outline of a bra underneath, but it’s better than most women’s white tees.
  • 30A Shirts for $30-$40: 30A's beachy apparel is made of recycled plastic bottles and water-based inks. The stock changes frequently, but we've tried a few basics and liked them all. They're cute, comfy, and reasonably priced.
• Photograph: Solgaard

  A Carry-On Closet

  Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus

  WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe likes all Solgaard products, but this one is her favorite. This hard-shell suitcase isn't cheap, but I've taken it on several trips and it still looks as good as new. This version is technically just bigger than domestic limits, but it'll be accepted as a carry-on by 95 percent of airlines. The included optional closet is collapsible and removable, and I also like the integrated TSA lock and USB port. 

  The best part? Solgaard's products are made with things like recycled bottles. Some are made entirely of ocean plastics. For each product sold, the company removes 5 pounds of plastic from the ocean.

  $285 at Solgaard

• Photograph: GreenPolly

  Eco-Friendly Trash Bags

  GreenPolly Trash Bags

  WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe tested the GreenPolly Trash Bags for her guide to eco-friendly cleaning products. They're not as durable as traditional trash bags, but their composition of 90 percent post-consumer plastic and 10 percent renewable sugarcane is a worthwhile trade-off.

  ★ For pet parents: Need poop bags for your pup? Try Give a Shit Compostable Bags ($12). They're made of ethically sourced plant components, and their box is made of 100 percent recycled cardboard. The company donates 10 percent of profits to the Soi Dog Foundation.

  $5 at Target (20-Count)
• Photograph: Elate Cosmetics 

  Makeup Without Waste

  Elate Cosmetics Creme Revealer Concealer

  Elate Cosmetics wants to make the beauty industry less wasteful. It promotes the idea of capsule collections, meaning your makeup kit is simplified to the handful of items you’ll actually use—think Marie Kondo-ing your makeup bag. All of Elate’s products are packaged sustainably (75 percent waste-free, according to the company), and nothing is ever tested on animals.

  My favorite is the concealer, which is housed in a water-treated bamboo compact with recyclable aluminum tins you remove and get refills of, rather than buying a whole new product (this goes for all its powder products). When you buy refills, they come in wildflower seed paper envelopes that can be planted, further reducing waste. I'm also fond of any company that has a Perfectly Imperfect collection, composed of items with minor flaws that sell for a discount rather than being tossed away.

  $30 at Elate Cosmetics
• Photograph: Palette

  Travel Goop Storage

  Palette Original High Fiver

  Don't waste money (and plastic) on travel-size versions of products you already have. The High Fiver has five pots that hold 0.17 ounces of liquid, oil, cream, powder, glitter, or any other product you may need to bring with you. There's also a version with a mini spatula to keep it mess-free.

  The base that holds all the pots together is made of around 30 percent recycled plastic, and it ships in tubes made of 88 percent post-consumer waste and 100 percent recycled envelopes. The bottom of each pot is squishy, so you can push them up to use every last bit of product in there. Plus, the High Fiver is a female-founded company, and it's produced in the US.

  $39 at Palette By Pak

• Photograph: Noho

  A Comfy Chair

  Noho Move chair

  Noho’s Move is a surprisingly comfortable chair made from end-of-life carpets and fishing nets removed from the ocean. It looks rigid, but the chair flexes so you can bend, stretch, and lean back. In other words, it lets you move. The design doesn't stick out, mimicking the classic shape of the 1950s Tulip Chair, but it remains an elegant addition to a home. It's also the lightest and easiest piece of furniture I’ve ever put together, with legs that click right in—no tools required. The downside? It's pricey.

  $375 at Noho
• Photograph: Green Toys

  A Garden Set for Kids

  Green Toys Indoor Gardening Kit

  There's no better way to get your kid to celebrate the environment than by introducing them to gardening, and this nine-piece 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. If this is out of stock, the brand has a bunch of other options, too.

• Photograph: Couch Guitar Straps

  Unique Guitar Straps

  Couch Guitar Straps

  WIRED reviewer Matt Jancer recommends Couch straps, which are made from dead stock—that's material that is unused and in new condition but was made long ago by another company. Couch finds it gathering dust in a warehouse, buys it, and turns it into guitar straps, camera straps, belts, wallets, handbags, sunglasses cases, and more.

  The product line is always changing and has included Army truck seat belts, upholstery intended for 1970s VW Beetles, and trippy patterned cloth once destined for 1960s furniture. Everything is vegan and handmade by eight people in a California workshop. You’ve seen Couch stuff on Queen’s Brian May, Beyoncé, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Carrie Brownstein, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, the Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Sammy Hagar, and … well, a lot of other performers.

  Buy at Etsy

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