14 Sustainable and Ethical Underwear Brands for Everyday

I have been on the hunt for sustainable undies for quite sometime, and I figured I must not be the only one. 

I don't even think I'm that picky, but I've struggled finding the perfect bra. I'm a 34A/32B. I don't need a ton of support, but a lot of the options out there provide very little support. 

I can't imagine wearing many of these with anything larger than a C cup. While I don't need a ton of support, I do want my bras to provide shape. 

Since my boobs are small, I want them to be rounded and fill my clothes. I don't want padding, I'm not trying to make them bigger. I just don't want them smushed into non-existence. 

I also don't want my bras so thin that so thin that I might as well not be wearing a bra. If my bra is so thin that it doesn't prevent nipping.... then why am I WEARING ONE!? 

I also try to avoid underwire as I find it really uncomfortable, but it's not a compete deal breaker. 

Another problem I've encountered is color. There are a lot more options in black... but I don't wear a lot of black up top. I prefer to wear white, and I can't wear a black bra with a white shirt. 

Bra shopping has mimicked many of my shopping experiences in the sustainable fashion realm. I've found a lot of ethical fashion designers cater to a shapeless, edgy, minimal aesthetic.

If that's your aesthetic, you have hit the jackpot! 

It is not mine at all. My style is feminine, preppy, and playful.  I'm pear shaped which means most of the minimal, androgynous styles don't flatter me, and I really, really like to wear things that flatter my shape.

(If you like feminine pieces/pear shaped/etc I will be posting more about the shops I like!) 

Now, this round up isn't only about bras, it's also about undies too, but most of the undies I've tried have been great! 

It's pretty hard to go wrong with undies. I just like to have sets. It's important for my undies and bras to match or at least coordinate. 

When my underwear goes together I am a much more productive human. 

So these are the main things that I'm looking for: 

• Comfort
• Support
• Provides shape
• Ethically Made
• Sustainable Fabrics
• Price Matches Quality 
• Packaging

1. Majamas

This is the set I have in Heavenly Pink.  

• The Organic Padded Daily* / $36
• The Organic Comfort Thong Panty* / $18

Comfort: I've pretty much worn the bra for 6 months non-stop. It is HANDS down my favorite. It says "padded" in the title, but it's really just a shaping insert like you find in bathing suits. 

Support: It is very supportive. It reminds me a lot of a sports bra with shape. While I don't think I'd run a marathon in it... I could if I needed to. 

Provides Shape: YES! The shaping inserts make a world of difference. I've actually taken the shaping inserts out and added them to tank tops with a shelf bra to prevent nipping. 

Ethically Made: Made in the USA!

Sustainable Fabrics: I really love their commitment to sustainable fabrics. They use organic cotton, modal, tencel, and recycled poly.

Price Matches Quality: With how much I've been wearing this bra, it has held up extremely well. The cost is also incredibly reasonable. 

Packaging: No plastic!

The only thing I wish is that Majamas made a style that wasn't so sports bra like. Something with a thinner strap! 

2. Brook There: 

This is the set I have in Midnight

• The Organic Cotton Triangle Bra / $48
• Organic Cotton Bikini / $28

Comfort: This set is really, really comfortable. Borderline no bra comfy. I only wish I had gotten a lighter color. I didn't realize that I gravitated towards lighter colored bras until I started this experiment.... 

Support: This bra is surprisingly supportive. I love that it has adjustable straps! 

Provides Shape: This bralette is double lined which provides shape and no nipping. 

Ethically Made: Made in the USA, and I love that they are committed to finding US milled organic cotton. 

Sustainable Fabrics: They mostly use organic cotton and silk. 

Price Matches Quality: The quality on both these pieces is great.

Packaging: Came in an eco enclose made from 88% recycled poly, but inside of the bag there is no plastic. 

I love this set because it's very much like the little black dress of undies. They can be super casual, but also very sexy. Which could also be the midnight color. 

3. Hara: 

This is the set I have in Pink

• Stella Low Cut Bra / $55
• Maya Low Waist Undies / $45

Comfort: These bra and undies are very, very soft. They are both comfy kinda like pajamas. 

Support: Eh.... it's not that supportive. The straps are really thin, and aren't adjustable. 

Provides Shape: The bralette is really thick so it does provide shape and no nipping. 

Ethically Made: Made in Bali, Indonesia. They are really committed to ethical production allowing the tailors to work in their home and spend time with their families. 

Sustainable Fabrics: They use bamboo which can be a nasty fabric, but they use a non-toxic solvent and plant based dyes so there are no harmful chemicals present in the final product. 

Price Matches Quality: The quality in both of these pieces is great. I like to have multiple pairs of undies for the same bra which makes this one a little spendy, but after several washes they still look like new.

Packaging: Came in a DHL bubble mailer which was a little disappointing, but there was no plastic in the packaging! 

 These undies are so freaking soft. I hope that they come out with a bralette that had a thicker band around the bottom for a little more support! 

4. Only Hearts: 

This is the set I have in Black

• Organic Cotton Wrap Bralette / $46
• Organic Cotton Hipster* / $19

Comfort: The panties are fine, but good heavens this bra was not for me. 

Support: There is no support and the elastic is so uncomfortable and consistently rides up often riding up over my boobs

Provides Shape: There is no shape in the bra. 

Ethically Made: Only Hearts is ethically made in New York. 

Sustainable Fabrics: They use local, deadstock and certified made in green textiles.

Price Matches Quality: Such a great deal for the organic undies! 

Packaging: I ordered from Azura Bay and it came in a box with no plastic packaging! 

Only Hearts is a fabulous company and their quality is great, but I picked the wrong bra. Here are a couple I would have tried instead So Fine V Neck* / Second Skin Racerback* / Second Skin Underwire*. Plus I'm just crushing sooooo much on these PJs. 

5. Sokoloff: 

I have a very fancy lingerie set by Sokoloff but it was so high-quality, I had to list the everyday set I'm lusting after. 

• Rosy Bamboo Burgundy Bralette / $52
• Rosy Bamboo Burgundy Thong* / $24

Comfort: The bamboo in this is very similar to the bamboo used in the Hara undies so I assume it will be just as comfy. 

Support: This set looks very supportive. The pair of undies I have from Sokoloff was very supportive, but it did have underwire

Provides Shape: Looks like it would provide shape. 

Ethically Made: Made in Canada! 

Sustainable Fabrics: They use organic cotton, organic bamboo, local mills and natural dyes. 

Price Matches Quality: I love the fancy set that I got for Valentine's Day this year The quality is exceptional. 

Packaging: I ordered from Azura Bay and it came in a box with no plastic packaging! 

6. PACT

I did not try their bralettes, but I did try their undies and I was extremely disappointed in the quality. The company was a little shady and everything was wrapped in plastic! Each pair of undies individually wrapped and the box was full of plastic bubbles. 

So disappointed. I cannot recommend them as a company. 

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Other Sustainable and Ethical Undie Brands that I haven't tried, but are on my list.  

7. Hanky Panky Made in USA

8. Commando Made in USA

9. Blue Canoe Made in USA

10. Kent Woman Made in USA

11. Soul Flower Made in USA

12. Need Supply Co. Made in USA

13. Organic Basics Made in Turkey and Portugal

14. Cosabella Made in Italy

Let me know if there are any sustainable undies that you love that I should add to the list! 

This post contains affiliate linking. It's denoted with an asterisk. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a slight commission for referring you. You can read more on my disclosure page. 

An Afternoon With the Toyota Mirai

I didn't grow up in the most eco-friendly area. I didn't grow up with the most eco-conscious parents. Honestly, I didn't know what recycling was until I was in college.

I'm living proof that you don't have to be born a hippie to become one.

Through writing this blog and authentically living my values, I've seen shifts in the habits of those around me. My parents are both avid recyclers, bring their own bags, say no to straws, and we get to chat all about the latest eco happenin's.

This post was sponsored by Toyota as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information please see my disclosure page.

Recently, I had the chance to test drive the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle that only emits water! YES. WATER.

As I was chatting with my dad about hydrogen power, he told me about a paper he wrote in the eighth grade about airplanes powered by hydrogen.

It's really neat to think of technology he dreamed about so many years ago is not only possible, but actually available and on the market.

Toyota invited me to the EMA Impact Summit 2018 to listen to an amazing line-up of panelists from celebrities to CEOs talking all about their environmental initiatives and what they're doing to make the world a better place.

While there, I got chat with Jana Hartline the Mirai Marketing Manager at Toyota Motor North America about the future of transportation.

Toyota has been working on hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and electric hybrid cars since the 80s! Toyota released the Prius in 1997 before their hydrogen vehicles because building the infrastructure for hydrogen fuel takes time.

Fun Fact: Prius means ‘to go before’, and Mirai means ‘the future’.  

Right now, the Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, is only available in California because it's the only state with hydrogen fueling stations, but fueling stations are expanding to cities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

By working with California government agencies and committing millions of dollars to hydrogen fuel providers, Toyota is helping to build an infrastructure that supports a growing community of Fuel Cell Vehicle drivers.

The Mirai is powered by electricity which is created within the vehicle’s fuel cell stack.The hydrogen fuel in the Mirai reacts with oxygen from the air to create electricity. This electricity powers the motor. Instead of being powered by charging a battery (which can take 45+ minutes or hours), the Mirai makes its own power on board and only takes about 5 minutes to refuel.

When you go to the hydrogen fueling station, you fill up with hydrogen gas instead of gasoline allowing this car to be very scalable. This is incredible technology since a lot of our goods are trucked across the country by 18-Wheelers.

Hydrogen is a way to move things quickly while still being zero emissions!

When you're driving, the hydrogen gas mixes with oxygen to generate an electric current. The electricity is used to power the electric motor of the vehicle and the only thing emitted is water.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and there are many ways of capturing it. Most importantly, it can be produced using renewable energy and stored and sent without having to worry about the fluctuation that sometimes comes with wind and solar like if it's a cloudy day.

One of the things I loved about driving this car around town is that I got a score! Every time I drove the vehicle, it ranked my driving to let me know how I was doing. Was I driving as efficiently as possible?

Utilizing scores and ranks are wonderful motivators. Humans are naturally competitive. I love that Toyota has found a way to harness our love for games and competitive nature to turn it into a tool to benefit the environment.

Other features of the Mirai that I absolutely loved were the back-up camera, the navigation system, and you can hook up your phone to receive hands free calls.

There's a hydrogen fueling station coming to my neighborhood in 2019, and this might just be my next car! After talking to Jana, it was apparent Toyota isn't planning for today. They're planning for the future, and they always have been.

And friends, I'm really excited about the future. I'm very optimistic about what we can do to change the tides on emissions and plastic pollution. The EMA Impact Summit was so uplifting and rejuvenating.

I walked away feeling empowered because in the words of Paul Hawken - "This isn't game over; it's game on."
 

5 Tips for a Zero Waste Party

I love entertaining and throwing parties. I was hosting dinner parties for my friends in high school. During my senior year in high school, my final project in speech class was about tablescaping. 

Yes, I love throwing parties. I love making food, drinks, inviting over friends and family - there's just nothing better.

But, when you're zero waste things get a little bit more difficult. It's pretty easy to buy package free food for a couple of people. But, when you're entertaining a lot of people, it gets more challenging! 

You have to buy more food, drinks, and find a place to store all of it before the party. Plus you have more cooking and dishes to do.

When living a zero waste lifestyle, you can't rely on easy prepackaged food. So, I wanted to break down my five favorite tips for throwing a zero waste party. 

1. go for a theme:

Ok, so maybe this is just because all parties should have themes. (it's so much more fun!) But, it makes planning a party easier. 

The theme doesn't have to be crazy. I recently threw a wine and cheese party. 

By picking the theme wine and cheese we were able to keep things really simple! It was much easier to shop. I knew I could hit the bakery, the farmers market and the cheese shop to get everything package free. 

When you pick a theme, you can streamline, keep things simple, and most importantly - avoid trash! I always joke that the zero waste motto and the boy scout motto are one in the same. "Be prepared!"

For the wine and cheese party, I bought a whole bunch of wine from local vineyards and I arranged a large cheese platter with fruit, nuts, and toasted bread. 

I was able to keep the whole thing vegetarian which made me super happy! I even snuck a vegan nut cheese in there. 

When throwing a holiday party, the theme is handed to you like Fourth of July where I love to make berry pie with the US Flag in lattice work or Thanksgiving where I like to use mini-pumpkins as place settings. 

For Halloween, I've carved a spooky crudités carrots ready to be dipped into roasted pepper hummus oozing out of a cauliflower brain. 

I like to focus on food as the centerpiece because it's beautiful and edible - a zero waste win all around.

2. work with nature: 

When you're planning your party, work with nature. Use what the seasons and mother earth has provided you with. 

I fully believe the most beautiful decorations are decorations from outside like flowers, herbs, twigs, produce, etc.

When the event is over they can be composted or eaten. There's no need to buy plastic junk from a party supply store. 

Whenever I'm planning a party, I start thinking about my menu a couple of weeks in advance based on what is in season. 

The week before my party, I like to check with the farmers at the farmers market to make sure that the ingredients I need will be available for the party. 

Check out this BIG Zero Waste Backyard BBQ

3. keep it real:

All of my parties have real plates, real cups, real dishes, and even cloth napkins. I know that it can seem daunting, but I promise it actually makes clean up faster. 

I've found that with real dishes people respect them a lot more. They're much more likely to hold on to their cups and dishes, and they're not going to set it down, forget about it and grab another one. 

Just make sure to start the party with an empty dishwasher and washing machine. At the end of the night you can load everything up and wake up to clean dishes and napkins in the morning. 

If you don't have a dishwasher, take your friends up on their offer to help you clean! I don't have a dishwasher, and we always made a second little party out of clean up. 

4. simple food:

You don't have to go overboard for parties. I always have to pull myself back because I over buy food, over commit to making too much, make things way more complicated than they have to be. 

Buy less food than you think you need! (You will still have leftovers.)

Over the years I've really learned to streamline my menu planning. Not everything has to be complex. Sometimes it's nice just to let good ingredients shine. 

If I have under 10 people, I go for a dinner party and keep the sides very, very simple. If I have over 10 people coming then, I do finger food which prevents me from having to wash a lot dishes. 

With finger food, you want to have 12 bites per person. I try to offer at least 5 different nibbles 3 of those nibbles will be things I do not have to make. 

At my wine and cheese party the only thing I had to make was the crostini. Everything else I simply chopped, sliced, and arranged. 

By opting for lots of fresh fruit or produce, I can easily keep things zero waste. I also like to buy nuts and chocolates from the bulk bins, and I like to hit up the deli to grab olives or other party platter foods. 

Make sure to check out my post The Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Grocery Shopping for tips on how to buy your food without packaging. 

5. easy drinks:

Same things goes for drinks, I keep it simple. I opt for wine, beer, things I don't have to make. If I throw a summer BBQ sometimes I do like to throw in a delicious and refreshing Sangria, but the base is still wine. 

Living in Northern California, we do have access to some great local wines! 

Don't forget alcoholic drinks too! I typically opt for tea which I love to buy loose leafed, but Arbor Teas is a fabulous company I also love to support. 

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I really hope you find this guide helpful to reducing waste when you throw your next party! Don't forget to check out my zero waste guide for attending parties too. And, be prepared with zero waste hostess gifts.