Suits, specs, spf, and more.
Bluedot Living’s BuyBetter Picks features items we believe in. When you make a purchase through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Okabashi Sandals
The next time you need a pair of waterproof flip-flops, try American-made Okabashis. We love that this company use bio-based materials, including about 40% U.S.-grown soy by weight, to make their sandals. Even better, after you eventually wear yours out, you can send them back to Okabashi for recycling.
Outerknown Apparel
Apparel maker Outerknown, founded by champion surfer Kelly Slater, strives to “make excellent-quality, sustainable products that last a lifetime.” The brand’s relaxed, California-cool duds almost belie just how seriously the company takes its mission. Outerknown aims for complete circularity by 2030.
Vitamin A Swim
Vitamin A makes a covetable assortment of sustainable bathing suits and accessories, like cover-ups, loungewear, and hats — everything you need for a day (or week) at the beach. The brand, founded and owned by a former designer for Patagonia, takes sustainability and style equally seriously.
Vacation Sunscreen
Just this morning, I (Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor) shook up a can of Classic Whip SPF 30 Sunscreen Mousse from Vacation, sprayed some onto my arm, and immediately started hooting with laughter. The sunscreen looked just like whipped cream, had that classic piña-colada smell, and rubbed in like a dream.
Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama makes clothes that are so wearable, comfortable, and flattering, it’s almost hard not to like them. So when we started to get ready for a beach-themed BuyBetter newsletter, we wondered: Is Tommy Bahama a sustainable brand? We started investigating and were pleasantly surprised.
Patagonia
Many of us think of Patagonia as the gold standard in sustainable clothing. It may come as a surprise, then, to learn that Patagonia doesn’t call itself a sustainable brand. As the company’s environmental action and initiatives director said in 2021: “We recognize that we are part of the problem.”
Nomadix Towels and Picnic Blankets
Towel, blanket, and gear company Nomadix has a slogan we just love: “Own less. Do More.” This Climate Neutral Certified, 1% for the Planet member makes all of its textiles from recycled plastic. It diverted nearly 17,000,000 plastic water bottles from landfills in 2022 alone.
Out of the Woods Coolers and Bags
Out of the Woods offers an attractive and well-curated collection of coolers, totes, tech accessories, and lunch bags made from their washable, water-wise Supernatural Paper material. It's all very affordable, with the priciest item (as of May, 2023) costing a mere $40. Get an even better deal: Save 15% when you enter code BLUEDOT at checkout.
Made Trade
Bluedot’s Publisher Victoria Riskin loves the thoughtful, attractive assortment of goods in Made Trade’s ethical online marketplace. The woman-owned, family-run business sells wares for home and closet from brands that use sustainable materials and employ good labor practices. Save 10% off your order with code BLUEDOT10.
Opolis Optics
If you’re on the hunt for sustainably made sunglasses or ski goggles, look to Opolis Optics, a company that makes sleek shades from recycled plastics or bio-based materials. To date, Opolis Optics has pulled over 350,000 plastic bottles out of the ocean. Save 15% by entering code BLUEDOT at checkout.
Florence Marine X Men’s Swim
Olympian and two-time World Champion Surfer John Florence founded Florence Marine X to create sustainable board shorts and clothes that would truly withstand the pressures of sun and water. The company makes almost everything from recycled, upcycled, and organic materials.
