8 Best Sustainable Beach Towels, Wrap Yourself in Sustainability
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Get ready to soak up the sun and feel the sand between your toes with the hottest beach accessory of the season - sustainable beach towels! As we become more conscious of our environmental impact, it's no surprise that eco-friendly beach towels have become a must-have for any beach bum.
Not only are they made from sustainable materials, but they also come in a variety of vibrant colors and fun patterns that will make you stand out from the crowd. So, pack your zero-waste sunscreen and recycled flip-flops and dive into the world of sustainable beach towels!
Our Top Picks for Eco-Friendly Beach Towels
The perfect beach day is incomplete without a soft and absorbent beach towel. Whether swimming, surfing, or simply lounging under the sun, a good towel is a must-have accessory.
We've researched materials, production practices, and beyond, so you don't have to. So, keep reading and jump to the bottom of the post to find out how we choose these top-notch towels and if recycling plastic to make beach towels is good.
In this post, we've provided options for both natural fabric and recycled plastic fabric beach towels, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your personal values and environmental priorities.
1. Slowtide
Slowtide is a California-based company that creates sustainable and functional beach essentials. The brand was founded in 2015 by friends who shared a passion for surfing and design.
Their classic beach towels are made from a soft and absorbent blend of 100% cotton and feature eye-catching designs inspired by nature and travel. They also offer oversized beach towels with the same eco-friendly materials and designs, providing more coverage and comfort for a day at the beach.
For those looking for something more lightweight and compact, Slowtide offers their travel towels. These towels are made from recycled polyester and nylon, making them fast-drying, lightweight, and perfect for on-the-go adventures.
In addition to their standard towels, Slowtide also offers yoga towels made from recycled polyester and featuring non-slip backing for a secure practice. They also offer Turkish towels made from recycled cotton and polyester, providing a lightweight, quick-drying option for the beach or pool.
Slowtide's fabrics and materials
Slowtide uses various materials for its organic beach towels, including recycled cotton, organic cotton, and upcycled cotton. These materials are certified by organizations such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OEKO-TEX, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to ensure their sustainability and ethical production.
The recycled cotton is certified by Global Recycling Standard (GRS).
Slowtide's ethical sourcing
Slowtide sources some of its cotton from the Cotton LEADS program, ensuring that it is produced to reduce environmental impact and promote responsible use of resources.
Slowtide is a member of Sedex, which means it adheres to ethical labor practices and supply chain transparency.
Slowtide's corporate responsibility
Slowtide partners with organizations such as 1% for the Planet and Surfrider Foundation to support ocean conservation and beach clean-up efforts. They have also worked with local communities to support environmental education programs and donate some of their profits to various non-profit organizations.
2. LinenCasa
LinenCasa is a sustainable home textile brand that specializes in linen products. They offer a range of eco-friendly linen bedding, bath towels, beach essentials, and kitchen towels.
Their beach towels come in various sizes, including large bath sheet sizes, and are lightweight, quick-drying, and highly absorbent, making them perfect for beach days. They also feature unique designs and patterns, adding a stylish touch to your beach gear.
LinenCasa's fabrics and materials
LinenCasa eco-friendly quick dry towels are made of 100% European flax linen, known for their durability and softness. The brand uses high-quality linen produced in Europe and meets OEKO-TEX® standards, which means it is free from harmful substances.
The towels are also hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial, making them ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Linen is a natural and eco-friendly material that requires less water and energy than other textiles. It is also biodegradable and recyclable, which makes it a sustainable choice for beach towels. Linen has natural moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, making it perfect for beach or pool use.
LinenCasa's ethical sourcing
They are certified by Sedex. Their linen is produced in Europe using locally grown flax. They work with skilled artisans who are paid fair wages for their work, and they ensure that no child labor is involved in any aspect of their supply chain.
LinenCasa's corporate responsibility
They are committed to giving back to the community and donate a portion of their profits to charities that support environmental conservation and social justice causes.
3. Weezie
Weezie is a luxury home textile brand offering high-quality, environmentally friendly beach towels and robes. The brand was founded in 2018 by Lindsey Johnson and Liz Eichholz, who was inspired to create a better towel after their frustrating experiences with scratchy, low-quality towels.
They offer a range of beach towels and have a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, including classic stripes, bold solids, and playful prints. Customers can also add a monogram to their towels for a personal touch.
In addition to their beach towels, Weezie offers a Beach Towel Bundle ideal for families who want to save money.
Weezie's fabrics and materials
Regarding materials, Weezie uses a blend of long-staple cotton and TENCEL™ Modal, which gives the towels a soft, plush feel while still being lightweight and quick-drying.
The cotton used in the towels is OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning it is free from harmful chemicals and is safe for both people and the environment.
Weezie's ethical sourcing
Weezie products are designed in the United States and manufactured in Portugal.
Weezie's corporate responsibility
Weezie also uses eco-friendly packaging materials, and they have a recycling program for their customers to send back their used towels for recycling. Additionally, Weezie supports several charitable organizations and initiatives that promote sustainability and social justice.
4. Nomadix
Nomadix offers a range of eco-friendly travel towels designed for adventure and sustainability. Their Original Towel is made from certified post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and is available in multiple sizes for different uses.
The Mini Towel is a smaller, more compact version perfect for hiking or camping. At the same time, the Ultralight Towel is even lighter and more compact, making it ideal for backpackers and travelers who need to pack light.
The Bandana Towel doubles as a headband or scarf and is made from the same sustainable materials as the other towels.
Lastly, the Poncho Towel is a versatile option that can be worn as a poncho or as a towel. Nomadix’s towels are quick-drying, odor-resistant, and designed for years of outdoor adventures.
Nomadix fabrics and materials
All of their recycled beach towels are made from post-consumer recycled plastics. Nomadix ensures that its fabrics meet strict environmental standards.
Their fabrics are certified by the Global Recycle Standard, which guarantees that the materials used in their products are made from recycled content. Their MicroTerry and MicroSuede materials have a UPF50+ rating, providing superior protection against the sun's harmful UV rays.
Nomadix ethical sourcing
Nomadix eco-friendly quick dry towels are products in their factory in China, powered by solar energy. They regularly visit the factory to ensure that ethical standards are met and upheld.
Nomadix corporate responsibility
The company has implemented a carbon-neutral initiative by offsetting all emissions produced while manufacturing and shipping its products.
They are members of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of their annual sales to environmental non-profit organizations.
5. Delilah Home
Delilah Home is a sustainable home goods brand that offers a range of products, including bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, sheets, and duvets.
Their organic sustainable beach towels are designed to be absorbent, quick-drying, and long-lasting, making them perfect for a day at the beach or pool. The towels come in various stylish patterns and colors, including stripes, polka dots, and solid.
They also offer different sizes of towels, ranging from the classic beach towel size to larger sizes for families or anyone who wants extra space.
Delilah Home fabrics and materials
Delilah Home's beach towels are made from 100% organic cotton, certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and completely chemical-free!
Delilah Home ethical sourcing
They partner with Fair Trade factories certified to the highest textile standard, ensuring that the workers producing their products are paid fair wages and work in safe and healthy conditions.
Delilah Home corporate responsibility
They boast a plethora of impressive certifications and memberships, including OneCert, Organic Trade Association, Green America, Textile Exchange, and Vegan.org certifications. In addition, the brand's CEO is the Organic Trade Association Fiber Council chairman.
Delilah Home is also a member of 1% for the Planet, committing to donate 10% of its profits to local organizations like Operation Warm.
6. Stray & Wander
Stray & Wander is a brand specializing in sustainable and ethically-made beach towels. They offer the most sustainable beach towels, which are also soft, absorbent, and quick-drying, making them perfect for a day at the beach or by the pool.
The brand offers a variety of sizes and designs, including traditional beach towels, round beach towels, and even a beach poncho.
Stray & Wander's fabrics and materials
They use 100% Turkish cotton, known for its high quality and durability. Turkish cotton is also hypoallergenic and soft, making it a great choice for people with sensitive skin. Additionally, their towels are free of harmful chemicals, dyes, and synthetic materials.
Stray & Wander's ethical sourcing
The brand works closely with women's cooperatives, family-run businesses, and individual artisans to bring handmade and fair trade products to the global market.
They are committed to preserving the ancient traditions behind these art forms and ensuring that the products are made with the highest standards of ethics and sustainability.
Stray & Wander's corporate responsibility
The brand aims to promote responsible consumerism and support the artisans and communities that make these beautiful products possible.
7. Outlier
Outlier is a clothing brand founded in 2008 to create versatile, high-quality clothing that can be worn in any environment. They use innovative materials and construction methods to create durable, comfortable, stylish clothing.
Outlier's Grid Linen Towel is a versatile and highly functional beach towel. The towel's signature grid pattern is not only stylish but also serves to increase its absorbency and help it dry faster.
The towel's box weave structure maximizes the surface area of the linen fibers, making it absorb moisture better, dry faster, and resist sand and dirt better than flat weave linen.
Outlier's fabrics and materials
It is made from a unique combination of linen and nylon, making it highly absorbent and quick-drying.
Outlier's ethical sourcing
Outlier sources its linen from some of the finest mills in the world, primarily in Europe and Japan, where labor and environmental laws are strictly enforced.
Outlier's corporate responsibility
They take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products, offering a repair and recycling program to minimize their environmental impact. Outlier is committed to transparency and regularly shares information about its materials and manufacturing processes with its customers.
8. Coyuchi
Coyuchi is one of our favorite brands offering organic bedding, bath linens, sustainable blankets, and organic pillows. The company was founded in 1991 in Point Reyes Station, California, with a commitment to using only organic and natural fibers in its products.
Coyuchi's products are designed to be both luxurious and eco-friendly, made with sustainable and biodegradable materials with minimal environmental impact.
Their beach towels come in several sizes, including a standard beach towel size and a larger bath sheet size, and are available in various colors and patterns. Coyuchi's beach towels are also pre-washed and machine washable for easy care.
Coyuchi's fabrics and materials
They are certified by GOTS, Fair Trade, and the Textile Exchange, ensuring their products are made with sustainable materials and ethical labor practices.
Coyuchi's ethical sourcing
The brand partners with farmers and mills who adhere to organic and sustainable growing practices and prioritize the well-being of their employees.
They work with Fair Trade Certified factories to ensure that workers are paid fair wages, provided safe working conditions, and have access to healthcare and education.
Coyuchi's corporate responsibility
Coyuchi is also a member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of its annual revenue to environmental nonprofits.
The Search for Sustainable Beach Towels: How We Found the Best Options
Like all things here on The Eco Hub, we ask three important questions:
1. What kind of fabric is it made from?
Selecting the perfect material for a beach towel is crucial from a sustainability and quick-drying perspective. One of the best materials is organic cotton, especially long-staple cotton.
The longer threads make it more durable and absorbent. Although other natural fabrics like bamboo, hemp, and linen may also be used in eco beach towels, recycled synthetics like recycled polyester (rPET) are gaining popularity.
These towels are quick-drying, lightweight, and versatile. However, using a GUPPYFRIEND wash bag when washing anything made from synthetic material is recommended to minimize microfiber shedding. Regardless of the material, it's best to use low-impact dyes.
Look for certifications such as Oeko-Tex, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), OneCert, Cotton LEADS program, and GRS to ensure the product has been made with strict environmental and social standards in mind.
2. How are the fabrics sourced?
We look for transparent brands (no greenwashing) about their factory partnerships and prioritize the well-being of their workers, farmers, and artisans.
We also support brands that partner with small cooperatives to preserve traditional towel-making techniques. In addition to these practices, we also consider certifications such as Fair Trade, B-Corp, MADE SAFE, Sedex, SCAN, and amfori to ensure that our recommended towels meet strict ethical and environmental standards.
3. What is the brand’s corporate responsibility?
How do sustainable beach towel companies go beyond using eco-friendly materials and ethical sourcing practices? Many of these companies also take extra measures to ensure sustainable practices, such as giving back to their communities and enriching the towns and villages where they employ citizens.
Moreover, some brands go the extra mile and offset their carbon emissions, use biodegradable or recyclable packaging, or even reuse and repurpose pre-loved products they have already sold.
Are Beach Towels Made From Recycled Plastics Sustainable?
Microfiber towels made from recycled plastics can be both environmentally friendly and problematic. While they are made from recycled plastic bottles and can reduce plastic waste, they can also shed microplastics during washing, leading to further pollution in waterways and oceans.
Some manufacturers address this issue by creating higher-quality fibers or using washing bags that capture microplastics. However, it's important to carefully consider the environmental impact of any textile, including recycled plastic towels.
On the positive side, using recycled materials to make beach towels helps conserve natural resources such as oil and energy, which would otherwise be used to create traditional polyester fabrics.
The production of recycled polyester results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the production of virgin polyester. Moreover, recycled plastic beach towels are durable and long lasting, making them a sustainable option for beachgoers.
It's important to look for beach towels made from certified recycled materials such as Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) to ensure that the product has been made with strict environmental and social standards.
Ultimately, while recycled plastic beach towels can be a great choice for those looking to reduce their environmental impact, weighing the pros and cons and making an informed decision is important.
A final word on eco beach towels
Fortunately, sustainable beach towels are becoming increasingly popular, offering various eco-friendly options that reduce environmental impact and offer style, durability, and comfort. If you're looking for sustainable swimsuits, check out our blogs for eco-friendly options for men and women.
Remember to check your local thrift shop too!
