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Made from recycled materials, size-inclusive, and partnering with environmental nonprofits are a few reasons to love these sustainable bathing suits.
| All products featured on The Wellness Feed are independently selected by our editors for its environmental and ethical impact. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. |
There’s a great swimsuit out there for every body. There are one-pieces with horizontal detailing that social media is buzzing about how universally flattering it is and itty-bitty bikinis for the most confident of beach babes. Best of all a lot of brands are using recycled materials and finding small ways to give back, plant trees or reduce their carbon emissions. We’ve rounded up a few of a these sustainable bathing suits that promise to look good on your body while being better for the planet than conventional styles.
Conventional bikinis and bathing suits are made from plastic-based materials like nylon and polyester. Sourced from fossil fuels and known for breaking into tiny pieces, microplastics, that pollute our water resources, our summer wardrobes aren’t doing the oceans we love so much any favors. That’s why it pays to invest in a few key pieces made from recycled materials to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and from brands that look for other ways to be reduce their negative impact on the environment. Who said a sustainable glow can’t look good?
*These are brands we’re shopping from this summer. Each has varying amounts of information on how sustainable it is and improving. Yet, what they all have in common is that their swimwear is made from recycled materials and shipped plastic-free.
CUUP: 75% Recycled Nylon
Cuup Swimwear uses 80% recycled materials in its swimwear and offers inclusive sizing. However, the brand doesn’t publish its production information.
CUUP is a brand that uses low-impact materials like Tencel and recycled polyester. The brand also focuses on comfortable, flattering fits for all body types, ensuring every woman feels beautiful at the beach.
Environmental Impact: The swimwear collection is created from 75% or more recycled materials.
Boden: Clothes Recycling Program
Boden Octavia Bikini Top and Bottoms $89/ each
Made from 80% recycled materials. This suit offers UPF 50+ protection.
Boden uses lower-impact materials such as cashmere and cotton from certified farms, Tencel, linen, and recycled synthetics.
As a brand that stands for classic styles, there are a lot of options in the swimwear department that reference 90s florals, nautical stripes, and sweet little bows. Plus, as a brand that has adopted a sustainable mission, their swim pieces are better than before.
Environmental Impact: Boden ships plastic-free and collaborates with nonprofits such as Canopy to protect the world’s endangered and ancient forests. The brand also ensures that its boxes are made from 90% recycled content. Other environmental commitments include its collaboration with nonprofits to reuse and recycle old and worn stock.
Summersalt: Certified by the GRS
Summersalt The Perfect Wrap One-Piece $125
Made from 78% recycled polyamide (material sourced from old fishing nets). Certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
When swimwear combines being on-trend with sustainability and a body-positive message. The brand offers swimwear from recycled and sustainable materials, that come in eco-friendly packaging and ethical production in Asia.
Environmental Impact: Most of Summersalt’s pieces are made from TENCEL, modal and cupro- all fabrics that have a smaller environmental footprint than conventional polyester or cotton. Each of their sustainable bathing suits are made from recycled polyamide and packaged in poly bags made from recycled materials.
L’Space: Surfrider Foundation Partner
L’Space Sunrise Shell Bikini Top $130
Made with recycled materials and with tags using FSC paper.
Each of L’Space’s swimwear collections is made with a cool-girl California vibe. Their pieces are cult classics that you’ll fall in love with from the beach to all of your summer activities. As an added bonus, this brand has taken a few sustainable initiatives.
Environmental Impact: Shop their Eco Style for swimwear made from recycled materials and printed with tags that are made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for being from responsibly managed forests. The brand is also a member of the Surfrider Foundation to help protect the oceans that inspire their collections.
Marysia: One Tree Planted For Every Order
Marysaia Palm Springs Tie Maillot $389
“For each order placed, Marysia will plant a tree on our customers’ behalf through Eden Reforestation Projects in Madagascar.”
Another great swimwear brand that is offering highly covetable pieces is Marysia. This strapless maillot accentuates the décolletage and adds shape and contour.
Environmental Impact: Talking about the environmental impact, for each order placed at Marysia, the brand plants a tree on the customer’s behalf which is conducted through Eden Reforestation Projects in Madagascar.
Toast Swim: Partners Environmental Nonprofits
Toast Swim Scoop Thong One Piece Swimsuit – Blueberry Scrunch $120 made from recycled materials.
Toast Swim is a swimwear brand that has built its platform on conscious swimwear. However, outside of a manifesto about its dedication to recycled materials and plastic-free shipping, the brand doesn’t disclose information about certifications, factories, or other data that backs up sustainable claims.
Environmental Impact: The swimwear pieces are typically made from 85% recycled materials and shipped plastic-free.
Berlook: Carbon Neutral
Berlook Black Gold-Accented Bikini Top & Bottoms $35/ Each
Made from recycled polyamide certified by the GRS.
Berlook is a new swimwear brand that is focused on using recycled materials, size inclusivity, and affordability.
Environmental Impact: To date, the brand has repurposed 300k plastic bottles into recycled materials for swimwear. The fabric from its swimwear collection is made from recycled plastic bottles and reclaimed fishing nets. Packaging is compostable, and the brand is affiliated with Stripe Climate, a business helping other businesses initiate carbon removal programs.