Things are getting sustainably steamy with eco-friendly shower curtains and liners.
Besides, many of our best thoughts come in the shower.
But as the off-gassing from our plastic shower curtains overcame the refreshing smell of our coconut zero waste shampoo, we had to wonder: what is the most eco-friendly shower curtain?
The best is a natural shower curtain that doesn’t release chemicals and can go back to the earth after many years of use. Which is why we’ve prioritized brands on this list that use environmentally friendly materials, no or low-impact chemicals, and consider the health and safety of their products.
Additionally, our Brand Rating System now extends what we look for in brands (who opt in) to a much wider range of sustainability related criteria, like circularity, chemical management, biodiversity impact, and more. Look out for rated brands on the list below and find others here.
Now, if you’ve also been wondering, “What can I use instead of a plastic shower curtain?”, here are a few of our favorite bathing buddies.
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
Our Favorite Sustainable Shower Curtains For Hot Showers & A Cool Planet
MagicLinen offers linen shower curtains crafted from OEKO-TEX-certified European flax, paired with a button-on waterproof lining for everyday function and timeless style. Each curtain is sewn in-house in Lithuania, ensuring ethical production standards and supporting skilled local seamstresses. MagicLinen has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Parachute is saving hygiene routines everywhere with their non-plastic shower curtain materials: 100% European flax linen and GOTS-certified organic cotton.
For a clean body and a clean conscience, freshen up with Coyuchi. Not only is their washable shower curtain liner eco-friendly, but it’s also fair trade.
Index: Eco Shower Curtains & Liners
- MagicLinen Jump to brand
- Parachute Jump to brand
- Boll & Branch Jump to brand
- Coyuchi Jump to brand
- Saffron Marigold Jump to brand
- Dusty Linen Jump to brand
- Bean Products Jump to brand
- The Citizenry Jump to brand
- Pottery Barn Jump to brand
MagicLinen
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at home
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Made To Order
Products can be made to order, thus limiting unnecessary production
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX®
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures that every component of a textile product (threads, buttons, zippers, and fabrics) has been independently tested for harmful substances. Managed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, it guarantees products are safe for human health, meeting strict global limits for chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and PFAS.Price Range: $160
MagicLinen may be best known for their dreamy bedding, but their OEKO-TEX-certified linen shower curtains bring that same elevated simplicity to the bathroom. Crafted in Lithuania using locally sourced European flax, each curtain features a soft, stonewashed linen outer layer and a removable waterproof lining secured with buttons. Offered in nature-inspired tones like Woodrose, these curtains are designed to hang easily with standard ring attachments and fit most showers and tubs.
Each piece is sewn in-house in small seasonal runs to reduce waste and overproduction, with leftover fabric upcycled into kitchen goods like oven mitts and towels. MagicLinen’s commitment to sustainability extends to their use of biodegradable packaging and low-impact supply chains, helping you keep your home clean—without the environmental mess.
MagicLinen has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Our Personal Review of Magic Linen’s Bedding:
“We got the Magic Linen Linen Duvet Set in Matcha Green and Cinnamon. We love these colors, they brighten up the bedroom and add a cozy, natural aesthetic. Definitely the most sylish set we own. Something which took a bit of getting used to, as we’ve never owned linen bedding before, was that the fabric initially is a bit rough. Typical for linen, but after a few washes it gets softer. Our favorite aspect is how breathable it is. There’s nothing better for summer nights, and even in the winter if your duvet is heavy enough it still offers a fair bit of warmth. The quality is also obviously top notch, no issues with the stitching after a few years of use (cold wash and air drying) and the little coconut buttons are a nice touch too.”
Review by Joy and Lyall, SJ Co-founders
Parachute
Parachute has not been rated.
Price Range: $24–$119
Women-founded brand Parachute offers a selection of quality, comfortable home goods. Everything—including their blankets and organic robes to don post-shower—is ethically made by gifted artisans in a family-owned factory in Portugal. Making sustainable showering as easy as 1-2-3, Parachute also offers a range of natural shower curtains and hangers.
Choose between a variety of designs and textures—from a cotton waffle shower curtain to the fun yet understated Organic Pom Pom organic cotton shower curtains. Its minimalist black and white coloring is perfect for adding a bit of clean elegance to the bathroom. European flax is a material we can get behind which is why Parachute’s OEKO-TEX-certified 100% linen shower curtain is one of the best. Or, if your showers tend to run long, you can feel good about those made using water-saving GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Parachute is Climate Neutral-certified (including shipping and returns) and recently launched its first circular program, a Recycled Down Pillow crafted from returned Parachute down pillows and a 70% recycled cotton shell. More than half of Parachute’s influencer budget is dedicated to BIPOC individuals.
Boll & Branch
Boll & Branch has not been rated.
Price Range: $109
Before or after you cozy up with their blankets and eco-friendly pillows, let Boll & Branch leave you with a clean body and conscience. Run by a wife-husband duo, this US brand feels proud of its home textile range, which includes a small but sustainable range of natural shower curtains with a luxurious waffle texture.
Boll & Branch uses 100% cotton that’s both OEKO-TEX and GOTS-certified organic. And their bath products—including its shower curtains—are made in fair trade environments in India, Turkey, and Pakistan. In addition to sustainable packaging, Boll & Branch saves emissions by transporting via boat. They also avoid toxic residues and harmful chemicals across their entire product line.
Coyuchi
Coyuchi has not been rated.
Price Range: $128–$198
Coyuchi is a brand we aren’t so coy about loving. Hailing from California, this bedding brand is passionate about filling homes around the globe with natural, sustainable materials—which is what they use for robes, sleepwear, organic comforters, and an all-in-one shower curtain/ liner.
Transforming any bathroom into a “restorative bathing experience” their trio of natural fabric shower curtains includes a Mediterranean organic shower curtain inspired by the softness of their best-selling Turkish cotton towels. Whether you go with Mediterranean, rippled, or waffle looks, you’ll get eco-friendly shower curtains made out of the same stuff as their sustainable towels: 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton which is sourced and weaved in Turkey or India.
They partner with several fair trade equivalent factories and have a range of certifications that are a testament to their ethical supply chain. Coyuchi has a 2nd Home Take Back program that accepts old linens to be recycled. So far, they’ve kept nearly 44,000 pounds of textile waste out of landfills. Coyuchi is also pioneering the use of fabrics sourced via climate-beneficial farming including Climate Beneficial Wool.
Saffron Marigold
Saffron Marigold has not been rated.
Price Range: $125
Saffron Marigold is “proud to offer an alternative to mass-produced, quality-compromised linens designed to turn a quick profit at any cost”. Born from a love for Indian textiles and a desire to create ethical home goods crafted by human hands (at several artisan-owned studios in Rajasthan, India), they now offer a full range of exquisitely crafted curtains, bedding, and table linens. Due to the dye and tonal variations yielded by their traditional block printing techniques, each of their fair trade shower curtains is unique.
As they’re not water-repellent themselves, a sustainable shower curtain liner is advised. While the preshrunk soft cotton is not organic, it is hand-printed using intricately carved wooden blocks and vegetable dyes or other sustainable dyes. They utilize buttonhole top openings, making them ideal for hanging with natural bamboo shower curtain rings, metal ring hangers, or string.
They are “fully committed to arts and crafts revival and fair trade as a means to safeguard traditional crafts, create employment, and promote economic self-sufficiency.” Part of this means ensuring all artisans receive fair wages, safe and happy working environments, and flexibility to work from home and take time off as needed. They also cover all studio supplies and expenses upfront, encourage paid apprenticeships, and supplement wages during hard times.
My Personal Review of Saffron Marigold’s Shower Curtains:
“My bathroom is currently adorned with the Pacific Blue Batik Shower Curtain. I love Japanese aesthetics and art, so I obviously opted for this Japanese-inspired rhythmic wave pattern, which gives my bathroom a calm yet colorful atmosphere that makes me feel a little closer to the ocean, even in the dead of winter…in the middle of Wyoming. The fabric is super soft, and it drapes beautifully, so no more crusty and crinkled shower curtains!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Dusty Linen
Dusty Linen has not been rated.
Price Range: $188–$245
Dusty Linen is located in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the cultivation and processing of this fabulous flax-based material goes back thousands of years. It’s also what goes into all of their bedding, aprons, curtains, and other textiles. Their 100% OEKO-TEX-certified European stonewashed natural linen shower curtain range includes several colors and sizes as well as waterproof options.
For those with a waterproof lining, this is made of durable 100% polyester, using technologies to make it softer than standard waterproof fabrics. Everything is handmade in Lithuania.
Bean Products
Bean Products has not been rated.
Price Range: $39–$256
Decades before “green” was cool, Bean Products began handcrafting environmentally friendly home essentials. “Customized comfort with personal panache” is what you’ll get when you purchase their hemp bean bag chairs, body pillows, eco-friendly yoga mats, and more. Available in both a full tub and stall sizes and three materials—like our favorite earthy and rustic-looking Hemp Shower Curtain—their environmentally-friendly shower curtains are here to “save the planet and your bathroom”. Bean Product’s curtains feature Romanian hemp, organic cotton, and natural undyed cotton.
Not only is each shower curtain natural in material but it’s processed without harsh chemicals or chlorine bleach. Their fast-drying properties mean they work sans a plastic liner. Just be sure to machine wash once a month. Each natural fabric shower curtain comes studded with strong, rustproof nickel-plated brass grommets for hanging. Most items—including their bathroom accessories—are proudly handcrafted in Bean Products’ own sewing factory in Chicago, USA. Some of the hemp for each hemp shower curtain is sourced domestically.
The Citizenry
The Citizenry has not been rated.
Price Range: $119–$209
Fair Trade artisan collective The Citizenry, showcases some of the most attractive Stonewashed Linen shower curtains we’ve come across. Choose between either a natural cotton shower curtain (not organic) or the finest French flax, complete with OEKO-TEX certification.
The linen fair trade shower curtains are crafted in Portugal, in the oldest, family-run mill in the country. The cotton varieties come from the hands of 32 master weavers in Kannur, India, each of which takes one whole day to complete. 100% of The Citizenry’s sustainable home decor products are made in a fair trade environment guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization. They pay double the fair trade wage requirement.
The Portuguese mill has established programs to recycle energy on the town’s power grid.
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn has not been rated.
Price Range: $20–$128
Pottery Barn is a household name. Despite their size and seven decades of being in business, they’re keeping sustainability a key requirement among major furniture and home decor brands. Their selection of sustainable shower curtains is impressive, ranging from minimalist colors to fun prints.
Not everything is sustainable (you’ll find some non-recycled polyester shower curtains, too), but you can’t go wrong with options like the Morgan Banded organic shower curtain. Not counting their traditional plastic shower curtains (which we recommend avoiding), Pottery Barn uses three natural fibers for their eco shower curtains: 100% GOTS-certified cotton, 100% Belgian flax linen, and 100% BCI cotton.
While they don’t offer any natural or recycled plastic shower curtain liners, the Retreat polyester liner is OEKO-TEX-certified, and their EVA option is PVC-free. The linen shower curtains are produced in a Fair Trade-certified factory. Look for the badge to find other fair trade products on their site. Pottery Barn partners with the Renewal Workshop to offer a Renewed line of home furnishings and works to divert 75% of production waste from landfills.
Why Choose A Natural Shower Curtain & Liner?
A nice, hot shower at the end of a long day is magical. Realizing your plastic curtain is potentially toxic, not so much. Most conventional shower curtains and liners are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the most harmful type of plastic. PVC shower curtains have been shown to contain dangerous chemicals like phthalates, organotins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may be released into the air. There’s no safe way to dispose of OR recycle a synthetic shower curtain, but you could consider repurposing it.
After all, any shower liner can become a recyclable shower curtain liner with a little creativity!
An old shower curtain can be used as a painting drop cloth or donated to a school art department. You could pack it with your eco-friendly camping gear to use it as a lightweight liner between your tent and the cold, damp ground. An old fabric shower curtain can be cut up into rags, used as drawer liners, or laid on top of car seats when riding with pets.
What Is An Eco-Friendly Shower Curtain Liner?
The best way to waterproof your body washing is with a natural shower curtain liner. This could be a natural fiber shower curtain/liner combo that’s just air-dried between showers (with the occasional machine wash).
An all-in-one waxed canvas shower curtain would be the most sustainable shower liner alternative for those looking for solid waterproofing. As far as non-plastic-free options go, a PEVA shower curtain liner is an okay alternative to PVC, as it’s more biodegradable and recyclable. While we would like to see more recycled shower curtain liners for those who do prefer the fully waterproof plastic lining, there’s unfortunately not a lot of circularity in this sphere yet.
Jenny is a UK-based sustainability writer and tea-drinker extraordinaire who has a Masters in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. Her travels have taken her to organic permaculture farms in the UK and Nepal but you’ll mostly find her working on the veg patch with a garden fork in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Jenny writes for ethical brands and purpose-powered publications on a broad range of sustainable living and conscious consumerism topics. She is passionate about organic and regenerative farming, nature reconnection, and the small things we can do each day to better care for our planet.
Hello,
I’m struggling with the idea of a fabric shower curtain as I am unsure if it will dry in our small bathroom, and therefor I am concerned that mould may grow on the curtain itself, or otherwise in the tiles of the shower, due to there being a big wet fabric hanging there all day.
What do you think? How quickly do these materials dry? I have considered a polyester curtain liner but the whole point for me is to not buy plastic or breathe in the toxins from the plastic, so to me, the polyester liner goes again the point.
I really appreciate your helpful article here. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 🙂
With love,
Lara
So NONE of these companies have sustainable curtain liners. They are polyster or PEVA, which is better but both are still plastic, and if you are buying the recycling industries claim they are “recyclable” then you are on the take. PEVA still has chlorine in it, just less than PVC. And polyester is still plastic. The topic of this article was curtains AND liners, but I found only one that even sells a liner. And its NOT a good choice. You need to update your info.
Hi Chris, sorry to hear you’re disappointed with the article. It is tricky to find shower curtains and liners that are perfectly eco friendly but we’re always refreshing these lists with the best available at the time so if you happen to find better ones on your hunt, please do share.
What about liners?
Hi Vic, sorry about the very long delay in replying. We’ve featured a bunch of brands that have liners in this article if helpful!