11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Image by Sustainable Jungle #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Image by Sustainable Jungle
11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Image by Sustainable Jungle #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Image by Sustainable Jungle

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort

Heather Seely


What do ethical underwear and textile waste have in common? 

Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

According to EcoWatch, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting and wasteful industries in the world. 

Butt (pun intended) since change starts at the bottom, it seems appropriate that we start with our own by switching to consciously cheeky ethical underwear.

We’re sticking to the bare basics here but if you’re looking for some sexy ethical underwear, take a peek at our list of sustainable lingerie.

Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.

The Best Ethical Underwear For Pro-Planet Patooties

If you need a brief summary of the top bottoms, Boody offers some of the most comfortable ethical underwear while ticking all the right boxes. 

TomboyX’s modal quick dry sustainable underwear may be matching, but they’re unmatched in terms of size and image inclusivity.

And privates can feel extra proud in a pair of Subset’s knickers made in an organic fair trade factory in India. 

Jump to the backend of the article for a peep behind the seams at what we looked for when researching these sustainable underwear companies.

1. TomboyX

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by TomboyX #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by TomboyX

About TomboyX

Price Range: $20–$125

TomboyX’s mission is to “promote self-acceptance through radical comfort and inclusivity.”

This Certified B Corp and non-binary brand covers our behinds with body-positive underwear and also offers loungewear, sleepwear, socks, swim, tees, tanks, and sustainable activewear.

If colors are your jam, fill your underwear drawer with fun prints from the Rainbow Pride collection, or keep it classic with their iconic Black Rainbow bikinis, bras, bralettes, briefs, shorts, and trunks. 

They’re also one of the few sustainable period underwear brands.

TomboyX’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

TomboyX’s organic cotton underwear is mostly created with 95% OEKO-TEX-certified organic cotton and 5% spandex. 

They also have designs made with a blend of 95% TENCEL™ modal and 5% spandex. 

The OEKO-TEX certification assures us their zero waste period underwear is free of PFOS and PFOA—toxic chemicals linked to infertility.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Seeking to avoid fast fashion and mass production, TomboyX works with women-owned factories in Los Angeles, Vancouver, and China that are safe, clean, and pay fairly. 

The majority of their factories are WRAP and Fair Labor Association certified and they visit regularly to ensure standards are adhered to. 

TomboyX pays its staff above-industry-standard fair wages

Green Business Practices:

TomboyX headquarters at a Gold LEED Certified building. 

Undies come packaged in biodegradable zipper bags. 

Inclusivity: 

TomboyX wants its team to be “a reflection of the diverse community we’re designing for” so 63% of their managers and 39% of their overall team identify as LGBTQ and/or minority. 

This inclusive line fits most bodies (XS-4X).

Community & charitable giving: 

Activism for social justice, LGBTQ, and women’s rights are at the heart of the company. 


2. Subset

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Sustainable Jungle #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Sustainable Jungle

About Subset

Price Range: $17–$30

Why get your knickers from Subset?

This NYC-based organic underwear brand designs non-toxic ethical cotton underwear that’s better for your bum, your bank account, our planet, and the people who make them. 

Fill your underwear drawer with a colorful mix of low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise thongs, bikinis, hipsters, and briefs.

If you can’t decide what to go for, the Subset Starter Set contains 6 signature styles of eco-friendly Fair Trade underwear—and you can choose a different color for each.  

Subset’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

All Subset undies are made with 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton and 5% elastane. 

In addition to using sustainable materials, the colors (like Eden, Peachy Keen, and Butterscotch) are thanks to non-toxic, OEKO-TEX-approved sustainable dyes

Supply chain & labor practices:

Designs originate in NYC, but undie dreams become a reality through ethical production in India. 

Their factory partner is Fair Trade certified. It provides workers with a right to unionize, safe working conditions, and living wages.

Green business practices:

Can underwear be recycled?

Yes! Just in the knick of time, Subset has provided an eco-answer to this question.

They accept old intimates (from any brand) for recycling into things like mattress filling or insulation. 

Having a viable answer to the dreaded question, “What to do with old underwear and bras?” is enough of a reward but as an extra bonus, you’ll also receive 15% off your next order.

The brand uses packaging made from recycled materials and low-impact inks. 

Inclusivity: 

Subset makes organic cotton underwear for a good range of bums, size XXS to XXXL, and uses a diverse selection of models. 


3. The Very Good Bra

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by The Very Good Bra #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by The Very Good Bra

About The Very Good Bra

Price Range: $27–$31

A few years ago, Stephanie Devine started a wildly successful Kickstarter for the world’s first zero-waste bra.

A bra that can be composted! No wonder it went viral. 

Don’t let the name fool you though, The Very Good Bra makes very good sleepwear and sustainable cotton underwear, too. Briefs and “big knickers” are their forte. 

The Very Good Bra’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Their zero waste underwear is Australian-made from either organic cotton or wood-based TENCEL™ fibers. 

Bra elastic is made from natural tree rubber knitted into organic cotton. They do use a synthetic elastic in their briefs, but it’s Cradle to Cradle Gold Certified and breaks down safely. 

You can cut it up and add it to your home compost, where it will take 18-24 months to break down. If you’re in Europe, this elastic has a take-back program. 

To be truly biodegradable underwear, every component (soy ink labels to special organic cotton hooks and cellulose sewing thread) is designed to break down.

There’s no spandex, polyester, or nylon in sight. 

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Production takes place in Sri Lanka at a WRAP-certified and SEDEX-audited factory that pays 75-100% above the local minimum wage. 

Employees receive several benefits including free transport, free medical care, and subsidized food. 

For warehousing and fulfillment TVGB partners with Avenue, a social enterprise that offers employment opportunities to people of all abilities. 

Green Business Practices: 

TVGB takes steps to reduce waste by launching collections via pre-sales, selling replacement bra straps, and using left-over fabric to manufacture small runs. 

Their factory partner uses energy-saving practices. 

As well as making compostable underwear, the brand ships in either 100% compostable or 80% recycled and recyclable poly mailers (you chose at check-out), mostly through Australia’s Sendle, a carbon-neutral company.

Inclusivity: 

The bras come in 24 proper sizes and you’ll find environmentally-friendly underwear to fit a smaller range of butts (XS-XL):

Community & charitable giving:

VGB donates $1 for every order to Greening Australia and gives presentations at various sustainability-related conferences and events. 


4. Boody

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Boody #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Boody

About Boody

Price Range: $14–$102

Australian organic basics brand Boody creates everyday essentials, including t-shirts, bamboo pajamas, and the comfiest bamboo socks.

For your actual boody, they have plenty of ethically made underwear for men and women including comfy briefs, boxers, bikinis, g-strings, shorts, bras, bralettes, and more. 

The ethical seamless underwear in the LYOLYTE™ collection is breathable, light, seam-free, and soft. 

Boody’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Boody’s lyocell from organic bamboo is made using a closed-loop process (so no toxic chemicals are released into the environment). 

The ethical vegan underwear is certified by OEKO-TEX, ECOCERT, and PETA.

Like most all ethical brands on this list (except The Very Good Bra), Boody also uses other synthetic fabrics like nylon and spandex. 

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Boody’s objective is: “maximizing positive outputs and minimizing negative ones through the entire supply chain”.

They only work with Fair Trade, WRAP-certified factories that promote fair labor practices.

Green Business Practices:

With an impact as minimal as their eco-friendly invisible underwear, Boody minimizes textile waste by knitting garments in tubes instead of the traditional cut-and-sew method. 

The eco-friendly underwear comes in recycled packaging printed with vegetable ink.

Inclusivity: 

Sizes run XS–XL but some designs reach up to 4XL. 

Boody’s goal is to create affordable ethical underwear. Their 4-installment payment plan means cost and budget can’t stand in anyone’s way.

Community & charitable giving: 

Boody donates (time, money, or products) to several different charities and is a member of 1% for the Planet

Also available on Boody Australia


5. MeUndies

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by MeUndies #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by MeUndies

About MeUndies

Price Range: $16–$48

How much joy can a pair of undies bring? 

We’d bet a pair of MeUndies’ outrageously patterned skivvies would brighten up anyone’s day. 

With plenty of different styles available in women’s and men’s ethical underwear, you’re sure to find a pair that makes you grin. 

You can also “match your bottom half to your better half”, with their monthly MatchMe subscription for couples. 

MeUndies’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Their Core and FeelFree undies are made from 92% MicroModal® (from Austrian beech trees) and 8% elastane. 

The Breathe collection is made from 69% textured nylon, 9% recycled Nylon, and 22% spandex. We’d avoid these and opt for the sustainable MicroModal® instead. 

MeUndies uses low-impact dyes for their popping prints. 

Supply chain & labor practices:

MeUndies partners with factories in China, Guatemala, LA, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. 

Regular ethical production audits ensure the safety and well-being of employees at all levels of the supply chain. Employees receive benefits like free meals and transportation. 

Inclusivity: 

MeUndies’ vision is to “create a more thoughtful and accepting world where living your truth is celebrated.” 

Both men’s and women’s sizes run XS – 4XL and they use body-inclusive models.

Community & charitable giving: 

MeUndies Gives helps “fight conformity and promote acceptance” by partnering with organizations including The Body Positive, the LA LGBT Center, and the Fashion Scholarship Fund


6. Pantee

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Pantee #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Pantee

About Pantee

Price Range: $23–$25

Turning deadstock into drawers, the woman-owned brand Pantee offers some of the most sustainable underwear in the UK. 

Their modest but comprehensive collection of recycled material underwear includes boxers, briefs, bikinis, thongs, bras, and bralettes. 

You’ll always find them in classic black and white, but other colors regularly rotate based on limited deadstock availability.

Pantee’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

As sustainable materials go, deadstock fabric is one of the best. 

Pantee’s recycled cotton underwear are made from either deadstock t-shirt fabric or deadstock t-shirts themselves. The actual fabric is a 95%/5% cotton/elastane blend.

You’ll also find elastic in the waistband. This isn’t dyed to match the fabric to save on water and unnecessary dye usage.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Pantee products are made in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at an ethical facility owned by the sampling room that provides their deadstock.

They pay regular visits and are confident it can “guarantee fair wages, healthy conditions and zero forced or child labor.”

Green business practices:

Between offering underwear made from recycled materials, manufacturing in small batches, and carbon offsetting their supply chain emissions, Pantee strives for a minimal impact.

Their locally-sourced sustainable underwear packaging consists of plastic-free tags, biodegradable tissue paper, and recycled and recyclable plastic boxes.

Inclusivity:

XS-XL sizes are available and Pantee uses inclusive modeling to show off its products. 

Community & charitable giving:

Pantee is a member of 1% for the Planet and plants one tree for every order via One Tree Planted.


7. Allbirds

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Allbirds #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Allbirds

About Allbirds

Price Range: $18–$24

We first discovered Allbirds as an ethical shoe brand that made crazy comfortable sustainable running shoes.

This New Zealand B Corp also offers a range of organic basics and accessories including tees, sweatshirts, sustainable sweatpants, underwear, and sustainable socks. 

Keeping things simple, their line of Trino® women’s sustainable and ethical underwear includes a bralette and briefs and they carry two styles for men: a trunk and a longer boxer brief.

Allbirds’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices  

Materials:

All underwear is made of 65% FSC-certified TENCEL™ Lyocell, 28% ZQ-certified ethical wool from Merino sheep, and 7% spandex.

The lyocell provides silky soft breathability while the antimicrobial Merino wool keeps you feeling (and smelling) fresh. 

Supply chain & labor practices:

With a public code of conduct and factory map on the website, Allbirds isn’t afraid to moon you with its transparency.

All underwear is made in Nam Định, Vietnam out of New Zealand wool and sustainably grown South African trees for the lyocell. 

Green business practices:

Allbirds is carbon neutral, meaning the only net harmful gasses associated with your underwear will be the stuff coming out of you while you wear them 😉

They ship everything in recycled and recyclable packaging (cardboard) and work with LEED-certified and other eco-minded factories that employ water and energy-saving practices. 

Inclusivity: 

Allbirds’ women’s ethical underwear is available in XS-XXXL sizes and men’s in S-XXL sizes.

Community & charitable giving: 

Gently worn customer returns are donated to those in need via Soles4Souls.


8. Pact

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Pact #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Pact

About Pact

Price Range: $14–$75

The maker of “Earth’s Favorite Clothing”, Pact is a one-stop-shop for all things organic clothing—and that includes their fair trade underwear

From active ethical underwear for men to ethical lace underwear for women, there are plenty of frills and no-frill designs to meet all your undie needs. 

The Boulder, Colorado brand also sells loungewear and sustainable basics to go over your undies, like sustainable hoodies.

Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Most products are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, specifically long-staple cotton, which makes the zero waste underwear super soft.

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Pact’s factories are Fair Trade certified and employ water and energy-efficient production methods.

Each product page specifies the amount of water saved in the production of each garment. 

Inclusivity: 

Pact uses inclusive modeling. Being comfortable in one’s own skin is a core part of their company values, which is why they started #justwearyou.

Women’s fair trade underwear sizes run from XS-XXL and men’s from S-XXL. For little ones, sizes 2-3T and 4-5T are on offer. 

They’re even a good place to turn to for ethical maternity underwear. 


9. Thunderpants

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by Thunderpants #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by Thunderpants

About Thunderpants

Price Range: $18–$26

Twenty years in the organic cotton underwear business and Thunderpants—a family-owned NZ-USA business—has it dialed.

Their “ultimate undie” comes in all sorts of super fun prints like Hot Pants (chilies), Mushroom Magic, and Easy Tiger. 

Plus they promise no wedgies or underwear lines and we are ALL about that.

If you’re looking for ethical underwear made in the USA, their Oregon branch has your back (or rather your behind). 

Thunderpants’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

Thunderpants uses Fairtrade and GOTS-certified organic cotton with water-based, natural dyes.

The organic cotton is blended with 10% spandex to give this comfy underwear a soft stretchy feel. 

Supply chain & labor practices: 

Transparency is at the top, not the bottom of the brand’s priority list. 

The organic cotton is grown in India before the cute ethical underwear is made in Portland, Oregon, at a factory located only 7 miles from their main office. 

For their New Zealand branch, the fabric is printed in Auckland or at HQ in Martinborough before being sewn into pants in Carterton. 

Green business practices: 

Thunderpants has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050; until then, emissions are offset through Ekos.

At HQ, they buy in bulk, compost food waste, use eco-friendly products and avoid single-use plastic. 

You’ll receive your organic ethical underwear in 100% recycled and recyclable packaging.

Inclusivity: 

Inclusivity is one of the brand’s core values. Thunderpants uses diverse modeling and offers sizes to fit every body. 

Sizes XS-4X are on offer, making Thunderpants one of the best sources of ethical plus size underwear.  

They’ve chosen a non-gendered approach for their collections. Instead of a men’s and women’s range, products are described by fit and what anatomy they’re designed for, e.g. “flat-fronted” or “pouch-fronted”. 

Community & charitable giving: 

Just call this company Philanthropants!

That’s the genius name they came up with for their charitable endeavors and they work with an impressive list of charities.


10. WAMA

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by WAMA #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by WAMA

About WAMA

Price Range: $24–$280

WAMA is an unequivocal hemp underwear guru, with every basic cut and shape possible for men and women. 

Since they’re made of sustainable materials and made via ethical production methods, you could say they’re a bit of a double WAMA-my.

Buy your skivvies either solo or in ethical underwear packs, but don’t forget the sustainable bras to match.

WAMA‘s Ethical & Sustainability Practices  

Materials: 

WAMA underwear is a blend of 53% organic hemp, 44% GOTS organic cotton, and 3% spandex.

While hemp fabric can’t be certified by GOTS yet, it is still grown without chemicals and has a host of other environmental benefits. 

There are tons of benefits for bottoms, too. Hemp underwear is naturally antibacterial, breathable, and hypoallergenic—making it the best sustainable ethical underwear on this list?

Supply chain & labor practices: 

WAMA’s Chinese factory is BSCI-certified and monitored for fair conditions by a team member permanently stationed there. 

They also have a supplier code of conduct for all entities, including the family-run hemp farms in China. 

Read details about their whole supply chain here.

Green business practices: 

WAMA is a Green America Certified Business Member.

Their sustainable underwear sets come wrapped in compostable tissue paper made from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content. 

They ship using 100% recycled, reusable and recyclable mailers from EcoEnclose. Larger 10 pack orders come in recycled cardboard boxes. 

Inclusivity: 

Men’s sizes range from S to 3XL, and women’s from XS to 2XL. WAMA uses body-inclusive models.


11. MARY YOUNG

11 Sustainable & Ethical Underwear Brands For Eco-Conscious Comfort Images by MARY YOUNG #ethicalunderwear #womensethicalunderwear #affordableethicalunderwear #bestethicalunderwearbrands #sustainableunderwear #sustainablecottonunderwear #sustainablejungle
Images by MARY YOUNG

About MARY YOUNG

Price Range: $45–$48

Whether you’re keeping cool and cozy in bamboo pajamas or turning up the heat with some plus size lingerie, Canadian-based brand MARY YOUNG has you covered—or perhaps uncovered.

Their ethical underwear for women includes women’s boxer briefs, bras, and panties (including lacy options for those seeking ethical lingerie) in a wide variety of cuts and colors.

An eco-essential, their best-selling Orly High Brief comes in 8 different colors and features a super soft waistband. 

Embracing the return of the bodysuit, MARY YOUNG has 5 different styles to choose from including a Backless Thong Bodysuit available in 5 different hues. 

MARY YOUNG’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials: 

This environmentally friendly underwear is made of a blend of 95% bamboo rayon and 5% elastane.

This bamboo fabric is OEKO-TEX certified and processed without chlorine bleach or carcinogenic dyes.

The mesh is made from nylon and spandex.

Supply chain & labor practices:

All products are made and hand-packed for shipping in Montreal, Canada where the brand provides living wages and fair working conditions for all employees.

Green business practices:

Through small batch production and recycled/reusable packaging, MARY YOUNG keeps its impact as minimal as its G-strings.

Inclusivity:

With an XS – 2X size range and models of all shapes and sizes, MARY YOUNG stays true to its mission to “empower women with different body types.”

Community & charitable giving:

Their Self Love Club is an online community where women can share anything from stories and poems to recipes. 

MARY YOUNG regularly donates to various organizations.


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How We Found The Most Sustainable Underwear Brands

What is sustainable underwear? 

To answer that, you need to know a little something about sustainable and ethical fashion.

As our most intimate connection with sustainable fashion, we decided to get to the bottom of just how ethical and sustainable underwear can be. 

Materials:

In the case of underwear, a poor choice of materials (hello, synthetic fabrics) can also lead to vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, and yeast infections. 

No, thank you. 

Instead, we look for sustainable brands that cover our bums in breathable sustainable fabrics including organic, vegan, and renewable materials like hemp, certified organic cotton, or bamboo fabric that’s been made using a closed-loop process sans toxic chemicals. 

We’ll also squat in semi-synthetic fabrics from Tencel clothing brands using lyocell or modal fabric

Unfortunately, elastane/spandex is typically needed to provide the right stretch in underwear. 

While organic recycled underwear would be ideal, it’s good to see some use of recycled materials including recycled nylon, spandex, and elastane turning to recycled plastic underwear. Hopefully, we’ll see even more innovation in this space to make undies more circular and recycled underwear a reality. 

Don’t forget the natural dyes to make sure no toxic chemicals are in contact with our most sensitive areas.

Supply chain & labor practices:

There should be no ifs, ands, or but(t)s about protecting supply chain workers. 

These sustainable underwear companies are cleaning up a dirty fashion industry by supporting workers with things like fair trade certified factories, supportive and safe work environments, and above-living wage pay.

Green business practices:

Eco-friendly disposable underwear isn’t really a thing, so first and foremost we want underwear made from sustainable materials that are designed to last as long as possible.

Ethical underwear brands can further help our weary planet by using compostable and/or recycled packaging, supporting carbon offset programs, and having energy-saving and water-efficient manufacturing practices in place. 

Inclusivity:

All bodies and bottoms should be catered to via inclusive sizing and body-positive brand imaging. 

Not all sustainable brands are nailing this just yet but things are improving all the time. 

Community & charitable giving:

Who would have thought your underwear drawer could do so much good? 

We think it’s as(s)toundingly awesome that many of these brands support environmental and social justice charities, employee volunteer days, and more.


Final Thoughts On Ethical & Sustainable Underwear Brands

Captain Underpants was on to something. 

Underwear (when done right) really can save the day. 

Every time you purchase a pair of planet-friendly panties made of eco-friendly materials, you’re supporting a world that’s better for every being involved. 

Unless all of your friends and family members are brave enough to go commando, they too can benefit from this list of eco-friendly underwear brands. 

Spread the good word about sustainable skivvies and share this article with anyone wondering where to buy ethical underwear.

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12 thoughts on “11 Ethical & Sustainable Underwear Brands For Conscious Comfort”

  1. Hello! Does anyone know of a brand that makes sustainable thermal underwear? I live in the north and need that extra layer to stay warm!

    Reply
      • Sounds like a good opportunity for underwear brands! Perhaps Arms Of Andes? We feature them on a few other articles and like their sustainability credentials. Not sure about whether they’d fit the “thermal” bill but they do say on their website that the thermal capacity of their alpaca is 5x merino if that helps?

        Reply
  2. hello there!
    could anyone recommend 100% cotton or hemp underwear? no elastane.i do not want my underwear to be stretchy.i want looseness and comfort.

    thanks.
    susanne

    Reply
  3. Thank you for sharing. I actually highly recommend Au Natural undies that are made from merino wool. This is my favorite sustainable option!

    Reply
  4. The antimicrobial silver typeset thread label in my nylon / elastane underwear caused a serious burn on my lower back after wearing during an MRI. The label looks benign, but on sensitive individuals it can cause MRI burns

    Reply
  5. Hiya, I was quite disappointed to find that regardless of being totally “organic” or made from bamboo (which is ethically questionable due to chamically intensive processing) many of these brands still put actually plastic in the form of nylon or elastane into their products. Some have more of these in them than what you find at kmart! Maybe I’m missing something here but switching to an organic cotton just to have 10%of it replaced with nylon as well as the standard 5%elastane and shipping in an individual packet just looks like green washing to me.

    Reply
    • Hi Laura,

      Thank you so much for this comment. It certainly is timely, just in the last few days, I have gone quite deep into this topic, having been made aware of the various problems with bamboo in particular. It’s a work in progress for me and I plan to write a very detailed article on it soon (and to update this page with my findings). In the meantime, I’ll add a couple of further thoughts to your two points:

      – Bamboo: Agreed, the ethics here can be super questionable. Here are a few articles I’ve read that I’ve found very helpful to try and untanlge this:
      https://www.biome.com.au/blog/is-bamboo-fabric-plastic/
      https://goodonyou.eco/bamboo-fabric-sustainable/

      However, it seems bamboo that’s gone through a closed loop process is still viable from an ethics perspective, much like TENCEL (i.e. all the chemicals are recycled over and over again – not added to waterways and removed from the final fibre output) – see for example the Good on You’s assessment of Boody (on this list and very much promoting their products as “bamboo”) – https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/boody – see the point about the closed loop process (also the closed loop process is mentioned in the link above from Biome)

      – Plastic derived fabric inclusion (nylon, elastane, spandex, etc.): This seems to be very difficult to avoid if you want to have any stretch in your undies. The only brand on this list that is fully compostable with no plastic included is The Very Good Bra (they make bras and bottoms), which are absolutely the most ethical as far as their materials go on this list. However they are still very new on the market, so if they are difficult to find in your area, my current view is that the next best thing is where the brand uses recycled plastic to make the fabric (e.g. they’ve used fabric made from ocean waste to make the nylon). There are a few on the list that use recycled material (e.g. Organic basics).

      I do plan to research this a lot more and update this article to reflect more clearly which brands are compostable and which use recycled fabrics. Let me know if you learn any more on this, it’s always helpful to get more information!

      Thanks again,
      Joy

      Reply
  6. Thanks for this great guide, that proves that a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle is possible without comprimising on quality and style. There are plenty of ethical brands already, and I think the number of options will grow over the next few years

    Reply

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