7 Sustainable Men’s Swimwear Brands To Ride The Recycled Tide
Summer’s almost here, and you know what that means…
It’s time for bottomless beachside mimosas, sand in your hair, and sustainable men’s swimwear brands.
Just make sure you do surf beyond the fast fashion synthetic fabric current that depletes our natural resources and damages the environment.
These makers of men’s eco-friendly swimwear will help you tread slow fashion waters; and they’ll help you hang loose with eco-friendly materials and business practices.
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 Gnarliest Sustainable Swimwear Brands For Men
Fair Harbor luxurious recycled board shorts made of recycled plastic bottles will help you hit the beach in style and prevent plastic pile-up on your beachy destination.
Outerknown’s high-performance swim trunks made from recycled polyester and nylon can handle the choppiest waves—just ask the eleven-time World Surf League champion founder, Kelly Slater.
Head over to the bottom after you dry off—with your sustainable beach towel, of course—to see how these brands are a cut above the rest.
The Full List Of Eco-friendly Men’s Swimwear Brands
- Outerknown | Visit Store
- MARDA | Visit Store
- Patagonia | Visit Store
- Fair Harbor | Visit Store
- Riz Board Shorts | Visit Store
- Toad&Co | Visit Store
- United by Blue | Visit Store
1. Outerknown
About Outerknown
Price Range: $78–$145
Kelly Slater, an eleven-time World Surf League champion, founded Outerknown to create high-quality, sustainable men’s bathing suits.
While they now offer a whole range of sustainable outdoor clothing, their high-performance recycled swim trunks constructed to last through the harshest waves still stand out.
Outerknown’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Outerknown makes its men’s sustainable swimwear out of recycled nylon and recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.
High-performance items, like Kelly’s signature Apex Trunks, are made from mostly recycled polyester, with a touch of recycled and non-recycled spandex. Watch out for some still-available older versions of this style though, as the percentage of recycled polyester is much lower.
All are bluesign®-approved as not containing harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Outerknown provides customers with transparency through a full list of suppliers available online.
As a Fair Labor Association (FLA) participating company, Outerknown upholds ethical working conditions throughout its supply chain, including other fair trade certified factories across China, Mexico, and Peru.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
OK’s Sustainable Roadmap lays out numerous goals for improvements, such as designing products for disassembly and recyclability so that 50% of products are fully circular by 2025 and 100% by 2030.
Outerworn is their current circularity initiative, a resale program that’s already rehomed almost 2000 garments.
Inclusivity:
Outerknown’s recycled swim trunks range from sizes S-XXL or 28″ to 38″.
Community & charitable giving:
Outerknown supports ocean-protecting NGOs like Ocean Conservancy. One way they do so is through limited edition product collaborations that donate all profits.
2. MARDA
About MARDA
Price Range: $139–$149
Denmark-based MARDA creates sustainable swim trunks that are luxurious, lightweight, and durable.
While there are many colors and patterns to choose from, the single style keeps shopping simple.
Their narrow focus allows them to develop the highest quality products without compromising sustainability.
MARDA Swimwear’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
MARDA 100% recycled and GRS-certified rPET is made from recycled plastic bottles, so each pair means about seven plastic bottles were removed from oceans and landfills.
All trim, labeling, and threads are either recycled or ethically sourced.
Supply chain & labor practices:
MARDA doesn’t mention where their men’s eco-friendly swimwear is made or how they ensure it’s done ethically, so we’ll reach out directly to inquire.
Carbon commitments & green practice:
Compared to virgin petroleum fibers, using 100% recycled polyester means 94% less water, 70% less energy, and 54% fewer CO2 emissions.
Inclusivity:
For sustainable swimwear, men’s sizes S–XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
Through a partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, every pair of MARDA swim trunks sold donated a percentage to help reduce pollution.
3. Patagonia
About Patagonia
Price Range: $65–$619
When it comes to sustainable men’s activewear brands, few are Pata-going to beat Patagonia.
They don’t just make sustainable clothing for the trails and mountains. They also make sustainable board shorts like the classic Wavefarer for kitesurfing, wakeboarding, or sunbathing—just don’t forget your zero waste sunscreen!
Besides trunks, you can also find wetsuits, surf hoodies, rash guard tops, and other accessories.
Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Joining the 94% of Patagonia’s line made from recycled materials, their trunks are made from either 87% post-consumer recycled polyester or NetPlus® 100% recycled nylon from recycled ocean plastic (fishing nets).
Many of their eco-friendly wetsuits are made from FSC-certified Yulex® natural rubber.
Nine of Patagonia’s top ten material suppliers are bluesign®-approved and use zero toxic chemicals. The swimwear is also PFC-free.
Supply chain & labor practices:
86% of Patagonia’s products are made in Fair Trade-certified facilities.
As a founding and accredited FLA member, Patagonia informs customers exactly what site produced each piece of swimwear in the Footprint Chronicles of each product page.
Nearly half of Patagonia’s swimwear assembly facilities provide workers a living wage, which they’re committed to continue improving.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
While they offset operations, they know “carbon neutral is not enough”. Their carbon commitments thus include increasing use of renewable energy and decreasing use of fossil fuels at every stage of production.
Patagonia helped start a regenerative agriculture certification program to enhance carbon reduction efforts in fashion farming.
Each item includes their IronClad lifetime repair or replacement promise and can be resold via Worn Wear in exchange for store credit. It’s also an excellent place to snag affordable sustainable board shorts.
Inclusivity:
You’ll find XS-XXL sizes with waist measurements between 28”–44″.
Community & charitable giving:
Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia and co-founded 1% for the Planet along with Blue Ribbon Flies’ Craig Mathews.
He also recently transferred all company stock to the Patagonia Purpose Trust (where profits will go toward improving sustainability of operations) and Holdfast Collective (where the rest will directly fund climate positive initiatives).
They also support grassroots movements through Patagonia Action Works, helping individuals to get involved with environmental organizations.
4. Fair Harbor
About Fair Harbor
Price Range: $68–$88
Fair Harbor makes fashionable eco-friendly swimwear for men, perfect for transitioning from the beach to the bar.
Styles like The Anchor feature an all-purpose design and quick-drying fabric—not to mention they’ve removed over 30 plastic bottles from oceans and landfills.
Besides trunks, they also offer sustainable beach-ready apparel made of lyocell fabric, like boardshorts, polos, henleys, jackets, and more.
Fair Harbor’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Fair Harbor swim trunks out of recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles and nylon made from ocean waste.
Many items have a built-in 90% rPET BreezeKnit™ liner and are planted with about 12% spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
They states they only work with ethical factories, which they frequently visit in person. We’ll be touching base for more specifics on locations and manufacturing certifications.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their Round Trip recycling program provides a discount for sending back old swimwear and sends them to 2ReWear to be used as insulation and materials for rugs.
Inclusivity:
Men’s swim trunks range S-3XL and inseams 5″ to 10″.
5. Riz Board Shorts
About Riz Board Shorts
Price Range: $120–$145
Riz Board Shorts uses 100% natural or recycled materials to create fully recyclable, eco-friendly swimwear for men in the UK.
You read that correctly—the fabric, mesh, stitching, and buttons are 100% recycled or natural.
Thanks to a functional fit and their iconic “British Aloha” style, models like the Blythe offer a minimal, laidback design that’s comfortable and ethical.
Riz Board Shorts’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Riz uses 100% recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles for the fabric, mesh, threads, and cords.
Buttons are made from biodegradable Corozo nuts.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Riz is a Certified B Corp and member of the Circular Textiles Foundation.
Their fabrics are digitally printed in London at the same printer they’ve been using since day one.
Final products are then sewn in small batches nearby in Portugal, reducing supply chain mileage.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The Rizcycling Programe provides customers with free repairs for life. Returned swim shorts are either resold or recycled—and the original owner receives a discount on upcoming purchases.
Products ship in a fully recyclable brown paper bag.
Inclusivity:
You’ll find S-3XL sizes in their men’s eco-friendly swimwear.
Community & charitable giving:
As a 1% for the Planet and Marine Conservation Society partner, Riz puts money toward creating a healthier ocean for every pair of shorts sold.
6. Toad&Co
About Toad&Co
Price Range: $68–$80
Toad&Co makes recycled board shorts that are best appreciated when covered in sand and on a warm sustainable towel.
As makers of affordable ethical clothing, they’re keeping men’s sustainable swimwear affordable without sacrificing quality and longevity.
Match your colorful Boundless Pull-On land or swim shorts with any number of their loose-fitting button-ups, lightweight hoodies, and basic tees.
Toad & Co’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While they don’t offer any entirely organic swimwear for men, some styles (including the Boundless) contain significant portions of GOTS-certified organic cotton blended with minimal recycled polyester.
Other products contain recycled nylon waste and/or minimal virgin elastane.
Although their entire catalog isn’t bluesign® approved, many items are.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The company co-founded Planet Access Company to create a warehouse, training and employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Some of their men’s sustainable swimwear is USA-made in California, but all factories are visited and audited regularly for code of conduct compliance.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Toad&Co aims to follow 100% of The Responsible Wool Standard by 2024, convert all synthetic materials to 100% recycled by 2025, and eliminate all plastic packaging by 2026.
They expect to reduce water usage by 100,000 liters per year by 2025 and achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Products are shipped in FSC-certified paper sleeves printed with water-based or algae ink. Customers can also select the Reusable Shipper at checkout and send it back to the company.
Inclusivity:
Men’s sizes S-XXL with waits 30”–38″.
Community & charitable giving:
Toad & Co co-founded Search for Adventure, a travel organization facilitating vacations for adults with disabilities.
They’re also a 1% For the Planet and Adventure Travel Conservation Fund member.
Each month, a portion of their sales go to Planned Parenthood, Wilderness Inquiry, and the Wild Seed Project.
7. United By Blue
About United by Blue
Price Range: $68–$98
United By Blue makes sustainable outdoor styles and some of the most comfortable swim trunks out of recycled fabrics.
If you’re looking for men’s natural fiber swimwear, items like the UBB x Corona Boardshort have a 100% organically-grown cotton combined with a recycled synthetic liner.
They also make comfortable tops (sweaters, tees, henleys, and button-downs) to keep you warm while watching the sunset from shore.
United by Blue’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
UBB’s affordable sustainable swimwear for men is made of GRS-certified REPREVE recycled polyester, certified organic cotton, and hemp fabric.
They’re one of our favorite organic cotton t-shirt brands, and they’re also one of the best resources for men’s organic swimwear.
Options with organic exteriors also have a recycled polyester liner brief.
Supply chain & labor practices:
This Certified B Corp works with ethical manufacturers adhering to their Code of Conduct to ensure fair wages, balanced hours, and healthy working conditions.
Each of their seven partners is certified by at least one of the following: GOTS, OCS, and Fair Trade.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
UBB recently achieved 100% plastic-free in all of their direct-to-consumer packages as part of their #QuitSingleUse campaign.
They also measure all three scopes of their greenhouse gas emissions, planning to reduce their carbon footprint across their shipments, production, energy, and stores. You can read about these plans in their impact report.
Inclusivity:
Men’s swim trunks run 30”–40″ with inseams 5”–9″.
Community & charitable giving:
United By Blue organizes regular beach cleanups and sponsors the removal of one pound of plastic pollution for every item sold.
They also support 26 non-profit organizations through direct donations, in-kind donations, environmental partnerships, and marketing campaigns.
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How We Found The Best Eco-Friendly Men’s Swimwear Brands
Fast fashion makes it difficult to focus on hanging ten or lounging by the pool, and unlike other sustainable men’s clothing, like sustainable suits, swimwear has a few other considerations.
Swimwear has to stand up to sun, saltwater, chlorine, sand, and general wear, so it’s crucial to use durable, eco-friendly swimsuits for men.
To find the treasure buried in the unsustainable sand, we used our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria.
Materials:
We’re normally proponents of natural sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and hemp because they’re totally compostable once they’ve ridden their last wave.
However, a men’s natural fiber swimsuit simply wouldn’t have the quick-drying, non-absorbing qualities needed in most swimwear. While natural components were nice to see, ultimately, swimwear still relies heavily on synthetic fabrics.
That’s why we looked for recycled alternatives, such as men’s swim trunks made from recycled plastic bottles, upcycled marine waste like fishing nets, or other recycled materials keeping additional plastic pollution from entering the ocean.
- Certifications: Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), bluesign®, Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Organic Cotton Standard (OCS)
Supply chain & labor practices:
Materials are just one part of the issue—we look for ethical production methods enhancing human rights.
Transparency, fair labor practices, and third-party certifications (while not perfect) to avoid greenwashing are a must. For brands without this information, we always reach out directly to inquire.
- Certifications: Fair Labor Association (FLA), B Corporation, Fair Trade
Carbon commitments & green practices:
We evaluated brands on how they compensate for and reduce carbon emissions via upcycled plastic waste, circularity initiatives, textile waste practices, carbon offset programs, renewable energy, and low-waste/plastic-free packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
Brands that give back to their local communities, support nonprofits, and organize environmental clean-up events always get poolside preference from us.
Final Thoughts On Environmentally Friendly Men’s Swimsuits
What’s the secret to the perfect beach day?
Sustainable men’s swimwear that’s affordable, durable, comfortable, and keeps plastic out of the ocean.
But in your haste to pack your sustainable luggage for your upcoming beach vacay, don’t forget that the most sustainable swim trunks are those already in your drawer. If they still have some dives left in them, keep using them.
And if the idea of buying preloved isn’t too personal for you, there’s a good chance online thrift stores will have a pair of affordable eco-friendly board shorts in just your size.
Send your beach-going buddies this list (along with a reminder of which sustainable snacks they’re supposed to pack!), so they, too, can make waves in eco-friendly materials.
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