9 Best Organic Towels For A Clean And Conscious Bath
We’re taking shower performances to the next level.
We’re not getting into the impact of that hot shower (which you can totally offset, btw), but we are taking a deep dive into that thirsty towel you use to dry off.
The majority of terry cloth is made from cotton, conventional cotton that is. I.e. one of the world’s dirtiest crops.
To make a single cotton t-shirt requires 2,168 gallons of water. Organic cotton, on the other hand, sips just 186 gallons.
We also happen to think organic cotton feels better, too.
That’s why we’re filling our bathroom (and entire home) with organic cotton towels and linens from brands like Coyuchi.
And purchasing organic towels from Boll & Branch means supporting thousands of fair trade cotton farmers.
For some of the best organic towels in a waffle texture, ettitude won’t leave you out in the rain (er, in the bath?).
For a clean body and planet, Under the Canopy only uses low impact organic dyes for their organic towels.
Don’t wait to air dry! Jump into our tub of the best organic bath towels. If you need some reading for your soak, dip to the end of the article to see how these brands were chosen.
*This post contains affiliate links
QUICK LINKS FOR THE BEST ORGANIC BATH TOWELS
1. COYUCHI
About Coyuchi
Comfort and Coyuchi go together like a healthy planet and the regenerative agriculture they promote.
Whether wrapping up in an organic cotton bath sheet or fair trade blanket, you can rest easy bringing this ethical company into your home.
Their selection is large, including both organic beach towels and organic cotton bath towels, from Air Weight® to plush Cloud Loom™ varieties.
When you’re done drying off, step onto one of their bathmats and slip into a sustainable robe.
Coyuchi’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, these are some of the best organic towels money can buy.
The Air Weight® bath towels boast additional MADE SAFE and Fair Trade certified organic cotton badges.
Supply chain & labor practices:
You’ll be wrapping up in Indian or Turkish cotton, grown and woven in the same area.
Many of their manufacturing partners are certified Fair Trade.
Green business practices:
Coyuchi ships carbo neutral, and while they still use plastic, they recently joined prAna’s #ReshapePackaging Movement and reduced the size of their 100% recycled pre-consumer waste polybags by up to 59%.
Their organic Turkish towels save water because their factories recycle 98% of wastewater using “zero discharge” textile processing units that uses limestone to filter out residual dye pigment—which gets used to make cement.
Old linens can be sent back for recycling through their 2nd Home Take Back program.
Community & charitable giving:
As members of 1% for the Planet, they fund regenerative and carbon-neutral farming through Fibershed and White Buffalo Land Trust.
That’s in addition to sourcing all wool from regenerative agriculture farms.
Available: Coyuchi
2. BOLL & BRANCH
About Boll & Branch
Boll & Branch can help you achieve that perfect sleep trifecta: soft sustainable pillows, a cozy organic comforter, and an eco friendly mattress.
But they can also help out with what comes before bedtime: a shower!
Their towels come in bundles, spa sets, and starter packs, as well as in individual bath sheets, bath towels, washcloths, and organic hand towels.
If you’re looking for something super soft and luxurious, a Boll & Branch gigantic bath sheet may be the best organic bath towels for you.
Boll & Branch’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Boll & Branch’s towels are plushy and planet friendly, due to their 100% organic cotton foundation. It’s also Fair Trade certified, GOTS certified, and OEKO-TEX certified.
Supply chain & labor practices:
This also happens to be the first linen company to obtain a Fair Trade certification.
Boll & Branch has supported nearly 13,000 Fair Trade cotton farmers and the rest of their supply chain with living wages and ethical work conditions.
Green business practices:
The sea-faring company opts for boat shipping instead of flight freight to cut down on emissions. They also use recycled and recyclable/compostable packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
Because everyone deserves comfort, Boll & Branch has a Helping From Home program which donates sleep essentials to those in need.
Available: Boll & Branch
3. SOL ORGANICS
About SOL Organics
SOL Organics has us feeling bright and sunny with their eco friendly bedding and organic pillows that are “Soft on you, Soft on the planet”.
After a long soak in the bathtub, wrap up in one of their fluffy pile organic cotton bath towels or a bath sheet.
They also sell organic cotton hand towels, washcloths, and bundles.
SOL Organics’ Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
These organic cotton bath towels are made of GOTS and Fair Trade certified organic cotton dyed with low impact organic dyes.
They’re spun from 700 GSM organic cotton fibers, meaning longer, stronger and finer yarn that’s soft enough for organic baby towels.
Supply chain & labor practices:
SOL only works with reputable manufacturers who have third-party certifications (like FLOCERT). They occasionally visit their factories to ensure ethical practices are maintained.
Community & charitable giving:
You can choose to support one of four different charities (The Anti Racism Fund, The Fund for Animals, Children’s Defense Fund, or Water4) with a portion of your purchase.
Available: SOL Organics
4. ETTITUDE
About ettitude
If you appreciate the strange yet satisfying feedback of waffle knit, ettitude will improve your attitude.
As if we needed further motivation to soak in the bath and don our bamboo pajamas at night…
Their range of arguably the best organic towels are available in singles, a set, a hair towel, and, for new parents seeking organic baby products, a hooded towel.
P.S. The waffle texture is more absorbent, and will help you achieve frizz-free, smooth hair.
ettitude’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
ettitude’s CleanBamboo™ lyocell, the only material in their towels, represents what all bamboo fabric should strive to be.
It’s made using non-toxic solvents in a closed-loop system where 98% of the water is recycled up to 200 times.
It’s OEKO-TEX 100, FSC, ECOCERT, and PETA certified.
Supply chain & labor practices:
In addition to adhering to ettitude’s Code of Conduct, each Chinese manufacturing partner bears at least one certification by either SEDEX, WRAP, or BSCI.
They also source all the bamboo in China.
Green business practices:
Australian customers can return used ettitude products for recycling. US customers, stay tuned, because they plan to implement the program here soon.
Check out their impact report for more on what this Climate Neutral certified company is doing.
Community & charitable giving:
ettitude generously donates to a range of organizations—even beyond their 1% for the Planet commitment to put 1% of profits aside for environmental causes.
They also support communities affected by natural disasters, anti-racism efforts, and gender equality (supporting One Girl, for example).
Available: ettitude
5. GRUND AMERICA
About Grund America
Grund America is a Czech company that started making eco friendly bedding in a backyard garage.
While they’ve moved on from their former “factory,” they still maintain family vibes and humble respect for their craft in their now American home.
Use them to fill your bathroom with both eco friendly bathroom rugs and organic cotton towels that look soft enough to take a nap on.
Grund America’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The sustainable softness comes from their 100% OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Grund America is a member of Textile Exchange, and their organic cotton bath towels are responsibly manufactured in Portugal, under safe and fair working conditions.
Green business practices:
The organic towel company is also a member of Green America.
If a splurge on towels makes you feel a little uneasy, Grund offers a 60-day risk-free trial and 5-year warranty.
Available: Grund America
6. DELILAH HOME
About Delilah Home
Delilah Home was named after a puppy who survived 62 days alone during the winter in the North Carolina mountains to finally be reunited with her family. Sustainability, Impact, and Community are the three pillars of the company’s foundation.
If that’s not a feel-good reason to feel out their GOTS certified organic cotton bath towels, we don’t know what is.
They’re available in singles or sets, as well as beach and kitchen varieties.
Each towel features two ply, double loops that make them extra fluffy and up to 50% thicker than most towels.
Delilah Home’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All towels are made using 100% long staple organic cotton, certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard.
Supply chain & labor practices:
A member of the Textile Exchange, Delilah works only with highly certified fair trade factories in Europe, all of which pay above living wages that exceed local and national laws.
Their CEO is the also the Chairman for the Organic Trade Association Fiber Council.
The organic cotton is sourced from Turkey and ethically made in Portugal
Green business practices:
This brand holds a host of certifications by reputable green agencies, like Green America, ONECERT, and Oregon Tilth.
They are also Certified Vegan by Vegan.org.
Community & charitable giving:
Delilah Home is a member of 1% for the Planet, but they actually donate 10% of profits to Operation Warm, Beds For Kids, and other local charities.
Available: Delilah Home
7. PACT
About Pact
Pact is the organic clothing brand that has won us over time again with their impressive selection of affordable organic cotton basics, from organic bras to bathroom essentials to organic cotton t-shirts.
For making Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing, only Earth’s Favorite material will do: certified organic cotton.
Start every morning with a waffle—no syrup required, because we’re talking about waffle weave organic cotton bath towels.
Pact’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Dry off in a 100% GOTS certified organic cotton towel that uses up 91% less water than its conventional counterpart.
Just don’t use this as an excuse to take a longer shower.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The best organic bath towels are produced in Fair Trade certified factories, and Pact’s Indian partner fits that bill.
Green business practices:
Pact offers the option to offset the carbon footprint of shipping and uses minimal packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
One way they minimize packaging waste is by having their shipping boxes double as a donation box.
Once you’ve un-Pact your new organic cotton towels, fill the box with unwanted gently used clothes (of any brand) and mail it back. Pact will distribute them to nonprofit organizations.
Available: Pact
8. UNDER THE CANOPY
About Under the Canopy
Under the Canopy makes some of the best organic towels at affordable prices.
They believe, as we do, that conscious products should not be exclusive to those with fatter sustainable wallets.
Under the Canopy organic towels come in three collections (Signature, Luxe, and Textured). Choose between organic cotton bath sets and individual bath sheets, hand and bath towels, and washcloths.
At 579-650 GSM, these fluffy pile spa quality towels are extra absorbent.
Under the Canopy’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The towels are now made of 100% OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified organic cotton.
Each organic cotton bath towel is treated with low impact organic dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Under The Canopy manufactures in a vertically integrated way that supports workers’ welfare and community investment.
They partner with GOTS certified factories in Pakistan where workers have fair pay and safe conditions.
Available: Under the Canopy
9. SNOWE
About Snowe
According to Snowe, everything good happens in bed—but we’d add a zero waste bathroom to that..
In addition to bedding and robes, Snowe offers kitchen, beach, and bath towels, in classic or honeycomb weaves.
Thanks to top-quality craftsmanship, these products are designed to last.
Snowe’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
These bath towels made from 100% long staple OEKO-TEX certified cotton.
While the material doesn’t have all of the benefits of its organic counterpart, long-staple cotton is better for the planet because it lasts longer.
Their kitchen towels are made with premium Belgian flax linen, a fabric sustainable in its own right (no organic certification required).
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand’s bath towels are produced in Italy and other products in Portugal, countries known for their strict ethical standards.
Green business practices:
They’ll come in 100% paper-based and recyclable packaging.
Available: Snowe
HOW WE FOUND THE BEST ORGANIC TOWELS
Towels typically aren’t considered a part of our wardrobes, but when it comes to cleaning up our textile hygiene habits we turn to our sustainable fashion criteria.
Materials:
Using organic cotton is the best way to dry yourself despite the fact that it consumes much less water than its conventional counterpart.
While not the only organic certification, GOTS certified organic cotton is considered the most comprehensive “seed to shelf” certification.
Linen, while used far less frequently, was a close second because it also requires few farming inputs.
We also looked for low impact organic dyes.
- Certifications: Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), MADE SAFE, OEKO-TEX, Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), ECOCERT, ONECERT, Organic Trade Association (OTA), and PETA
Supply chain and labor practices:
Hot and luxurious showers feel better when they support fair trade workers and pay into additional community investment programs.
- Certifications: Fair Trade, SEDEX, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Green America and Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
Green business practices:
No stinky mildew with these organic towels; no stinky, polluted planet either.
Between linen recycling programs, compostable vs biodegradable packaging, water recycling manufacturing technology, and efforts to minimize shipping impact, each of these brands went beyond simply using sustainable materials.
Community & charitable giving:
For organic cotton beach towels that welcome everyone to the pool party, some brands donate their profits or products to organizations helping the needy or the environment.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON ORGANIC COTTON TOWELS
Worried that your shower performance is not ‘karaoke ready’?
Don’t throw in the towel just yet.
Making small, relatively simple changes can end up having a big impact. And no, we’re not talking about your crescendo!
While we can’t totally erase the impact of our too-long hot shower, we can choose more sustainable shower products, like organic body wash, zero waste shampoo, loofah alternatives, and, of course, the best organic bath towels.
Feel free to share this with friends who would also appreciate a more sustainable shower.
This is so good. Always in favour of reusable and eco-friendly products. You do have a range of lovely household products that are useful towards eliminating plastic and paper. Great going and inspiring.