Slow fashion is all about dotting your ethical i’s and crossing your eco tees—so what better place to begin than sustainable t-shirts?

T-shirts are the most basic and ubiquitous of clothing, which is exactly why it’s critical to buy those that are ethically and sustainably made. After all, you can’t spell “planet Earth” without a few green tees!

While sourcing used via second hand stores always makes for the most eco-friendly t-shirts, we’re here to help when a used crew just won’t cut it.

As with all our clothing guides, we prioritize brands that use eco-friendly materials and ensure fair and ethical treatment of workers throughout their supply chains. We also consider several other important factors.

Over the next few months, we’ll be rolling out our new Brand Rating System, which evaluates 22 specific criteria, including climate responsibility and product durability. For more details on this system, check out our explainer.

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. Learn more here.

The Best Eco-Friendly T-Shirts For A Pro-Planet Look

Sustainability is standard with Colorful Standard’s selection of eco tees, made in their own manufacturing center in Portugal, which everyone is welcome to visit. Despite regular wearing and washing, we’ve had zero fading, so we reckon these will remain a wardrobe staple for years to come.

Outerknown offers a large selection for those specifically seeking organic fabrics. Better still, most are made with 100% Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton, which is also incredibly soft.

Index: Sustainable T-Shirt Brands

  1. The Classic T-Shirt Company Jump to brand
  2. Outerknown Jump to brand
  3. Patagonia Jump to brand
  4. Colorful Standard Jump to brand
  5. Frank And Oak Jump to brand
  6. MATE The Label Jump to brand
  7. Pact Jump to brand
  8. Toad&Co Jump to brand
  9. Allbirds Jump to brand

The Classic T-Shirt Company

The Classic T-Shirt Company has not been rated.

About The Classic T-Shirt Company

Price Range: $70—$150

The Classic T-Shirt Company specializes in minimalist, luxury t-shirts that are super soft, sustainable, and built to last. With solid colors and a handful of styles including crew neck, V-neck, raglan, pocket, and box tee, they provide enough choice to suit personal style without being superfluous.

The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

All tees are made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton (in classic or french terry textures), dyed with sustainable dyes free from harsh chemicals.

The cotton is combed (for softness), ring-spun, and pre-shrunk, so the final product is designed to maintain color and shape over time. Resistant to stretching out and getting those dreaded pit stains, these sustainable tees will last much longer than normal and we can confirm ours are holding up super well after a year of really regular wear.

Supply chain & labor practices:

The GOTS-certified organic cotton is sourced from farms in India. Knitting, handcrafting, and embroidering take place at a vertically integrated state-of-the-art facility in L.A. that ensures fair wages, reasonable hours, and excellent working conditions.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Product are designed to last, which they assure by putting every garment through multiple shrink tests and quality control assurances. They also use only recycled, plastic-free, eco-friendly materials for packaging.

Inclusivity:

General sizing for men and women runs XS to XXL, but some styles only run S-XL. XXS is available in some women’s styles and XXXL in some men’s styles.

Community & charitable giving:

The Classic T-Shirt Company is a member of Pledge 1%. They donate 1% of their equity, profit, and time to one of three causes: providing safe water to communities in need, planting trees, and ocean cleanup.

My Personal Review of The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Unisex French Terry Box Tee:

“The Unisex French Terry Box Tee is incredibly versatile. With the thick, cozy fabric of a sweatshirt and the versatility of a short-sleeved shirt, it’s become one of my go-to tops. I’ve been wearing it regularly for about a year, and the durable fabric is still in tip-top condition. Even the unhemmed cut hem, which curls a little bit for an extra textured look, has not started to fray or unravel in the slightest.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

My Personal Review of The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Men’s Short Sleeve V-Neck:

“The Short Sleeve V-Neck may not look like anything special, but this super-soft organic cotton t-shirt brand creates something far more durable (and non-toxic) than your average $10 tee. Not only is the cut perfect, but I love how fade-resistant and anti-pill the fabric has proven to be over time. I’ve been wearing it for over a year, and it still looks just about as new as day one.”

Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester

Outerknown

Outerknown has not been rated.

About Outerknown

Price Range: $48—$98

Outerknown was founded by 11-time World Surf League Champion, Kelly Slater and acclaimed designer, John Moore. Joining their range of sustainable basics, you’ll find eco-friendly t-shirts in a wide variety of styles, colors, and prints.

The extensive options in the Sojourn series are all so soft, and those made from Regenerative Organic Certified® Bronze Pima Cotton may be the softest ethical t-shirts on our list. We love pairing them with OK’s all-time best-selling Blanket Shirt, which is the perfect cozy shirt jacket to throw on when temps are a little chilly for just the tee alone.

Outerknown’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Most of Outerknown’s sustainable cotton t-shirts are made of 100% Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton from Peru. Those in the Soujorn series are made from Regenerative Organic Certified® Bronze Pima Cotton, some of the softest cotton in the world.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Outerknown’s ethical t-shirts are sewn in Fair Trade certified factories, where the makers are been paid a premium for their work. Their suppliers abide by the strict guidelines of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), bluesign®, and Fair Trade.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Outerknown supports regenerative agriculture. In partnership with Bergman Rivera, they have converted 28 acres of farmland to Regenerative Organic Certified.

Their 2030 Sustainability Strategy outlines how they aim to be more sustainable, like transitioning to renewable energy and switching to circular models. In an effort towards the latter, Outerworn is their key circularity initiative, allowing customers to buy and sell pre-loved OK garments.

Inclusivity:

Outerknown’s tees range from XS-XXL for women and XS-XXXL for men.

Community & charitable giving:

100% of the profits from regular rotating campaigns and product collaborations go to supporting ocean health through nonprofits like The Ocean Conservancy.

My Personal Review of Outerknown’s Blanket Shirt:

“I’m totally obsessed with this shirt! It’s crafted from thick, tightly woven 100% organic cotton with biodegradable corozo nut buttons. It’s way more durable than your average flannel and doesn’t pill. I now own three because I throw one on over a tee whenever I need the extra warmth.”

Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester

Patagonia

Patagonia has not been rated.

About Patagonia

Price Range: $45—$99

When you need your tees to have a little more technical proficiency, it’s time to turn to Patagonia. While t-shirts are only one tiny fraction of their vast range of sustainable outdoor clothing, it’s one of the most sustainable fractions.

They carry long-sleeve t-shirts, short-sleeve t-shirts, sustainable graphic t-shirts, and tanks for the whole family. We tried the Responsibili-Tee®, Patagonia’s lowest carbon footprint T-shirt made from 50% recycled cotton and 50% post-consumer recycled polyester. At 5.4 oz, the material is a little thicker than other tees, so it handles even tough wear-and-tear situations, like sports or even backpacking, where the straps are notorious for wearing down the shoulders of shirts.

Patagonia’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Materials in Patagonia’s tees include Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton, US-grown organic cotton, RWS-certified merino wool, recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp.

Their Capilene® Cool Daily series is made from polyester, 50-100% of which is recycled. While the heathers and cross dyes look fun, these patterns typically have a higher virgin synthetic content.

All tees are bluesign® approved and screen-printed using PVC-free and phthalate-free non-toxic dyes.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Patagonia shares every step of its manufacturing spiderweb through The Footprint Chronicles. 85% of products are Fair Trade Certified™ sewn and executive staff members regularly visit their mills and factories. Patagonia is a Certified B Corp and a member of the of the Fair Labor Association.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Patagonia has numerous green initiatives, including ambitious climate goals, a key role in launching the Regenerative Organic Certified® program, lifetime repair or replacement guarantees on all products, and the Worn Wear resale platform.

Inclusivity:

Their XS-XXL size range is among the most inclusive of outdoor clothing companies.

Community & charitable giving:

Patagonia co-founded 1% for the Planet, so suffice it to say they do their best to give back. Patagonia Action Works makes it easy for you to find local initiatives to get involved, too. They aren’t afraid to take political action when it comes to environmental conservation and in 2022, founder Yvon Chouinard divested company stocks to fighting climate change via the Holdfast Collective so that “Earth is now our only shareholder.

Colorful Standard

Colorful Standard has not been rated.

About Colorful Standard

Price Range: $38—$50

Maintain your T-shirt collection to a colorful and sustainable standard with Colorful Standard’s ethical tees, available in every color under the sun. They offer boxy crop tees, classic-fit tees, oversized t-shirts, and sustainable long-sleeved t-shirts in an enormous varie-tee of colors—no less than 47, for their classic-fit tees!

Colorful Standards’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

All of their eco tees are made from 100% organic cotton, apart from the rib tops, which also contain 5% elastane. They use environmentally friendly dyes that have an OEKO-TEX certification.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Colorful Standard has its own manufacturing center in Portugal that follows strict EU labor standards, and anyone is welcome to drop by for a visit.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

CS uses precise laser cutting to minimize fabric waste and items are garment-dyed to save water (which also means they’ve been pre-washed, so there’s no shrinkage suprise!). Any scraps created are recycled into furniture filling and they prioritize recycled polyester for labels, and shipping boxes are FSC-certified.

Inclusivity:

General sizing from women runs XS-XL and XS-2XL for some styles. Men’s sizing runs XS-2XL.

Community & charitable giving:

Colorful Standard helped build FC Masi Manimba, an all-purpose youth center in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

My Personal Review of Colorful Standard’s Classic Organic Tee:

“The Organic Tee is nothing fancy; just a classic staple basic tee that everyone needs—except that theirs is super well made, sans chemicals, and available in a huge range of colors. Though as tempting as it is, I have to remind myself I don’t need EVERY color. Plus, they’ve somehow only gotten softer with wear and washes, and the color has held incredibly well. No signs of fading so far.”

Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester

Frank And Oak

Frank And Oak has not been rated.

About Frank And Oak

Price Range: $40—$70

Frank And Oak makes durable tees for men and women with sustainable materials and without fast fashion issues. Their eco-friendly tees include baby tees, boxy tees, relaxed-fit tees, timeless crews, ribbed tops, sleeveless tees, and more.

Frank And Oak’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Modal, hemp, and linen are Frank and Oak’s materials of choice for their t-shirt collection.

Supply chain & labor practices:

A Certified B Corp, Frank And Oak partners with 25 factories in China, Bangladesh, and the UAE that adhere to its Supplier Code of Conduct and hold various third-party certifications, including Sedex, WRAP, BSCI, and SA8000.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

From “hydro-less denim” to compostable and recycled packaging, Frank And Oak is frankly serious about reducing their impact. If you’ve been wondering what to do with old jeans, you can drop them off at your nearest Frank and Oak store to be recycled via the Blue Jeans Go Green™ program.

Inclusivity:

Women’s sizing runs XXS-XL and men’s XS-XXL.

Community & charitable giving:

Big on community, Frank and Oak partners with local artists, raises funds for charity via brand collabs, and sponsors local community events.

My Personal Review of Frank & Oak’s Hemp Relaxed T-Shirt:

“I tried their Hemp Relaxed T-Shirt and loved the folded sleeves and comfortable, cozy material that’s a little textured, which adds a nice dimension to its appearance. It washes well, seems super durable, and is smart enough for work, making it a stylish, versatile piece for plenty of different occasions.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

MATE The Label

MATE The Label has not been rated.

About MATE the Label

Price Range: $46—$78

As one of our favorite basics brands, it’s no suprise that MATE the Label is also one of our besties when it comes to sustainable tees.

The Certified B Corp has a dedicated Tee shop where you’ll find plenty of cuts and styles for women, two styles for men, and a Classic Tee for kids.

MATE the Labels’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

MATE’S tees are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and nothing but. All garments are dyed with non-toxic dyes.

Supply chain & labor practices:

MATE works with fair factories in the local Los Angeles area, a GOTS-certified factory in India, and a Fair Trade facility in Peru.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

They’re proud to be a Climate Neutral Certified brand and have removed all plastic from their labels and packaging. MATE embraces a circular fashion model by recycling old clothing (from any brand) through the Detox Your Closet Program.

Inclusivity:

General sizing for women runs XS-XL with XXS–3X available in some styles. Men’s tees are available in sizes S-XXL.

Community & charitable giving:

MATE supports several nonprofits via its 1% for the Planet membership.

My Personal Review of MATE the Label’s Organic Cotton Classic Tee:

“I own their Organic Cotton Classic Tee. Pure, clean, and simple with a relaxed, easy fit, this is one wardrobe essential I wouldn’t be without. It’s so incredibly soft and lightweight that it’s a favorite for layering under other garments or just wearing solo when it’s really hot out. Plus, if you’ve read my other reviews, you may know by now, but I’m a sucker for subdued, earthy colors.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

Pact

Pact has not been rated.

About Pact

Price Range: $24—$58

How do you make an imPact on the world of sustainable and ethical fashion?

You make it accessible to more people, which is exactly what Pact does with its range of affordable ethical clothing—including sustainable t-shirts.

They’re available for men and women in various styles, such as crew necks, v necks, slubs, and henleys. Stay consciously cool in the Featherweight Slub Muscle Tee, a light and airy cap-sleeved tee made from 100% organic cotton. Available in six colors, this versatile tee is an ideal summer staple.

Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Most of Pact’s fair trade t-shirts are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. The occasional style also has 5% elastane for added stretch.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Pact partners with Fair Trade-certified factories in India that ensure fair wages and safe working conditions.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Aside from saving massive amounts of water by using organic cotton (which uses 95% less water than traditional cotton), Pact also uses water-saving and recycling production methods and energy conservation techniques. Orders ship plastic-free in FSC™ certified, 100% recyclable paper bags.

Inclusivity:

The sustainable women’s t-shirts come in XS-3XL, and men’s in S-XL.

Community & charitable giving:

Pact’s Give Back. Wear Forward clothing donation program takes gently used clothes of any brand and donates them to various non-profits, which give them to people in need.

Toad&Co

Toad&Co has not been rated.

About Toad&Co.

Price Range: $45—$60

For some toad-ally sustainable, adventure-ready tees, you can rely on women-founded brand Toad&Co. You’ll find short sleeve and long-sleeve styles in various classic cuts, including crews, henleys, polos, v-necks, ruffled cap-sleeved tees, and tanks.

Toad&Co.’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

Toad&Co. uses several sustainable materials for its environmentally friendly t-shirts, including organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, hemp, and recycled polyester. Some styles are blended with 5-12% elastane for added stretch and many fabrics are OEKO-TEX-certified and bluesign® approved.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Toad&Co.’s manufacturing partners must adhere to its Code of Conduct, and the brand carries out annual visits to ensure standards are upheld. Factories are carefully chosen for their environmental and social practices; e.g., their partner in Turkey has recently converted nearly the whole factory to renewable energy.

Toad&Co. also co-founded the Planet Access Company, a nonprofit that provides employment opportunties to individuals with disabilities.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

The brand aims to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050. It currrently offsets the emissions for its direct operations and uses LED lighting at its headquarters. They use recycled and recyclable packaging, are transitioning to recyclable paper garment bags, and offer resuable shipping mailers at checkout.

The ToadAgain resale platform helps keep clothing out of landfill.

Inclusivity:

The brand offers it’s eco t-shirts in sizes XS-XL for women and S-XXL for men.

Community & charitable giving:

Toad&Co. supports environmental and social nonprofits via it’s 1% for the Planet membership. They also regularly take part in volunteer work days, and their Search for Adventure program provides travel opportunities for adults with disabilities.

My Personal Review of Toad&Co’s Marley II Long Sleeve Tee:

“I sampled the Marley II Long Sleeve Tee, and it’s such a solid, sustainable piece. It has an elegant, gentle V-neck, which means I can wear it both for casual activities and for work, and the super soft organic cotton/TENCEL blend feels silky-smooth. It’s perfect for layering when it’s cooler or wearing on its own when it’s warm, earning itself a spot in my go-bag for all kinds of adventures.”

Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content

My Personal Review of Toad&Co’s Ponderosa Long Sleeve Henley:

“The loose-fitting Ponderosa Henley is just what I need for fall here in Wyoming. Mornings are freezing, and by noon, it’s roasting! This shirt has a ribbed design that’s super breathable, and the lyocell blend makes it feel almost silky—so comfy to wear. Perfect for those crazy temperature swings!”

Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester

Allbirds

Allbirds has not been rated.

About Allbirds

Price Range: $25—$50

We are all about Allbirds. The active-oriented ethical brand is one of our go-to’s for sustainable running shoes, sustainable socks, and functional basics like short and long-sleeve tees.

For its sustainable softness and simplicity, their Women’s Organic Cotton Tee is a wardrobe essential. It features a crew neck and classic fit and comes in Natural Black, Blizzard (white), or limited edition Deep Navy.

Allbirds’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices

Materials:

In addition to those made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, Allbird also offers long and short-sleeve tees made from a 50% Organic Cotton, 30% Merino Wool, and 20% Tencel™ Lyocell blend.

Their Recycled Tees are made from 50% recycled cotton and 50% recycled polyester.

Supply chain & labor practices:

Allbirds ethically sources wool from non-mulesed sheep in New Zealand. Note, however, that while the product description for their shoes states that ZQ-certified wool is used, the product description for their tees doesn’t, so we’re unsure where this wool is sourced from.

The Certified B Corp’s ethical t-shirts are made in Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico. Manufacturing partners are committed to their Code of Conduct, ensuring workers are treated fairly and with dignity.

Carbon commitments & green practices:

Allbirds is a Carbon Neutral company and every product description includes the accounted-for carbon footprint of the garment. They use recyclable packaging made from 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard.

Inclusivity:

Both women’s and men’s tees run from XS to XXXL, except for the graphic tees, which run from XS to XL.

Community & charitable giving:

Partnering with Soles4Souls allows you to ethically return your sustainable shirt (although you probably won’t want to). They’ll distribute it and any other gently-used garments to those who need them most.