The convenience of shopping on Amazon is unlike any other e-commerce marketplace. With a wide range of products, free and fast shipping options, and an easy return policy, their customer service is unparalleled. As ecommerce gained popularity with customers, sites like Amazon (such as Bestbuy, AliExpress, Barnes & Noble and Target) joined the race to get a bite out of the pie.
Customers are choosing to buy with the most convenient, timely service available, which often comes at the cost of the environment. If you are looking for eco-friendly Amazon alternatives, then we’ve got you covered.
When we talk about eco-friendly, there are so many different things that can be important to each consumer. For some, animal products being cruelty-free is important, while for others the use of recycled materials and compostable packaging can affect the choice of buying from the brand. In this article, we have a list of eco friendly Amazon alternatives that have been sorted by different categories as described below:
What is covered in this article
- 7 zero-waste Amazon alternatives for sustainable shopping
- 11 Amazon alternatives that are organic & fair trade
- 8 vegan Amazon alternatives to reduce animal cruelty
- 7 Amazon alternatives that use recyclable & compostable packaging
- 6 Amazon alternatives which use recycled materials to make their product
- 11 other eco-friendly Amazon alternatives to do your part for the planet
- What makes an online store eco-friendly?
Let’s jump right into it so that you can begin your transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle that will help the planet become greener and waste-free.
7 zero-waste Amazon alternatives for sustainable shopping
It is mind boggling to think about the amount of waste that each household throws away every year. Whether it’s plastic bags, food waste, or old clothes, it all goes into landfills, resulting in huge amounts of waste. Here are a few zero-waste brands that you can shop from for your home.
1. Wild Minimalist
Image Credit: Wild Minimalist
What They Sell: Household Essentials
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Find affordable and modern minimalist living products
Has Subscription: No
Wild Minimalist promotes a zero-waste living lifestyle with sustainable best quality products. All products come in compostable packaging to limit their environmental footprint.
2. WEARTH London
Image Credit: WEARTH London
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Home | Beauty
Ships To: UK
Best Feature: Products are locally made
Has Subscription: No
WEARTH London is an online marketplace that sells high quality eco-friendly and ethical home products that are zero-waste, organic, and vegan. They also give their customers the option to refill their containers, thereby reducing the need to use new packaging.
3. Rêve En Vert
Image Credit: Rêve En Vert
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Beauty
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: All products are zero-waste, non-toxic, and made with recycled materials
Has Subscription: No
Rêve En Vert is a luxury platform for sustainable living committed to bettering the world through its fashion and lifestyle marketplace. This online marketplace only features designers who operate with respect for people and the planet.
4. Zero
Image Credit: Zero
What They Sell: Groceries
Ships To: San Francisco
Best Feature: Packaging is refillable and reusable that can be picked up from your home
Has Subscription: No
Zero is a San Francisco based plastic-free grocery delivery service that focuses on selling pantry and home essentials in refillable containers.
5. Azura Bay
Image Credit: Azura Bay
What They Sell: Apparel
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Fair trade certified, sustainable, and upcycled fabric are used
Has Subscription: No
Azura Bay is a curated collection of comfortable and conscious lingerie, PJs, and loungewear from ethical bras that use eco-friendly fabrics and a zero-waste production process as much as possible.
6. Loop
Image Credit: Loop
What They Sell: Household Essentials | Groceries | Beauty | Personal Care
Ships To: USA | UK
Best Feature: Reusable and refillable packaging that can be picked up by Loop
Has Subscription: No
Loop sells eco-friendly products that are packaged in reusable, refillable containers that can be picked up by Loop so that there is no wastage in packaging.
7. OXFAM
Image Credit: OXFAM
What They Sell: Apparel | Books | Toys
Ships To: UK
Best Feature: Most items are donated
Has Subscription: No
OXFAM is a global organization that works towards multiple causes such as eradicating poverty, educating children, and helping people make a living. As a customer of OXFAM you can donate items from your home that can be used by someone who requires it and also buy pre-loved items from their website. OXFAM makes sure that none of their products go into landfills.
10 Amazon alternatives that are organic & fair trade
While consuming less mass produced items and supporting and buying from small businesses and artisans is the way to go, it’s important to note who is behind making these goods for us, what goes into making them, and if they are paid fairly for their workmanship. The following brands listed are fair trade certified and only use organic materials to make their products.
1. ACCOMPANY
Image Credit: ACCOMPANY
What They Sell: Home Furnishings | Decor | Accessories
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Globally-curated and handmade artisanal products
Has Subscription: No
ACCOMPANY is a marketplace that curates modern, cool, and one of a kind products. These are filtered through a range of styles to create unique boutiques that contain an eclectic mix of cultures and a well edited point of view.
2. arbors teas
Image Credit: arbors teas
What They Sell: Tea | Coffee | Gift items
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Educate their customers on different types of tea and their origin
Has Subscription: No
Arbors teas is a family run business selling high quality organically grown tea that is fair trade certified and comes in compostable packaging. Their passion towards tea and its origin drives them to create free resources and events that you attend, details of which are available on their website.
3. Tentree
Image Credit: Tentree
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories
Ships To: USA | Canada | UK | France | Germany
Best Feature: For every product you purchase, Tentree plants 10 trees
Has Subscription: No
Tentree is a brand that sells sustainable essentials that are made with the smallest environmental footprint, without compromising on style and design. With each purchase, you get a unique tree code where you can track the status of your tree.
4. Dunitz & Company
Image Credit: Dunitz & Company
What They Sell: Jewelry
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Great quality raw material used to make their products
Has Subscription: No
Fair trade jewelry made from new and recycled materials, made using fair trade practices in Guatemala. Dunitz & Company employs over 100 men and women in the country who create unique pieces of jewelry and other wearables with fused-glass, beads, vintage coins, ribbons, and leather.
5. Equal Exchange
Image Credit: Equal Exchange
What They Sell: Coffee | Tea | Chocolate | Nuts
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: You can buy Equal Exchange CDs (Certificate of Deposits) to support the cause
Has Subscription: No
Equal Exchange is a platform selling fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, and other gift items sourced from 40 small farmer organizations in Africa, Latin America, and the United States.
6. fair trade Winds
Image Credit: fair trade Winds
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Stationery | Kitchen | Dining
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: A significant percentage of the purchase goes directly to the artisans and farmers who created it
Has Subscription: No
Fair trade Winds is a family business that supports small companies and artisan communities. They believe in fair pay and fair trade, practicing this in their own business.
7. INDIGENOUS
Image Credit: INDIGENOUS
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: 15% off first purchase
Has Subscription: No
INDIGENOUS works with artisans and sources fair trade organic clothing that doesn’t use hazardous chemicals and waste in its production process.
8. Made Trade
Image Credit: Made Trade
What They Sell: Home Decor | Furniture | Apparel | Shoes | Accessories
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Pay later with Klarna
Has Subscription: No
Made Trade was born to bring the work of artisans and makers across the world to one platform. The organization is 100% female-owned, and these women have the opportunity to showcase products made using traditional art forms that are in decline or in danger of being lost forever. The ‘Shop by Value’ feature on the website lets you shop by the virtue that means the most to you.
9. natural collection
Image Credit: natural collection
What They Sell: Apparel | Household Essentials | Groceries
Ships To: UK
Best Feature: Earn 10 reward points on every £1
Has Subscription: No
Natural collection is a UK-based online marketplace selling ethically made products in categories such as fashion, home and garden, home furnishings, beauty, and babies. The website has a ‘Shop by Ethics’ feature that allows you to select brands that represent values that are important to you (such as fair trade, organic, production method, country, and ingredients used).
10. pact
Image Credit: pact
What They Sell: Apparel | Home Furnishings
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Shop and donate your old clothes in the same shipping box that is sent to non-profits
Has Subscription: No
All products are made with organic cotton that saves vast amounts of water and uses no toxic chemicals. Pact is fair trade certified and provides safe working conditions, empowering and uplifting local communities.
11. Maggie’s ORGANICS
Image Credit: Maggie’s Organics
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Home Furnishings
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Uses certified organic fibers, purchased directly from growers
Has Subscription: No
Maggie’s ORGANICS is a US based company with the manufacturing units set up in North Carolina and Alabama, selling products with a focus on ethically sourced organic material.
8 vegan Amazon alternatives to reduce animal cruelty
The following brands demonstrate the importance of not testing products on animals because they believe it’s unethical and cruel. The ingredients that are used in making their products are 100% vegan. If this is important to you, then take your pick.
1. ethical superstore
Image Credit: ethical superstore
What They Sell: Groceries | Home & Garden | Beauty | Babies & Toys | Pet supplies
Ships To: UK
Best Feature: Products are fair trade labelled, organic certified, and cruelty-free
Has Subscription: No
Ethical superstore is on a mission to help their customers make good choices about what they buy when it comes to shopping. With their wide range of eco-friendly products in every category they strive to inspire their users to live a healthy and full lifestyle and enjoy the fruits of the positive choices that they make. Unlike other marketplaces, ethical superstore prominently features customer reviews so buyers can shop with confidence.
2. GREENBEAUTY MARKET
Image Credit: GREENBEAUTY MARKET
What They Sell: Skincare | Haircare | Cleaning Essentials
Ships To: Europe | USA | Canada
Best Feature: Free shipping on orders above €150
Has Subscription: No
GREENBEAUTY MARKET is an online marketplace selling clean beauty products for your skin, hair, and home. They have a very strict screening process that only allows natural and vegan products to be sold on their platform, so you can buy with confidence.
3. PLANET ORGANIC
Image Credit: PLANET ORGANIC
What They Sell: Household Essentials | Groceries
Ships To: UK
Best Feature: Packaging comes in wool liners that keep food and drinks chilled for 72 hours
Has Subscription: No
PLANET ORGANIC is a large organic supermarket chain which stocks vegan and organic food, including meats, personal care, and products to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle. Packaging is eco-friendly and can be returned at the store for reuse.
4. DoneGood
Image Credit: DoneGood
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Home & kitchenware | Beauty & Skincare
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Get discount codes on sign up
Has Subscription: No
Done Good is an online marketplace for social enterprises to sell their products that are produced naturally. They call themselves ‘The Amazon of social good’ as they scour the earth to find ethical and sustainable brands that do good for people, animals, and the planet.
5. Lush
Image Credit: Lush
What They Sell: Beauty & Skincare
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Naked packaging
Has Subscription: No
With over 250 stores in North America, Lush is a handmade beauty and skincare brand that uses the freshest ingredients that are sourced ethically. Their products are 100% vegetarian and they do not support animal testing of their products.
6. credo
Image Credit: credo
What They Sell: Skincare products
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Get 3 free samples with every purchase over $50
Has Subscription: No
Credo is one of the largest clean beauty retailers on the planet with stores across the USA. None of the 2700 banned ingredients from ‘The Dirty List’ are used to make their products. They are partnered with more than 130 brands to rethink what goes into products, onto your skin, and down the drain.
7. elate Cosmetics
Image Credit: elate Cosmetics
What They Sell: Skincare
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Create your personal capsule based on your skin type and lifestyle
Has Subscription: No
Elate Cosmetics is a vegan and cruelty-free cosmetic brand that focuses on conscious beauty principles with authenticity, transparency, and trust. If you are new to clean beauty, elate Cosmetics allows you to purchase Sample Kits that come with 5 shades that are close to your skin tone that you can buy for as low as $12.
8. the detox market
Image Credit: the detox market
What They Sell: Skincare
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Very high standard of what gets approved on their brand list
Has Subscription: No
The detox market is an online marketplace that focuses on curating green beauty products that users can feel safe and confident about purchasing and using. They have six stores across the USA and Canada.
7 Amazon alternatives that use recyclable & compostable packaging
While online shopping is extremely convenient, popular methods produce a significant amount of waste due to packaging alone. Here is a list of websites that are extremely conscious about the way they ship the environmentally conscious products that they sell, thereby truly exhibiting eco-friendly ethos.
1. eTee
Image Credit: eTee
What They Sell: Personal care | Cleaning Essentials
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Educate on how to use every plastic-free product and their impact
Has Subscription: No
eTee products are all made with 100% biodegradable, natural materials. eTee believes that every ingredient on the inside and the packaging on the outside must come from the earth and should go back into the earth.
2. EarthHero
Image Credit: EarthHero
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Hone | Beauty | Personal care | Audio & Technology | Pet supplies
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Earn EarthHero rewards
Has Subscription: No
EarthHero is an eco-friendly online marketplace which sources products that are manufactured and shipped in a way that protects the environment with product usability and convenience kept in mind. They also let you pay later with Afterpay, increasing convenience.
3. Eco Roots
Image Credit: Eco Roots
What They Sell: Home & Kitchen | Bath & Skincare
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: They donate 1% of their annual earnings towards sustainability initiatives
Has Subscription: No
Eco Roots focuses on selling high quality, affordable, everyday products to help reduce waste. All their products are shipped plastic-free and their shipping materials are 100% recyclable and compostable.
4. the wally shop
Image Credit: the wally shop
What They Sell: Groceries | Cleaning Essentials | Personal care
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Everything comes in reusable packaging that can be returned so that customers can partake in their sustainable, closed loop-system
Has Subscription: No
The wally shop is a zero-waste store that cares deeply about sustainability. In order to be sustainable, they source the highest quality products and provide 100% waste-free packaging. All products are organic, fair trade, non-gmo, and are sourced in bulk to keep costs down.
5. Well Earth Goods
Image Credit: Well Earth Goods
What They Sell: Groceries
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: They have a Scratch & Dent Discount Bin where they sell products that are not perfect but are still usable
Has Subscription: No
Well Earth Goods strives to sell quality products that are made using sustainable resources that minimize waste. In order to help keep the earth well, they support a minimalist and waste-free lifestyle.
6. Know the Origins
Image Credit: Know the Origins
What They Sell: Apparel | Beauty | Female Hygiene | Household Essentials
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Transparency about what you buy and where it comes from
Has Subscription: No
Know the Origins believes in being transparent about what you are buying and how and where their products come from. They list unique products such as fair trade and vegan Quinoa Vodka, compostable iPhone covers, dustpans, and brush sets with magnets.
7. PACKAGE FREE
Image Credit: PACKAGE FREE
What They Sell: Home | Beauty | Personal care
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Sign up to receive 20% off across all products
Has Subscription: No
PACKAGE FREE is an online hub for low-waste and plastic-free living that collaborates with brands that make innovative products to make this a reality. On their website, you can find conveniently designed ‘Kits’ that lets you shop products as a bundle.
6 Amazon alternatives which use recycled materials to make their product
If you think using reclaimed and recycled materials to make products is important, this list is for you. It also contains marketplaces where you can buy and sell second hand or pre-loved items, as this gives people an opportunity to declutter (and make some money doing it!).
1. uncommon goods
Image Credit: uncommon goods
What They Sell: Home & kitchenware | Jewelry | Beauty | Personal Care
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: One of a kind products and uncommon experiences that connect users via shared interests
Has Subscription: No
Uncommon goods is an online marketplace connecting artisans and shoppers who are looking for truly unique goods. All products are made with unusual, reclaimed, or recycled materials with the purpose of solving a problem.
2. ThredUp
Image Credit: ThredUp
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Sell your never- or lightly-used apparel and accessories
Has Subscription: No
ThredUp is a one-stop thrifting destination allowing customers to constantly refresh their style while creating less waste. Customers can shop from the ‘Rescues’ section to get a mixed bag of clothing and accessories.
3. For Days
Image Credit: For Days
What They Sell: Apparel
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: SWAP program allows users to swap out anything, anytime, for any reason
Has Subscription: No
For Days a clothing brand that is committed to producing 100% recyclable high quality and sustainable apparel for men and women. Their products are shipped with compostable packaging to reduce waste.
4. Life without Plastic
Image Credit: Life without Plastic
What They Sell: Bags | Cutlery | Lunch bags
Ships To: USA | Canada | Europe
Best Feature: They have a retail and wholesale option
Has Subscription: No
Life without Plastic is a Canadian zero-waste living platform that sells food containers, lunch bags, and cutlery that are plastic-free and can be reused.
5. Poshmark
Image Credit: Poshmark
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Beauty
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: More than 1000+ luxury brands
Has Subscription: No
Poshmark is one of the leading social marketplaces for new and pre-loved apparel and accessories for your home.
6. Organic Basics
Image Credit: Organic Basics
What They Sell: Apparels
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Minimalist and basic design
Has Subscription: No
Organic Basics uses natural, renewable, recycled, biodegradable and/or low impact textiles only. Products are built to last with a focus on simplicity and function in mind.
11 other eco-friendly Amazon alternatives to do your part for the planet
Here’s a list of some more eco-friendly alternatives that you can shop from guilt-free, in case you haven’t found one yet that you can relate to.
1. BLK + GRN
Image Credit: BLK + GRN
What They Sell: Beauty | Skincare
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: All natural ingredients
Has Subscription: No
BLK + GRN is an online marketplace that celebrates and features Black artisans products. All of the products chosen support natural lifestyles through high quality, toxic-free brands that share in their mission of health, wellness, and community cultivation.
2. Branch Basics
Image Credit: Branch Basics
What They Sell: Cleaning Essentials
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Plant and mineral based; no harmful preservatives
Has Subscription: No
Brand Basics makes safe and effective cleaning concentrates that work to remove dirt, grease, and grime. Products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and are not tested on animals.
3. freecycle
Image Credit: freecycle
What They Sell: All household items
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Give away things that you do not require for free
Has Subscription: No
The freecycle network is made up of more than 5,000 groups with over 9 million members spread across the world. Members from the same city or neighbourhood can connect with each other and swap or give away things for free that might be useful to someone else instead of adding it to the landfill.
4. Imperfect Foods
Image Credit: Imperfect Foods
What They Sell: Grocery box subscription
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Fully customizable grocery plans
Has Subscription: Yes, various plans based on your eating choices. Starting at $63/week
Imperfect Foods is a grocery subscription box that delivers your weekly groceries based on a few quick questions about you and your lifestyle. They are on a mission to eliminate food waste and build a better food supply system for everyone.
5. Leaf’d
Image Credit: Leaf’d
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Homeware | Skincare | Beauty | Health supplements
Ships To: USA | Canada
Best Feature: Sellers can list their eco-friendly products on Leaf’d at no monthly cost
Has Subscription: No
Leaf’d is an online marketplace that is leading the sustainability movement by protecting the environment, understanding social responsibility and economic practices. You can find products in all major categories made with recycled and upcycled materials.
6. MERCARI
Image Credit: MERCARI
What They Sell: All household items
Ships To: USA | Japan
Best Feature: All luxury brands are authenticated before listing
Has Subscription: No
Mercari is an online marketplace for selling vintage or preloved items allowing their users an opportunity to declutter. Customers can sell things that they haven’t used, never used, or simply outgrew. They offer same day delivery and at-home pickups.
7. PETIT VOUR
Image Credit: PETIT VOUR
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Beauty box subscriptions
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: Free gifts with every purchase
Has Subscription: Yes (optional) $18/box
Petit Vour claims to be the most convenient and affordable way to discover covetable, clean, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products.
8. Pildora NOW
Image Credit: Pildora NOW
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Skincare | Makeup
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: Fashion forward sustainable products for conscious people
Has Subscription: No
Pildora Now is an online community and marketplace for emerging sustainable fashion, accessories, and beauty brands. With a strong focus on environmental consciousness and social impact their goal is to eliminate the stigma associated with sustainable fashion and give designers the voice that they deserve.
9. Ocelot Market
Image Credit: Ocelot Market
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories | Home Furnishings
Ships To: USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia
Best Feature: Shop by country feature
Has Subscription: No
Ocelot Market was launched as a brand working with three artisan workshops in Thailand, Morocco, and Turkey, producing fashion forward shoes made by hand. Their mission to make a conscious consumer impact within these communities has had a significant impact, and they have expanded to sell apparel for men, women, and even home furnishings.
10. Ten Thousand Villages
Image Credit: Ten Thousand Villages
What They Sell: Home | Kitchenware | Wellness
Ships To: USA
Best Feature: 15% off on your first purchase
Has Subscription: No
Ten Thousand Villages is a maker-to-market model site selling ethically sourced homewares and accessories thereby empowering residents of ten thousand villages from 30 developing countries across the world.
11. We Dash Love
Image Credit: We Dash Love
What They Sell: Apparel | Accessories
Ships To: Multiple countries
Best Feature: 5% of the purchase price goes towards supporting charities
Has Subscription: No
We Dash Love is an Australian fashion marketplace that strives to be recognized as a conscious minded brand that supports the new generation of intelligent consumerism that chooses fair trade over fast trade. The brand focuses on ethical and sustainable fashion that is beautiful, minimalist, and trans-seasonal.
What makes an online store eco-friendly?
An online store can be called eco-friendly if the products that they sell are either plastic-free, or are made with recycled or upcycled materials, use compostable or zero-waste packaging and follow a production method that supports this. There are several eco-friendly stores that use vegan and organic materials to prepare their products and don’t support animal testing. A store can also be called eco-friendly if they follow fair trade and ethical manufacturing practices, thereby uplifting and empowering the communities in which they operate.
Eco-friendly online stores should:
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Focus on recyclable and compostable packaging
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Lean manufacturing methods that reduce wastage of raw materials
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Sell products that speak towards ethical and eco-friendly living
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Educate their customers how they can reuse and upcycle their purchases
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Create products with used/second hand material
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Reduce energy consumption in the production process
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Create quality products that are as efficient as they are eco-friendly
We hope that in our list of eco-friendly products you were able to find at least one or two brands that spoke to you and resonate the same values that you believe in. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for, be sure to check out our article on ethical Amazon Alternatives. It is the choices that we make today that will help create a better future for the next generation.
