Summer is finally here! And to get you ready, we’ve rounded up a solid list of gear you’ll need to have your best summer yet. Even better, each of these companies makes the world a little better every time you buy a product.

S’well bottles

S’well bottles are reusable water bottles that look great and do good. These bottles support the Tap Project for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, donating more than $200,000 to help provide clean water to children across the world. S’well also partners with American Forests and Drink Up.

A photo posted by S'well Bottle (@swellbottle) on

This high-tech bottle is made of stainless steel and will keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours. Hydrate happy with the knowledge that for every purchase, S’well helps provide clean water to those who need it the most.

Roma boots

The weather isn’t going to be warm and sunny every day, so rainboots are a good investment for summer storms. These boots will give you something to feel good about, even on gray days. Roma rain boots are “giving poverty the boot.” For every pair of boots purchased, Roma Boots will donate a pair of boots to a child in need. Additionally, 10 percent of every purchase is given to educational initiatives around the world.

Panda sunglasses

For the days the sun does shine, panda sunglasses are the perfect accessory. 

These sunglasses are sustainably handcrafted from bamboo plants and aim to create minimal waste. In addition to being eco-friendly, for every pair of glasses sold Panda has partnered with Optometry Giving Sight so that every pair purchased gives someone in need the gift of sight.

Panda also designs and sells bamboo watches that provide educations to children around the world for each purchase in partnership with Pencils of Promise.

La Isla swimwear

La Isla is a high-end swimsuit company that has been featured in Sports Illustrated, VOGUE, InStyle and more.

These swimsuits are made of 50 percent recycled PET materials to promote innovation and sustainability. La Isla also has partnerships with nonprofits, including Ocean Futures Society and Children of Americas, donating a portion of the proceeds from every sale to these organizations.

The La Isla website is hosted with 100 percent solar energy and for La Isla t-shirt purchased the company will give a tee to someone in need.  


Sseko sandals

Sseko sandals come in a variety of colors and designs, all handcrafted in Uganda. 

Sseko began as a way to provide alternate sources of income to women struggling in developing countries to attend university. Each woman who has gone through Sseko is currently pursuing a college degree or has graduated from a university.

They also partner with organizations in Kenya and Ethiopia who help produce Sseko leather goods as a source of income.

Boll & Branch beach towels

Boll & Branch implements ethical practices across their supply chain. They source their cotton to create the best products while remaining fair to the farmers that grow it. Boll & Branch beach towels allow you to “make a difference even on the laziest of beach days.” By partnering with Not For Sale, this company works to address the root causes of exploitation and end human trafficking. Every set of sheets, throws or towels purchased provides one night of safety to people living in vulnerable communities.

Everlane clothes

Fill your closet with all of the basic pieces you’ll need this summer. Everlane seeks out the most ethical factories around the world and source their clothing there. They also require workplace compliance paperwork to ensure the best conditions for employees.

In addition to providing ethical work environments, Everlane believes in transparency. Each article of clothing reveals the true cost of production listed next to the markup.

Though they don’t donate products for every purchase, you can rest easy knowing that your new shirt and jeans were produced with the highest ethical standards in mind.

A photo posted by Everlane (@everlane) on

How To

Defend the Planet

The Global Citizen guide to ethical summer shopping

By Krista Watson