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person wearing swimsuit from natasha tonic
04 Jun
person wearing swimsuit from natasha tonic

The Ultimate Guide to More Ethical and Sustainable Swimwear

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If you’re ready to give your swimwear drawer a responsible overhaul, we’ve got you covered with “Good” and “Great” rated swimwear brands from around the world.

Swimwear needs to check a few boxes. It must be comfortable, look great, dry quickly, hold up against being soaked in chlorine and saltwater, depending on where you’re swimming. While it can be tempting to grab a few new trendy bikini sets or a couple of flashy one-pieces every year as the warm weather rolls around, there is something to be said for supporting more sustainable swimwear brands that create timeless, flattering, and responsibly made pieces that will take you from the pool to the beach and back again for years to come.

The fabric situation for swimwear

Unfortunately, swimwear is often made with harmful synthetic fabrics like virgin nylon, polyester, and spandex. While they are good for practicality, they are bad news for the planet since they’re plastic-based materials. Then there is the issue of microfibre release when washing, which you can read more about in our helpful guide.

Luckily, these more sustainable swimwear brands are stepping up and incorporating lower impact materials such as ECONYL, hemp, and recycled nylon into their collections.

Read on to discover the more sustainable swimwear brands we’ve found from around the world.

USA and Canada

Natasha Tonic

Rated: Good
red and white striped eco-friendly bikini by Natasha Tonic

Swimwear made out of hemp? Yes please. For decades, swimsuits have been made out of polyester, which is non-biodegradable and bad for the skin. Natasha Tonic’s hemp swimwear fabric is based around a unique, natural hemp fibre that is antimicrobial, UV resistant, durable, and a healthier choice for your skin and our oceans. Even better, each piece is slightly different since they're printed by hand, allowing for each sustainable bikini to be tailored for the most gorgeous you! Find sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Natasha Tonic.

Vitamin A

Rated: Good
woman smiling on sand wearing sustainable swimwear by Vitamin A

Made locally in California, Vitamin A’s collections of swimwear and loungewear use a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including recycled nylon. The brand also uses a waterless process to print its designs with, reducing its chemical and water usage.

Find the pieces in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Vitamin A.

SEPTEMBER

Rated: Good
two images of person in bikini by September

SEPTEMBER was created by passionate surfer and designer, Erika Seiko Togashi, who noticed the lack of timeless, elegant, and more sustainable surf and swimwear in the industry. Founded on modernist design principles, pieces are made using luxury Italian recycled fabrics in a small, female owned factory in Bali, delivering high-performing, timeless classics made fairly.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop SEPTEMBER.

Patagonia

Rated: Good

Patagonia is a brand that truly lives and breathes the great outdoors. It makes clothing for trail running, climbing, mountain biking, surfing, skiing, and snowboarding. Patagonia has "Good" labour practices, and uses recycled, rather than virgin, polyester. It has also committed to reducing its energy use and emissions.

The brand stocks sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Patagonia @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Patagonia Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Patagonia second hand @ Retykle.

Shop Patagonia.

LONDRĖ

Rated: Great
Modern white ethical bikini top by LONDRE

LONDRĖ is a Canadian minimalist swimwear brand making pieces from recycled plastic bottles sourced from the streets and beaches of Taiwan. Water used in the brand’s process is reused and recycled. It also works to raise awareness and funds for women's health and environmental initiatives, having donated over $10,000 to organisations such as Amazon Watch and the Yellow Hammer Fund.

Find the range in sizes XS-5XL.

See the rating.

Shop LONDRĖ.

Outerknown

Rated: Good
Kelly Slater wearing blue Outerknown surf trunks.

Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a more responsible brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. The brand is Bluesign certified and has partnered with the Fair Labour Association.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Outerknown.

Sage Larock

Rated: Good

Made in-house by a small team in LA, more sustainable luxury brand Sage Larock produces timeless swimwear and activewear that is sure to turn heads. Its stunning pieces are made from an Italian recycled plastic fabric that is high-quality and long-lasting—and a percentage of profits from each sale goes to support marine conservation non-profits.

Sage Larock stocks sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Sage Larock.

Reformation

Rated: Good

LA-based Reformation creates killer clothes that don’t kill the environment. The brand ensures that a proportion of its suppliers pay a living wage, and provides training to its suppliers to improve working conditions for workers in its supply chain.

Its range is available in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Reformation @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Reformation Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Reformation @ Farfetch.

Shop Reformation.

Araks

Rated: Good

Araks is a lingerie, swimwear, and sleepwear brand that offers delicate pieces made from luxurious Italian fabrics.

Find pieces in sizes 2XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Araks.

Shop Araks @ Rêve en Vert.

Australia and New Zealand

Spell

Rated: Good

Spell is an Australian fashion brand inspired by far-off places, vintage treasures, and childhood memories. Its clothes are proudly designed and sampled in Byron Bay, and produced responsibly in factories around the world.

Most garments are available in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Spell.

SNDSTNE

Rated: Good

SNDSTNE is an Australian-made swim and resort wear brand. Its pieces are made from a soft luxury recycled plastic fabric.

The range is available in AU sizes 6-16.

See the rating.

Shop SNDSTNE.

peony

Rated: Good
black woman wearing green sustainable swimwear by peony

peony is a luxury swimwear brand that creates consciously from recycled and lower-impact fabrics. The Australian brand's factories are certified by Social Accountability International - SA8000, and it traces most of its supply chain.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop peony.

Europe and the UK

ColieCo

Rated: Great
two images of woman in red paloma bikini set

Being recognised for their uniquely fun, simple, and striking designs is as important to ColieCo as their commitments to the environment. ColieCo was born with a vow to prove that more ethical and sustainable underwear could still be fun, adventurous, and affordable. They create responsibly-made lingerie, underwear, and swimwear in an in-house studio in Portugal, exclusively from more sustainably-sourced fabrics.

Find your new set in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ColieCo.

NIKIN

Rated: Good

If you’re the kind of person who likes to wear their morals, look no further than Swiss brand NIKIN. Not only is a tree planted every time you purchase a NIKIN product, you also get to show your tree pride.

Products are available in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop NIKIN.

Anekdot

Rated: Good
two images of person in merlot/lin bikini from Anekdot

Anekdot is a clothing brand that offers more sustainable designer underwear, swimwear, and loungewear handmade in Berlin. They create exquisite intimates upcycling materials from production leftovers, deadstock, and vintage trimmings giving them a new chance to be enjoyed in the process creating limited edition products.

Find most products in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Anekdot.

Shop Anekdot @ Shop Like You Give a Damn.

CASAGiN

Rated: Good
woman wearing sustainable teal singlet by ethical brand CasaGIN

Italian brand CASAGiN designs apparel for those looking to foster a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle in their closet and beyond.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop CASAGiN.

Organic Basics

Rated: Good
woman of colour wearing ochre recycled plastic bikini

Organic Basics offers high-quality more sustainable fashion basics for men and women in organic materials. The Denmark-based brand puts sustainable thinking at the centre of everything—it only chooses fabrics that care for our environment, and only ever partners with factories that care about their impact. Its swimwear range is made from recycled plastic from oceans and landfills.

Organic Basics’ clothes are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Organic Basics.

Bluebuck

Rated: Good
Someone in underwear by more responsible French brand, Bluebuck.

Bluebuck is a French menswear label with a playful, adventurous spirit born out of a love of nature, specialising in technical menswear basics and swimwear designed to last. The brand produces locally to minimise the brand’s impacts and uses better materials like GOTS certified cotton and recycled marine plastic.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Bluebuck.

Kampos

Rated: Good

Seahorse Swimshorts – Ships internationally from Italy

Kampos is a luxurious Italian brand that believes in creating a world with integrity and conscience now and for future generations. The brand aims to raise awareness of over-fishing and marine pollution and offers consumers unique pieces that are made of recycled plastic bottles, fishing nets, and other lower-impact organic fabrics.

Find most products in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Kampos.

Underprotection

Rated: Good

Underprotection is a Danish brand combining ethics and aesthetics, creating underwear, loungewear, and swimwear from lower-impact materials like organic cotton. All of its packaging, paper, and polybags are either recycled or biodegradable, and it only works with certified factories as it believes “fair working conditions and fair wages are human rights”. Underprotection exists to celebrate women of all kinds, and its goal is to make them feel as beautiful and comfortable as possible.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Underprotection.

ASKET

Rated: Good

The Swim Shorts – Ships internationally from Sweden

ASKET has been creating timeless wardrobe essentials since 2015 with revolutionary sizing and fair pricing. The brand disregards seasonal collections, cuts out all the middlemen, and only sells directly to you—putting its entire focus on building a single permanent collection.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ASKET.

Rest of the world

Loop Swim

Rated: Good

Founded by two women from the US and India and headquartered in Shanghai, Loop Swim is a brand on a mission to close the loop on waste and promote circular design. It transforms post-consumer plastic bottles into phenomenal REPREVE UP50+ sun protective swimwear for men, women, and kids. Its trendless, high-quality designs are developed to retain shape and colour swim after swim.

Find most items in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Loop Swim.

Looking for more swimwear inspiration? Have a look at our favourite sustainable bikinis

Editor's note

Feature image via Natasha Tonić, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

We updated this article on 22 May 2025. Our editors frequently make updates to articles to ensure they're up to date. We refreshed our selection of brands.

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