Welcome to InsideHook’s Staff Picks, a compendium of all the things our editors have been digging on recently. In honor of Earth Day (April 22), we’re featuring items from our favorite brands that are dedicated to saving the planet.
W&P Design Porter Straw
Plastic straws are a menace and paper straws are b.s., but we know everything tastes better with a straw. (Beer with a straw: Try it!) So what are you gonna do? W&P created the Mason Shaker and pretty much every cool ice cube tray I own, so if I’m thinking of packing my own straws, I’ll go with the brand’s plated, rustproof stainless numbers, available in both 5″ and 10″ variations. It’s part of a just-launched larger line of bowls, dishes and containers that aim to end single-use plastics. — Kirk Miller, Nation Editor/Managing Editor
United By Blue Hoy Short
Love it or probably hate it, Philadelphia does have one saving grace: the noble work of local outdoor outfitter United By Blue. The company opened up shop in Philly in 2010, and has spent the last decade making all sorts of high-quality gear (comfy tees, durable totes), while doing their part for the planet. They remove one pound of trash from our oceans, rivers and streams for every product sold; to this point, they’ve removed over 1.6 million pounds. I’m a huge fan of the Hoy Short, which I wore for kayaking and biergarten-ing and all sorts of summer fun last year. Weather permitting, I’ll have ’em out again in the next couple weeks. — Tanner Garrity, Associate Editor
Outerknown S.E.A. Pocket Tee
This is a T-shirt. It can only be so amazing, but by golly, it gets the job done. It’s comfy and soft while still maintaining its shape. It has a chest pocket that you may put things in if you’re so inclined. It doesn’t shrink all that much when you wash it, hopefully with environmentally friendly detergent. It’s from Outerknown, a company that is super down with the environment and produces these tees through a sustainable process that uses 90% less water than traditional manufacturing methods. Which is huge, because water is the essence of moisture and moisture is the essence of wetness and wetness is the essence of beauty. — Eli London, Director of Partnerships and User Acquisition
Bürstenhaus Redecker Brushes
Not all eco-friendly companies were founded in the last five years by bright-eyed millennials with good graphic design sense. Case in point: Redecker, which has been handcrafting all manner of household brushes in Germany since 1935. They’ve got pot and pan brushes, vegetable brushes, bottle brushes even toilet brushes, all made of natural ingredients. When they’re worn out, simply remove any metal bits (and recycle at appropriate facilities), then put the rest in your personal compost pile or curbside compost bin. And while it’s a little counterproductive, you can buy them all on Amazon. — Alex Lauer, Senior Editor
Stripe Denim 6-Panel
I really like Noah. I like the name, I like that the people behind it obviously grew up skateboarding and going to punk shows and I like their whole vibe. They donate to non-profits they like, they hate Black Friday and their mission states that their “clothes are made in countries, mills and factories where tradition, expertise and human dignity take precedence over the bottom line.” That, and their stuff is always pretty dope. Their 100 percent cotton, Japanese denim blue striped hat is my go-to this summer. — Jason Diamond, Features Editor
Get Together Mini Bluetooth Speaker by House of Marley
What’s the only thing missing from your metal straw-sipping, eco-friendly napkin-using, 100% recyclable outdoor party? A bluetooth speaker that makes you feel like Captain Planet. This one by House of Marley features a bamboo faceplate, two 2.5″ woofers, and two .75″ tweeters to capture low and high frequency sound, a Bluetooth Wireless range of nearly 50 feet and up to 10 hours of playtime. It’s made out of recycled plastic and up-cycled hemp, plus the company plants a tree every time an item of theirs is sold. — Ariel Scotti, Senior Editor
Cotopaxi Fuego Vest
Want to dress like a finance bro but missed the boat on the Patagonia-branded versions the company will no longer produce. No, you don’t. You really, really don’t. Instead, take a vested interest in the Fuego from Cotopaxi. Filled with RDS-certified goose down, the Fuego is water-resistant and warm without being bulky. Boasting mini-ripstop nylon lining on the interior, the vest has a pair of hidden stash pockets which can come in handy depending on the local marijuana laws. You can also feel good about your buy as Cotopaxi allocates 1% of its annual revenue to a foundation that strives to defeat poverty by donating grant money to nonprofits. — Evan Bleier, Staff Writer
MiiR 750ml Wine Bottle
You know what’s not good for the environment? Drinking outdoors and accidentally dropping your full bottle of wine, spewing shattered glass all over for some innocent woodland creature to cut its cute, tiny paw on. Now I believe every person has a right to get drunk in the great outdoors, but in an eco-friendly manner, which is why I invested in a bottle to keep my alcohol, and the planet, safe. This reusable 750ml Wine Bottle from MiiR holds a full bottle of wine, is BPA-free, designed with Thermo 3D vacuum insulation (so no spillage), and keeps it at your preferred temperature. The company specializes in reusable bottles, cups and mugs to cut down on single-use plastic, and gives 3% of its revenue to organizations with sustainable methods of empowerment. And for every purchase, you’ll receive a trackable code that tells you of the project you helped fund, so now you can feel good about blacking out in the woods. — Logan Mahan, Editorial Intern
Patagonia Organic Cotton Quilt Pullover
Really? No one’s going to recommend something from Patagonia? The same Patagonia that literally makes clothes from 100% recycled materials? The same Patagonia whose only TV ad in history was a rallying cry to protect public lands? The same Patagonia that once built a Craigslist for environmental activism? The same Patagonia that not only donates 1% of their proceeds to the planet, but actively proselytizes other brands to do the same? Patagonia might be the rarest company on earth: a massive corporation that cares more about its people and the world than it does its bottom line. Buy more Patagonia. Especially this quilted pullover, which kicks ass. –Walker Loetscher, Editor in Chief
Nota bene: If you buy through the links in this article, InsideHook may earn a small share of the profits.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
