Sustainable sports brands should be on your radar - 15 to invest in for a more conscious workout

Tree Flyer running trainer - £150 | Allbirds

USP? This is the lowest CO2 running trainer in the world. Fun fact: we wrote a whole article on how these shoes have the lowest carbon footprint of all running shoes - and they're also pretty great to run in. A significant improvement on Allbirds' former iteration, I found them to be light, springy and responsive. Do note, though: they did take some time to break in and caused a few blisters along the way.

Read my full Allbird Tree Flyer review (opens in new tab), here. 

Balance Bamboo Leggings - £24.50 | BAM Clothing

Editor's pick

Did you know? Bamboo absorbs five times more carbon than hardwood trees, needs half the land cotton needs to produce the same amount of fibre and doesn’t need irrigation or pesticides, either. I'm a big fan of these leggings - when testing, I found them to be soft, supportive and sweat-wicking. Performance-focused and planet-friendly? I'm in.

Did you know? The Impala is the lightest trainer VEJA's ever created. On the sustainability front, the company's a certified B Corp. On their website, they clearly break down how the trainers are made, how they pay their workers, and how as a company they're working towards building a better tomorrow. When testing, I found them to be a great all-rounder - stable enough for gym sessions but springy enough for 5km to 10km runs, too. Plus, they look great for office wear.

Stowe Windshell - £140.00 | Arc'teryx

If you're into hiking, you'll have heard of Arc'teryx - a certified B Corp brand with performance and sustainability at the core of what they do.

This jacket is ideal for hiking or even rainy winter runs. It's been upcycled from end-of-the-roll fabric that would otherwise have been wasted and is breathable, pack-away-able, and lightweight. Winner, winner.

Round neck swimsuit - £170 | Stay Wild Swim

Keen swimmer but also keen to invest in a costume that doesn't contribute to plastic waste or ocean pollution? Stay Wild is about as sustainable as it gets when it comes to swimwear - all products are made in London from 100% ECONYL® and 100% recycled plastic thread. Impressive.

Primus Lite III Eucalyptus - £115 | Vivobarefoot

Another certified B Corp is Vivobarefoot, and the Primus Lite is their hero trainer. A minimal design which comes in a range of neutral colourways, the shoes do take some getting used to but are all designed to help you walk in the most natural way possible. As they explain on their site, "Cramming the human foot into a modern shoe - cushioned, narrow and rigid - negates its natural strength and function. All Vivobarefoot footwear is designed to be wide, thin and flexible: as close to barefoot as possible. They promote your foot's natural strength and movement. Allowing you to feel the ground beneath your feet." 

Women's Nine Trails Shorts 6" - £60 | Patagonia

One of the highest-scoring B Corp brands (opens in new tab) with an impressive rating of 151.4, Patagonia acknowledge that everything humans make has an impact on the planet. That's why 83% of their clothes are Fair Trade-certified (this is more than any other apparel brand). 

These shorts are made from recycled polyester and built to last, meaning less waste all around.

Ivy Scoop Unitard- £78 | Girlfriend Collective

From packaging that is 100% recycled and recyclable, to leggings made from 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex, to recycled fishing nets and other waste using ECONYL® yarn, or tees and tanks that are 100% cupro (delicate fibre made from waste the cotton industry leaves behind), Girlfriend Collective aims to prioritise sustainability throughout its products. Not to mention, they also offer inclusive sizing, with items available from an XXS to 6XL.

Skinluxe Racer Start Sports Bra Shadow Black - £34.00 | TALA

You'll have heard of TALA, Grace Beverley's sustainable gym wear brand. Our favourite bit of kit from the brand is their SkinLuxe™ Racer Strap Sports Bra. It's made from a fabric blend of 76% recycled Nylon and 24% LYCRA® Sport, which is a sustainable and feels buttery-smooth to wear.

Active Leggings - £75, Organic Basics

As soon as you click on a product on the Organic Basics website, you can see the amount of carbon it took to produce an item - like these Active Leggings, for example, which took 4.41kg of CO2 to produce. Transparency is at the heart of what they do, and all of their items are ethically made from recycled materials. They're rated as "great" on the Good For You website, too. 

Stem Gem Rock Crops - £80 | Patagonia

So good we featured them twice. That's because outdoor clothing brand Patagonia has been focused on the environment since launching back in the 70s. To limit ecological impact, Patagonia focuses on clothing that can last for generations or can be recycled so the materials in them remain in use. They also take action on the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet, from supporting youth fighting against oil drilling to suing the former US president.

These trousers are great support for sweaty workouts, yoga flows, or wearing to work - a great all-rounder.

Zonda Active Top - £45.00 | Finisterre

Finisterre became the first European surf brand to be awarded a B Corp back in 2018, with sustainability long at the core of what the brand does. This Merino wool tank is perfect for outdoor adventures and promises to be both comfortable and practical thanks to its ergonomic panels and brushed recycled fabric. Stylish and sustainable.

Naomi Legging - £99 | Silou London

This stylish sportswear brand specialises in understated pieces. Made with bio-based luxury textiles, they use premium raw materials that are eco-sustainable, plus production processes with a limited impact on the environment, to boot.

INVIGORATE Strappy Bra - £39 | FEEL FIT

Ethically produced, Feel Fit collections are made from high-quality ECONYL® (regenerated plastic waste). Available in sizes to fit UK 6 to UK 22, the brand also supports global tree planting charity Tree Sisters with every item sold.

They have some noteworthy sustainability credentials, using 100% organic cotton, recycled cotton and repurposed nylon, not to mention their store is eco-powered by their own indoor spin bikes. Fun fact: 74% of the energy they make from the workouts is directed back to the local grid, making them a carbon-neutral company.

Neon Bike Shorts - £45 | evervital.co

This UK label focuses on luxury, sustainably-aware athleisure apparel, using a high percentage of recycled and bio-based materials.  The clothing comprises sweat-wicking, anti-bacterial, breathable fabrics, and the High Neck Sweater is made from Br4, Brugnoli’s bio-based fabric for zero compromises between environment and performance.