The Ultimate Guide to More Sustainable and Ethical T-Shirts - Good On You

Oct 20, 2024

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T-shirts are the ultimate wardrobe staple. This versatile and layerable basic has a place in every wardrobe, but if you’re looking for more sustainable tees, where do you even start?

If we had to crown a single item of clothing as the best basic, it would be the versatile and ubiquitous t-shirt. Whether paired with jeans or worn under a jumpsuit or slip dress, t-shirts will see you through all outfits, seasons and styles. They make a great starting point for both giving your basics an ethical overhaul and for curating a capsule wardrobe.

Most of us will throw our t-shirt on in the morning without a thought about its origins. But as conscious consumers, we need to ask questions like: who made my tee? Were they paid a living wage? And is this item made from lower-impact fabric?

With that in mind, we’ve scoured the planet for more sustainable and ethical t-shirts and rounded up our top brands that meet our rating criteria to be classified as “Good” or “Great” overall.

It’s a long list, so we’ve organised it by country first. Don’t forget you can also search for brands in any category on the Good On You brand directory, where we’ve rated thousands of fashion brands. Let’s go.

Men’s 37.5® Tech Short Sleeve Tee – Ships internationally from the US

éclipse creates climate control UPF 50+ clothing essentials and accessories to help keep the whole family sunsafe. It manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and its entire product range is vegan-friendly.

Products are stocked in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop éclipse.

Womens Short Sleeve Crew Neck – Ships internationally from the US

The Classic T-Shirt Company is a US brand that creates premium, responsibly made t-shirts with luxury and integrity. All of its products are made from GOTS certified organic cotton and it doesn't use any animal-derived materials.

The Classic T-Shirt Company’s range is available in US sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Classic T-Shirt Company.

Shelbie Triblend Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Threads 4 Thought uses a range of lower-impact materials including TENCEL™ Modal harvested from the limbs of beech trees. This process means that the trees are never cut down and 95% of the production materials to make the yarn are recovered and reused. The brand's manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

Organic Boxy Scoop – Ships internationally from the US

US brand ALTER X Company crafts apparel that finds its true meaning and potential when a person of purpose decides to be the change they want to see in the world. Each purchase donates 20% to a cause of your choice at checkout.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ALTER X Company.

Eleanor Organic Cotton Modal Rib Tee – Ships to the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the UK from the US

Amour Vert creates beautiful, more sustainable staples in San Francisco, California. Its final stage of production is done in the US and it works closely with suppliers in all of its supply chain. The brand also uses lower-impact materials and promotes an anti-waste strategy.

The range is available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Amour Vert.

T102 Little T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the US

FM 669 is a US brand that offers apparel made from homegrown cotton, including t-shirts, tank tops, and long-sleeve shirts. It proudly sources its GOTS-certified cotton from a collective of farms in Texas using regenerative practices, and uses lower-impact dyes in its limited production runs. Its designs are effortlessly wearable, with its laid-back, casual aesthetic in gender-neutral pieces.

Offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop FM 669.

The Rayne Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Christy Dawn is a minimalist showroom for vintage-inspired women's clothing and footwear, locally made with surplus fabric. The US brand rates "Great", making it a fabulous option for your wardrobe.

Find the clothes in standard sizes XS-XL, or shop the Extended and Petite collections.

See the rating.

Shop Christy Dawn.

Organic Cotton Classic Tee – Ships internationally from the US

MATE the Label creates clean essentials made with GOTS certified organic fabrics and lower-impact dyes. Its goal is to offer women everywhere a clean product that is just as beautiful as it is responsible. It is proudly female-founded and is predominately operated by women. This US brand also manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint.

Find the range in inclusive sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop MATE the Label.

Formation Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Neococo is a mission-based apparel company founded for the sole purpose of creating jobs for women refugees through the art of hand embroidery. Faced with challenges such as adjusting to a new culture and securing a job, Neococo provides refugees with community and support to make them feel safe and achieve financial independence.

Crafting pieces representing women’s empowerment, find the range in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Neococo.

Douglas Fir T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Canada

Canadian brand tentree plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world, and has already planted over 65 million trees. All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-first approach, meaning they're made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using lower-impact and recycled materials.

tentree’s clothes are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

The Long Sleeve Box Tee – Ships internationally from Canada

FRANC is a Canadian brand that makes basics so you can enjoy a complete wardrobe built on timeless essentials. The brand ranks "Good" on all fronts: it uses lower-impact materials, traces and visits its supply chain, and uses no animal products.

Find most products in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop FRANC.

Bebe Organic Tee – Ships internationally from the US

"Simplicity, sustainability, style" is LA Relaxed's motto. The brand reduces its climate impact by using renewable energy in its supply chain. It also uses some lower-impact materials, including organic cotton and TENCEL Lyocell.

Find the collection in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop LA Relaxed.

Shop LA Relaxed @ Cerqular.

Sea Turtles Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that is inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. Through its partnerships with non-profits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it's planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

Yes Friends Organic T-shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Yes Friends is a UK-based fashion brand that creates more affordable clothing for everyone. Yes Friends' first product, classic cut t-shirts, cost less than £4 to make and the brand only charges £7.99. Using large scale production and direct to consumer margins means Yes Friends can charge you an affordable price for its more responsible clothing.

Find the range inclusively sized in 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Yes Friends.

Buckley Dark Navy – Ships internationally from The Netherlands

Established in 2001, Kuyichi is the first organic denim brand. With top-scoring labour and environmental ratings, the brand designs durable yet trendy and modern pieces that never go out of style.

Offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kuyichi.

ZQ Merino Wool Jersey Navy T Shirt – Ships internationally from Europe

Neem is a menswear brand that looks to make clothing waste good again. From the UK, Neem exists to produce men's clothing that has been made with care, a result of a transparent supply chain with the safeguarding of our environment as the focus.

Find most items in sizes S-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Neem.

Classic Organic Tee – Ships internationally from Denmark

Colorful Standard is a Danish clothing brand that makes organic fashion essentials for men and women. The brand doesn't care much for seasons or trends, instead, it creates timeless and long-lasting products to avoid the downward spiral that is over-consumption.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Colorful Standard.

The Long Sleeve T-Shirt – 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.

Kawai Organic Cotton Tee – Ships internationally from Bulgaria

Coco & Kandy focuses on making uncomplicated, high quality clothes for warm weather. The Bulgarian brand uses lower-impact materials, traces most of its supply chain and visits suppliers regularly.

See the rating.

Shop Coco & Kandy.

White Sand T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the Netherlands

Iron Roots is a Dutch sportswear brand that makes all its apparel from plant-based fabrics. Its pieces effortlessly combine more responsible design and functionality.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Iron Roots.

Bronte Kids T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Spain

TWOTHIRDS sees itself as a brand for people who are awake and aware of the immense value of our oceans, but also have a thirst for style and substance. It manufactures all its products locally to reduce its carbon footprint, as well as audits all of its final stage of production.

The clothes can be found in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop TWOTHIRDS.

Ribbed Knit Top – Ships internationally from the Netherlands

“Fashion does not have to be fast or seasonal,” says CAES (pronounced like case). The Dutch brand creates timeless, minimalist clothes using lower-impact materials such as Desserto cactus leather, recycled cotton, and Tencel Lyocell. It partly traces its supply chain and has a code of conduct covering some ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.

See the rating.

Shop CAES.

AALEX Protect Oversize Tee – Ships internationally from Germany

Innovative, responsible, and on-trend. Germany’s Armedangels gets a top score overall from us. The brand covers all the basics in womenswear, menswear, and kidswear. Armedangels' quality and long-lasting pieces are made from lower-impact and certified materials, like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton. The brand also adopted the Fair Wear Foundation Code of Conduct to protect its workers abroad.

Its products are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Armedangels.

Shop Armedangels @ Earthkind.

Shop Armedangels @ Cerqular.

TreeShirt Women – Ships internationally from Switzerland

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.

Basic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Believing in more sustainable menswear that makes a difference, KnowledgeCotton Apparel creates long-lasting and high-quality products, using a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including GOTS certified organic cotton.

Find the items in sizes S-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop KnowledgeCotton Apparel @ Brothers We Stand.

Shop KnowledgeCotton Apparel.

Monica T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Mother of Pearl is a more sustainable and ethical luxury womenswear and accessories designer brand from the UK that celebrates individuality and authenticity. The brand uses a high proportion of more responsible materials including organic cotton and ensures the payment of a living wage across some of its supply chain.

Find most products in UK sizes 6-16.

See the rating.

Shop Mother of Pearl.

Shop Mother of Pearl @ Rêve en Vert.

Shop Mother of Pearl Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Earthling Tee – Ships internationally from the UK

Streetwear without the sweatshops, that's the motto of this British 100% vegan and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand that is all about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings in fashion production.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

Basic Logo Heavyweight Organic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

UK brand WAWWA aims to make clothing that puts the Earth and its inhabitants first by creating organic, fair trade, and vegan-friendly clothing with a positive social impact. It uses lower-impact materials including recycled materials, lower-impact non-toxic dyes, and reuses its offcuts to minimise textile waste.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop WAWWA.

The Short Crew – Ships internationally from Australia

Citizen Wolf uses revolutionary technology to give you high quality custom-fit t-shirts that it guarantees will be the best you’ve ever worn. After capturing your customisations, the brand handmakes each tee in Sydney using certified lower-impact fabrics like cotton, hemp, and Merino wool milled in Melbourne.

See the rating.

Shop Citizen Wolf.

Men’s Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Founded in Australia by two best friends, Boody is a clothing brand with comfort, style, and health at its core. It creates comfortable, thoughtfully-made everyday essentials made from organically grown bamboo. It reduces waste through lower-waste cutting techniques and using a closed-loop system in its supply chain, supporting the green and ethical movement.

Find the range in sizes XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

F Plastic Baby T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Born in Byron Bay, Australia, Afends is a more responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, it purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow its own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

Kids Less Plastic More Love T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Etiko is an Australian designer of organic fair trade clothing and shoes. The brand constantly sets the bar for upholding and campaigning the human rights of people working in traditionally exploitative industry supply chains.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Oversized Boxy Tee – Ships internationally from New Zealand

Kowtow is a New Zealand brand that uses organic, fair trade cotton and non-toxic dyes to produce its clothes. It designs elegant, timeless womenswear, and also has a range of ceramics.

Find the clothes in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kowtow.

01 T-Shirt – Ships internationally from New Zealand

Need-to-know designer Maggie Marilyn’s clothes are defined by her strong sense of luxury and fresh point of view. Inspired to create collections that are more sustainable as well as beautiful, the New Zealand-based label utilises organic cottons and responsibly-produced silks to craft effortlessly glamorous designs.

Sizes available are XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Maggie Marilyn @ Farfetch.

Shop Maggie Marilyn Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Maggie Marilyn.

Mist Floral Chiller Tee – Ships internationally from India

Another leader when it comes to responsible fashion, No Nasties makes simple and stylish clothing from Fairtrade organic cotton in India where it is actively working to grow the ethical consumer market.

Find styles in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop No Nasties.

Classic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Cambodia

Based in Cambodia, Dorsu creates everyday basics and key signature favourites that form the core of any conscious wardrobe.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dorsu.

Feature image via 337 BRAND, 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 the directory to search thousands of rated brands.

We updated this article on 24 September 2024: Our editors frequently make updates to articles to ensure they're up to date. We refreshed the selection of products in this article to ensure they're in stock, and from recently rated brands.