If its trash-bag-lined streets are any indication, NYC could use a little help becoming a more environmentally friendly metropolis. And until the city mandates recycling and composting (like the ever-progressive Seattle and San Francisco), that mission falls directly into the hands of its residents. Luckily, there are plenty of places where a green-minded New Yorker can stock up on sustainable clothes, beauty products and home goods. (Unsurprisingly, many are in Brooklyn.) Here are eight we love.
8 Great Places to Shop Sustainably in NYC
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Published Feb 5, 2018
Green in BKLYN/Yelp.
Green In Bklyn
The veteran eco-friendly hub in Fort Greene was started by a native New Yorker—on Earth Day in 2009—as a place for locals to buy sustainable household staples, like bio-friendly cleaning products and recycled-paper stationery. The community store stocks a plethora of locally created products, including super-cute L’énoncé bamboo socks designed and manufactured in Bed-Stuy.
432 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn; greeninbklyn.com
Comedy Central
Zero Waste Daniel
Designer Daniel Silverstein’s creations have been worn by the likes of Kristen Bell and Amber Valletta (whose jumpsuit you can custom-order online), but he also makes more affordable options, all composed of responsibly sourced fabrics or 100 percent scrap material. We’re especially into his line of cotton tees that feature the image of icons like David Bowie, and the “Jew-ish” sweatshirt Ilana sported on Broad City.
369 Hooper St., Brooklyn; zerowastedaniel.com
Celsious
Outsource your commitment to a greener lifestyle at this Williamsburg Laundromat (founded by two sisters), which is loaded with ultra-energy-efficient washers and dryers and three-ingredient detergent from the Simply Co. It’s also, um, the chicest laundry room we’ve ever seen, complete with abundant greenery, an attached fair-trade café and a backyard where you can sip matcha while waiting out the spin cycle. Consider it a way to pamper yourself while also doing something good-natured for the earth.
115 N. Seventh St., Brooklyn; 718-388-1221 or celsious.com
Package Free Shop
Launched in May 2017, Package Free Shop is the latest effort from Lauren Singer, the woman behind the popular zero-waste blog Trash Is for Tossers (and the aforementioned the Simply Co.). The gorgeous open, minimalistic space in Williamsburg gathers sustainable house and beauty products and clothes from a variety of ethical brands in one place. Select a double-edge safety razor or a metal or bamboo straw, and immediately reduce your waste emissions.
137 Grand St., Brooklyn; packagefreeshop.com
Magpie
Need a last-minute gift that gives the impression you put thought into it? This Upper West Side shop has a curated selection of reasonably priced eco-friendly items for adults and kids, like a soft, striped alpaca blanket, a locally created print or a trendy backpack made from recycled plastic bottles.
488 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-579-3003 or magpienewyork.com
Baggu
Baggu
You’ve probably heard of the eco-friendly bag company that was launched by a mother-daughter duo and rocketed to stardom. Well, you’ll find a brick-and-mortar location for its wares in Williamsburg, where you can peruse its collections of clean-line totes, canvas purses and backpacks, plus the original reusable grocery bags. We love this striped canvas duffel made with 100 percent cotton (65 percent of which is recycled).
242 Wythe Ave., No. 4; baggu.com
Green Depot/Facebook
Green Depot
For a comprehensive selection of bio-friendly products, the national hardware store chain has you covered. The Brooklyn location basically has everything you need to convert your entire home to a waste-not base, from a Greenguard-certified (a strict standard for low-emissions-produced products) Bona hardwood floor mop with a washable cleaning pad to compostable dishware and organic cotton muslin bulk bags for grocery shopping. Note: The store also sells green building materials by appointment only (if you’re feeling an ambitious DIY streak), but you can pop in to browse lifestyle products anytime.
1 Ivy Hill Rd., Brooklyn; 718-782-2991 or greendepot.com
Cap Beauty
In the heart of the West Village, CAP Beauty is chock-full of more than 150 brands of 100 percent natural products, many of which strive to be as good for the environment as they are for you—like S.W. Basics, which ensures its ingredients are certified organic, fair trade or sourced from family farms, and Earth Tu Face, which commits to using reusable, compostable and recyclable containers. Considering the eye-widening range of sustainable skin care, makeup and hair options, we dare you to leave this emporium empty-handed.
238 W. Tenth St.; 212-227-1088 or capbeauty.com