30 Totes Way Better Than Plastic Bags

30 Sustainability Challenges For April

• Use stainless steel straws: Instead of throwing away plastic straws, invest in a set of stainless steel straws. That way, you can use, wash, and repeat!
• Shop with a reusable bag: Bring your own tote bag to the grocery store instead of taking home a paper or plastic bag.
• Text yourself receipts: At coffee shops and boutiques, pick the "text me" option to prevent yourself from throwing away a paper receipt.
• Read a sustainability book by a WOC: Learn about sustainability from an expert or someone who lives a zero-waste lifestyle.
• Wash on the cold water cycle: Cold water in the washing machine uses up less energy, and it's actually better for delicates and dark colors than hot water.
• Shop second-hand: Grabbing something another person has already used prevents those items from ending up in a landfill *and* cuts down on fast fashion production. Check out our Beginner's Guide To Thrift Stores for more inspo!

• Choose sustainable fashion: If you do want to grab something new, instead of shopping from fast fashion retailers, purchase any items you may need from a sustainable fashion brand like Sézane, Reformation, MATE the Label, Marine Layer, Girlfriend Collective, or others.
• Buy seasonal produce: Buying produce in season means you're cutting down on the energy costs of long-distance shipping. There's a good chance it'll be cheaper *and* you'll be supporting local farmers.
• Get a reusable water bottle: Ditch the single-use plastic bottles in favor of a reusable bottle that will last you at least a few years.
• DIY oat milk in a glass bottle: Oat milk is surprisingly simple to make. DIY it yourself and store it in a glass bottle to cut down on your trash.
• Follow a sustainability activist: If you're active on social media, find a sustainability activist that will offer some inspo and tips + tricks every time you get on your phone.
• Buy a menstrual cup/reusable period products: There are tons of reusable period products to pick from, from menstrual cups to period underwear. In addition to being kinder to your body, they're more sustainable and way cheaper in the long run.

• DIY beauty products: Make DIY face mask or sprinkle a mix of cocoa powder and corn starch on your roots in lieu of dry shampoo.
• Shop in store: While online shopping from the comfort of your couch is easy, head to the store to save yourself from dealing with the paper, tape, and cardboard boxes your shipments will come in.
• Upcycle out-of-style clothing: Cut the ankles of your skinny jeans and add printed fabric for one-of-a-kind upcycled wide-leg pants. Embroider a top to make it feel more you, or make a quilt out of all the old camp shirts you don't wear but can't part with.
• Go on an experience date: Instead of getting takeout or grabbing coffee, go on a walk or browse a museum with one of our Affordable Date Ideas.
• Grocery shop in bulk: Products like nuts, frozen foods, and canned goods can be bought in bulk, which is both cheaper in the long run and less wasteful than a bunch of pre-packaged bags.
• Turn off the A/C and cool your home passively: Cut down on your electric bill by using passive methods to cool a room. All you have to is close your curtains during hours of bright sunlight to avoid heating the air inside your space. Then open up your windows at night to let the cool air in!

You'll Love These Sustainability Hacks For 2024

• Use empty candle jars as decor: Candles these days are so cute — turn the jars into decor to store your makeup brushes or even Hershey kisses!
• Turn the lights off: When you leave a room, turn the lights off to prevent unnecessary waste. You can also try and keep the lights off until the sun sets. Your wallet will thank you!
• Carpool: Hop in the car with a friend or family member to save gas money, take up less room in a parking lot, and cut down on gas emissions.
• Use reusable utensils: Besides the fact that reusable utensils cut down on waste, you can also get them in super cute colors. That's a win-win in our book.
• Bike or walk around town: If you're able, ditch your car entirely and bike or walk all over town instead! Work out and run errands at the same time.
• Compost food scraps: Everyone can compost, even if you live in a tiny apartment! Compost egg shells, banana peels, and coffee grounds. They'll breakdown naturally instead of sitting in landfill and they make for a great addition to garden soil. If you live in a big city, chances are there's a composting service you can sign up for to take away your scraps at the end of each week.

• Use Tupperware/silicone baggies: With alternatives like glass storage containers and silicone bags, you'll never need to throw away a plastic bag again.
• Sew worn-out clothes: Just because your toe is peeking through your sock or you have a hole in your shirt doesn't mean you have to get rid of it! Check out our online sewing class or Google a few beginner's tips to fix them yourself.
• Get a library card: Instead of ordering books from Amazon, get a library card! Plus, you won't have to find a place to keep all your books.
• Go vegetarian/vegan: A vegan or vegetarian diet uses up a lot less water than a meat-eating diet. Even making two vegan recipes a week can help the environment, and might just have a positive effect on your health too!
• Save all your errands for one drive: Instead of driving out multiple times in a few days, figure out all of the places you need to go, figure out the best route, and do it in one go.
• Get shampoo bars:Shampoo bars are a way to cut down on shampoo plastic bottles while still keeping your hair clean.

LØCI NINE Sneaker ($185)

Sunski Miho Sunset Sepia ($58)

Takes these stylish recycled frames from the beach to brunch. They come in plastic-free packaging and block 100% UVA/UVB/UV400 waves.

Summersalt The Easy Breezy Eco Voile Tie-Shoulder Dress Cover-Up ($75)

This flowy maxi dress cover-up, perfect for the beach or backyard, is made from a voile fabric sourced from sustainable forests to help save water, maintain forest cover, and reduce CO2 emissions.

Caminito Sombra Sun Hat ($62)

This wide-brim style protects you from the sun while a vegetable-tanned leather cord keeps it secure on windy days. Caminito collaborates with trained weavers in Mexico and supports fair wages and clean work environments.

Slow Tide Psychedelic Sunshine Beach Towel ($45)

Made from 100% sustainably sourced cotton, this 70s-inspired designed towel is quick drying and features soft velour for cozy lounging. All Slowtide products exceed the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification and do not contain any allergic substances.

Pact The Canopy Button-Back Tank ($54)

Made with organic cotton in a fair trade factory, this top is lightweight with buttons in the back and the perfect go-to for everyday summer wear, from skirts to jeans to shorts. Pact partners with Fair Trade USA, Global Organic Textile Standard and SimpliZero.

Supergoop! Everyday SPF Faves Kit ($60)

This TSA-approved travel kit, made from packaging sourced from recycled plastic bottles, includes four Supergoop! SPF bestsellers for clean skin & beauty that protect against UV rays.

Berlook Tie Floral One-Piece Swimsuit ($38)

This vintage-inspired swimsuit, made from recycled nylon and recycled polyester, gives you a supportive lift up top and a flattering high leg (with sufficient coverage at the back).

Lingua Franca x Judy Blume Forever "i read banned books" Crewneck ($380)

Stand up for literature and human rights on cool summer nights with this handstitched crewneck made from 100% sustainably sourced, ethically produced cashmere. Lingua Franca has partnered with Judy Blume Forever and 10% of proceeds from this sweater will be donated to PEN America, which works tirelessly to prevent books like Judy Blume's from being banned.

Attitude Plastic-Free Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 ($21)

This plastic-free mineral sunscreen stick uses natural ingredients like non-nano zinc oxide to offer full protection, is ocean-safe, and blends into all skin tones without that white, cake-y residue. It comes in a biodegradable cardboard tube to reduce single-use plastic and oh did we mention: it smells just like summer!

Parade Scoop Bikini ($36 Top, Bottom $34)

Made from recycled bottles, this smoothing swimwear is so comfortable, comes in a slew of fun mix-and-match colors, and keeps your bits secure when you're running around the beach.

Bellroy Market Tote Plus ($49)

Great for beach days or market days, this everyday tote is made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles and is leather-free. It folds flat or stands upright and has two internal pockets for small essentials.

Caminito Luna Upcycled Blanket ($92)

Billie Super Salve ($9)

Watercolor your lips with this moisturizing lip shine made with shea butter, sunflower oil (packed with omega-9 fatty acids), avocado oil, vitamin e, and vegan (bee-free) candelillia wax.

Village Thrive Stripes Rattan Clutch Bag ($39)

Mejuri Jewelry ($78+)

This jewelry brand offers summer bling made from responsibly sourced and recycled gold, ethically sourced metals and stones, fair labor, and gives back to BIPOC & nonbinary communities. For this collection, stack the following:

• Bold Link Chain Bracelet ($78)
• Mejuri Thin Dôme Ring ($298)
• Bold Flexi Bangle ($500)
• LA Dôme Ring ($548)
• Pavé Diamond Thin Dôme Ring ($898)

Dôen FARLEY TOP ($168)

This soft, lightweight organic cotton top is your summer-into-fall staple. Wear it loose or tucked in jeans.

Klean Kanteen Insulated Water Bottle with Twist Cap ($33)

Keep yourself hydrated and plastic-free this summer with this insulated water bottle that stays 38 hours hot/135 hours cold. Klean Kanteen manufactures 95% of its products from certified 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, reducing the company's greenhouse gas emissions from steel by about 50%.

Iris&Romeo Best Skin Days SPF 30 ($48)

Pack light this summer with this clean beauty product that is makeup, skincare, and SPF 30 all-in-one. The result? A glowy hydrated look that keeps you protected from the summer sun's rays.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via LØCI

1. 'Mocha Mousse' Kitten Heel Boots

Don't fight it — this style is back and better than ever. "We have all seen that Pantone has named 'Mocha Mousse' [color of the year], cementing that brown has surpassed black as the go-to neutral," Brandt muses. As for why she believes kitten heels boots will be a popular style in 2025, she believes it's a "super wearable" choice "for the colder weather months."

Check 'em out:Steve Madden Stasia Taupe Suade Kitten Heel Boots

2. Elevated loafers and flats on par with 'Quiet Luxury'

Did you really think we were done with quiet luxury? This is a trend that "focuses on classic design and high quality materials," according to Hall. After the success of, well, Succession, people aren't ready to let this trend go — and I don't blame them! Hall says, "We’re seeing a movement away from runway and status brands of the past several years, and instead, consumers have been drawn toward the echo of vintage style."

Hall also feels like people are looking to add comfort instead of "overabundance" to their wardrobes. He explained that after the pandemic, "comfort has prevailed as a predominant factor in shopping for footwear." You'll want to steer clear of gaudy designs with this shoe trend, instead reaching for "shoes with premium construction and materials" that don't have "noisy logos."

If you want a little bit of height, Sockel says "chunky loafers became a go-to for achieving the 'Prep School' aesthetic." She also saw that "ballet flats were a top request, with 38% of shoppers seeking ways to style them."

Check 'em out:Thursday Boots Penny Loafers

3. Low profile sneakers

This year saw the rise of the 'errand' or everyday sneaker. Hall says, "In contrast to the chunky sneaker silhouette, low-profile sneakers have been trending in 2024, and expect to see that trend continue in 2025."He adds that they're "defined by the upper confirming closely to the foot and lack of support around the ankle" making them "exceptionally versatile".

Both he and Brandt agree that the "iconic Adidas Sambas" are the driving force behind this with the latter adding, "But as they can be hard to come by, I’m seeing some alternate sneakers take the stage — particularly the Adidas SL72, and Onitsuka Tigers, especially the Mexico 66s."

If you need inspo for how to style them! Hall has a couple of tips because "the timeless low-profile look isn't going anywhere." He feels pairing them with "bell bottoms or flare-legged jeans" because they "create a long, clean line."

Check 'em out:Dolce Vita Notice Stitch Sneakers

4. Colorful shoes

The world already feels like a mess sometimes — why not be bold and have fun with your outfits?! While you continue leaning into the red and burgundy shades that continued to trend this year, Hall feels that "turquoise, fuchsia, and yellow tones will brighten up this spring from the past couple of seasons of neutrals."

Another outfit tip he has is to "opt for white and soft ecru shades in the rest of the outfit" as this will "help these bold colors speak for themselves."

Check 'em out:Dolce Vita Kanika Mid Heels

5. T-Strap Shoes

If you're still watching The Great Gatsby, you may be familiar with what Gillette Sowislo calls the "new shoe profile." In other words, she feels they're "an update on the Mary Jane trend we've been seeing for a few seasons."

We couldn't get enough of the revival of this that trend so it's going to be exciting to see you and other shoppers rock them with your 2025 outfits. Honestly, Sowislo is sure that "this versatile design can be found in flats, heels, and wedges."

Check 'em out:Manolo Blahnik Assala 105 Leather Point-Toe Pumps

6. Wooden Platform Shoes

Wooden platform shoes are having their comeback moment; more notably clogs. Sowislo says, "Since Chloe designer Chemena Kamali decked out the front row of her show in matching wood-bottomed platform sandals, the trend for boho-inspired shoes has risen. These can look like the playful platforms she debuted or be a more practical pair of everyday clogs."

Sockel added, "Looking ahead, we [Stitch Fix] predict a shift toward heeled shoes—think chic booties, clogs, and sandals—that pair seamlessly with oversized jeans and a simple tee for an effortlessly polished “Easy Street” look."

Check 'em out:Dansko Professional Clogs