Wondering how to travel responsibly, without having to rough it or settle for less of an incredible experience?
Then you’re in the right place!
We’ve rounded up our favorite sustainable travel companies helping travelers pack, sleep, eat, and play with conscience.
*Note that some of the sustainable tourism companies below feature affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if a purchase is made, at no extra cost to you. We’ve only recommended sustainable travel brands we truly think you’ll love!
Sustainable Travel Companies
Travel Insurance
World Nomads “Footprints Network”
Booking through the World Nomads “Footprints Network” allows you to put a donation toward a cause you care about (while protecting your trip against unforeseen circumstances).
Just a few ways this program has left a positive impact on communities in need, at the time of writing, include:
- Raising almost $29,000 AUD toward educating disadvantaged youth in Australia
- Raising almost $28,000 AUD toward cleaning up litter in Nepal
- Raising almost $20,000 AUD toward protecting sharks and rays in Belize
Local Tours & Experiences
NYC Photo Journeys
This New York photo tour company is owned by Epicure & Culture editor, Jessie Festa.
On their Private Photo Journey, which is part tour/part photoshoot, you’ll explore the city with a local and will leave with a folder of print-ready shots from the day to keep.
The company also offers:
Along with supporting local businesses and volunteering with New York Cares, they donate $3 per TripAdvisor review left to City Harvest.
Moreover, 1% of profits get donated to Best Friends Animal Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals and provides adoption, spay/neuter, and educational programs—including in New York City.
EatWith
EatWith offers a unique way to connect with local communities around the globe through curated dining experiences.
From home-cooked meals in family kitchens to chef-led culinary events, EatWith supports local chefs, fosters cultural exchange, and reduces the environmental impact of large-scale dining.
With a focus on intimate, authentic gatherings, this platform encourages a more responsible way to travel and eat—one where you can enjoy traditional dishes while directly supporting local economies.
Backstreet Academy
Backstreet Academy offers conscious local tours and experiences in Asia.
Their goal: To introduce visitors to local culture while helping to improve local communities at the “Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP).”
You can pick a “backstreet” from 10+ countries and 40+ cities. From there, choose your activity and leave a deposit.
What’s great is that most of their hosts are found through NGOs and handicraft organizations, giving priority to artisans and craftsmen who are underprivileged and struggling.
Some experiences you can book include:
- Cooking Momos in a local home in Kathmandu, Nepal
- Click here for a review of this experience from Epicure & Culture editor, Jessie Festa
- Taking part in a batik and shibori design workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Appreciating the Angkor Temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Virtual Experiences
The Chef & The Dish
Whether you’re in your own city or logging in from a hotel room, The Chef & The Dish offers private, virtual cooking classes with chefs from over 20 countries—bringing global flavors into your kitchen while supporting local culinary professionals.
Whether you’re making handmade pasta with a chef in Italy or perfecting pho with a chef in Vietnam, each class is a real-time, one-on-one experience.
Their platform not only promotes cultural connection, but also supports chefs affected by tourism downturns and restaurant closures.
Multi-Day Tours
BookYogaRetreats
Looking to combine yoga with travel? This platform showcases yoga retreats from all over the world, allowing you to stay in some really top-notch sustainable accommodations while deepening your practice.
Maybe you want to try a yoga & meditation retreat in Costa Rica, or possibly a shamanic healing retreat.
You can search the site by yoga style, destination, fusion experience, or an array of other filters to find your perfect yoga trip.
G Adventures
G Adventures offers small group travel experiences that prioritize local connection and community support.
With their Ripple Score system, they help travelers see how much of their money stays in the local economy—on average, 93% of customer spending goes to locally owned businesses.
Their nonprofit partner, Planeterra, has launched over 100 community tourism projects in more than 60 countries, directly benefiting women, Indigenous communities, and at-risk youth.
We love that every trip feels both adventurous and impactful—helping travelers explore the world with purpose.
WHOA Travel
WHOA Travel is a women-founded adventure travel company creating transformational trips for women across the globe—from climbing Kilimanjaro to hiking glaciers in Patagonia.
Their small-group journeys are rooted in connection, empowerment, and giving back. WHOA partners with local women guides and businesses, offsets all trip-related carbon emissions, avoids single-use plastics, and offers reusable water bottles on every trip.
They’re also a proud member of 1% for the Planet, donate to nonprofits like SheJumps and Leave No Trace, and regularly support disaster relief, community health, and social justice causes.
Honestly, they do so much more than this. Check out WHOA’s sustainability page for more information.
🎁 Bonus: Get $100 off any WHOA Travel experience with code “JESSIEONAJOURNEY”.
Accommodation
Homestay.com
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in local community and culture, a homestay. This involves staying in a local home and becoming an active participant in local life.
You’ll see the way people live, how they cook, what they do for fun, and will truly experience a place as a local (vs a tourist).
Homestay.com is a great website for connecting you with these opportunities.
Their website showcases over 33,000 homestays in 160+ countries, too.
Kind Traveler
Kind Traveler is a socially conscious hotel booking platform that empowers travelers to give back while they explore.
Through their Give + Get model, travelers unlock exclusive hotel rates by donating $10 or more to a local charity in the destination they’re visiting. Best of all, 100% of donations go directly to the selected nonprofit.
Their carefully curated hotels must meet sustainability criteria—like reducing waste, sourcing locally, and supporting their communities.
Travel Gear, Ethical Goods & Clean Beauty
Cotopaxi
Their tagline is “gear for good”. This makes sense, as this adventure gear company has “giving back” woven into their mission, specifically alleviating poverty.
Cotopaxi writes grants that help fund education, health and livelihood projects.
Moreover, they host service-focused Questival Races (mentioned above) that are not only fun but lead to trees being planted, clothing and food being donated, and more.
Impressive mention: They’re B-Corp Certified, meaning they meet the highest criteria for being a company truly making a difference when it comes to balancing “profit and purpose”.
REI
REI is more than just an outdoor retailer—they’re a long-standing advocate for environmental stewardship and responsible recreation. Through their Product Impact Standards and community grants, they support sustainability, diversity, and access to the outdoors.
They also operate as a consumer co-op, with over 20 million members, and give almost 70% of profits back to the outdoor community through dividends, nonprofit partnerships, and employee support.
In terms of the planet, REI is committed to reaching carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030 and already powers all of its stores and distribution centers with 100% renewable energy.
Puffer Hug
Puffer Hug creates fleece-lined wraps that feel like a warm embrace—with deep pockets and thoughtful design touches.
Their mission to combine comfort with kindness makes them a standout gift idea, especially during the colder months.
Travelers will especially love their Explorer Travel Blanket featuring a fleece-lined kangaroo pocket, toasty foot pouch, and hands-free snaps to secure it around your shoulders. Plus, it folds into a compact travel pillow!
Not only are their products cozy and functional, but Puffer Hug also donates a portion of profits to programs that support children’s mental health and education.
Paneros Clothing
Paneros Clothing proves that sustainable fashion can be timeless, elegant, and made to last. Their pieces are ethically handmade in small batches using deadstock fabric—repurposed from high-end fashion houses to help reduce textile waste.
Each garment is produced with care in Bali and Los Angeles, ensuring fair wages and artisan craftsmanship.
We love their commitment to slow fashion and conscious design, with limited-edition collections that feel as meaningful as they are beautiful.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective makes sustainable activewear that’s as stylish as it is ethical, with garments crafted from recycled water bottles and fishing nets.
Their inclusive sizing (XXS–6XL), eco-friendly dyes, and transparent manufacturing—featuring fair wages and safe working conditions—set them apart in the athleisure world.
They also offer a takeback program to keep used items out of landfills and regularly give back through initiatives like beach cleanups and community donations.
We’re especially obsessed with their Topanga Halter Bra, which doubles as a chic crop top.
Conscious Step
Conscious Step combines style and purpose through its collection of ethically-made socks that support meaningful causes.
Each purchase contributes to a specific cause, from clean water to education, with certifications from Fairtrade, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and Vegan Action.
Conscious Step’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in their organic, vegan materials, ethical labor practices, and charitable partnerships, allowing you to make a tangible difference with every pair you wear.
NOVICA
The mission of NOVICA — in association with National Geographic — is to empower artisans and put dollars into their pockets.
And the way they do this is by offering a gorgeous platform showcasing hand-made clothing, accessories, housewares, and art for sale, made by locals from around the world.
Our personal favorite is the beautiful handmade bracelets from the Wakami women’s empowerment artisan group in Guatemala (shown above).
At the time of writing, NOVICA has put over $138 million in the pockets of artisans around the world.
Axiology
Axiology redefines ethical beauty with their zero-waste, vegan makeup. This brand creates rich, long-lasting lip colors and balms without harmful ingredients or wasteful packaging, using only ethical and natural ingredients.
Known for their use of recycled aluminum and paper packaging, Axiology stands out as a leader in eco-conscious beauty.
Each product is cruelty-free, responsibly sourced, and handmade, allowing you to indulge in beauty routines with minimal impact on the planet.
Our personal pick: the Fungdation Mushroom Foundation featuring snow mushrooms and reishi mushrooms for deep hydration, plumping, and moisture retention.
🎁 Bonus: Use code “EPICURE” for 20% off your purchase with Axiology!
ABLE
Empower women with your purchase! ABLE is an online shop selling apparel and accessories for women.
In fact, this ethical company is also about female empowerment, with a focus on training, educating and investing in women.
Moreover, 96% of their employees are women, and they share their company wages right on their homepage for transparency.
You’ll find a ton of beautiful pieces for travelers in their collection, too, from bags to practical clothing to trip-inspired jewelry.
Speakeasy Travel Supply Co
These handmade scarves are not only stylish, but practical, featuring hidden pockets to keep valuables safe.
They’re made for travelers by travelers, using only the most high-quality fabrics.
Moreover, they come in an array of styles meant for all different climates and travel destinations; so whether you’re going to Antarctica or Thailand, there’s a scarf for you.
Petit Vour
Petit Vour curates a selection of vegan and cruelty-free luxury beauty products that meet the highest standards of sustainability.
This subscription box and online store showcase brands dedicated to ethical sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, and non-toxic formulations.
With Petit Vour, you can discover high-quality beauty and skincare essentials that align with both your values and your skincare needs, all while supporting a more compassionate, sustainable beauty industry.
Rheos Sunglasses
There are many reasons why we love Rheos sunglasses:
- They’re extremely lightweight and don’t give you a headache
- They float — perfect for water activities
- They come in a variety of styles (we love the aviators!)
- Their polarized lenses offer 100% UV protection
- The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- The brand was founded by two passionate travelers, husband-and-wife team Jake and Becca
And if that’s not impressive enough, 1% from each purchase goes to environmental nonprofits protecting the globe’s waterways.
Simply Straws
Simply Straws offers a sustainable alternative to plastic with their beautifully crafted, reusable glass straws.
Made from durable, BPA-free materials, these straws are designed to reduce single-use plastic waste while enhancing your beverage experience.
With a lifetime guarantee and a dedication to eco-friendly practices, Simply Straws is ideal for those looking to make a simple, effective change toward reducing waste in their daily lives.
Coalatree
Coalatree blends style, sustainability, and outdoor functionality through eco-minded gear and apparel. Their products—made from recycled and organic materials—are perfect for adventures or everyday city wear.
One of their most impressive initiatives is their use of coffee grounds and upcycled materials in items like their trailhead pants and evolution hoodie.
We especially love their focus on low-impact living without compromising performance or aesthetic.
Not sure what to buy? We recommend the Puffy Kachula Adventure Blanket, a soft and puffy blanket that is sustainably made using recycled materials.
It’s also extremely versatile. Along with being a great blanket for camping, picnicking, and the beach, it can also be used as a poncho thanks to the fact that it is waterproof and features a hood.
🎁 Bonus: Snag 15% off all Coalatree products with code “JESSIE15”.
Pela Case
Pela Case makes stylish, compostable phone cases and accessories that help reduce plastic waste without compromising on design.
Made from plant-based materials like flax fiber, their cases are fully biodegradable and break down in a home compost.
Pela also runs a phone case recycling program (even for non-Pela brands!) and donates a portion of profits to ocean clean-up and climate action efforts.
They’ve helped prevent the equivalent of over 1.5 million plastic bags worth of waste from entering the environment—making it easier than ever to protect your phone and the planet.
Life Without Plastic
Can you imagine a life without plastic—or plastic-free travel? This brand can!
And they’re helping to make it happen by selling high-quality plastic-free products for people at home as well as on the go.
You can purchase everything from reusable bottles and containers to lunch bags to stainless steel straws and beyond.
EarthHero
Shop sustainably and limit your waste by shopping EarthHero’s wide range of goods related to the outdoors, pets, tech, beauty, clothing, home, and more.
And, yes, they also have a travel section and a zero-waste section.
🎁 Bonus: Snag 10% off most items with code “JESSIE10”.
Earthlove
Earthlove is a seasonal subscription box and eco shop filled with sustainably sourced goodies—from organic skincare to plastic-free home swaps.
Each box supports small businesses, regenerative farming, and environmental nonprofits, while also offering mindful living tips to reduce waste and live more consciously.
Earthlove is a Certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, and their packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable.
Wolven Threads
Made up of a team of artists and activists, this activewear and swimwear brand is all about making high-quality garments featuring bold and beautiful prints — that are also sustainable.
Not only are their products climate neutral, but they’re made with recycled PET plastics and feature minimal packaging.
Additionally, Wolven Threads is a member of 1% For The Planet, meaning that they donate at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.
🎁 Bonus: Get 20% off with code “EPICUREANDCULTURE” (cannot be combined with another sale or discount).
Tap Tap Organics
Tap Tap Organics brings you premium skincare rooted in sustainability. Inspired by traditional Costa Rican beauty rituals, Tap Tap Organics crafts clean skincare products with organic, plant-based ingredients while prioritizing fair trade and eco-friendly practices.
Their product line, rich in natural oils and extracts, is designed to nourish skin without harmful chemicals, making it a gentle choice for both your body and the environment. Every purchase supports sustainable agriculture and fair wages for farmers.
Sustainable Travel Brands: You?
Is your travel brand (or a travel brand you love) high quality, as well as committed to social responsibility, the environment and having a positive impact on the world?
Please fill out this application form and we will get back to you.
Note that we vet all partners listed on this page.