Green or Greenwashed? The Truth about Eco-Friendly Sex Toys

A lot of us want to make choices that are better for the environment. Reusable bags and water bottles are popular accessories, YouTubers are sharing their hacks and swaps to make the earth a better place, and Liquid Death officially made going green badass. Where’s a great place to start implementing little changes to make the world a better place? Your bedroom, of course! There are plenty of great products out there that are kind to your wallet as well as the planet. The best part is that oftentimes the green version of a product is just as good, if not better (looking at you, water-based lubes). And don’t worry, I’m not advocating you save electricity by turning the lights off during sex.

Eco-Friendly Sex Toys

Whenever there’s a need in the market, it will be filled (at least I think so; I never took an econ class). Enter: eco-friendly sex toys. Of course “green-washing” (pretending that a toy is more eco-friendly than it actually is) is a common practice, so try not to be too swayed by a package that just has the words “eco-friendly” slapped on the front, and actually think about what makes it better for the planet. Even some companies that make eco-friendly toys will undo all the good they’re doing by putting them in tons of plastic packaging (more on packaging later).

Cosmopolitan put out a list of some of the best eco-friendly toys, along with a guide to discerning which are actually eco-friendly, and which are just using marketing buzzwords. The main takeaway: try to avoid virgin plastics, and opt for a toy made from recycled plastics. Virginity is an outdated concept anyway.  The Womanizer Premium Eco, for example, is made of sustainable, renewable materials, namely Biolene. They also plant a tree for each one sold, so kudos to them. Meanwhile, Ohhcean’s entire toy line is made of recycled plastic, making them an obvious choice for anyone passionate about the environment.

Another key is to look for transparency when it comes to toys. Does the website discuss the building process at all? Considering we’d all like to be more eco-friendly, companies aren’t exactly about to hide it if they’re sustainable, so a company with zero information on the materials used probably isn’t the most sustainable option.

Glass sex toys are another great choice, since glass items are much better for the environment than plastic, both at the beginning and end of their production.

It’s also more eco-friendly to look for a toy that is not only rechargeable, but will last for longer play sessions, saving both batteries and energy.

Lubricants

Aside from their other benefits, especially their versatility, water-based lubes are also better for the environment than silicone-based lubes. Aloe Cadabra is a brand that specializes in organic lubricants that I really want to try. And not just because they’re eco-friendly, mostly because of the great-sounding flavors (Key Lime Pie? Butter Rum? Delicious!).

While you’re at it, check out our list of lube alternatives! I think I’ll stick with store-bought, but it’s good to know there are other options out there!

Be Discerning

A simple but very effective way of being more eco-friendly in the bedroom is to simply buy fewer things. One great way of doing this is to use a guide…a sex toy guide, if you will. On this site, we strive to write honest, detailed reviews of every product, so that people will know whether they’re worth investing in. While the idea of a drawer stuffed with all manner of sex toys seems appealing, most of us really don’t need that many, and your wallet and the planet will ultimately be better off if you only stick to buying toys that you really think you’ll love and will use over and over again. Of course it’s impossible to know for sure whether something as intimate as a sex toy will work for you, but with the help of reviews on here and other sites, you can narrow down exactly what you want in a toy.

Having fewer toys has its benefits; there’s nothing better than getting into a perfect rhythm with your favorite toy and pressing that exact button sequence, knowing you’re in for a good time. There’s been more than one occasion when a toy will feel too intense or just plain weird the first time I try it, then when I try it again, or from a different position, I fall in love. If you find yourself lusting after the gorgeous looks of the Zalo Confidence, double check that you don’t already have a perfectly serviceable wand toy in your collection that you can use instead.

Yes, Used is an Option

It’s not necessarily ideal, but there’s a Reddit page dedicated to buying used sex toys at a discount. There are other sites for selling used sex toys, but unfortunately, they mostly seem to be for fetishists. Though, I guess if you are a fetishist, that would be an added bonus, so…go for it. But if you want a much more professional, cut and dry experience, give the Reddit page a try.

What I would Love to See

In the future, I would love it if companies gave the option to not include extraneous extras. For example, it would make so much sense if adding a USB charger was an option that cost maybe a dollar extra. I would also like the option to choose the language the instruction manual comes in. How much paper would we collectively save if the only manual pages we got were the ones in our language? And while I appreciate cute little extras like stickers and such, I do feel a little bad when I receive one, smile at it, and immediately throw it away. I appreciate it when companies go above and beyond, but a little “Thanks for shopping with us” note on some eco-friendly cardboard would more than suffice.

With so many eco-friendly options out there, including using toys you already own, indulgence never felt nobler!

Happy vibing!

Becky

Becky V is a Los Angeles native who loves indie bookstores, Broadway musicals, and a good cup of tea. She is passionate about sexual wellness and wants to make the world a better place one orgasm at a time!