What Can You Get in a Sustainable Subscription Box?

The items you can receive in a sustainable subscription box depends largely on which box you choose. Many boxes offer a more general assortment of items like books, snacks, household items, and accessories. Alternatively, more specialized boxes let shoppers receive everything from household cleaners and beauty products to period products. Some boxes also offer exclusively zero-waste products or let subscribers choose from regular or vegan items.

Are Sustainable Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Sustainable subscription boxes may be worth the cost if you’re trying to develop more sustainable habits and want help making those transitions. Because subscription boxes include a range of products, you may receive items that you don’t like or won’t use. However, if you find yourself enjoying the contents, these boxes can be a great way to explore new products. Many subscription box providers also let customers see what was in past boxes, which can help you decide if the subscription is likely to be a good fit.

How Much Do Sustainable Subscription Boxes Cost?

The cost of sustainable subscription boxes typically ranges anywhere from roughly $10 to $100 per box, and varies depending on several factors, including the type, number, size, and quality of products. While many subscription services provide curated boxes of five or more products (including some full-sized items), others limit boxes to a couple of high-value items. The cost of individual boxes also depends on whether a subscriber pays for several months in advance and how frequently they receive a new box.

Who Should Use a Sustainable Subscription Box?

Sustainable subscription boxes are great for customers looking for a specific type of good—home cleaning products, beauty products, fashion, etc.—while reducing their carbon footprint. For example, users can subscribe to cleaning boxes that use only recyclable packaging like glass or aluminum containers.

What Are the Most Important Things to Look for in a Sustainable Subscription Box?

The most important things included in sustainable subscription boxes include eco-friendly packaging (recyclable or compostable materials); environmentally-friendly products (non-toxic, cruelty-free, or vegan); and low-waste product packaging with minimal or zero plastic.

Best Sustainable Subscription Boxes of 2023

Sustainable subscription boxes are recurring shipments of carefully curated, eco-friendly products that make it easier to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Many of these companies use low-waste packaging with reduced or no plastic, zero-waste products, or shipping products that are biodegradable and compostable. These shipments can contain everything from home goods to beauty products and accessories, and they're a great way to discover new products.

The best sustainable subscription boxes include a wide range of high-quality products that are often vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. Many also provide totally customizable shipments so you never run out of your favorite items. Top providers offer several membership options at an accessible price point and make it easy to cancel the subscription. Here, we rounded up the best sustainable subscription boxes.

Best Overall: Grove Collaborative
Best for Gifting: Earthlove
Best for Sustainable Fashion: thredUP Goody Boxes
Best for Household Products: MightyFix by MightyNest
Best for Zero Waste: greenUP Box
Best for Sustainable Beauty: Kinder Beauty Box
Best for Jewelry: Switch
Best for Period Products: Rael

Best Overall: Grove Collaborative

Key Specs

Price: $20 per year for VIP membership
Products: Household goods and beauty products
Free Shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

With its huge selection of products, excellent customer service, and mission to become plastic-free, Grove Collaborative offers the most customizable subscription service on our list.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

VIP members receive free shipping and other perks
Easy to modify monthly shipments so you don’t run out of your favorite products
100% plastic neutral and aims to be plastic-free by 2025

Cons:

Subscription settings require monitoring to avoid unintended purchases

Overview

Though not a traditional subscription box, Grove Collaborative is an online marketplace that lets customers subscribe to their favorite products and receive curated suggestions based on those purchases.

The selection of products is wide and includes cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other home goods, plus extensive clean beauty products that can be added to subscriptions. The cost of each box varies depending on your needs, but monthly orders must be at least $29 to ship.

Customers who sign up for the VIP membership program for about $20 per year receive unlimited free shipping, free seasonal gifts, exclusive promotions, and early access to new products. Once you build your first box, you can set up product subscriptions and receive a new shipment each month.

Notably, the company is 100% plastic neutral and a Certified B Corporation; it plans to be totally plastic-free by 2025. This means that the company’s own line of products comes in glass, aluminum, and paper packaging, and many of the third-party vendors are already transitioning to more sustainable packaging options.

Best for Gifting: Earthlove

Key Specs

Price: $60 per quarter
Products: Books, healthy snacks and tea, wellness, home decor, and apparel
Free Shipping: Yes, with prepaid annual subscription

Why We Chose It

Earthlove’s sustainable subscription boxes earn top marks for gifting because of their flexible plans, low-waste packaging, and rigorous product certifications.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Can choose from a single gift box, a bi-annual gift, or individual products
Products are organic, sustainably sourced, all-natural, vegan/beegan, and feature low waste packaging
Shoppers can choose to offset their carbon footprint for shipping boxes

Cons:

Only annual subscribers receive free shipping

Overview

Earthlove is a sustainable subscription box curated by the team at Spirit Wild Farm, a sustainable farm and natural apiary in Washington State. Curated items are perfect for gifting, and typically include books, six to eight artisanal, eco-conscious products, and a guide with wellness tips and seasonal eco challenges.

Boxes, which cost about $60 each, are shipped quarterly and always contain at least $150 worth of products. An annual prepaid subscription costs about $240 and includes free shipping.

When choosing products, Earthlove selects items that have various eco certifications including but not limited to the Rainforest Alliance, USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Vegan, Cruelty-free, and Leaping Bunny. In addition to filling boxes with conscious products, Earthlove is a member of 1% for the Planet and a portion of proceeds from each box is donated to a featured environmental nonprofit.

Best for Sustainable Fashion: thredUP Goody Boxes

Key Specs

Price: $10 per box, plus the cost of what you keep
Products: Gently used clothing, handbags, and accessories
Free Shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

ThredUP’s curated boxes make it easy to cut your dependence on fast fashion and extend the life cycle of clothing while keeping up with trends.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Curated boxes are available as a one-time purchase or recurring subscription
Shoppers can customize items or select themed boxes
$10 stylist fee goes towards anything that’s purchased

Cons:

If you don’t like stylist’s choices, shipping items back increases carbon footprint

Overview

ThredUP is an online consignment and thrift store that also simplifies clothing shopping with its curated subscription boxes. By opting for gently-used, second-hand clothing instead of new, subscribers can cut back on unsustainable fast fashion.

When creating a subscription box, choose how much you want to spend on each item, the types of items you’d like to receive, occasions you commonly dress for, and color and feature preferences. For example, if you prefer to avoid dry-clean only, synthetic, and leather materials, just include it in your style profile to customize your box to make it even more sustainable.

Shoppers can purchase a one-time box or subscribe to receive one every two, three, or four months. A styling fee of roughly $10, which goes towards any items you keep from the box, is charged for each shipment; shipping is free both ways.

Best for Household Products: MightyFix by MightyNest

Key Specs

Price: $15 per month
Products: Non-toxic products for home, body and wellness, kids, and pets
Free Shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

MightyNest’s monthly MightyFix plan is a top option for shoppers who want to explore new household products that can reduce their environmental impact.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Shoppers can choose from monthly MightyFix or Essentials subscriptions
MightyFix members can opt to receive only vegan products
Subscribers receive about 35% off most other products through MightyNest

Cons:

Product offerings are more limited than some other marketplaces

Overview

MightyFix is a subscription service offered by MightyNest, an online marketplace that helps customers make simple swaps to reduce their environmental footprint. Costing just $15 per month, members receive one product to help them become more sustainable at home. Subscribers get free shipping, plus about 35% off almost everything else MightyNest sells.

Mighty Essentials also makes it easy to stay stocked in your favorite sustainable cleaning products, kitchen and pantry items, and bath and body products. Members can add products to their monthly box at a discount, and receive an even greater price reduction for subscriptions.

Best for Zero Waste: greenUP Box

Key Specs

Price: $65 per box
Products: Zero-waste household, cleaning, and health and beauty
Free Shipping: No

Why We Chose It

GreenUP is our top choice for zero waste subscription boxes because of its carefully curated products that help members make sustainable swaps in every part of their home and life.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Subscription products are zero waste
Each box has a different theme
Shoppers can also purchase past boxes and curated collections

Cons:

Website is somewhat difficult to navigate

Overview

GreenUP’s subscription boxes are designed for customers who want to trade out common household products for zero waste alternatives. Each box contains six to nine sustainable, eco-friendly products that fit within a theme.

Past themes include grocery shopping, kitchen, morning routine, workday, summer, and cleaning. Boxes are delivered every other month and cost about $40 each, plus shipping (though residents of the Continental U.S. only pay about a $3 flat rate). Free shipping is available for orders of about $50 or more.

Shoppers can also stock up on curated essentials by purchasing one of greenUP’s collections like Mother Earth (about $120), #byeplastic (roughly $130), or the more extensive Plastic Rehab collection (around $258). Past boxes can also be purchased until they sell out.

Best for Sustainable Beauty: Kinder Beauty Box

Key Specs

Price: $23 to $26 per month
Products: Skincare, makeup, haircare, body products, and accessories
Free Shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

If you’re committed to using vegan, cruelty-free, and clean beauty products, the Kinder Beauty Box excels because of its flexible subscription options and high-quality, sustainable products.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and clean
Shoppers can choose from month-to-month, three-month, or six-month subscription options
Six- and 12-month subscribers get two free, full-size bonus products

Cons:

No customization available

Overview

The Kinder Beauty Box is a traditional subscription service that features vegan, cruelty-free, and clean products from top brands like Osea, Pacifica, and Juice Beauty.

Each box contains at least $85 worth of products, including at least one full-sized product, and the marketplace lets you buy past boxes and individual products. Shipping boxes are made from 100% recycled materials and are biodegradable and compostable; likewise, packing materials are made from 100% recycled materials.

A month-to-month subscription costs roughly $26 per box, but shoppers can also prepay for six or 12 months for about $23 per month. Prepaid customers get a free bonus box (worth more than $75) with their first shipment, and all members get free shipping. Shoppers can also purchase a three-, six-, or 12-month gift plan for roughly $72, $138, and $276, respectively. Finally, a portion of all sales is donated to nonprofits like Animal Equality and Woodstock Animal Sanctuary.

Best for Jewelry: Switch

Key Specs

Price: $45 to $95 per month
Products: Fine, vintage, statement, and fashion jewelry
Free Shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Switch jewelry subscription boxes can make your closet more sustainable by extending the useful life of high-quality, luxury pieces.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Users can choose from a huge selection of high-quality jewelry
Offers several membership plans at a range of price points
Subscribers receive shopping credits and can purchase items they love at a discount

Cons:

Membership plans are pricey, even for a single piece of jewelry each month

Overview

Jewelry subscription boxes can be fraught with waste, especially if you don’t like the items or they’re made from unsustainable materials. Switch reduces the waste associated with jewelry by letting subscribers choose their items and receive a discount to purchase nearly-new items they love. Pieces have an average retail price of about $700, and members can keep the pieces as long as they want.

The Gold plan includes one piece at a time for roughly $40 per month, and customers earn about $5 per month in credits. Platinum costs around $70 per month for two pieces at a time ($7 per month in credits), and the Black plan includes three pieces at a time for approximately $90 per month and $10 in monthly credits. Shipping is always free both ways, and members can cancel at any time.

Best for Period Products: Rael

Key Specs

Price: Varies
Products: Organic cotton tampons and pads, skincare, and feminine care plus reusable products
Free Shipping: Subscriptions of $50 or more

Why We Chose It

Rael’s subscription boxes make it easy to customize monthly deliveries to include everything from organic cotton tampons and reusable menstrual cups to heating patches and skincare tailored to hormone fluctuations.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Customized subscriptions are delivered every one or three months
Plant-based and cardboard tampon applicators are available
Also offers reusable products like period underwear, pads, and menstrual cups

Cons:

Some applicators are made out of plastic, though they are BPA-free

Overview

Founded by three women, Rael is a holistic period care company that offers organic cotton pads and tampons with BPA-free plastic, plant-based, or cardboard applicators.

Unlike other period product subscription services, Rael also specializes in skincare and body care products that are tailored to fluctuating hormones. Make your order even more sustainable by opting for reusable options, including period underwear and menstrual cups.

Pricing varies depending on the subscription you select. Shoppers can choose from one-time purchases or get a 10% discount for subscribing to deliveries every month or three months. Shipments of $50 or more include free shipping.

Final Verdict

When choosing a sustainable subscription box, there are a number of options that offer a curated selection of books, home goods, cleaning products, health and beauty products, and snacks. Some options, like thredUP and Switch, let users purchase or rent gently used clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Companies like Grove Collaborative, Rael, and MightyNest let shoppers build their own boxes from a large marketplace of sustainable products.

Our best sustainable subscription box overall—Grove Collaborative—stands out because of its flexibility and customization options. Not only can customers choose from their favorite low-waste products, but the company makes it easy on subscribers’ wallets and the planet.

Compare the Best Sustainable Subscription Boxes

Company	Price	Products	Free Shipping	Customization
Grove Collaborative Best Overall	$20 per year for VIP membership	Household goods and beauty products	Yes	Yes
Earthlove Best for Gifting	$60 per quarter	Books, healthy snacks and tea, wellness, home decor, and apparel	Yes, with prepaid annual subscription	Beegan or vegan
thredUP Goody Boxes Best for Sustainable Fashion	$10 per box, plus the cost of what you keep	Gently used clothing, handbags, and accessories	Yes	Yes
MightyFix Best for Household Products	$15 per month	Non-toxic products for home, body and wellness, kids, and pets	Yes	Yes
greenUP Box Best for Zero Waste	$65 per box	Zero-waste household, cleaning, and health and beauty	No	Beegan or vegan
Kinder Beauty Box Best for Sustainable Beauty	$23 to $26 per month	Skincare, makeup, haircare, body products, and accessories	Yes	No
Switch Best for Jewelry	$45 to $95 per month	Fine, vintage, statement, and fashion jewelry	Yes	Yes
Rael Best for Period Products	Varies	Organic cotton tampons and pads, skincare, and feminine care plus reusable products	Subscriptions of $50 or more	Yes

Sustainable Subscription Box Certifications

When choosing the best sustainable subscription box for your needs, it may be worth considering some of the most common sustainability certifications. This helps ensure you only receive products that align with your lifestyle and values. Common sustainable subscription box certifications include:

Leaping Bunny Certified: This rigorous certification is reserved for household and beauty products that have not been tested on animals—including ingredients, formulations, final products, and products from third-party suppliers. Keep in mind, however, that this does not guarantee that a product is vegan.
Certified Vegan: Products that are labeled Certified Vegan don’t contain animal products or byproducts and have not been tested on animals. The certification can apply to food, drinks, personal care items, textiles and linens, clothing and accessories, and mattresses and pillows.
USDA Organic: For certification, the USDA National Organic Program requires food, drinks, personal care items, and textiles to meet strict pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer requirements. The program also restricts the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge in the production of certified products.
Fair Trade Certified: Relevant to clothing, food, and beverages, the Fair Trade Certified seal indicates that a business is held to standards pertaining to income sustainability, community and individual well-being, empowerment, and environmental stewardship. This includes, but is not limited to, fair labor, workers’ rights, and sustainable land management.
1% for the Planet: This program certifies companies that pledge to give the equivalent of 1% of their gross sales directly to environmental charities. That said, being a 1% for the Planet participant does not mean all of the company’s products are sustainable.
Certified B Corporation: A Certified B Corporation—or B Corp—is one that meets certain rigorous criteria related to its impact on the business’ environment, workers, community, and customers. These organizations must also update their governing documents to reflect the B Corp mission of balancing profit and purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can You Get in a Sustainable Subscription Box?

The items you can receive in a sustainable subscription box depends largely on which box you choose. Many boxes offer a more general assortment of items like books, snacks, household items, and accessories. Alternatively, more specialized boxes let shoppers receive everything from household cleaners and beauty products to period products. Some boxes also offer exclusively zero-waste products or let subscribers choose from regular or vegan items.
Are Sustainable Subscription Boxes Worth It?

Sustainable subscription boxes may be worth the cost if you’re trying to develop more sustainable habits and want help making those transitions. Because subscription boxes include a range of products, you may receive items that you don’t like or won’t use. However, if you find yourself enjoying the contents, these boxes can be a great way to explore new products. Many subscription box providers also let customers see what was in past boxes, which can help you decide if the subscription is likely to be a good fit.
How Much Do Sustainable Subscription Boxes Cost?

The cost of sustainable subscription boxes typically ranges anywhere from roughly $10 to $100 per box, and varies depending on several factors, including the type, number, size, and quality of products. While many subscription services provide curated boxes of five or more products (including some full-sized items), others limit boxes to a couple of high-value items. The cost of individual boxes also depends on whether a subscriber pays for several months in advance and how frequently they receive a new box.
Who Should Use a Sustainable Subscription Box?

Sustainable subscription boxes are great for customers looking for a specific type of good—home cleaning products, beauty products, fashion, etc.—while reducing their carbon footprint. For example, users can subscribe to cleaning boxes that use only recyclable packaging like glass or aluminum containers.
What Are the Most Important Things to Look for in a Sustainable Subscription Box?

The most important things included in sustainable subscription boxes include eco-friendly packaging (recyclable or compostable materials); environmentally-friendly products (non-toxic, cruelty-free, or vegan); and low-waste product packaging with minimal or zero plastic.

Methodology

To choose the best sustainable subscription boxes, we compared 30 popular subscription services based on whether each offers non-toxic, cruelty-free, vegan, and low or zero-waste products. We also considered whether each subscription box features eco-friendly packaging and shipping practices, and whether products are limited to those with certifications like Leaping Bunny. Finally, we evaluated whether each company is a Certified B Corporation, and if it donates any portion of sales to environmental organizations.