The little green book

Leaving a lean environmental footprint needn’t mean swapping your Lycra for hemp. Highperformance brands are investing time and energy into crafting sustainable, durable products that are as good for your goals as they are the planet

You haven’t checked in for a flight in what feels like a decade, and you only check out the plant-based options on Deliveroo. But, between those disposable face masks woven with polypropylene and toasty evenings beneath a patio heater, our collective lockdown habits have done the planet few favours. So now feels like a good time to restore your eco efforts to pre-pandemic levels when you’d never leave the house without your Keepcup. While it’s true that wellness and sustainability haven’t always been the most compatible of bedfellows (think: new trainers every season), the mood has shifted. And the reason the industry’s competitive mindset is no longer at odds with conservation? You. ‘Consumers are increasingly critical of brands that are unable to share information about provenance and company values,’ says Roxy Rocksengelman, a sustainability consultant working with the food and clothing industries. ‘It’s evolved far beyond an afterthought to satisfy a tick box.’ Which means eco-aware wellness companies are funnelling money and resources into innovation – crafting offerings designed for longevity, not landfill. ‘The result is a better-quality product,’ adds Rocks-engelman. It makes sense: if a brand is unwilling to exploit the planet, it’s unlikely to flog you sub-par leggings that will fall to bits two months into your new fitness routine. Because the gear you’re using should be able to keep pace with your lifestyle, here’s our ultimate list of kit that’s got WH’S green light.