Greener Gains
From towels to water bottles, here’s how to make your gym routine better for the planet.
From towel usage to water bottles, our daily choices add up. One action might not seem like much on its own, but together, they can either help or harm our future.
At Ethos, we’re committed to making our space as sustainable as possible—from the cleaning sprays we use to how we handle laundry and sneaker recycling.
But real change comes from community. That means you.
Here are a few easy, everyday ways you can do your part—on Earth Day and beyond:
1. Limit Towel Usage
Instead of grabbing a fresh towel every time you break a sweat, try using the same one throughout your workout. When showering at the gym, stick to just one towel. This small shift can make a huge impact on laundry loads—did you know the towels we wash each month could fill multiple swimming pools?
Pro Tip: Switch to a microfiber towel. It’s compact, quick-drying, and uses less water to wash.
2. Bring Your Own Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration is essential—but single-use plastic bottles? Not so much. Bringing a reusable water bottle helps reduce landfill waste, and most gyms (including Ethos!) offer refill stations to make staying sustainable easy.
Shop our favorite water bottles
3. Choose Eco-Friendly Fitness Gear
Time for new gym wear? Opt for brands that use sustainable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled fabrics. It’s a simple way to cut down on fast fashion and support companies doing good for the planet.
Brands we love: Girlfriend Collective, Outdoor Voices, Patagonia, TALA, and Rhone.
4. Be Mindful of Shower Time
Quick showers = big water savings. Whether at home or at the gym, cutting your shower by just a few minutes conserves both water and energy. Switching to eco-friendly shower products reduces the chemicals that end up in our water systems.
At Ethos, we use Essential Oils products—clean, high-quality, and planet-friendly.
5. Bike or Walk to the Gym
Live close by? Leave the car at home and get your warm-up in on the way. Biking or walking lowers your carbon footprint and gives you a solid cardio boost before you even hit the gym floor.
Bonus: You’ll always get the best parking spot.
6. Use Glass Containers for Meal Prep
Swap plastic for glass when prepping your meals. Glass is non-toxic, reusable, doesn’t stain or retain odors, and it keeps your food tasting fresh. It’s also way more durable (and prettier!) than disposable options.
Shop our favorite nontoxic home items
7. Recycle Old Sneakers or Gear
Don’t toss worn-out workout shoes or gear in the trash. Many brands (Lululemon, Nike, Adidas, TerraCycle, and more) and local programs accept athletic items for recycling or repurposing. At Ethos, we’ve partnered with Got Sneaks to give your used kicks a second life.
Pro tip: Tie your sneakers together before dropping them off so they stay paired in the recycling bin.
Written by Liz Hund