In recent years, more people have become aware of climate change and the need to make changes in their houses and their shopping habits to reduce their carbon footprint. This is also true for recreational hobbies, including sports and exercise. As customers ask for eco-conscious sporting products, more brands are adopting eco-friendly manufacturing processes and materials. If you are looking for new sporting brands to purchase from, read on.

1. Custom Sporting Goods

One way to reduce waste is to buy sporting goods that are custom made, like custom baseball gloves. Buying something that is made specifically for you means that the fit will be perfect and you won't need to keep looking for and buying something that works. Custom made products are usually made from higher quality materials, meaning they are longer-lasting.

2. Organic Athletic Wear

Athletic wear companies, like Organic Basics, are making the shift to organic materials. Using recycled and low-impact textiles, they make products that are biodegradable and won't sit in a landfill for centuries after you are done with them.

3. Recycled Composite Materials

Recycling companies, like Washington's Composites Recycling Technology Center, are creating their own sports equipment made from recycled materials. This keeps carbon fiber scrap out of landfills while creating long-lasting sporting goods.

4. Reusing Plastic

Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter our water systems. Fish eat this plastic and it enters our food systems. Sporting goods companies like Rockay are looking for ways to reuse plastic and keep it out of the ocean. Their athletic gear is odorless and durable. It has the added benefit of being quick-dry, reducing the need to use the clothes dryer.

5. Water Filters for Reusable Bottles

Single-use water bottles are one of the biggest source of plastic waste in this country. If each person were to switch to reusable water bottles, that would be a savings of 1500 water bottles a year. It can be hard, though, to refill your bottles when you are outside exercising. Companies like Guzzle H20 have come up with a solution, a portable water filter. One filter can save 700 pounds of plastic waste.

6. Renewable Materials

While some athletic wear companies are using plastic waste to manufacture their clothing, others are turning to materials that have been used for centuries to make clothes and shoes. Cotton and wool are renewable and biodegradable materials that were used long before polyester. Shoe companies like All-birds are taking sustainable materials like wool and modernizing them for sturdy, long-lasting sports shoes.

7. Equipment For Extreme Sports

Athletes who spend much of their time outdoors in extreme conditions rely on strong materials to keep them safe. VOORMI is creating apparel for these extreme athletes that is long-lasting and can be worn for days. Made from sustainable materials in the United States.

8. Big Brands Are Changing

Most of these brands we've seen are start-ups, but even the established brands like Adidas are pledging to make their products more eco-conscious. This includes changing their manufacturing to use less energy and emit few carbon emissions into the air.

9. Fair Wage is Important

Paying a living wage to workers is important in lifting the world out of poverty. Many eco-friendly athletic brands are committed to paying fair wages. This includes Groceries Apparel, which manufactures its products in California.

10. Safe Laundry Products

Laundry products are a major source of water pollution. Companies have responded to this by creating detergents that are strong enough to remove odors from athletic apparel but are also safe for the planet. One brand doing this is Vapor Fresh.

Being eco-friendly used to be a lot of work and very expensive, but as so many brands embrace environmentalism, it is easier to find products that work for you. Next time you need new athletic apparel or equipment, look for these brands.