About Our Standards

OtterList brings together independent brands, artisan creators and mission-driven companies leading the way in conscious commerce.

Our mission is simple: to make it easy for us to find and support sustainable, ethical, and transparent brands, all in one place.

Our 3 Pillars

♻️ Sustainability

Products and practices that aim to protect the planet - using non-toxic, low-waste, and eco-friendly materials built to last whenever possible.

🤝 Ethics

Brands that prioritize fairness, compassion, and respect for people, animals, and communities through responsible sourcing, fair treatment, and conscious craftsmanship.

🔎 Transparency

A commitment to openness - sharing materials, ingredients, and sourcing details as clearly as possible, and being honest about where there’s still room to grow.

Every brand on OtterList must demonstrate Sustainability or Ethical practices - and is encouraged to share their journey with as much Transparency as possible. We don’t expect perfection - only genuine effort, integrity, and progress toward better practices for people and the planet.

Note: We’ve recently updated our product tags! The rest of the site will be refreshed to match this new list soon.

Core Standards

Sustainability Product Tags

Made using materials that are responsibly sourced, renewable, recycled, or upcycled — designed to minimize environmental impact from production through end of life. Whether it’s organic cotton, bamboo, recycled metals, or FSC-certified wood, these products prioritize durability and regeneration over waste.

Made without known harmful or hazardous chemicals, based on material disclosures or manufacturer claims.

Formulated with safe, naturally derived ingredients - free from known harmful chemicals, toxins, and unnecessary additives. Every formula is crafted with your health and the planet in mind.

Uses organically grown ingredients or materials — whether certified or not — made without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs to support natural farming and soil health.

Made without any plastic in its materials, helping reduce waste, pollution, and microplastics.

Uses minimal plastic compared to conventional alternatives, either in the product, packaging, or both.

Designed to minimize waste at every stage - from production to packaging - through reusable, refillable, or compostable materials that reduce what ends up in landfills.

Designed to be replenished or refilled with replacement contents, extending the product’s lifespan and reducing the need for new containers or packaging.

Designed for repeated, long-term use — replacing disposable or single-use alternatives and reducing waste over time.

Durable products built to last longer than conventional alternatives, helping reduce waste, resource use, and repeat purchases through long-term use.

Products or packaging that naturally break down over time into non-toxic components, reducing long-term waste and environmental impact.

Products or packaging designed to fully decompose in home or industrial compost systems, turning into nutrient-rich material instead of waste.

Packaging is designed to reduce waste — compostable, recyclable, plastic-free, minimal, or made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.

Takes meaningful steps to reduce or balance carbon impact across operations — including climate-neutral certifications, carbon-reduced production, and eco-friendly shipping practices such as minimal packaging, local fulfillment, or carbon-offset delivery.

Ethical Practices Product Tags

Small Independent Brand

All brands on OtterList must be founder-led or independently owned, not part of a major corporation or conglomerate.

Transparent, responsible sourcing and fair labor.

The brand ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical treatment for everyone involved in making its products — supporting dignity and equity throughout the supply chain.

Ingredients, materials, or production take place within the same country - often near the brand’s home base - supporting regional economies, reducing transportation impact, and fostering closer relationships between makers and their suppliers.

Handcrafted by skilled artisans and creators using intentional methods that honor craft, creativity, and quality over mass production.

Crafted in limited quantities or by artisans to ensure quality and reduce waste.

No animal-derived ingredients. Non-vegan products on OtterList must provide clear transparency about their sourcing and treatment practices.

Not tested on animals at any stage.

A portion of proceeds supports social or environmental causes.

Self-identified as women-owned, independently led, or majority female-owned.

Self-identified as minority-owned or majority BIPOC-owned, supporting diversity in ethical business leadership.

Owned and operated by a family, with leadership and decision-making kept independent rather than controlled by a large corporation or private equity.

Transparency Product Tags

Ingredients / Materials Listed

All products featured on OtterList must include a complete list of ingredients or materials directly on their listing.
Brands are encouraged to share the same information on their own websites as part of their ongoing transparency efforts.

The brand clearly shares where materials come from and how products are made — including sourcing regions, supplier details, or production methods.
This transparency helps shoppers understand each brand’s impact and supports honest, responsible manufacturing.

Certifications

All verified certifications held by a brand will appear on product cards and product pages, and will be available as filters on collection pages.

Accuracy & Integrity

All ethical and sustainability information is provided directly by the brand or gathered from publicly available sources.
While OtterList doesn’t independently verify every claim, we carefully select partners that demonstrate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to grow in alignment with these values.

Brand Approval Requirements

Account