The OtterList standard

Better shopping starts
with better standards.

We look for independent businesses making thoughtful products with care for people, animals, and the planet. These eight standards guide how we evaluate brands and which products we approve for OtterList.

  1. Independent ownership

    Brands must be independently owned, rather than owned by a major corporation or conglomerate.

  2. Meaningful sustainability

    Products and business practices must demonstrate meaningful environmental benefits through materials, ingredients, production, packaging, or design, supported by credible information.

  3. Ingredient & material transparency

    Products must clearly disclose their full ingredients or material composition.

  4. Better ingredients & materials

    Ingredients and materials must meet the safety, health, and sustainability requirements we set for that product category.

  5. Ethical business practices

    Brands must demonstrate responsible sourcing, fair labor practices, respect for human rights, and care for workers, animals, and communities.

  6. Quality & thoughtful design

    We look for well-made, durable products that provide real value, avoid unnecessary waste, and support repair or reuse where practical.

  7. Animal welfare

    Animal testing is not accepted. Animal-derived ingredients and materials require additional sourcing and welfare review.

  8. No AI-generated creative works

    We don’t accept products where AI-generated art, illustrations, writing, or other creative content forms a meaningful part of the product.

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UNDERSTANDING OUR TAGS

See what makes a product different.

We use tags to highlight additional sustainability and ethical practices across OtterList. They make it easier to understand what a product or brand is doing beyond our core requirements.

Tags are a helpful guide, not independent certifications or guarantees. They’re based on information provided by brands and publicly available sources.

01

Sustainability

Materials, ingredients, packaging, and design choices intended to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Sustainable Materials

Made using responsibly sourced, renewable, recycled, or upcycled materials designed to minimize environmental impact.

Non-Toxic

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

Clean Ingredients

Products with transparent ingredient lists and ingredients that the brand represents as clean. This designation is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or a safety certification.

Organic

Uses organically grown ingredients or materials, whether certified or not.

Plastic-Free

Made without plastic in the product or packaging whenever possible.

Low-Plastic

Uses less plastic than conventional alternatives, either in the product, packaging, or both.

Recycled Materials

Made with recycled materials to help reduce waste and the need for newly produced materials.

Low-Waste

Designed to minimize waste through production, packaging, use, or end-of-life disposal.

Refillable

Designed to be refilled or replenished, reducing repeat packaging waste.

Reusable

Designed for repeated use instead of single-use or disposable alternatives.

Long-Life

Durable products built to last longer than conventional alternatives.

Biodegradable

Products or packaging that naturally break down over time into non-toxic components.

Compostable

Products or packaging designed to decompose in home or industrial compost systems.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

Packaging designed to reduce waste, such as compostable, recyclable, plastic-free, minimal, or recycled packaging.

Climate Conscious

Takes meaningful steps to reduce or balance carbon impact through operations, production, shipping, or packaging.

02

Ethics

Practices related to sourcing, workers, animals, makers, ownership, communities, and giving back.

Ethical Sourcing

Uses sourcing practices that consider people, animals, workers, communities, and environmental impact.

Fair Labor

Prioritizes fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical treatment for workers.

Local Sourcing

Ingredients, materials, or production are sourced locally or regionally whenever possible.

Artisan-Made

Handcrafted by skilled makers, artists, or craftspeople using intentional production methods.

Small Batch / Handmade

Created in smaller quantities or by hand to support quality, craftsmanship, and lower-waste production.

Vegan

Made without animal-derived ingredients or materials.

Cruelty-Free

Not tested on animals at any stage.

Gives Back

A portion of proceeds, resources, or time supports social, environmental, animal, or community causes.

Woman-Owned

Self-identified as woman-owned, woman-led, or majority female-owned.

Minority-Owned

Self-identified as minority-owned or majority BIPOC-owned.

Family-Owned

Owned and operated by a family, with leadership and decision-making kept independent.

CERTIFICATIONS

Verified certifications

Certifications held by a brand may appear on product cards and product pages and may also be available as filters while shopping.

ACCURACY & INTEGRITY

A starting point for better shopping

Ethical and sustainability information is provided by brands or gathered from publicly available sources. OtterList reviews claims where possible, but shoppers should use tags as a helpful starting point.