15 Sustainable Print-On-Demand Suppliers
Here are the 15 best eco-friendly print-on-demand companies.
Omar's Take
Aside from being a highly popular print-on-demand company, Printful commits to sustainable practices that help reduce waste and protect the environment.
Best for:
Starting sellers
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Printful’s mission is to create on-demand manufacturing practices that leave as little impact on the planet as possible. For example, Printful recently recycled up to 787,524 pounds of fashion manufacturing materials.
Advantages
Here are some of Printful’s advantages.
- The platform is easy to use, making it great for beginners.
- Printful has no membership or subscription fees.
- The company is partners with Sedex, an ethical trade service provider.
- Printful works with Geocycle and Martex to process fabric waste
Cons
While generally a great print-on-demand company, some users report a lag in response time to customer service concerns.
Pricing
Using Printful is free. You only pay for products you order and ship.
Omar's Take
Printify has stellar product quality and service in the print-on-demand world. Add to that their sustainable practices are an amazing supplier choice.
Best for:
Seamless fulfillment
Price:
Starts at $29 monthly
Annual Billing:
Starts at $24.99 monthly (billed annually)
Promotion:
Save 14% on an annual plan
Printify considers total sustainability with its efforts. They have eco-friendly, reusable, biodegradable, vegan, ethical, and organic products and practices.
Advantages
Here are some of Printify’s advantages.
- The company’s facilities have Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) certifications, given only to manufacturers that operate under ethical and humane conditions.
- There are entirely biodegradable products like wood canvas, wooden Christmas ornaments, and biodegradable phone cases.
- Printify offers cruelty-free products for vegan businesses and their customers.
Products are high-quality.
Cons
You must pay a fixed monthly or annual subscription to use Printify at scale. These fees can be costly if you’re just starting.
Pricing
Here are Printify’s plans.
- Free plan
- Premium – $29 monthly
- Enterprise – Custom pricing
Omar's Take
TPOP’s commitment to sustainable practices is laudable, especially its efforts to reduce plastic. They’re a great option for businesses that want to go plastic-free.
Best for:
High-quality print-on-demand products
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
TPOP’s core objective is to give businesses a reliable print-on-demand supplier while helping conserve the planet. They work with textile suppliers who commit to a green approach and use plastic-free shipping.
Advantages
Here are some of TPOP’s advantages.
- The company uses 100% OEKO-TEX® Eco Passport and GOTS 5.0 label vegan inks.
- TPOP’s commitment to reducing plastic waste is front and center of their operations and advocacy.
- Sellers have plenty of branding options for their products.
Cons
TPOP has fewer product and media options, so you might not have the type of product you want to sell.
Pricing
TPOP is free to use. You only pay for product manufacturing and fulfillment.
Omar's Take
What I like about Prodigi is their effort to sustainably source their wood and paper, which is commendable given the size of their operation.
Best for:
Wood and paper products
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Prodigi has long championed sustainable dropshipping and print-on-demand. They provide organic print-on-demand products and eco-friendly inks.
Advantages
Here are some of Prodigi’s advantages.
- Inks are Neo pigment, water-based, 100% non-hazardous, and toxin-free.
- Their efforts go to making global fulfillment local to reduce carbon emissions.
- They have great quality print-on-demand sustainable clothing.
Cons
While Prodigi’s products are high-quality, they can be expensive, making it difficult to achieve a good profit margin.
Pricing
Prodigi is free to use. You only pay for production and fulfillment.
Omar's Take
Gelato puts sustainability front and center. They continue to make more of their practices and products ethical and sustainable.
Best for:
Deliveries in the same country
Price:
Starts at $14.99 monthly
Annual Billing:
Starts at $139 annually
Promotion:
Save up to 20% on an annual plan
Gelato makes extensive efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The company fulfilled 87% of all its orders within the same country as the end customer in 2022.
Advantages
Here are some of Gelato’s advantages.
- They’re committed to localizing fulfillment and production to lessen carbon emissions.
- The company commits to diversity in its hiring practices.
- All of their suppliers sign a 100% sustainable code of conduct.
Cons
Gelato+ requires a monthly subscription, which could be an issue for print-on-demand businesses starting their first online store.
Pricing
Here are Gelato’s plans.
- Standard – Free
- Gelato+ – $14.99 monthly
- Gold – $99 monthly
- Platinum – Bespoke pricing
Omar's Take
Eco Merch is committed to printing only sustainable products and running fully eco-friendly factories, which is impressive.
Best for:
Direct-to-garment printing
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Eco Merch is a great print-on-demand site on a mission to make print-based businesses more eco-friendly.
Advantages
These are some of Eco Merch’s advantages.
- The company offers organic DTG on-demand printing with great ink quality.
- Eco Merch provides photography services to its clients for a fee.
Cons
Eco Merch has a limited product line.
Pricing
Eco Merch is free to use. You only pay for production and fulfillment.
Omar's Take
Redbubble is well-known in the fashion industry, and its commitment to sustainable practices has grown.
Best for:
Artists and designers
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Redbubble is a popular print-on-demand supplier and marketplace among artists. The company has partnered with 3Degrees, a renewable energy specialist that helps organizations build environment-friendly operations.
Advantages
Here are some of Redbubble’s advantages.
- 95% of the Redbubble Marketplace packages come from the same shipping region, lowering carbon emissions significantly.
- They’ve committed to using more renewable energy.
- Redbubble requires all their printers to follow an FLA Code of Conduct.
Cons
Commissions and profit margins for artists aren’t as high on Redbubble as they are with other options on this list.
Pricing
Redbubble is free, but the company takes 80% of your retail price. You can increase or decrease your margin as you see fit.
Omar's Take
Apliiq specializes in t-shirts and commits to sustainable practices and products, making it a great option for t-shirt brands.
Best for:
T-shirt brands
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Apliiq is a sustainable print-on-demand USA company committed to sustainability. They offer their clients organic cotton products, recycled polyester garments, and hemp.
Advantages
Here are some of Apliiq’s advantages.
- Apliiq provides some of the best quality sustainable custom t-shirts and eco-friendly print-on-demand t-shirts.
- The company offers a custom option to label your sustainable merchandise.
Cons
Apliiq only focuses on streetwear and streetwear accessories at the moment.
Pricing
Apliiq’s platform is free to use.
Omar's Take
If you’re in Germany, you will benefit greatly from using this print-on-demand supplier. They also have great organic t-shirts that your customers will love.
Best for:
Print-on-demand businesses in Germany.
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Shirtee is a Germany-based print-on-demand company focusing mainly on print-on-demand t-shirts.
Advantages
Here are some of Shirtee’s advantages.
- The company prints Stanley and Stella Organic products.
- There are some great selections of baby wear and home products.
Cons
The company isn’t as widely known as the other options on this list yet. They also currently only ship from Germany, which could extend shipping times for locations beyond Europe.
Pricing
Shirtee is a free-to-use print-on-demand site.
Omar's Take
This sustainable print-on-demand supplier could be a great option for sustainable entrepreneurs in the UK.
Best for:
UK-based print-on-demand companies.
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Inkthreadable is a UK-based print-on-demand site that commits to ethical policies and sustainability. They started this journey in 2017 and have ramped up eco-friendly practices since.
Advantages
Here are some of Inkthreadable’s advantages.
- They only use WRAP-certified factories.
- They offer Stanley/Stella organic products.
- Their inks are vegan and toxin-free.
Cons
Shipments and fulfillment can be slow at times.
Pricing
Inkthreadable’s print-on-demand platform is free to use.
Omar's Take
Two Fifteen is a great print-on-demand option for sellers who need multiple integrations.
Best for:
Ecommerce integrations
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Two Fifteen integrates with most major ecommerce sites, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and more.
Advantages
Here are some of Two Fifteen’s advantages.
- The company has DTG printers with vegan-friendly and OEKO-TEX-certified ink.
- They have donated unshipped clothes to charities within their local community.
Cons
Some users report customer service and shipping times being slower than other POD sites.
Pricing
Two Fifteen’s site is free to use. You only pay for production and fulfillment.
Omar's Take
Teemill makes it a goal to solve production waste through more efficient practices. As a result, they’ve paved the way for many sustainable businesses to thrive.
Best for:
Fashion brands that want to eliminate waste
Price:
Starts at £10 monthly (Teemill Pro)
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Teemill is another UK-based and sustainable print-on-demand company. Its mission is to solve the Circular Economy problem and help brands end waste.
Advantages
Here are some of Teemill’s advantages.
- Their textile products follow the Global Organic Textile Standard.
- Major names in non-profit and sustainability, such as Greenpeace and WWF, use this site.
Cons
The products of Teemill are costly and can lower your profit margins significantly.
Pricing
Teemill Pro subscriptions start at £10 monthly.
Omar's Take
Besides having great sustainable products, AOP+ is also relatively easy to use. That makes it a great option for starting print-on-demand sellers.
Best for:
Beginners
Price:
Starts at $11.99 monthly
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promtion:
N/A
Over the years, AOP+ has built a customer base of over 10,000 designers, entrepreneurs, and brands.
Advantages
Here are some of AOP+’s advantages.
- The company has POD Academy, which helps aspiring print-on-demand sellers start their online business.
- The company has good customer support and fulfillment services.
Cons
AOP+’s platform has very few integrations with other ecommerce platforms. The prices are also higher than other eco-friendly print-on-demand USA companies.
Pricing
Here are AOP+’s pricing plans.
- Super – $11.99 monthly
- Hero – $19.99 monthly
Omar's Take
Shirtigo is another German-based POD site serving a good portion of Europe. Their commitment to sustainability has been core to their growth and popularity.
Best for:
Europe-based POD businesses
Title:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Shirtigo is a Europe-focused print-on-demand site with strategic logistic centers around the border of Germany to shorted delivery routes. They also commit to providing fair working conditions to their production staff.
Advantages
Here are some of Shirtigo’s advantages.
- They focus on German and European markets
- There are many easy-to-set-up integrations for ecommerce websites.
Cons
Shipping and fulfillment are long, often 14 working days or longer.
Pricing
Shirtigo’s platform is free to use.
Omar's Take
You’ll love Kin Custom’s fashionable streetwear and art prints. What’s also great is they supply wonderful print-on-demand shoes.
Best for:
Fashion and art brands
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Kin Custom’s commitment to being an ethical textile industry participant has made it a go-to option for many sustainable brands and businesses. They also work with the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit to ensure ethical work conditions.
Advantages
Here are some of Kin Custom’s advantages.
- They have great quality all-over print selections for clothing and merchandise.
- They have a free Kin Custom marketplace to promote your products.
Cons
Kin Custom does not have automated integrations with third-party seller websites.
Pricing
Kin Custom’s platform is free to use.
How To Start a Sustainable Print-on-demand Business
Follow these steps to start a sustainable print-on-demand business with a sustainable or eco-friendly mission.
Step 1: Decide on the Product You Want To Sell.
The journey’s first step is to decide what products you want to sell. That includes the theme, brand, and line of merchandise that you want to offer.
You should find a profitable niche with a ready and ripe market. Use keyword software tools or product research tools to find what keywords people use when searching for sustainable products.
It also helps to choose a cause or message that you’re highly passionate about. For instance, you can create a t-shirt line with beautiful sea animal illustrations if sea life conservation is a cause close to your heart.
Step 2: Choose a Sustainable Print-on-Demand Supplier.
When you have a list of products and a brand for your sustainable business, your next step will be to find a reliable print-on-demand supplier.
Consider these factors when hunting for sustainable or eco-friendly print-on-demand suppliers.
- The products you want to sell should be available.
- Check that there are sustainable packaging options.
- Choose a supplier with fast and reliable shipping.
- Make sure product prices let you make a good profit margin.
- The products you want to sell should be good quality.
- It also helps to access a customer service channel in case of any issues.
Step 3: Set Up Your Ecommerce Store.
Your ecommerce store lets people order your products online. Setting it up will make your business run smoothly and require less manual intervention.
For ecommerce store platforms, I recommend setting up your store on Shopify because it has the most user-friendly setup and maintenance.
After setting up your Shopify store, get a custom domain to appear more reputable. People would rather buy from a store with a “savethetrees.com” URL than a “savethetrees.shopify.com” one.
Step 4: Design Your Print-On-Demand Products.
You’re ready to start making your products when you have your suppliers and your store. It all starts with the designs that will go on your merchandise. Your product designs’ quality, uniqueness, and creativity will set you apart.
Use digital art software to design products if you are an artist. Many are easy to learn and implement, even if you’re not technically well-versed in design yet.
Alternatively, you can hire graphic designers to help you create the designs, increasing your business costs and slowing down the time to reach a return on investment.
Start with five to ten designs and then upload them to your print-on-demand site. Don’t start with too few designs because most customers want different options.
You also don’t want to make too many at the expense of creating designs people don’t buy. Start with a good set and evaluate which ones sell most. You can make more versions of that design later.
Step 5: Sync Your Print-on-Demand Products to Your Online Store.
Once your products are ready, you must sync or add your print-on-demand products to your Shopify online store.
Create products in your Shopify dashboard. Here’s how.
- Log in to your Shopify Admin and go to the Products tab.
- Click Add Product.
- Enter your product name, description, and images.
- Click Save.
You can also import your products in bulk through a CSV through Shopify’s bulk import and export feature.
Step 6: Create Mockups.
People will want to see a representation of your design printed on the product. So, you’ll need to create mockups of your products. Most POD sites have mockup generators to create these images.
Alternatively, you can order a few product samples and take some great photos. Although you’ll have to pay for those samples, this will look more realistic. However, it’s also a good way to check the product printing quality.
Step 7: Price Your Products.
When uploading your products, you’ll need to set a selling price. There’s no point in running a sustainable business if it can’t sustain itself, so you’ll need to price it accordingly to leave you a comfortable profit margin.
You should factor in all your costs when setting your price, including production costs, shipping, marketing, and platform costs. If you’re going to donate to a cause, that should go into the price point, too.
Choose a cheap print-on-demand site to maximize your profit.
Step 8: Evaluate and Improve.
When ready to launch, start promoting it on your channels. I recommend launching them in droves or soft launching them to a smaller audience first. Doing so will give you room to evaluate your business and products.
Here are things you should evaluate.
- Your products’ demand
- Your platform
- Your conversion rates
- Your payment options
- Your cart abandonment rate
- Shipping and delivery systems
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the Most Sustainable Way To Print?
Here are some of the best ways to print sustainably.
Digital Printing
Using plateless printing methods greatly reduces ink wastage. They’re also highly versatile, so you can print single, limited-use copies without wasting resources on printing plates. It also helps printers and businesses save money.
Carbon-Balanced Paper
Carbon-balanced paper is one of the most sustainable materials available. Using this type of paper, you help offset the average carbon emissions associated with harvesting and production.
Uncoated Paper
Uncoated paper is a popular option for using recyclable or recycled materials. It’s highly fibrous, making it easy to reuse and recycle. It’s also lighter and more natural than coated paper.
Does Printful Use Eco-Friendly Packaging?
Yes. Printful has switched to using 90%–100% post-consumer recycled plastic packaging for apparel products. They also use eco-friendly products with at least 70% organic, recycled, or biodegradable materials.
What Is the Most Eco-Friendly Printing Ink?
The most eco-friendly ink available is soy-based ink. It’s also popular among printers because of its cost-effectiveness and color vibrance. Another great option would be algae inks because they have a negative carbon footprint.
Is Digital Printing Environmentally Friendly?
Digital printing has the potential to be more environmentally friendly because it can reduce ink wastage and remove the need for printing plates.
Can Print-on-Demand Be Sustainable?
It can be if you work with the sustainable print-on-demand suppliers mentioned above.
Here’s how to be a sustainable and ethical print-on-demand business.
- Use eco-friendly, recycled, and organic materials. For example, you can sell t-shirts with organic cotton or use eco-friendly materials for your packaging.
- Work with a printer that runs facilities with renewable energy.
- Use water-based inks in printing.
- Use plastic-free shipping packaging.
- Implement environmentally friendly printing techniques.
- Go for carbon-neutral operators that minimize their ecological footprint.
Should I Stick To One Print-on-Demand Niche?
Sticking to one niche for your print-on-demand business has several advantages.
For one, it creates more focus and recall for your branding. Offering too many product categories can confuse your customers and followers.
Having one niche also helps you simplify your business. Branching out too many product categories or messages can be difficult, especially if you’re a beginner.
Create seamless systems that run the business even when you’re asleep. After establishing a semi-autonomous business, you can outsource maintenance to a team and start other niches and businesses.
What Is the Cheapest Option for Shopify Print-On-Demand?
It depends on what products you plan to sell. Prices vary greatly depending on product categories, print finish, and variations. You’ll also need to consider shipping and delivery based on your customers’ location.
In my experience, Printful and Printify generally have the most affordable quality products for print-on-demand. Check other suppliers first because prices can vary based on your preferences, location, and volume.
What’s a Good Print-On-Demand Company for a Beginner?
I recommend Printful for beginners because it has a simple user experience. It also doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee, so you can start selling with little to no capital needed.
The Bottom Line
These sustainable print-on-demand companies are some of the best eco-friendly, organic, or ethical options. Using their services will help you run a print-on-demand business seamlessly.
Nothing is wrong with making money while promoting sustainability or committing to more environmentally-friendly practices. I hope my list of eco-friendly options for print-on-demand suppliers makes achieving your sustainability goals easier.
Consider the cheapest print-on-demand companies if you want to start a business on a minimal budget.
