The easiest eco-friendly swaps for swim season are swimsuits made from recycled fabric that you keep for years, pool toys and noodles made without PVC, a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket that fits, reusable swim diapers, and mineral sunscreen paired with shade and sun-protective clothing. These swaps cut down on plastic waste and on some of the ingredients people most often ask about, without giving up safety.
Below is what to watch for in common swim gear, followed by seven swaps you can make this season.
What materials in swim gear raise concerns?
A few materials show up again and again in swimsuits, pool toys and sun care:
- PVC and phthalates: Many soft plastic pool toys, floats and inflatables are made of PVC (vinyl), which is often softened with chemicals called phthalates. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) prohibits more than 0.1% of eight phthalates in accessible plasticized parts of children’s toys and child care articles.
- Phthalates and asthma: A 2013 study in Environmental Health Perspectives by Bertelsen and colleagues measured phthalates in the urine of 623 ten-year-olds in Oslo. Higher levels of two of the 11 phthalate breakdown products measured were linked to asthma, mainly at the highest exposure levels, while the rest showed no link and none were linked to allergies. The study measured children at a single point in time, so it shows an association rather than cause and effect.
- Nylon and polyester: Most swimsuits are made from these synthetic fabrics, which do not biodegrade. A 2016 University of Plymouth study by Napper and Thompson, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, estimated that one 6 kg wash of polyester fabric could release about 496,030 microfibers.
- Oxybenzone and benzophenone sunscreens: In its 2021 proposed order on sunscreens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed oxybenzone among the ingredients that need more safety data before they can be considered generally recognized as safe and effective. The National Park Service notes that research shows some sunscreen chemicals, including oxybenzone, can harm coral health and reproduction.
1. What is the most eco-friendly swimsuit?
The most eco-friendly swimsuit is a durable one you wear for many seasons, ideally made from recycled nylon or recycled polyester. Recycled fabrics reuse plastic that already exists, and a well-made suit that lasts means fewer suits bought and thrown away.
To make any swimsuit last longer and shed fewer fibers:
- Rinse it by hand in cool, clean water after swimming.
- Wash it only when it needs it, and skip the dryer.
- Dry it flat in the shade.
2. How do you choose safer pool toys?
Choose pool toys labeled PVC-free, or made from recycled or more durable plastics, and buy fewer, sturdier toys that last for years. Toys made for children 12 and under must meet CPSC’s phthalate limits, but toys for older kids and adults are not covered by that rule, so the label matters.
If a new vinyl inflatable has a strong plastic smell, let it air out in a ventilated space before the kids use it.
3. Are pool noodles and floaties safe?
Pool noodles and arm floaties are toys, and they are not safety devices. The CDC’s drowning prevention guidance (reviewed September 2025) says not to rely on air-filled or foam toys to keep a child safe, and to keep a responsible adult watching the water closely and constantly.
For a greener noodle, look for polyethylene or EVA foam instead of PVC. Foam noodles also have no air valves or seams to puncture, so they tend to last longer than vinyl inflatables.
4. What should you look for in a child’s life jacket?
Choose a life jacket for its approval and fit first. The National Safe Boating Council (2017) advises that life jackets should be U.S. Coast Guard approved, that each one has a label inside describing its use, and that adult life jackets do not work for children, who need one sized for their weight and chest.
Buying a used life jacket keeps gear out of the landfill, but only if it is still safe. The council recommends checking for:
- Rips, tears and holes.
- Damaged seams, zippers, buckles and straps.
- Waterlogging, mildew, or foam that has shrunk or hardened.
If a used life jacket fails any of these checks, recycle or discard it and choose another. The CDC recommends life jackets for children in and around natural water, and for weaker swimmers of all ages in pools.
5. Are reusable swim diapers better for the environment?
Reusable cloth swim diapers can be washed and worn all season, so they create less trash than disposable swim diapers. Either type has the same limits for keeping pools clean.
The CDC’s swim diaper tips (reviewed May 2024) say swim diapers and swim pants are not leak-proof and do not stop diarrhea-causing germs from getting into the water. CDC recommends checking them about every 60 minutes, changing them in a changing area away from the poolside, and keeping anyone with diarrhea out of the water. Learn more about how to avoid Crypto and other pool germs.
6. How can you cut down on inflatable pool float waste?
Buy fewer floats and loungers, choose thicker, well-reviewed ones that last, and repair small leaks with a patch kit instead of replacing the float. At the end of the season, rinse floats with fresh water, let them dry fully and store them out of the sun so they last into next summer.
7. What is the most eco-friendly way to protect skin from the sun while swimming?
Combine shade, sun-protective clothing and a mineral sunscreen. The National Park Service’s reef-safe sun guidance (updated 2021) says the best way to protect yourself and the reef is to stay in the shade or cover up, recommends a UV-blocking rash guard and clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), and suggests mineral-based sunscreens. FDA’s 2021 proposed order proposes only two mineral active ingredients as generally recognized as safe and effective. According to the National Park Service, Hawaii became the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens with chemicals harmful to corals, in a law that took effect January 1, 2021.
For timing, reapplying and other sun tips for outdoor pools, read our guide on how to protect your skin when swimming outside.
What about the pool water itself?
Swim gear is only part of an eco-friendly swim season; the way the pool is treated matters too. A hydroxyl-based AOP system such as Clear Comfort works as a supplemental sanitizer alongside a low chlorine residual, and pools with hydroxyl-based AOP typically run at 0.5 to 1.5 ppm free chlorine. For more ways to cut energy, water and chemical use at home, see how to make your pool more eco-friendly and our tips for saving water in a swimming pool.
Frequently asked questions
Are PVC pool toys safe for kids?
The CPSC limits eight phthalates, chemicals often used to soften PVC, to 0.1% in accessible parts of toys made for children 12 and under. Toys for older kids and adults are not covered by that rule, so look for PVC-free labels if you want to avoid these chemicals.
What is the most eco-friendly swimsuit material?
Recycled nylon and recycled polyester reuse existing plastic, and a durable suit you wear for many seasons is the greenest choice. Rinsing by hand and washing less often helps any synthetic suit last longer and shed fewer microfibers.
Is mineral sunscreen better for the environment?
The National Park Service recommends mineral-based sunscreens, along with shade and rash guards, to protect coral reefs, and notes research showing some sunscreen chemicals such as oxybenzone can harm coral. FDA’s 2021 proposed order lists only two mineral active ingredients as generally recognized as safe and effective.
Are reusable swim diapers better than disposable ones?
Reusable swim diapers create less trash because they can be washed and worn all season. CDC notes that neither type is leak-proof, so check them about every 60 minutes and keep children with diarrhea out of the water.
Can pool noodles or floaties replace a life jacket?
No. CDC says air-filled and foam toys are not safety devices, so use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket sized for the child when one is needed, and keep an adult watching the water closely at all times.
See how Clear Comfort helps home pools run on less chlorine.
