Eco Friendly Shower Curtain Liner for a Sustainable Home

Your shower is an au naturel kind of place. And nothing ruins a relaxing shower faster than the smell of your vinyl shower curtain off gassing into the steam. Is that lavender I smell? Nope, it’s petrochemicals.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered so that you can be safely uncovered. We’ve found seven eco friendly shower curtains and liners to keep your bathroom dry while you relax.

We even found one super luxurious option that takes a whole day to be woven by hand.

7 Best Eco Friendly Shower Curtain and Liners

Shower curtains stand between you and the rest of your bathroom. They protect your bathroom from the elements and you from prying eyes. But traditional plastic shower curtains are tacky and bad for the planet, so what are you to do? 

Check out something new. 

Modern shower curtains made from sustainable textiles are both stylish and eco friendly. Just like using a zero waste electric toothbrush, a natural shower curtain brings you one step closer to a sustainable home.

Here’s a handy dandy chart showing our top picks for eco friendly shower curtains and liners.

Still not ready to take the plunge? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with more in depth reviews. Just keep reading!

We love so many things about the Organic Hemp Shower Curtain that it’s hard to know where to start. But let’s start with looks because this super stylish curtain will freshen up any bathroom. 

The range of colors available is outstanding. Choose natural for a more earthy feel or brighten your space up with the terracotta curtain. You don’t need to worry about breathing in any noxious fumes, though. They are tinted with all GOTS certified organic fiber-reactive, bio-degradable, low-impact eco-dyes made in Europe. 

In fact, the whole shower curtain is made with this type of care. From the organic hemp fibers to the handmade macrame hooks, everything is grown and produced at one location to ensure quality.

You can use this curtain without an additional liner allowing for a minimalistic shower experience. Just make sure to leave it hanging open to dry. But with a shower curtain this tasteful, why would you want to close it? 

In the end, we love this curtain because it is entirely natural and handmade. No plastic, no metal, only sustainably harvested products. And I don’t know about you, but I like things to be all natural when I’m au natural.

Just because you don’t want to spend a lot of money doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with a cheap plastic shower curtain liner. We’ve found a fabric shower curtain that’s easy on your budget. 

The Bean Product Shower Curtain comes in seven different fabric options and three different sizes, guaranteeing there is one that will be perfect for your bathroom. Chose from cotton, hemp, organic cotton, or a hemp organic cotton blend. Then decide which color suits your bathroom best. Their neutral color selection helps create a restful bathroom space.

Choose well because these shower curtains are designed to last. In addition to the high quality fabric, they feature rustproof grommets. It doesn’t take much to take care of them. Simply drop it in the washing machine and hang it to dry. It won’t take too long- the fabric is designed to dry quickly, exactly what you want from your shower curtain.

Available from Made Trade, the Coyuchi Ripple Stripe Shower Curtain is a handcrafted masterpiece. The subtle ripple pattern will elevate your bathing experience into a luxury event. But beyond that, this is a purchase that you can be proud of. MadeTrade vets all its suppliers to ensure they meet the highest ethical and sustainable business practices standards. 

The Ripple Stripe Shower Curtain is no exception. It is made by a woman owned, fair trade certified company in India. They use only the best materials, in this case, 100% GOTS certified cotton. While this may be produced in India, don’t worry about your carbon footprint. Made Trade offers carbon neutral shipping options.

However, this kind of craftsmanship comes at a cost. You will find this to be the most expensive shower curtain we reviewed. 

Just because you purchase a fabric shower curtain, don’t think it has to come with complicated care instructions. The Dream Designs Hemp Shower Curtain is just as easy to care for as your old plastic liner, if not easier.

Unlike some curtains we reviewed that have specialized care, the Dream Designs curtain can be machine washed and dried. In fact, they recommend you launder it weekly to keep it looking fresh. 

Not that these curtains don’t look fresh to begin with. Made from 100% hemp canvas, this shower curtain is tightly woven to keep water in your shower and off your floor without the need for a separate liner. Plus, they are available in earthy tones, neutral, seafoam, key lime, and sand.

Parachute was founded to provide a place to find quality home goods. But they take it a step beyond just quality. They feel we need a more conscious approach to consumption and so provide products that are sustainably and ethically manufactured. This allows you to build your sustainable home.

The Parachute Shower Collection is no exception. They offer five different curtains to choose from, some available in multiple colors. If you are looking for something a bit more casual, check their Turkish Shower Curtain with its playful stripes and tassels. Or, perhaps you prefer a more understated elegant look. The Linen Curtain with in charcoal gray could suit your needs.

Whichever style you choose, all these curtains are made from natural materials and can be used without a liner. However, Parachute does offer a curtain liner as well.

Nothing says spa like luxury like a crisp white waffled robe. Add that spa touch to your bath with the Essential Small Waffle Shower Curtain.

This 100% cotton shower curtain is crafted exclusively for Au Lit Fine Linens in Portugal. As you close the curtain, you can shut out the world. The pure white curtain helps you create your own sanctuary, clean and crisp in the privacy of your own home.

Now while the fabric comes from Europe, the curtain itself will ship from Canada, which is nothing to stop you from creating your dream home spa. Just keep in account that the prices are listed in Canadian dollars rather than US. But you don’t need to do any math to make your purchase. Your bank will figure out the exchange rate for you. Phew.

For a shower curtain that really makes a statement, check out the Chilka Shower Curtain. This one of a kind shower curtain is handcrafted by a group of 32 master weavers in India. They use a technique called fil coupe or cut threads. Each stripe is hand stitched, providing a unique texture and fringe— it takes almost an entire day to craft each curtain! 

Of course, a shower curtain made with this much attention requires special care. No washer dryer for this curtain. It is recommended that you dry clean it when it needs to be cleaned. But if you leave it open after every shower, it should dry quickly and hold up well. 

If you are concerned about the care, you may want to look into the complete kit, which does come with a machine washable liner and stainless steel rings. 

What To Know About Eco Friendly Shower Curtain Liners

There are many ways to make your bathroom more eco friendly. You can install a low flow showerhead or set up an effective gray water system. But if you’re looking to be sustainable and luxurious, upgrade to a natural fiber eco friendly shower curtain.

But how do you know which shower curtain is right for you? Keep reading, and we’ll explain how looking at factors like material and size can help you find the right shower curtain for your bathroom. 

Material

When I was a kid, everyone had plastic or vinyl shower curtain liners. And I always associated them with that new shower curtain smell. Well, it turns out that that smell was the off gassing of many toxic chemicals. In 2008 the Center for Health and Environmental Justice released the report, “Volatile Vinyl: The New Shower Curtain’s Chemical Smell.”

In this report, they discussed the toxicity of the common shower curtain. The results were rather shocking (1).

Given these findings, it’s no wonder people are looking for a more eco-friendly, healthy material for shower curtains. By choosing a natural fiber, your shower curtain won’t off-gas and will be biodegradable.

The most common materials for natural shower curtains are cotton, hemp, and linen. While hemp often gets a bad rap because of its association with hippies, it is a super sustainable (legal) fiber choice. When it comes to cotton, choosing organic is more sustainable than non-organic cotton, as conventional cotton production is environmentally taxing (2). And linen, while classically elegant, is known to wrinkle really easily, making it harder to maintain.

Many shower curtains will have grommets that are made of some type of metal or plastic as well. But if you are looking for an entirely metal and plastic free curtain, check out the organic hemp shower curtain.

Size

Most shower curtains come in a standard size 72” x 72”. This curtain will be long enough whether you have a stall shower or bathtub. However, if you have a stall shower, you may find a standard curtain that is just larger than you want, especially for natural curtains that should remain open to dry properly.

We only reviewed one curtain that was available in more sizes than the standard size. Bean Products Shower Curtain is available in three different sizes to better meet the needs of smaller bathrooms.

Care

Let’s face it, natural fiber shower curtains aren’t cheap. If you are going to invest in a sustainable shower curtain, that means you want it to last. And that means proper care to prevent mold and mildew from forming. 

Natural shower curtains require more care than plastic curtains and should be laundered frequently. While most of these curtains are machine washable, natural fibers are prone to shrinkage when placed in a hot drier. So unless you want your shower curtain a little small, you should stick to hang drying it. 

The exception to this is the Dream Designs Hemp Shower curtain, which you can dry in a dryer. In fact, they recommend you wash and dry it weekly.