Ecoalf
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Spain
Quick verdict
Ecoalf is best for environmentally conscious consumers who want a full-lifestyle sustainable wardrobe built from recycled and ocean-recovered materials. The brand's standout innovation is its Ocean Yarn (fiber developed from waste collected off the ocean floor by thousands of fishermen across the Mediterranean) and it has invested over a decade in R&D to develop 500+ recycled fabrics. Caveat: labor transparency could be stronger (living wage evidence is lacking), and availability outside Europe can be limited.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Madrid, Spain
- Founded
- 2009
- Product categories
- Outerwear, Menswear, Womenswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (since 2018; top 5% globally for environment in 2022), GRS, BSCI, SA8000, SMETA, ISO 14000
Ecoalf sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
A genuine leader in recycled material innovation. Uses recycled PET polyester, recycled nylon (from fishing nets and ocean waste), Ocean Yarn, 0-Release Yarn (prevents microfiber shedding), recycled cotton, regenerative cotton, hemp, and low-impact natural dyes. Over 72% of the latest collection uses mono-material fabrics. All backed by GRS certification.
Requires all suppliers to hold BSCI, SA8000, or SMETA certifications. Has a publicly available Code of Conduct with 100% supplier compliance claimed. Maintains an internal "Ethical Line" for reporting. However, there is no evidence of living wage assurance throughout the supply chain.
Published first Sustainability Report in 2022. Uses ISO 14000 for environmental management. Recycled polyester reduces water by 20%, energy by 50%, and CO2 by 60% versus virgin. Opened a net-zero store in 2022. The Ecoalf Foundation's "Upcycling the Oceans" project has recovered over 2,000 tonnes of marine waste with nearly 5,000 fishermen across 80+ ports.
Published sustainability report. Full supply chain traceability, Partners with BCOME platform for life-cycle assessments. Open about material innovation processes. B Corp certification provides third-party accountability. Could improve by publishing a detailed factory list and more granular emissions data.
Mid-to-premium pricing: T-shirts ~€40–€70, sneakers ~€100–€160, jackets ~€150–€500+, bags ~€60–€200. Comparable to Patagonia. The premium is justified by genuine material innovation and ocean cleanup impact, but not accessible for budget-conscious shoppers.
What they do well
- Pioneering ocean waste-to-fashion pipeline: the Ecoalf Foundation's "Upcycling the Oceans" project works with ~5,000 fishermen across 80+ Mediterranean ports to recover marine waste, transforming it into Ocean Yarn; over 2,000 tonnes recovered to date
- 500+ recycled fabrics developed through in-house R&D, including the innovative 0-Release Yarn that prevents microfiber shedding during washing: a significant industry breakthrough
- First Spanish fashion brand to achieve B Corp certification (2018), ranked in the top 5% globally for environmental performance in 2022, and recognized as Spain's Most Environmentally Responsible Company by Merco in 2022 and 2023
- 72%+ mono-material garments in latest collection: designing for recyclability by using single-material fabrics that can be more easily broken down and recycled at end-of-life
- Radical transparency through BCOME partnership, providing detailed environmental impact tracking per product, and rejection of Black Friday/promotional campaigns
Room for improvement
- No evidence of living wage assurance. While factory audits exist via BSCI/SA8000/SMETA, there is no proof workers across the supply chain earn a living wage rather than just minimum wage.
- Limited circularity for consumers, while the brand designs for recyclability with mono-materials, there is no consumer-facing take-back, resale, or repair program to close the loop on product end-of-life.
About Ecoalf
Ecoalf was founded in 2009 by Javier Goyeneche in Madrid, Spain, inspired by the birth of his son Alfredo (the "alf" in Ecoalf). Goyeneche's vision was to create the first generation of recycled products matching the quality and design of non-recycled counterparts. The brand's rallying cry, "Because There Is No Planet B", has become a global movement.
The brand's material innovation is its core differentiator. Over 15 years, Ecoalf has invested heavily in R&D, developing 500+ recycled fabrics including Ocean Yarn, 0-Release Yarn, recycled PET polyester, recycled nylon, and regenerative cotton grown using mixed-crop methods in India. The Ecoalf Foundation, launched in 2015, runs the "Upcycling the Oceans" project across Spain, Italy, Greece, France, and Thailand.
Manufacturing spans Portugal, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, and India. The brand achieved B Corp certification in 2018 and reached the top 5% globally for environment in 2022. It has 70+ branded retail stores in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Tokyo, and Biarritz, plus 1,200+ multi-brand points of sale in 50+ countries.
Pricing sits in the mid-to-premium tier: T-shirts €40–€70, jackets €150–€500+, sneakers €100–€160. Compared to Patagonia (similar range) or premium brands like Arc'teryx (higher), Ecoalf is competitively positioned given its genuine material innovation and B Corp status.
Product highlights
Ocean Yarn Puffer Jacket
Insulated jacket made from recycled ocean plastic yarn
~€250–€400
Hero product; directly funds ocean cleanup through the Ecoalf Foundation's fishermen partnership
Recycled Sneakers
Casual trainers made from recycled PET, recycled rubber, and organic cotton
~€100–€160
Combine ocean plastic uppers with natural rubber soles; multiple colorways
Because Tote Bag
Tote made from recycled materials featuring the iconic "Because There Is No Planet B" slogan
~€30–€60
Entry-level price point; instantly recognizable branding; great gift item
0-Release Knit Sweater
Sweater made with anti-microfiber-shedding yarn technology
~€90–€140
Uses Meryl® 0-Release knit that prevents microplastic pollution during washing, a genuine innovation
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