I asked our PR and growth experts: Please advise our entrepreneurs in fitness on the use of sustainable products and practices to work out on our bodies while also protecting the planet.

Here is the insight from our experts.

• Equipment from sustainable materials
• Sustainable gear
• Share about the impact on your platforms and during your sessions.
• Green fitness is good business
• Think treadmills that send energy back to the grid
• Promote emotional clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking
• Encourage a lifestyle that works long-term
• If your product touches people’s bodies, the responsibility is higher.
• Build sustainable systems
• Gain excellent customer trust
• Replace “what’s trending” with “what endures”
• Integrate natural health practices
• Pick one thing, make a better choice, and keep moving.
• Build eco-conscious routines that stick

Equipment from sustainable materials

Emily Reynolds-Bergh, Owner at R Public Relations

"From a PR perspective, sustainability resonates with a lot of younger audiences and can help set your business up for long-term success. Businesses that have the means should consider enacting sustainability processes and procedures to both protect the planet and support the values of their customers, whether it’s using equipment with sustainable materials or going paperless."

Sustainable gear

Dr. Sean Ormond, Owner at Atlas Pain Specialists

"It’s totally possible to train hard and tread lightly. Start with the basics: use gear made from recycled or earth-friendly materials—like leggings made from ocean plastics, or yoga mats made of natural rubber. Ditch single-use plastics for good and invest in a sturdy water bottle. These small changes might seem minor, but they add up—especially when you’ve got a following that’s watching what you do.

Look for tools made from wood, stainless steel, or recycled materials. Natural cork blocks, hemp straps, or even upcycled dumbbells—these are all smart swaps. And don’t be afraid of secondhand equipment! Refurbished machines are just as functional, cost less, and keep stuff out of landfills.

Lead by living it. Show people your sustainable gear, talk about your values, host outdoor workouts, or even partner with local eco-conscious brands. Your clients look to you not just for fitness advice, but lifestyle inspiration."

Share about the impact on your platforms and during your sessions.

Dr. Linda Khoshaba, CEO atNatural Endocrinology Specialists

"Think about making it personal and relatable. Instead of just listing features, explain the benefits of choosing things like organic cotton workout clothes or recycled yoga mats. For example, highlight how organic cotton is gentler on sensitive skin and avoids harmful chemicals that can be absorbed during exercise. For recycled mats, explain how they divert waste from landfills and reduce the need for new resources, connecting their purchase to a larger environmental solution. Share these stories and facts on your platforms and during your sessions. Show them the tangible positive impact of their choices.

Connect with local businesses that share your values, such as organic food providers, sustainable clothing retailers, or environmental advocacy groups. Explore opportunities for joint workshops, cross-promotional offers, or even co-creating sustainable products or events. Partnering with environmental organizations can provide your clients with opportunities to get involved in conservation efforts. By working together, you can amplify your message and create a stronger movement towards sustainability in fitness."

Green fitness is good business

Jerome Kawika Draculan, veteran fitness coach

"Come on—if your training is getting you strong but ruining the planet in the process, that is not strength. That is short-sightedness.

Green fitness isn't just good publicity—it's good business. Consumers are clever these days. They want to know if your yoga mats are made from environmentally friendly material, if your water bottles are reusable, if you truly care about wellness or if you are promoting another brand-name shaker cup wrapped in plastics.

Here's How to Green Your Business without Turning Your Office into a Compost Heap

1. Integrate sustainability into the grind, not only merchandise.
It's not slapping a green leaf on your logo. It's about changing the way that you do everything. From single-use bottles to refill points. From paper towel rolls to washable microfiber. From artificial lighting to letting nature do it. These are not lofty acts—but they say a lot.

2. Mean less, sell more.
Instead of hawking trendy gadgets every few months, offer a minimal, high-quality product line made of recycled or fair-trade resources. Frame your products not as things, but as instruments of commitment.

3. Practice outside—and own it.
Encourage people to participate in park walks, trail walks, or beach walks. It is free, it energizes, and it acquaints people with nature that they fight to protect. Throw in a post-session cleanup, and you have a brand moment people will not soon forget.

4. Be transparent but not preachy.
You don’t have to be perfect. Just be honest about what you’re doing and why. Make sure to discuss reducing packaging or using upcycled material for your next athleisure product line. Share with your consumers. Consumers purchase based on purpose, not perfection."

Think treadmills that send energy back to the grid

Spencer Romenco, Chief Growth Strategist at Growth Spurt

"I think fitness entrepreneurs should create Green Energy Gyms. Picture solar panels on the roof and treadmills that send energy back to the grid. And imagine awesome sensors that turn off lights when no one is around. I do think that this is a real way to save energy.

People appreciate businesses that genuinely care holistically. I understand that using renewable energy is a good idea. Moreover, I believe this approach attracts clients who care about the planet and helps build a solid brand.

For me, fitness businesses can really help create a healthy environment for all. To me, this helps create stronger connections with clients and positively impacts the community. Another thing is that a gym could partner with a local recycling program."

Promote emotional clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking

Steven Buchwald, Managing Director at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling

"Sustainability in fitness reflects psychological alignment. When physical practices support the planet's health, they reinforce values that promote emotional clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking.

Start with intentional choices. Replace synthetic equipment with bamboo, cork, or recycled polyester-made items. Manduka, for instance, sells yoga mats made from biodegradable material.
These changes reduce chemical exposure and support ethical manufacturing. In gyms or wellness spaces, integrate LED lighting, reduce single-use plastics, and source local products. These decisions impact client perception and establish a tone of responsibility and awareness.

There’s a mental health benefit. When people engage in movement with environmental consciousness, they experience a stronger sense of purpose. It adds meaning to routine exercise and shifts focus from appearance to values, supporting long-term motivation and emotional regulation.

Fitness professionals shape more than bodies. They shape behavior and belief systems. Promoting sustainability through products, classes, and culture supports both environmental protection and psychological well-being."

Encourage a lifestyle that works long-term

Annika Kariniemi, Founder at ProHealth Medical Weight Loss

"If you’re an entrepreneur in the fitness industry, you’re in a powerful position to lead a shift toward sustainability.

If you sell or recommend equipment, go for stuff made from natural or recycled materials. Think: cork yoga mats, recycled weights, biodegradable foam rollers. Small shift, big impact.

Encourage more plant-based meals. You don’t have to be fully vegan to reduce your impact—small swaps matter. Highlight plant proteins, seasonal veggies, and recipes that are both nourishing and planet-friendly.

Not every client needs a dozen supplements. Encourage whole food first, and when supplements are truly needed, choose brands that use sustainable packaging or offer refill options.

We’ve all seen those “lose 10 pounds in a week” gimmicks. They don’t last—and honestly, they generate a ton of waste (think unused shakes, tossed meal plans, abandoned gear). When we teach sustainable routines, everyone wins. Healthier bodies, less waste, and happier clients.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about fitness—it’s about creating a lifestyle that feels good, works long-term, and respects the planet we live on."

If your product touches people’s bodies, the responsibility is higher.

Alec Loeb, VP of Growth Marketing at EcoATM

"Sustainability isn’t a trend. It’s a baseline expectation. In fitness, your materials, packaging, and energy use send a message louder than your marketing. If you’re building a product or service, use recycled and recyclable inputs. Prioritize biodegradable packaging. Avoid plastics with long decomposition timelines. Audit your supply chain. If your manufacturer burns fuel inefficiently or dumps waste, your brand takes the hit.

Small changes compound. Replace energy-intensive lighting in gyms with LED. Choose water stations over single-use bottles. Source towels and mats from post-consumer materials. If you ship apparel or gear, compress packaging to reduce transit emissions. Highlight these choices in plain terms, your customers notice effort over slogans.

Most fitness entrepreneurs focus on performance and aesthetics. That’s the job. But sustainable practices create long-term margin protection and audience loyalty. They reduce regulatory exposure. They increase retention by aligning with your customers’ values. I’ve seen partnerships collapse when vendors failed to meet sustainability basics. I’ve also seen growth double when founders made honest, simple upgrades, switching to compostable mailers or redesigning workflows to cut waste.

Sustainability is operations, not optics. Set a baseline. Measure emissions. Build goals into your roadmap. If your product touches people’s bodies, the responsibility is higher. You're not only shaping physical health but influencing consumer behavior. Make that influence count."

Build sustainable systems

Riley Westbrook, Co-Founder at Valor Coffee

"I know a lot of fitness brands want to use more sustainable gear and practices. Totally makes sense. But the stuff that actually matters is rarely the stuff people talk about. It’s not the bamboo labels or eco buzzwords. It’s the boring stuff that happens behind the scenes. We looked at how our green coffee was getting shipped, how our bags were packed, how much plastic we were throwing out just to make things look nice. Then we started cutting what didn’t need to be there. That’s where most of the progress came from.

We switched to working with smaller, regional suppliers. Not because it sounds nice, but because it gives us more control. Less guessing. Faster turnaround. If you’re running a gym, selling gear, or shipping nutrition stuff, working with people closer to you can keep you sane. You don’t get caught in global shipping nonsense, and you don’t end up over-ordering just to hit some minimum. That’s where a lot of waste starts.

We tested programs to get customers to change their habits. Some flopped. Some are stuck. What worked was keeping it simple. Discounts for reusable cups. Refill setups. Clear perks for doing the better thing. If you want people to recycle old gear or stick with refillable stuff, make it part of the system. Don’t leave it up to them to guess.

And honestly, none of this means anything if your own team isn’t doing it. We stopped working with vendors who wouldn’t fix their waste problems. We changed how we packed orders. We built systems that didn’t just look good on the outside. That took time. But now it works on its own."

Gain excellent customer trust

Eunice Arauz, Founder at Pets Avenue

"Integrating sustainable products and practices into our fitness routines does more than help the planet, it can help your brand image. For example, switching to stainless steel or bamboo water bottles, or only using recyclable paper water cups is an easily implementation that speaks volumes to the eco-aware consumer. Similarly, using recycled products for equipment or purchasing ethically sourced workout apparel lowers the overall impact on the environment your organization may have.

At PetsAvenue, we go out of our way to source eco-friendly products, and not only has it been good for the environment, it has been excellent for our customers' trust in us. Business owners in fitness can achieve similar goals while reinforcing their current values and judgements of sustainability, which will be financially beneficial because there is a growing market of environmentally aware clients out there."

Replace “what’s trending” with “what endures”

Gerry Wallace, Managing Director at Greenline

"While I don’t run a gym or a wellness brand, I do lead a company that designs spaces where people move, train, and connect: outdoor structures for schools, communities, and councils across Australia. That gives me a different insight into how the environment shapes routine and how sustainability isn’t just a product choice.

When you're working with physical spaces, the real challenge isn’t just choosing greener materials but rather building things that last and don’t end up in a landfill in five years. That same principle applies to fitness.

My advice to fitness entrepreneurs is this. Replace “what’s trending” with “what endures.”

A simple idea, but it involves prioritizing durability over trends, and impact-per-use over aesthetics. You want to use products made to last and partner with manufacturers that source ethically. Less really is more, and the most sustainable fitness routine is one that relies on your body and your environment. Bodyweight training, outdoor movement, reusable hydration, and gear that lasts more than a season.

It's unfortunate that greenwashing has trickled down into most products these days, and it really comes down to the buyer to do their research. As a brand, the more honest you are, the more your customers will return and refer you."

Integrate natural health practices

Ryan Whitcher, Founder & CEO at Harmony Home Buyers

"Numerous fitness business owners can make green exercises a part of their brand by marketing holistic health strategies such as exercising outdoors through hiking, jogging, or biking to serve the person and the environment. Through engaging nature, business owners craft experiences that involve a sense of belonging to the world and a push for sustainable fitness methods that follow the same principle, and this should revolve around the belief that green fitness not only increases physical wellness but also supports an environmentally healthier world."

Pick one thing, make a better choice, and keep moving.

Doug Crawford, Founder at Best Trade Schools

"If you’re running a fitness business, the stuff you use daily matters more than people think. Mats, bands, shirts, bottles, all of it stacks up fast. I’ve seen trainers and gym owners swap out the usual plastic gear for rubber mats that don’t fall apart or stink after a few weeks. Shirts are another easy win. If you’re printing your logo on something, use cotton that feels good to wear. Some companies make them from leftover fabric or recycled scraps, and they hold up better than the cheap stuff. Clients notice that kind of effort. It shows you're not cutting corners.

Cleaning supplies get overlooked, but they shouldn't. Gyms go through buckets of it every month. You don’t need to spray everything with stuff that smells like chemicals. Some cleaners get the job done and don’t hang in the air during a workout. If you’ve got your own space, switching to LEDs or setting up near windows makes a difference on your bills. You don’t have to do it all at once. Pick one thing, make a better choice, and keep moving."

Build eco-conscious routines that stick

Kiara DeWitt, Founder & CEO at Injectco

"I lead one of the most fast-paced medical aesthetics clinics and training centers in the country, with roots in pediatric neurosciences and years of hands-on experience in both clinical and entrepreneurial spaces. I work with patients and providers every single day, which means I get a front-row seat to what people value, what they waste, and how our choices impact more than our skin. The shift toward sustainable fitness and wellness is overdue, and I have thoughts on where it should start.

If fitness entrepreneurs want to build eco-conscious routines that stick, they need to stop looking at just gear and start thinking about volume.

Single-use wellness is the real issue. Think of the average gym-goer: one-time protein sachets, ten disposable water bottles a week, five wipes per workout. That adds up fast. Multiply that by 300 clients a month and you are staring at thousands of plastic items heading to landfill. So, I tell our BriteBody clients and trainees this: drop paper towel wipes for reusable microfiber cloths and offer a branded aluminum water bottle for $20 instead of single-use cups. No one remembers foam rollers, but everyone remembers who gave them a cool bottle that saved them money and waste.

So much of sustainability in fitness gets trapped in performative swaps.

Bamboo yoga mats are cute until they flake and get tossed within six months. The better play is service-based: create programs that encourage consistency so clients use fewer resources across the board. We stopped printing workout plans for weight loss clients and cut paper waste by 80 percent just by building everything into a reusable QR code card. If you run a studio, offer incentives for members who bring their own gear or towels. Set the tone, then watch your community adopt it. It becomes less about rules, more about culture.

Fitness that respects the planet starts with people who design systems that do not burn through supplies for the sake of convenience. If it does not scale without waste, it will not last."

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