5 Ethical Sex Toy Companies

I’m your classic young liberal. I hate amazon and I love supporting small, independent businesses. But shopping for sex toys is hard enough without researching the company selling it to you.

Is it so hard to unwind after a stressful day without lining Jeff Bezos pockets? Well, not now it isn’t.

I have scoured the internet and have uncovered the best ethical sex toy brands. By ethical, I mean small businesses, preferably started by someone from a marginalised group, who has used their brand to do something positive for either people or the planet.

So, here are my picks for the top 5 sex toy brands you should know about:

Unbound: The fun one

Unbound was started when co-founder Polly Rodriguez found herself in a seedy sex shop in St Louis and noticed a gap in the market for attractive, affordable sex toys which put sexual wellness at the forefront, and with her co-founder Sarah Jayne, Unbound was born. Unbound has a fun aesthetic and a wide range of affordable products that go way beyond just vibrators. The products that really wowed me? Bedroom accessories you can wear. Bangles AKA handcuffs. A gorgeous ring that doubles as a vibrator.

With this brand, there’s no need to hide your toys in your bedside table.

Price Range: £10-£75

I want to try: Bean (£27.59)

DAME: The political one

Leading this company is CEO Alexandra Fine and CPO Janey Lieberman, two women on a mission to close the pleasure gap for people with vulvas.

To make sure they are creating the best possible products, they started Dame Labs, which conducts people-centred research and gathers feedback, all of which go into creating products and starting conversations. This customer-focused approach goes right back to Dame’s origin. Their first toy, Eva, was the most crowdfunded sex toy in history, and their second, Fin, was the first sex toy allowed on Kickstarter. If all that didn’t already intrigue you, they also publicly (and financially) support political causes including reproductive rights, gender equality and victims of sexual assault.

Whilst their products may be a little expensive, you know that money is going towards great causes.

Price range: £19 - £110

I want to try: Eva II (£103)

Smile Makers Collective: the educational one

The Swedish just do it better, don't they? Mattias Hulting and Peder Wikstrom set out to destigmatise masturbation for Vulva owners by creating high-quality, affordable products that looked beautiful and appealed to women, especially first-time buyers, and safe to say, they achieved that goal.

Their range of vibrators, all named after

user’s sexual fantasies, are sold at shops like Superdrug, rather than intimidating sex shops.

The brand is committed to sexual wellbeing, partnering with universities and sexual health organisations to provide Vulva Talks, a pleasure-positive sex education programme.

It may not be female-owned, but Smile Makers definitely puts women first.

Price range: £19.95 - £160

I want to try: The Frenchman (£39.95)

The Pleasure Garden: The inclusive one

The Pleasure Garden is an inclusive sex shop that caters to every gender, sexual orientation, and ability. They stock a wide range of products, the vast majority of which are adaptable for a range of bodies and provide content and advice specifically for people those often marginalized from the sex toy conversation, such as transgender people or those with disabilities. For example, they've got a cracking range of hands-free toys! [see photo: Ruby Glow Sex Toy - a Hands-Free, Ride-On Vibrator]

Their focus on accessibility includes price too - no matter your budget, they’ll have something for you.

Price range: £10 - £150

I want to try: Blush Gaia Biodegradable Eco Vibrator (£9.99)

Vegan Toys: The weird one

This one is a little out there, but I really couldn’t resist throwing it in. All their vibrators are made of vegan materials, but they take the whole vegan thing to a whole new level...

All of their products resemble fruits and vegetables. There are bullets that look like aubergines and chilies, glass dildos in the form of bananas and cucumbers... They even have kegel balls in the form of mangoes, cherries and strawberries.

Again, this company was started by a man, but you can’t fault the originality with this one.

I don’t know if I’m recommending or reviewing this one, I just really needed other people to see this too.

Price range: £17.05 - £59.95

I want to try: ?????

We’re all out here just trying our best not to fund sweatshops and billionaires, but it can be hard sometimes. But if you stick to this guide, you can help yourself and the planet at the same time. After all, what goes better with an orgasm than saving the world?