Greener Sun Hats

Hats On!

To help ensure happy, green, sunburn-free summer memories, please see the new Top 10 Sun Protection Tips at http://www.greenerpenny.com/. In addition, if you're a Greenerpenny daily email subscriber, you’ll be automatically receiving your free Sun Protection Shopping List. If not, you can sign up for email tips, or just the list, at www.info@greenerpenny.com

Topping the list: Shade your face and eyes from the sun’s damaging UV rays, and help protect the planet with a sustainable topper.

Greener Fabric Hats:

Understated, soft and chic, broad-brimmed Hemp Hats, floppy or safari style with chin strap, in greyblue, dark green, brown, black, size M and L, $30-35, www.rawganique.com

Kangol organic cotton visor with Roo logo in black, beige, army, white, $22, www.hatsinthebelfry.com

Organic cotton visor from Sierra Club, http://sierraclub.usptgear.com/Product.asp?ID=sclbvisorec

Organic cotton stretch brimmed cap, in sage, grey, olive and tan, $22, www.Patagonia.com

Tilley T4 Hemp Hat, certified 50 UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), 71/8” to 7 ¾”, $62.10 at http://www.amazon.com/

Wash your hat with a petrochemical-free laundry detergent such as those from http://www.ecover.com/ or http://www.seventhgeneration.com/. To remove stains, presoak in washing soda; Arm and Hammer’s version in the yellow box can be found in the laundry aisles of supermarkets or at http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/.

Cool Hemp Bucket Hat, $26.50, romantic soft Cloud, $24.50, and other styles, all one size, by Lost Coast Hemp, http://www.goodhumans.com/

Sustainable "Straw" Hats

Sisal hat, handwoven from the fiber of agave cacti, with a colorful geometric band, S-XL, http://www.greatergoodsonline.com/, which buys from members of the Fair Trade Federation.

Rainbow sun hat in pastel blue, yellow and pink, made of renewable raffia harvested from palm trees, one size, about $40 at http://www.yardiac.com/.

Ladies Collapsible Seagrass Hat (with rayon crown), one size, $34.50 at http://www.sunprotectiveclothing.com/.

Fedora-style, Fairway Golf Hat in breathable straw, rated by the Skin Cancer Foundation as excluding 98% of UV rays, S/M-XL, about $40, http://www.coolibar.com/.

Straw, grass and raffia hats can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.