Clearly, the aforementioned Recool deserves some points when it comes to the environment, but what Taiga is doing in the non-disposable space is laudable as well. Launched last fall, the Terra cooler is the first high-performance cooler to incorporate an FDA-approved hemp-filled polypropylene material rather than fossil fuel-based polymers.

The move cuts down on harmful petroleum plastics but not at the expense of keeping your drinks and food cold — two inches of foam insulation plus a three-inch lid add up to at least a week's worth of ice retention, not unlike Taiga's Original cooler line. The American-made unit also features a leak-proof lid gasket, heavy-duty rubber latches, tie-down slots, an oversized drain plug and a lid lock hole for extra protection against beer theft.