While we celebrated Earth Day on April 22 – others are doing it three-sixty-five, twenty-four, and seven. With the abundant amount of resources and knowledge we have to produce sustainable, eco-friendly products, there’s no reason why a company should be making excuses as to why they can’t adapt and/or change their practices; if they don’t want to change, they don’t care, simply put.
Will making these adjustments, installing new machinery, and changing protocols be easy? No, not at all, however, it’s the long-term impact that the brand and ultimately the individual will be making, it truly brings to life the phrase, “nothing changes, if nothing changes”. If we want a healthier, cleaner world we must start making these changes, now. Here are six brands that should be on your sustainability radar.
4Ocean
Certified B-Corp and known as a Public Benefit Corporation, 4Oceans has been showing that you can have a sustainable, profitable business model while helping to clean up oceans, provide jobs, and make a positive, lasting impact on others. Since 2017, 4ocean has pulled over 20 million pounds of plastic and trash from our oceans and coastlines, repurposing plastics into wearable art and jewelry.
Retold Recycling
A convenient and sustainable mail-in subscription service for recycling unwanted clothing and household textiles, responsibly diverting waste from landfill. This will make your spring cleaning easier with less guilt knowing that your unwanted clothes and other household textiles don’t go to landfills and actually get repurposed. Simply order your bags (which come in a variety of sizes and subscription options) fill up your bags with items you no longer need and drop the bag off at the post office; it comes with a return postage. The bags are eco-friendly & decomposable and did I mention that Retold has recycled and diverted 18 tons of waste from landfill! Retold truly has created an easy and hassle-free one-stop-shop for consumers to clean-out unwanted items in the most sustainable and environmentally conscious way; year round.
Voglia Swimwear
Meaning “wish” in Italian, Voglia’s wish is for a cleaner, healthier, better world which starts by cleaning up our oceans, waterways, beaches and saving marine life which is why their swimwear is made from regenerated nylon from materials found in our oceans such as illegal/ghost fishing nets and plastics. Their swimwear is only capsule collections with proceeds benefiting charities that help clean up oceans.
Buena Onda
Meaning “Good Vibes”, Buena Onda is a premium summer lifestyle brand connecting Japanese design ethics, Scandinavian simplicity + that feel of a fresh, California summer, and with their Simplified Retail model, they are redefining brand building and inviting creatives behind brands to an approach that serves us all. creations. By taking it slow, they waste less, and inspire timeless quality, a refreshing state of mind for the creators, the industry and consumers seeking a lifestyle of simplicity, summer and good vibe people. If you’re Uptown in the Queen City, you might just see me on my limited edition Kaiyo Cruiser.
Earth Baby
Committed to using certified organic fruit and vegetable-based ingredients, Earth Baby’s products are non-toxic, gentle, and effective on baby skin, hair, and body. Their products provide immediate moisturizing and superior hydration, emollient oils and vitamins with a time-controlled release, and dramatically reduced need for high levels of UV filters. Founded by a grandmother, mother, and orphan, Earth Baby’s founder donates 1% of all sales to two incredible organizations (Preface Project Foundation and Folded Flag Foundation) that build a better tomorrow and impact our community by fostering opportunities for the next generation as a token of gratitude to those that helped her along the way. Now THAT’S sustainability!
Out of the Box Eco Store
Serving Seattle’s Greater Eastside and Snoqualmie Valley for now, founder Aline Bloch is up to something good that we need more of. Bloch and her van “Phil” are offering people an eco-friendly way to refill on everyday products like soaps, cleaners and more by coming to you. That’s right, she comes to you with her lil’ truck of everything but the kitchen sink to refill your daily household needs; additionally, Bloch is leading the way in not only helping consumers be more eco-friendly but also setting a foundation for future Entrepreneurs to incorporate this concept into their very own cities.
These are just a few sustainable brands, there are hundreds of more brands out there doing good, talking the talk and walking the walk; you may have to put in a little effort to discover them but when you do, you won’t want to go back to your old ways.
