Around the World in Sustainable Ways: 14 of our Favourite Eco-Conscious Lifestyle Brands
Our consumption habits are changing; a lot of us are now able to make conscious decisions based around our ethics and concern for the environment. Many of us are now a part of the zero-waste food revolution by shopping at eco-friendly stores more, using refillable cleaning products (or making our own!), buying from upcycled clothing brands and using innovative technology products.
There is still progress to be made though; an informed, mutual understanding will allow us to continue progress. Our demand for sustainable products has led to an increasing number of brands strategically delivering stories as a way of illustrating their transparency and ways in which they’re playing their part in helping the environment. Here are some of our favourites who are leading the way from all over the world.
Organic Basics from Denmark calls the fashion industry a “dirty bastard”. They’ve got everything you need to get your basics covered. Sustainable bras, bottoms, tops and socks made from GOTS Certified organic cotton and recycled materials. Mads Fibiger Rasmussen, Co-Founder started the brand whilst at business school in 2015, frustrated with the fashion industry's lack of focus on sustainable, lasting products and sick of buying, wearing and throwing away underwear after a few months of wear.
For the coffee zealot: Huskee (Australia)
“Every year, over 500 billion takeaway cups pile up in landfill, forming the coffee industry’s ugliest footprint”. This is the motivation behind Huskee’s three founding principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Huskee set themselves apart from other keep-cup retailers in establishing their mission of creating a global community of coffee drinkers who swap and exchange a single, reusable cup. With coffee husk (an organic waste-material in the production of coffee) as the main material, this really isn’t your average keep-cup.
For the homewares fanatic: Nkuku (UK)
With a treasure trove of Bohemian-chic products, the couple from Devon work closely with artisans from around the world to celebrate their skills by bringing their products to a wider audience. Sustainable production is uncompromised with materials used such as recycled glass, recycled cotton, hemp, bi-product leather from the food industry. Experience the brand in full by visiting their beautiful lifestyle store and cafe.
Luxury vegan handbags: Angela Roi
Designed in New York and crafted fairly in South Korea, Angela Roi is a brand that exudes a different type of luxury. Philanthropy is cleverly built into this clean line of vegan handbags. Each of the 100% vegan designs is available in a multitude of hues. PETA-approved and beautifully, buttery soft, they are crafted using EPUL (Exquisite Polyurethane Leather).
“Good things come to those who don’t waste” is the motto of this fun, eco-friendly womens active wear brand. Their elegant, timeless ethically made activewear designs are made from 100% recycled post-consumer materials. Each pair of compression leggings is made from 25 plastic bottles and each bra uses 11 bottles. Not only that, but accessibility is reflected in their size range and affordable cost.
For the foodie: W&P Design (US)
A label offering stylish refillables and everyday tools made by upcycling, recycling and regenerating waste. Beyond reducing consumer impact, W&P Design is closely partnered with non-profit organisation Edible Schoolyard NYC to further their mission of providing food education in public schools.
The world’s first Fairtrade and ethically sourced spirits brand. The best ingredients are sourced from around the world such as organic quinoa from 3000m high in the Bolivian Andes, organic juniper berries from Uzbekistan, etc. Ingredients are carefully shipped to the famous region of Cognac, France, where the master distillers take over the production process. All 200 Fairtrade regulations are followed to ensure every individual in the supply chain is paid a fair price.
This brand is in collaboration with the Marley family to continue Bob Marley’s legacy of love for music and the planet. Their quality speakers and headphones are made from sustainable materials such as recycled aluminium and Marley’s very own ‘REWIND’ fabric (of recycled cotton, PET, and reclaimed hemp), upholding their promise to protect the world's forests. One tree is planted for every purchased product to cultivate more clean air, biodiversity and climate regulation.
Palermo Body is a collection of truly natural skincare products formulated by founder, Jessica Morelli. Each product is consciously formulated by choosing every ingredient with purpose, and mindfulness of its benefits to your skin and effect on the environment. Each product is made and packaged with attention and style in Brooklyn, New York. Palermo Body believes in awareness and transparency around health and wellness. The brand is determined to bring safe and natural options to the forefront of the skincare industry. They do this by creating completely natural products with quality ingredients while making their benefits clear and accessible.
Vegan kicks: Veja (France)
Despite their strict no advertising policy, it would be difficult to have not heard of Veja by now - they might just be the most talked about Vegan, unisex alternative to footwear! With a strict monitoring system down the production line, Veja is continually pushing for transparency with suppliers in requiring recurring social audits and chemical tests. Products are sold with mindful packaging (minimal ink and no glue), and made from sustainable materials (Fairtrade, organic cotton, rather than from monoculture crops, natural rubber rather than from harvesting forests, upcycled materials). A pair of Veja costs 5 to 7 times as much to produce, but since there are no advertising costs they are sold for the same price with profits being reinvested on the ground.
For the health conscious: By Humankind (US)
Clean personal care products which not only empower you to pay closer attention to the ingredients list, but are genuinely effective and have a beautiful scent too. By Humankind offers high-performance products that come with refillable containers and useful refills to aid in our collective efforts to reduce our waste and save our planet from plastic waste. For every $1 from a first-time purchase they also invest it straight back into helping to remove plastic from our seas.
Toilet humour + purpose all rolled into one: Who Gives a Crap (Australia/Worldwide)
Who Gives A Crap began when founders Simon, Danny and Jehan learnt that 2.3 billion people (roughly 40% of the global population) across the world don’t have access to a toilet. Plastic free toilet roll with no inks, dyes or scents. 50% of profits are used to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world.
Turning coffee into fuel: Coffee Logs
Coffee Logs are a compact fire log made from recycled waste coffee grounds taken from cafés, offices and instant coffee factories, airports, train stations and universities around the UK. Perfect for burning in domestic wood burners and multi-fuel stoves. They exploit coffee's high calorific value, burning more efficiently than kiln-dried wood, and provide a sustainable alternative to conventional solid fuels.
‘Sartorial sustainability’ is one of the things that inspired the founders Rosie and Jess when creating The OWN Studio. It wasn’t just about working with ethical suppliers that value sustainability, it was about designing made-to-measure pieces that women genuinely want to wear beyond their wedding day. All pieces are made to order in London to minimise wastage and any fabric offcuts are used to make matching scrunchies, sashes and pocket squares. Every delivery also comes with restyling tips on how to rewear your luxe outfit again and again. Gone are the days when your wedding outfit was only worn once!
There are lots of brands out there investing in their sustainability projects and there is so much to explore. Resell your designer goods for a reasonable price with high-end consignment store The RealReal, or even rent designer goods from online wardrobes such as HURR in the UK or Rent the Runway in the US. Refill your cleaning product bottles with a local supplier, order a locally supplied veg box to your door, or delve deeper in your mission by using phone apps such as OLIO - a community driven initiative connecting individuals or businesses with surplus food to those who need it most. Being environmentally minded doesn’t have to be at the cost of your lifestyle - be kind with yourself and others in working towards a world better for us all.
