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Today is Earth Day, and even though the celebrations comes in late April each year, there are ways to support the Earth and Earth-loving brands year-round. But I’ll also admit that it’s nice to celebrate Earth Day with the community, whether that be by participating in neighborhood clean-ups, approaching your spring cleaning with an intentional eye, or making strides to support sustainable brands—an Earth Day resolution if you will.
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In many realms, the most sustainable act it to use what you already have: The cleaning supplies under your sink, the clothes hanging in your closet, the half unused notebooks piled up on a shelf. The flip side of the coin is that sometimes you do need to purchase an item—Earth Day reminds us to consider our impact when making decisions.
There is no one right way to be sustainable, and it’s not about doing it perfectly. Sustainable brands often charge more for items, because the cost of making an item sustainably and ethically can be higher. Instead of purchasing exclusively from sustainable brands, those people may opt to reduce meat from their diet, ride public transportation, adjust their thermostat to the weather, plant an herb garden, or shop online resale marketplaces.
If you’re planning to make a purchase this time of year, consider supporting a sustainable brand or buying secondhand. If you aren’t sure if a brand is sustainable there are a few things you can look for.
If you’re still not sure where to start—don’t fear! We have a wealth of resources for you from composting to online marketplaces to family activities to celebrate Mother Earth.
When it comes to sustainability, REI Co-op is doing things right. The brand is a member-owned co-operative that invests more than 70% of its profits back into the outdoor community. The company carries many other brands, but the majority are sustainable and ethical brands like Patagonia, Vuori and Prana. REI also has a circular economy initiative where gear can be returned back to the store and resold, which avoids about 50% of carbon emissions—and it’s a great place to score a deal!
Material, a sustainable and minimal kitchen brand, has been taking kitchens by storm. Its plastic cutting boards have sold out 10 times (and counting), and they marry sustainability with function. The reBoard (our choice as the best plastic cutting board) is made from 75% recycled plastic and 25% renewable sugarcane. Material has other sustainable kitchen items too, like the 10-inch reBowl that is BPA-free and is made from the same repurposed materials as the reBoard.
Undergarments may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to sustainable alternatives, but the fabrics come in contact with some of our most sensitive areas. Parade is a brand that has grown immensely since its start less than three years ago and commits to sustainability by using 80% to 95% recycled materials and making limited quantities to provide overproduction textile waste. The brand has the OEKO-TEX certification and runs an underwear recycling program called Second Life. Parade underwear and bralettes are size-inclusive and totally worth trying out.
Ethique is a beauty brand that is sustainable, zero-waste and affordable. Ethique products are cruelty-free, vegan, and plastic-free, and the brand as a whole is climate positive. From hair care items like shampoo and conditioner bars to newly released compostable lipsticks, you can transition your beauty routine to a zero-waste option easily with Ethique’s products.
Bombas is a sock brand that gives back with every pair of socks purchased. The brand created a sock specifically for donating to homeless shelters (socks are the most requested item at most shelters). Since the efforts began, Bombas has donated more than50 million items. Bombas is also a Certified B Corp, and its socks are awesome. One of the best things about the company’s socks is the range—there are sizes for everyone, from babies to adults, and new designs and matching sets are released regularly.
UpCircle Beauty is a UK-based beauty brand that creates organic, vegan, cruelty-free and zero-waste skincare. UpCircle’s products come in glass containers and the packaging is either plastic-free or uses a plastic-free refill system. One of the coolest things UpCircle Beauty does is upcycle food waste like coffee grounds to make its products. Additionally, the brand donates to organizations and programs like One Tree Planted and Rainforest Alliance. If you’re looking for new skincare items, these are definitely worth a try!
Shop UpCircle Beauty at Amazon
Composting is a fantastic way to reduce your waste and connect to nature. Whether you’re looking for information on apartment composting or a larger, outdoor bin—we’ve tried it all! There are new innovations from Pela and Vitamix that make composting a breeze. (Maybe worm composting will be your thing?) Regardless of which process you decide on, a countertop compost bin is almost always useful. The bin fits well beside a cutting board while prepping food, and is easy to dump into an outdoor bin where the compost magic happens. We like the Bamboozle bin because it’s durable, easy to clean and has an odor filter that keeps the stink from filling your kitchen.
Get the Bamboozle composter at Koko the Shop for $40
Get the Bamboozle composter at Amazon for $45
Vans isn’t new to the sustainability front, but the company’s latest efforts are ambitious. The skate-shoe brand said it commits to sourcing “100% of our top four CO2 impact materials (cotton, leather, rubber and polyester) from Regenerative, Responsibly Sourced Renewable and/or Recycled sources by 2030.” An effort like this differs from greenwashing because it helps divert materials that already exist and have been harvested, rather than leading to more consumption. Vans released an Eco Positivity collection as well; I’ll be totally honest—I already have a pair of Circle Vees in my daily rotation.
Tuft & Needle makes our favorite mattress in a box, and now you can adorn your new mattress in organic bedding from the brand. The well-loved Jersey Sheets are now made with 100% organic materials. The jersey materials is made from organic cotton “grown using less water and without harmful pesticides.”
Ecos cleaning products are made from plant-based formulas that are ethically sourced. The brand vows to never use any of the500 toxins it calls “nasties” in its products. Instead, the brand uses natural ingredients like coconut, beets and vinegar to make formulas that clean well. Ecos is carbon neutral and meets the EPA’s Safer Product Standards too. Plus, you can shop the brand on Amazon for easy delivery and subscriptions!
It’s no secret that we love the Cariuma Ibi sneakers, and it’s no wonder the shoes went viral: The shoes didn’t require any break-in time, were breathable, and were the comfiest shoes our tester had ever slipped on. In addition to being a great shoe, the Ibi sneaker and all of Cariuma’s products are incredibly sustainable. They’re made from bamboo knit, sugarcane, cork and recycled plastics. They surely are a win-win for you and the planet.
In honor of Earth Day, HP is committing to plant 1 million trees in partnership with environmental nonprofits Jane’s Green Hope and the Arbor Day Foundation. Some of the trees will be planted in the US in Washington, Oregon and West Virginia, while others will be planted in countries like Brazil and Madagascar. In addition to its tree-planting efforts, HP includes some recycled materials in its devices. If you need to make an electronic purchase from now until June, consider buying from HP to make sure a percentage of your purchase is donated.
You might have seen toilet paper wrapped in funky patterns in shelfies recently, and the brand Who Gives A Crap is behind the bright bathroom essentials. Aside from having a fun name, the brand has a B Corp Certification and a large following. Who Gives A Crap makes toilet paper that is ink, dye, and scent-free. TP subscriptions are sold direct-to-consumer which has become popular in the last few years because, let’s be honest, no one likes to run out of toilet paper! Similar to Who Gives A Crap is Cloud Paper, a brand that also sells toilet paper among other paper goods, in a subscription model. The brand makes recycled and bamboo toilet paper options, both of which are better for the environment than grocery store brands.
Shop Cloud Paper at Amazon
Shop Who Gives A Crap
If you’re someone who shaves, you may notice how much waste disposable razors create. There are the replaceable razor heads and in many cases entire razors that are single-use. Most razors get tossed in the trash without hope of recycling, and even popular razor subscriptions create plastic waste. Enter Leaf Shave, a metal razor brand with several models that you won’t ever have to replace again. The company ships products entirely plastic-free, plus it’s certified carbon neutral. Leaf Shave has a razor with a pivoting head and a smaller version with a straight blade; both are made from stainless steel and use metal blades that can be recycled.
Shop Leaf Shave at Grove Collaborative
While some municipalities have e-waste drives, electronics are often one of the hardest categories of goods to get rid of in a sustainable way. How different would it be if the electronics we bought were easier to recycle or made from recyclable materials? Microsoft is tackling that question head-on with its new Ocean Plastic Mouse, a wireless Bluetooth mouse made from “20% recycled ocean plastic recovered or washed ashore from oceans and waterways.” Microsoft also has a Trade-In program where you can send in old devices from any brand to be refurbished or recycled.
Get the Ocean Plastic Mouse at Microsoft for $20
As many sustainability advocates say, shopping secondhand is a great way to reduce your impact. There’s a good chance it’ll save you money too! No matter what item you’re looking for, there’s probably someone else trying to get rid of it.Search Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for furniture and yard items. Consider taking a trip around your neighborhood to see what’s on the shelves of your local thrift store or sitting on a sidewalk with a “Free” sign. Another option: Look on secondhand clothing sites like ThredUp, Poshmark and Depop for clothing—you can find gorgeous pieces (including designer options) for a way-below-retail score.
Shopping for sustainable clothing isn’t always easy, but the recyclable and circular fashion brand For Days makes it easier. Every For Days product is recyclable, and the brand offers a Take Back Bag so you can ship your worn-out items back. For Days makes clothes for all ages and genders, which means you can shop for yourself, your friends and your family all in one place. The brand will take your old clothing—from any brand—and recycle it to save water, carbon emissions and divert textile waste from landfills.
With warmer weather comes outdoor adventure that lets you enjoy Mother Nature, and Retrospec is a well-trusted brand that can help outfit your recreation. Last summer, we tested the brand’s inflatable paddleboard and gave it two thumbs up. Retrospec also has equipment to offerlike a commuter helmet, kids’ skateboard and city e-bike. Riding instead of driving during the warmer months will cut down on carbon emissions and your gas bill—and it’s always a good reason to get into nature.
There’s a good chance you’re doing some spring cleaning, and if you need to replace any products, consider swapping to the zero-waste brand Cleancult. Ranging from all-purpose cleaner and laundry detergent to hand soap and dish soap, Cleancult’s products are made from biodegradable formulas. All products come in 100% recyclable paper-based milk cartons (yes, even the cap) or cardboard boxes. You can use the cartons to fill a bottle at home or purchase one of Cleancult’s shatter-proof, frosted glass bottles on its site. We recommend the brand’s hand soap and stain stick!
Plaine Products is a haircare and skincare brand with a closed-loop system. Essentially, when you buy a bottle of the product it comes to you in an aluminum bottle. That bottle won’t break in the shower like other recyclable materials might (ahem, glass), and it can be recycled over and over again. When you make a second purchase or a refill, you can take the bottle pump from your first bottle and place it in the second. Then, you ship the original bottle back to the company to be cleaned and reused. Plaine Products has numerous certifications—1% For the Planet, Certified B Corp and Leaping Bunny Certified included—and is a simple way you can cut back on a huge source of single-use plastic waste.
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