Plenty of options are available if you're looking to buy consumer products that positively contribute to the world around you.
While it's still true that many companies are not as sustainable as they could be, these five brands and products have made great strides toward improving their impact on the environment and society at large. Other companies would do well to follow their examples. Here's what you need to know about each one.
1) Nike
Nike has established sustainability initiatives to protect the environment. Nike's Better World initiative includes programs with suppliers, factories, employees, customers, and partners to help reduce the company's environmental impact.
Nike is also committed to eliminating hazardous chemicals from its products. According to Greenpeace, these efforts have resulted in Nike being ranked as one of the top 10 most sustainable brands.
2) Patagonia
Patagonia, a clothing company founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard, is committed to sustainability. The company has two factories that are 100% powered by renewable energy. One of the factories has a certified LEED Platinum Rating for its design and construction.
The clothing is made from environmentally sustainable materials like recycled polyester from plastic bottles or organic cotton. Patagonia also offers a product repair service, including jackets, tents, sleeping bags, packs, and backpacks.
This ensures that their customers' products will last longer, so less waste is created in the process.
3) Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is a brand of household products that consider the health of people, animals, and the planet. The company was founded in 1988 by John Replogle, who wanted to find alternatives to harsh chemicals.
Seventh Generation has grown to include cleaning solutions, paper goods, personal care products, and more. Seventh Generation sources its ingredients locally when possible or through environmentally-conscious suppliers worldwide.
Seventh Generation also uses recycled materials in their packaging whenever possible. For example, many of their boxes are made from 50% recycled paperboard sourced from certified managed forests or controlled sources.
4) Starbucks
Starbucks has been a leader in the coffee industry for years, but now they're also leading the way in sustainability. Starbucks knows that small changes can make significant differences from sourcing to recycling.
The company is committed to sourcing 100% shade-grown coffee and organic coffee, eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
All of their dairy products are sourced from farms where cows are never given antibiotics or growth hormones, and all of their eggs come from hens that are never confined to cages.
Plus, Starbucks is the largest consumer of Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee in North America – making them a champion for sustainable trade practices around the globe.
5) Unilever
Unilever is a company that has made sustainability one of its key priorities. Unilever strives to produce sustainable products, make sustainable packaging, use sustainable manufacturing processes and minimize the environmental impact of its operations.
Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan - The plan addresses the three pillars: people, planet, and profit. It contains concrete targets in each of these three areas.
