These days, many companies across a wide range of industries are putting sustainability at the top of their priority list. The dangers of climate change are becoming more and more real, and we need to take responsibility and do what we can to minimize our effect on the environment. Luckily, there are plenty of businesses that are doing just that: prioritizing people and the planet over profits. We’ve compiled a list of some awesome companies who are putting sustainability at the core to their ethos and value system. Check what they’re doing and how they’re doing it in our post below.
Coffee of Grace
Grace Hightower De Niro founded Coffee of Grace to help Rwandan communities build a sustainable future. This coffee brand sources coffee from Rwandan farmers and is all about fair trade, ethical practices and environmental stewardship. They ensure that farmers in the community are treated fairly, and can pass this sustainable business down generations to help improve the future. Currently, Coffee of Grace is available in New York but looking to expand globally.
1 Hotels
The importance of sustainability is also being recognized is in the hotel industry. 1 Hotels thrives on the philosophy that we live in one world, and the future of business and the world are fundamentally the same. The hotels are currently based in New York and Miami, but the eco-friendly, luxury line is in the process of expanding globally.
1 Hotels are creating spaces inspired by nature that maintain a low overall footprint. Whether it’s in the design of the hotels, lighting, the interiors or the food being served in the restaurants – it’s all about ethical sourcing and concern for the environment we live in. They don’t skimp on comfort or experience either, ensuring that their customers’ stay is relaxing and inspiring.
Eileen Fisher
A renowned American fashion designer, Eileen Fisher has a vision of being a fully sustainable company — pledging that all the cotton and linen used by the company will be sustainable and organic by 2020. The company will be using wool by sheep that are ethically raised and on land that is managed with respect and with the environment’s wellbeing in mind. Moreover, 40% of the dye used by the company for product will be free of chemical toxins. The company realizes that this is not enough, so will be pushing to partner with more companies that are supplying ethical dyes to create a 100% ethically finished product. The fashion industry in general has a long way to go, but it is gradually moving towards sustainability. Check out these trends in fashion sustainability to see how fashion houses are going eco in 2018.
Tarte Cosmetics
The beauty industry is worth $445 billion dollars with many new and innovative brands focusing on eco-friendly, cruelty-free products. Tarte Cosmetics is a US based cosmetic company which was launched in 2000 and has had sustainability at its core ever since. Their mission is to give back to the environment, while creating a healthy, natural range of products. Founder Maureen Kelly has worked with cooperatives in the rainforest to source ingredients such as Amazonian clay, ensuring that these ingredients are harvested ethically. Tarte’s partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy is a reflection on the company’s desire to give back to the ecosystem. Nothing better than using makeup which is not just skin-friendly but also cruelty-free and environmentally-friendly!
Daylesford Organic
Daylesford Organic has stores across the UK selling organic food and vegetables. Organic food has got plenty of benefits — from positively impacting your health, to playing a major role in building a sustainable future in the UK. Food producers and stores are starting to see the benefits — check out online businesses selling food and drink, and you’ll see that most of them lean towards organic products. Consumers are becoming more conscientious about the food they eat and the story behind it.
By 2020 Daylesford’s farms will be 75% energy self-sufficient and zero food waste, which is pretty impressive. (For your own zero food waste ideas, check out this post.) They’re serious about reducing the unseen negative impact of waste on our health, environment and soil. In 2012 Daylesford’s biggest investment in renewable energy was in the form of 1000 solar panels which are generating enough electricity to power production, shop, facilities and café on a summer’s day.
Chobani
One of America’s favourite yoghurt brands, Chobani is available in almost every major US grocery store and also has standalone cafes across New York. Chobani is sincere about creating a sustainable future, through cutting down on energy and water usage, as well as putting emphasis on animal care, local farming and optimized packaging. The business has cut down its overall energy consumption down by 17% — enough to power 111 single-family homes in the United States for a whole year. They’ve also reduced their carbon footprint by up to 840 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the company has been mindful of the packaging they use and massively reducing the amount of polypropylene resin being used which is equivalent to 2.1 million lbs.
Rococo Chocolates
Rococo Chocolates is a British brand that partnered with the Grenada Chocolate Company in 2007 and purchased their own small cocoa farm where they could create their own ethical chocolate. The cocoa from the farm is made into chocolate from tree-to-bar on the island, and is one of the only places in the world where this is being taken in to consideration. Funds from this partnership are being used towards building new solar driers at the Belmont Estate as well as to build a bridge across the river to the Grococo farm. So next time you have a hot chocolate at Rococo, it will be a relatively guilt-free experience!
The above companies are a small fraction of those that are creating a sustainable future around us which we are subconsciously consuming on a daily basis. With hotels, brands and even fashion moving towards sustainability we can easily choose to live a positive lifestyle in a very accessible way. Educate yourself on the shopping choices you make by visiting company websites, and understanding their stance on the environment and ethically sourced products. If in doubt, ask in store and find out what companies are doing to make a difference. Your shopping choices can make an impact to our planet’s future, so support sustainable companies like these ones!
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