Brands that kinda care about sustainability

We all know that climate change is a serious threat to our planet and our future. But what can we do as consumers to make a difference? How can we support brands that care about sustainability and reduce our environmental impact?

In this blog post, we’ll share with you some benefits of choosing sustainable brands, some examples of brands that are kinda doing it right, and some tips on how to find and evaluate them.

Note that this is a small list and is by no means anywhere near complete. These are brands we use and trust.

Why Choose Sustainable Brands?

The goal of selecting sustainable brands is to help the environment and your well-being. This doesn’t always mean helping your wallet though, after all we’re still talking about capitalism and there’s a price tag for brands that pretend they care.
– You can save money in the long run. Some sustainable products tend to last longer, require less maintenance, and use less energy and water than conventional ones. For example, a reusable water bottle can save you hundreds of dollars per year compared to buying bottled water.
– You can improve your health and safety. Sustainable products are often made with natural and organic ingredients, which means less exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins. For example, organic cotton is better for your skin than conventional cotton, which is heavily sprayed with pesticides.
– You can express your values and identity. Sustainable products reflect your personal beliefs and preferences, which can boost your self-esteem and happiness. For example, wearing a T-shirt from a fair trade brand can show your support for human rights.
– You can influence positive change in the world. Sustainable products have a lower environmental and social impact than conventional ones, which means less greenhouse gas emissions, less waste, less deforestation, less animal cruelty, and more respect for workers and communities. For example, buying a laptop from a modular and repairable brand can reduce electronic waste and carbon footprint.

Which Brands Are Sustainable? We’ve tried to cut through all the marketing and discover the truth.

There are many brands that are “committed” to sustainability and reducing their environmental impact. Here are some examples of brands that we personally like and recommend (not one of these brands as paid for a spot here, nor ever provided us with anything for free, but we have tested and continue to use):

– Patagonia: an outdoor clothing and gear company that strives to minimize its environmental and social footprint. It participates in the Fair Trade program, repairs its garments, and supports organic and regenerative farming. It’s not as gracious as they make themselves out to sound and the clothes will cost a lot more, but they’re worth it and possibly the lesser of many evils.
– Toms: a footwear and accessories company that gives back to various causes around the world. It also aims to source 100% sustainable cotton, use greener packaging, and measure its carbon footprint. Full disclosure, friends, and members of Rynue buy and wear toms. We do not.
– Baffin: a Canadian footwear company that specializes in winter boots and outdoor apparel. They try to use recycled materials and biodegradable packaging where possible. One of the big things about them is their commitment to partnering with ethical and transparent suppliers and manufacturers, while also trying to reduce their carbon footprint (and raise profits) by optimizing their logistics and operations.
– BlueLand: a cleaning products company that eliminates single-use plastic packaging by offering reusable bottles and dissolvable tablets. It also uses non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients which are shelf stable and take up a very small footprint; perfect for prepping.
– Lush Cosmetics: a beauty products company that uses natural and ethically sourced ingredients, minimal packaging, and cruelty-free practices. It also supports various environmental and social causes through its campaigns and donations.
– KDE: a free and open source software community that develops desktop and mobile applications. Aside from making the absolute best desktop environment (powering the steam deck), a wonderful photo and video editing app, a Linux distro, and everything else they do; It supports the FEEP and BE4FOSS programs to help free and open source communities produce more environmentally friendly software. The projects provide communities with guidelines and support to optimize software to be more energy efficient and have a longer life-span.
– frame.work: a laptop company that designs modular and repairable devices that can be easily upgraded and customized. It also uses recycled materials, offers a carbon offset program, and publishes its environmental impact reports. Their one downside is that they’re endorsed and partially seed funded by Linus Tech Tips. Like Toms, friends and members of Rynue have bought, used, and love frame.work. We have yet to verify ourselves.
– Raincoast Trading Global: a seafood company that sources wild fish from sustainable fisheries. It also supports traceability, transparency, and social responsibility in its operations. They make canned goods as well, like tuna (also great for prepping).
– Caboo: a paper products’ company that uses bamboo and sugarcane instead of trees. It also participates in the Our Planet Re-Leaf program, which plants a tree for every pound of paper sold.

How to Find and Evaluate Sustainable Brands?

Finding and evaluating sustainable brands can be challenging, as there is no universal definition or standard for sustainability. However, there are some ways to make it easier:

– Do your research. You can use online tools such as Good On You or Eco-Stylist (with a grain of salt for both places) to find ratings and reviews of different brands based on their environmental, social, and ethical performance. You can also check the brand’s website or social media accounts for information on their sustainability policies, practices, certifications, awards, or partnerships.
– Look for labels. You can look for labels or logos that indicate the product meets certain criteria or standards for sustainability. For example, you can look for labels such as USDA Organic, Fair Trade Certified, B Corp Certified, Energy Star Certified, or Leaping Bunny Certified.
– Ask questions. You can contact the brand directly or visit their store or showroom to ask questions about their products or services. For example, you can ask questions such as:
– Where, and how are your products made?
– What materials or ingredients do you use, and where do you source them from?
– How do you ensure the quality and safety of your products?
– How do you measure and reduce your environmental impact?
– How do you treat your workers and suppliers?
– How do you support your local and global communities?

Choosing sustainable brands is one of the ways we can vote with our wallet for a sustainable future. By doing so, we can benefit ourselves, the environment, and a new society. We can also inspire others to do the same and create a ripple effect of positive change.

There are many brands that are committed to sustainability and reducing their environmental impact. You can find and evaluate them by doing your research, looking for labels, and asking questions. Never feel guilty for qualifying your purchase, it’s your money. This is the same reason why we will not just build a random top-ten list for things, the brands mentioned here we have personally looked into and use.