The Repurposing Life

The 15 Most Sustainable Brands of 2023

Companies take tremendous amounts of our planet’s resources as raw materials for their products, and they in turn have tremendous impacts on our planet. It’s critical that sustainability be at the core of their sourcing, production, and distribution to make sure the environment we live in continues to be habitable for all, not just a few.

Purchasing trends are showing that people prioritize environmental impact when buying. This gravitation towards companies that share our interest in protecting the planet comes at a time when the choice is becoming more and more urgent.

Not only are some brands responding to consumer preferences, but, excitingly, many are leading the way forward in terms of environmental stewardship and separating themselves from those merely just using “green marketing,” known as greenwashing. Before we share examples of sustainable businesses in practice, let’s discuss what it actually means for a business to be sustainable or “environmentally friendly.”

What Makes a Company Sustainable?

To be sustainable, a company’s operations must be able to “to be maintained at a certain rate or level.” They must operate with the genuine intention of leaving the world, communities, people, and stakeholders better off as a result of its existence.

Conventionally, companies have valued profit and the bottom line over all else. Sustainable companies position their impact on community and environment as critical measurements of their success. They employ a triple bottom line in which people, planet and profit are all considered.

When a company claims their operations to be sustainable, here’s what you should look for:

• Transparent & ethical sourcing of materials.
• Environmentally conscious manufacturing practices.
• Waste–conscious packaging (recyclable, as little material as possible).
• Shipping options that negate the carbon footprint.
• Diverting landfill waste at their products’ end–of–life.
• Proof of “eco–friendly” claims, such as certifications, audits or other forms of accountability (like Certified B Corporations).

It’s much more than just “eco–friendly” products, a term that has no legal meaning—these companies embody positive social and environmental impact at their core. Negatively affecting the environment is out of the question. Rather, it’s about how substantial their positive contribution is.

Why Sustainability in Business Matters

First and foremost is the reality that we only have one planet (#noplanetb), and we all share it. All businesses have an impact on the planet, and that impact affects all living organism that live on it, including us.

Consumers are increasingly seeking to engage with eco–friendly products and companies as well. In a 2019 Nielsen report, 81% of consumers said it is “extremely” or “very” important that companies “implement programs to improve the environment,” and 30% of consumers said they are “willing to pay a premium for products that deliver on social responsibility claims.”

In particular, 90% of Millennials and Generation Z “believe companies must act to help social and environmental issues” according to a 2021 Pew Research report as well as a study by Cone Communications (now Porter Novelli, since 2017). 

These consumers are a driving force in socially–conscious shopping, and their spending power will only increase as time goes on. Adopting eco–friendly practices is also a great way for these companies to positively impact their bottom line (cost–cutting). Becoming an eco–friendly business brings a host of positive benefits in the immediate and long term future.

• Reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency saves on utility costs. 
• Recycling or reusing old products to turn into new ones saves on raw materials. 
• Nearly 40% of employees prefer to work at environmentally friendly companies. Heightened employee retention means less turnover.
• And business school 101, it takes roughly 10 times more resources and time to onboard a new customer that to keep an existing one.

How to Know If a Company Is Sustainable

If you google “eco–friendly companies,” you’ll get a long list of so–called “green” companies. But what separates companies that are claiming to be “green” from those that are actually sustainable?

Transparency

Being radically open and transparent is a major tenet of how to think about sustainable and socially responsible businesses. For example, companies websites that have clear, easy–to–find information about their environmentally sustainable practices. Exploring their websites doesn’t just show that they are green companies.

It provides eye–opening information on each aspect of their efforts and often introduces environmental innovation you may not have known was possible. These companies don’t just have the goal to be more sustainable by 2050. They have short–term and long–term goals that guide them to sustainable innovation and positive impact outlined for all to see.

Certifications

Another way to find truly sustainable brands is through their certification(s). It’s always important to have an understanding of what those certifications mean, since there is so much meaningless jargon and “buzz” words thrown around by marketing departments, so you know how reliably they represent their values.

Ways for a Business to Be More Sustainable 

Measure Their Impact 

A company’s carbon footprint, where and how they acquire their materials, how and if they give back—measuring each aspect of what it takes for a business to run successfully and what it costs outside of dollars alone shines a bright light on their overall impact.

Map the Supply Chain

The sequence of activities that allows a company to deliver its products or services to the end consumer is the supply chain. Knowing—and showing—how each piece is acquired, transformed, implemented, and fits into the end product is ideal.

Reallocate B2B Spending and Advertising

It’s just as important to understand what a company does and with whom they spend their money, to get their products to the shelves. Truly sustainable companies choose to work with others like them for everything from software design and recruiting efforts, to which advertising platforms are in–line with positive social and environmental impact.

Pay Workers a Living Wage 

A company’s workforce is just as important as the raw materials they use for their products. After all, employees are also consumers who care about the environment and living sustainably, but they simply may or may not be able to afford to. 

For more details watch the Sustainable Business 101 complete video series.

The Top Sustainable Companies in 2023

1. Patagonia

Ventura–based outdoor clothing company, Patagonia, is always on the top of sustainable business lists. The company has spent its forty–seven years in business at the cutting edge of environmental and social business practices.

Patagonia proudly states they “[a]re in business to save our home planet.” This motto is deeply ingrained into the brand’s corporate identity. For the last 35 years, they have pledged 1% of sales to the conservation of our natural environment. This practice led to Patagonia’s founder co–founding the nonprofit 1% for the Planet (see above) so other companies could make the same environmental protection contribution.

Patagonia is B Corp certified and has awarded over $89 million to national and international grassroots environmental groups. They even sued the US president to preserve national monuments in 2017. Bad ass! Much of their raw materials are recycled or grown organically in order to reduce their environmental footprint. And they aim to be completely carbon neutral by 2025.

Their initiative, Patagonia Action Works, helps connect consumers with local activist groups in their community. If you are looking to shop more sustainably, check out some of Patagonia’s favorites, the Nano Puff or Topley Jackets. Learn more about Patagonia’s activism.

2. A Good Company

E–commerce companies are not what people think of in terms of environmental sustainability, that’s because they generally aren’t. The very reason for A Good Company‘s mission to change e–commerce. The brand creates sustainable everyday products, because “sustainability” means more than just not polluting the planet.

A Good Company believes that full transparency will give their customers the opportunity to understand what sustainability looks like for a sustainable brand. Every decision about the materials used, each product idea, and each step of the products’ creation is shared with customers. And it encourages customers to be conscious consumers, furthering its mission to end mindless consumerism.

From their luxury pen made of melted–down illegal firearms from El Salvador, to their eco–friendly phone case, to the world’s first climate–positive notebook made with stone paper, the brand is committed to sustainability. They even ensure their packaging is climate–positive.

3. New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins based New Belgium Brewing Company is the fourth–largest craft brewery in the US and has been committed to sustainability since its founding in 1991. When it was first founded, the owners took a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and set down their core values.

At top priority: “kindling social, environmental and cultural change as a business role model and environmental stewardship: honoring nature at every turn of the business.” The brewery is a Certified B Corporation that uses only sustainable vendors and is also a Platinum–certified Zero Waste Business, which means 99.9% of their waste doesn’t end up in a landfill.

Energy consumption is one of New Belgium’s chief environmental concerns. The brand aims to lower their level of emissions through energy conservation, producing energy onsite, and implementing a voluntary internal energy tax.

4. Pela

Pela began in 2010 when its founder saw first–hand the damage of plastic pollution on our oceans. The brand took steps towards making sustainable, plastic–free products the new normal with a product that we use every single day: our Smartphones.

The company prides itself on creating the “World’s First 100% Compostable Phone Case.” They have removed over 313,000 pounds of plastic from the environment by selling their effective, durable cases. The brand is taking further steps toward preventing 1 billion pounds of plastic from being produced by 2028.

Pela is a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified business, and a 1% for the Planet member. Their phone cases, in addition to being compostable, use renewable resources. And with their reduction plan in 2020, they streamlined transportation routes, decreased end–of–life waste, and helped manufacturing facilities shift to renewable power sources. 

This company hasn’t stopped fighting plastic waste with their phone cases. Recently, the brand developed Lomi, a revolutionary at–home, kitchen counter–sized appliance, composting tool that lets you turn waste—including old pela cases—into compost with a single button.

5. Dr. Bronner’s

California–based Dr. Bronner’s All–One organic soaps and personal care products are best–selling. This sustainable brand relies on six “Cosmic Principles” as a guide for creating their products. It also leverages market power as a force for good, with slogans like “treat the earth like home” and “be fair to suppliers.”

The brand’s organic and fair trade ingredients are all certified by the most environmental and social sustainability organizations. All of their plastic bottles are 100% post–consumer recycled, which conserves resources and reduces landfill waste. 

The company also builds equitable supply chains through its fair trade practices, some of these include fair and stable prices to farmers, environmental stability, and no forced or child labor. Dr. Bronner’s estimates 10,000 people globally have benefited directly and another 10,000 indirectly from their fair trade projects.

You can find Dr. Bronner’s products at Thrive Market, Grove Collaborative (below), or any local grocer.

6. Preserve

Preserve, a Certified B Corp first started with a single product offering, a toothbrush. Preserve’s founder worked with dentists, scientists, and engineers to design the “Preserve Toothbrush” made from recycled plastics all the way back in 1996. Today, Preserve has a collection of many sustainable products made from recycled plastics, including razors, measuring cups, and colanders. The company also makes plant–based products like their compostable straws, cups and plates.

One of their more recent initiatives, Preserve Ocean Plastic Initiative (POPi), reduces ocean plastic by using plastics collect6ed from coastlines and oceans to make their products. All of Preserve’s products are either recyclable or compostable.

Preserve went one step further to reduce plastic waste and started the Gimme 5 recycling program in 2007. Consumers can recycle their #5 polypropylene plastic in their bins at Whole Foods. This plastic waste is then turned into new Preserve products. The company also has a Toothbrush Takeback program, which accepts used Preserve toothbrushes. These are also recycled and turned into new eco–friendly products.

7. Numi Organic Tea

Oakland–based Numi Organic Tea, an organic tea enterprise, is a quadruple–bottom line company that includes people, planet, profit, and purpose in their business model. Numi’s teas are made with ethically sourced organic teas, herbs, and 100% real fruits, flowers, and spices.

The brand is B Corp Certified and produces fair trade or fair labor certified products. The company also uses sustainable packaging. Their tea boxes are made of 90% post–consumer recycled content and their tea wrappers are now compostable. Numi Organic Tea’s mission includes maximizing social and environmental impact, which they achieve through the Numi Foundation. The Numi Foundation supports programs that help people both locally and globally.

Recently, Numi Organic Tea celebrated Earth Day by pledging to become carbon neutral by 2023. Their three–step plan includes reducing emissions throughout their supply chain, using 100% renewable energy for their headquarters, and offsetting emissions.

8. Allbirds

Allbirds, a Certified B Corp, is already a 100% carbon neutral business. Instead of simply investing in carbon offset projects to account for the pollution they produce, this shoe and apparel brand has pledged to bring their carbon footprint to zero.

Allbirds brings transparency to their sustainability initiatives through their website. You can read all about their journey and approach to net zero, among a number of other social and environmental innovations, in the sustainability tab on the top navigation.

To make it easy for consumers to be conscious, they attach a nutrition–like label to all of their products that spell out its associated emissions. In April 2021, Allbirds open–sourced their carbon footprint tool so other companies and consumers could benefit.

9. tentree

Tentree plants 10 trees for every purchase of their sustainable products. To date, with the help of charitable organizations, the company has planted over 70 million trees. These trees have removed millions of tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere, lifted up impoverished communities, and reforested land space of more than 12,000 football fields.

This B Corp certified brand aims to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. In an interview with tentree’s CEO about the importance of trees, he explained “tentree is a tree–planting company that happens to sell apparel…” In their Earth–first mission, in which “the planet and its people come first, always,” tentree employs the most sustainable materials and ethical factory operations.

10. Aspiration, Inc.

Aspiration Inc. is B Corp Certified and a 1% for the Planet member. This bank gives individuals the power to fight climate change one purchase at a time. Between 2016 and 2020, the world’s 60 biggest banks lent more than $3.8 trillion of their customer’s money to fossil fuel companies. And the four biggest banks in the US account for more than $240 billion of this money every year.

In direct opposition, for every $1,000 that customers transfer to their Aspiration account, they tally an annual climate impact of up to 6,000 fewer car miles driven. With Aspiration debit and credit cards, customers get up to 10% cash back on purchases from socially responsible businesses. Your car’s gas and its associated CO₂ emissions are automatically offset.

Aspiration’s Impact Measurement (AIM) feature generates a personal sustainability score based on purchases. This is the perfect tool to help customers understand their footprint and know where to spend their money.

11. Avocado Green Mattress

Avocado Green Mattress is not just the most sustainable mattress in the world, but one of the most sustainable businesses in the world. Avocado’s Green Mattress contains no toxic chemicals and is manufactured with the highest standard of sustainable materials. The brand raises its own sheep to ensure the wool meets their own organic standards.

Avocado is a transparent Certified B Corp, a Certified Climate Neutral company and a 1% for the Planet member. This brand works diligently towards achieving zero waste and reducing their emissions. The company also uses its resources in political activism. They supported 36 legislative bills and spoke at 26 events advocating for sustainability policies in 2021 alone.

12. Tablas Creek

Tablas Creek has been using organic wine–making methods since the 1960s (before it was cool) to keep workers safe from toxins and to foster healthier permaculture. Today, Tablas is the US first Regenerative Organic Certified™ vineyard. That means that in making their wine, Tablas Creek diligently considers soil health, animal health and social welfare.

Working with nature and all three of these values in the wine–making process—Tablas Creek makes delicious, high quality wines, while helping to revitalize land, nurture its ecosystems, and promote the wellness of workers and consumers.

Tablas Creek is the only sustainable brand on this list that can claim to be reversing climate change. Learn more about Tablas Creek Vineyard and the agricultural and regenerative practices that set them apart.

13. MUD Jeans

Netherlands based MUD Jeans is a B Corporation certified brand, while small it sets the bar for the world of sustainable denim and fashion. This company is the world’s first circular denim brand. In 2013, MUD introduced their Lease a Jeans program, a model that frees consumers from the anxiety of buying a new pair of jeans too frequently just to keep up with trends.

Instead, this business model allows customers to borrow MUD jeans, and return them once they’re done using it. Thus avoiding the landfill and encouraging a less wasteful lifestyle.

MUD has made an incredible impact by focusing on its water usage, carbon emissions, land use and recycling. If you’re looking to buy a new, sustainable pair of jeans, check out MUD’s handy Store Finder (US consumers, check out Ooloop).

14. Grove Collaborative

Grove Collaborative is an online marketplace that strives to make sustainable and healthy choices easy for consumers. In fact, Grove is the first plastic–neutral retailer in the world, meaning they divert the same amount of plastic from the ocean that they produce.

Grove Collaborative is B Corp certified and has an ambitious goal in the short term: be plastic–free by 2025. Grove also is involved in reforestation efforts and in minimizing their overall carbon footprint. If you are looking for a place to find sustainable consumer products backed by a brand with a proven track record, Grove is the perfect place for you.

15. Seventh Generation

Packaging that is used for selling and shipping products is a huge source of waste and negative environmental impacts. This paper, personal care, and cleaning products company was focused on being sustainability since being founded in 1988. This brand almost did not make the list as it was bought out by Fortune 500 behemoth Unilever in 2016.

Unilever has notoriously made the list of the top 5 largest global plastic and environmental polluters 4 years in a row. But with the reintroduction of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in congress in October, 2023, perhaps this brand will choose planet over plastic. We’ll see…

Seventh Generation offers plant–based products made of sustainably sourced ingredients. In order to reduce waste, the company uses recycled materials for their packaging and designs the packaging itself to be recycled.

Seventh Generation aimed for 100% of their products and packaging to use post–consumer recycled material by 2020 and to become a zero–waste company by 2025. Seventh Generation also focuses on community action. They support the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign and offer grants to nonprofit organizations through their foundation, the Seventh Generation Foundation.

Support the Planet, Support Sustainable Companies

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Thankfully, there are more and more businesses starting up that are choosing to protect the planet and people over exclusively making a profits. As these companies continue their work, they aren’t only focused on their own impact, they are also redefining the role of business in addressing climate change. 

Source:
The 15 Most Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable Companies (2023)
https://growensemble.com/environmentally-friendly-companies/