Dec 7, 2021
Sustainable, Local, Eco-Friendly — 6 Meaningful Ways Innovative Brands Are Helping The Environment Without Compromising On Quality
We all know the world is changing — at this late stage, it’s become undeniable to anyone who can look outside their window.
Yet for many companies, it just doesn’t seem to matter.
Even when a major brand does do something beneficial for the environment, it can be hard to tell if it’s really signaling a change in their behaviour, or if it’s just another publicity stunt.
In a way, we’re all responsible for the way many of these businesses act — because we allow it.
I’m not suggesting that we storm their stores and lock the doors.
But by continuing to purchase products from major brands that have shown they don’t care about our planet, we are helping them to do more damage.
It may be impossible right now to get everything we need from sustainable sources, but the sooner we start, the easier it will get.
Supporting eco-friendly brands will help them to grow, and encourage the creation of more sustainable stores in other niches.
Here are 6 meaningful actions taken by environmentally friendly brands that will show you they mean business.
- Recycled Construction
Sustainability starts when they break ground to build a new store.
Not every company will build new, but most will at least renovate — and hopefully, they’ll do so with recycled materials as much as possible.
2. Locally Sourced
When you walk into a store and everything in it is a product from the other side of the world, it’s a problem.
Responsible brands will put effort into sourcing their furniture locally, and upcycling as much of it as they can.
3. Recycling Programs
One of the best ways big brands can help the environment is by making it easier for us to help.
Did you know that up to 13 million tonnes of old clothing is thrown away every year, just in North America?
Some of that clothing is no good anymore, but more than 90% of it can still be recycled, and some forward-thinking brands are trying to help accomplish that by providing their own easy-to-access recycling programs.
4. Minimal Packaging
Do you ever get home with a new product, take it out of the plastic shopping bag, cut off the plastic packaging, remove the plastic ties, then peel off the plastic film?
That’s a lot of plastic, and it’s not the least bit uncommon.
You can go a long way towards eliminating your plastic waste just by shopping with brands that are committed to using less plastic packaging.
5. Carbon Offsets
This can be a tricky one because it has to be said — carbon offsets are often used as a publicity stunt.
Watch for brands that don’t just brag about their offsets, but continuously make use of them.
A little bragging is okay of course — as long as their actions match their words.
6. Sustainable Products
Last but far from least — this is one of the most important things to look for.
What a store is selling is obviously going to tell you a lot about them.
If it’s all plastic knick-knacks or cheap products imported from the other side of the world, they probably don’t care about the environment as much as they claim.
On the other hand, if they’re selling essential products and still sourcing them sustainably, you know they’re on the up and up.
An example of this might be a furniture store that uses sustainable materials, like bamboo and teak — or a fashion brand that uses recycled materials and vegan insulation in their winter wear.
We can’t save the world individually, none of us can.
In recent years it’s become obvious that the companies who make all the products we need have to make the change to be environmentally friendly, and most of them just don’t want to.
You and I can’t make them change, but we can support the brands that are making an effort.
Sometimes actions speak louder than words.
