EQOU makes 100% plastic-free straws, utensils, bags and more. (©EQOU)
By Jennifer McKee
There are many great, sustainable products being made today that make it easy for each of us to reduce our carbon footprint. From tableware and health and beauty products to towels, shoes and champagne, here are some of our favorites.
EQUIO
50% of all plastic produced is only used once, on average less than 20 minutes. EQOU’s mission is to rid the world of single-use plastic. It harnesses the power of Mother Nature to replace these elements in its coffee, coconut, grass, rice and sugarcane products. Its materials come from regions that support local farming initiatives and communities.
Osmo Evaporative Refrigerator
We love this product from the International Houseware Association student design competition. Rose Kirby, a junior at Western Washington University, won the Global Innovation Award for the Osmo evaporative fridge, which allows people to store products on the counter so they don’t get lost and forgotten in the fridge . The durable product passively evaporates water through the porous surface of the ceramic container, reducing food spoilage.
Nomadex
This eco-friendly brand’s high-performance towels are perfect for any adventure. Each napkin is made from recycled plastic and then printed instead of using harmful dyes. Pet hair and sand resistant, they’re great for camping, yoga, the beach and more. Check out the stunning designs from the National Parks Collection; a portion of sales is donated to land conservation. National Parks Week runs from April 16-24, and you can visit your favorite park for free on April 16.
Empty Grocery Shoes
Take a step towards a more sustainable wardrobe with Empty Provisions, a shoe line built out of love for the environment, love for the community, and love for minimalist style. The sandals are handcrafted by local artisans in Maine and use premium vegetable-tanned leather to create bold, basic colors.
OLITA
An award-winning sunscreen brand known for being coral reef-friendly, OLITA’s mineral products are certified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and chosen as Parent Magazine’s Safest Sunscreens for Kids in 2021. All the products use clean ingredients – no chemicals here – and are cruelty-free. All sales support ocean conservation.
Theo Chocolate
Theo Chocolate is dedicated to ethical and sustainable sourcing – and his snacks are delicious! But don’t take our word for it: Theo’s Double Chocolate and Mint Cookie Bites has received the 2022 Good Food Awards, which recognize companies that adopt responsible practices and taste great products. These fair trade treats are therefore good for you and for the planet. Go ahead, give it a try.
Cincha
Make getting through the airport a breeze with the help of Cincha: its fashionable travel belts will instantly secure your carry-on to your wheeled bag, and you won’t have to worry about it slips as you walk from Point A to Point B. Made from vegan leather, the belts can be personalized with your initials, making it easy to show off your style. Spring models are available now.
Sea Witch Botanicals
One of the easiest ways to switch to using sustainable products is in your health and beauty routine. Discover intoxicating handmade soaps, body washes, incense and candles from Sea Witch Botanicals; goods are all sent in compostable and recyclable packaging and paper shipping tape. The brand aims to keep the world water healthy by providing natural home and body products that are good for you and the environment.
ATTITUDE Live
The mission to provide consumers with effective, vegan and cruelty-free products. EWG-certified home and body products are the philosophy of ATTITUDE Living. From shower gel and natural deodorant to all-purpose cleaner and baby products, ATTITUDE’s clean ingredients harness the power of nature and help keep plastics out of the landfill, while smelling great. Be sure to purchase eco-refills to further minimize plastic waste.
pursoma
Who doesn’t need a good bath to melt away the stressors? Now Pursoma, the celebrity-favorite line, has launched an exclusive line made with French Gray Sea Salt, the natural version of Epsom salt that is non-toxic, non-GMO, vegan, cruelty-free and SLS-sulfate-paraben free. . The bath products use 100% natural, nutrient-rich ingredients, all of which are harvested from natural salt beds.
Revolutionary Oral Care Elementa
Let’s not neglect these choppers! Elementa Revolutionary Oral Care is formulated by a team of dentists, uses patent-pending Nano Silver technology and xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that helps prevent cavities. Its dental solutions, which include mouthwashes and dental gels, are also alcohol- and fluoride-free and whiten teeth, kill bad bacteria, and leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Available for adults, children and pets.
The unpacked life
Using a concentrated shampoo and bath bar is a great way to reduce the number of plastic bottles that end up in landfills, and plastic-free beauty brand Unwrapped Life is on a mission to prevent more 2.5 million plastic bottles from entering our oceans. Just in time for Earth Day, he launched the limited-edition Hydrate Me Body Bar and Shave to give dull, dry skin a hydrating pick-me-up. It contains colloidal oatmeal rich in vitamin B and amla oil rich in vitamin C.
Maggie Valley Collective
Maggie Valley Collective candles are hand poured into recycled, eco-friendly glass jars and promote thought and creativity. The brand is inspired by the valleys of nature, whose ebb and flow resemble the phases of our lives. Its blend of coconut, apricot and soy waxes, combined with clean-burning wooden wicks, make the candles truly natural.
Tommy Bahamas
Always a proponent of eco-friendly fabrics, Tommy Bahama nods to Earth Day 2022 with its first entirely sustainable collection of women’s swimwear. Palm Modern’s sleek silhouettes and sculptural details are complemented by innovative recycled fabrics with four-way stretch and a soft feel. Tommy Bahama is also helping to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in sustainable cotton growing practices through Better Cotton, which in 2021 alone saved approximately 55 million gallons of water.
Código 1530 x Lucky Brand Spring 2022 Collection
Two of your favorite brands have teamed up for a spring capsule full of t-shirts, fleeces and accessories for men and women. Award-winning tequila and mezcal producer Código 1530 and Lucky Brand’s second collaboration use FAXEL’s Eco Yarn, a recycled cotton fiber produced by spinning fabric scraps with virgin cotton fiber. Parts are available online only – get them while you can!
Telmont Champagne
We end our Earth Day roundup with a product from the vine: Champagne Telmont. This sustainable champagne house recently welcomed Leonardo Di Caprio as an equity investor in its quest to become a fully sustainable vineyard by 2025. Raise your glass to that!