We know you're probably busy with 4/20 celebrations. Or maybe we caught you planning an Arbor Day blowout for next week. But let's not forget about Earth Day.
April 22 is a time to give thanks to our planet. Maybe caress some grass or compliment a flower or something.
But once that's done, consider throwing your purchasing power behind brands that do the world some good.
Here are 20 sustainability-focused brands to shop on Earth Day. Or any day.
Aerrem: This is the first tote bag specifically designed to carry two refillable bottles or tumblers (perfect for water, coffee, wine...), so you can skip the single-use plastics when you're out running around town.
Allbirds: The now-ubiquitous shoe brand is a champion for planet Earth. The company is transparent about its carbon footprint and encourages other brands to work toward helping the planet. They offset all their emissions to operate as a carbon neutral business, aiming to become a climate positive operation by using natural materials and supporting regenerative agriculture sources.
Atoms: These comfortable shoes are 99% recyclable and 100% vegan, creating fewer carbon emissions than animal-derived products. They also use a waterless dyeing process to eliminate toxic runoff and use carbon offsets for all product shipments.
Código 1530: The tequila maker supports sustainability efforts by making straws, cups and bar tools from spent agave fibers. They've also partnered with Lucky Brand on a capsule collection of tees and accessories from recycled cotton sourced from cutting waste and leftover fabric.
Columbia: The company's socially responsible supply chain trains and employs women around the world, and their Rethreads program gives old clothing new life. They're also engaged in multiple conservation initiatives, like bringing clean water to disadvantaged communities and helping to preserve national parks.
Everlane: Everlane works with ethical factories that pay fair wages and provide safe working environments. They are radically transparent about costs, displaying the true cost behind each product, from materials and labor to transportation.
Fair Harbor: The swimwear brand has branched out in recent years. Once known for making swim trunks from recycled plastic, Fair Habor now makes sustainable pants and shirts, too. The One Pant uses up to 20 upcycled water bottles, while the Kismet tees and Seabreeze henleys are produced from up to 16. That's a lot of bottles in your clothing and not in the oceans.
Faherty: The maker of fine-looking shirts prioritizes eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester and hemp, while using non-toxic dyes and water-efficient practices. Faherty also donates a portion of proceeds to environmental causes and Native communities.
Fourlaps: The performance-minded brand's RE UP initiative focuses on sustainable fabric development. Currently, 88% of the entire Fourlaps line is made with either recycled or biodegradable materials, and they're working toward 100%.
Industry of All Nations: Industry of All Nations works with local makers and materials to produce clothing that's less harmful to the planet. They use organic cotton and un-dyed alpaca wool and package items in recycled paper bags.
Levi's: The majority of Levi's jeans are finished with their WaterLess method, which removes water from the process. So, instead of your jeans getting their softness or worn look from being blasted in a washing machine, they might tumble around dry with bottle caps or golf balls.
Marine Layer: Eco-friendly fabrics are made into clothing in small batches, so everything can be sold, donated or recycled into new items. Take your old T-shirts to the store, and they will recycle the fabric into their Re-Spun lineup, giving you a credit to be used toward future purchases. So far, the brand has diverted more than 400,000 old tees from landfills.
Nudie Jeans: You can wrap your legs in denim made from organic and recycled cotton. But taking it a step further, Nudie reuses old jeans for their bucket hats and patches customer denim through their repair shops.
Outerknown: Surfer Kelly Slater's company has been Fair Labor Association accredited since day one. One hundred percent of the swim trunks are made with recycled or renewable fibers, and the S.E.A. jeans are guaranteed for life—if you get a hole in the knee or rip a seam, the brand will repair or replace them.
Patagonia: For years, Patagonia has been a leader in championing fair trade practices, eco-friendly materials and working toward a minimal footprint. Many of their products are made with a focus on cleaning the land and oceans, like certain hats and pants, which are constructed from discarded fishing nets.
Saye: This Spanish company makes vegan sneakers with plant-based "leathers" fashioned from cactus, corn and mango. They also plant two trees for every pair sold, and to date have planted more than 200,000 trees.
Skagen: 90% of Skagen's traditional watches are sustainable, and all of its stainless steel cases are made with at least 50% recycled content. Taking things a step further, the just-released, limited-edition Grenen Ocean timepiece was designed with #tide ocean material, which upcycles ocean-bound plastic waste and transforms it into premium, second-life raw material.
United by Blue: For every product purchased, United by Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways. To date, that has resulted in more than 3.5 million pounds. So, keep buying those shirts, hoodies, pants and jackets—the fish are counting on you.
Veja: France-based and Brazil-produced Veja was the first company to make sneakers using fabric sourced entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Many sneakers have soles made from wild rubber and uppers made from organic cotton.
Vustra: California's Vustra sources only organic and regenerative natural fibers like organic cotton, recycled polyester and bamboo to make their handsome tees and button-down shirts. And they only work with certified ethical manufacturing partners.
