This holiday season, think about buying from brands that are rethinking consumerism altogether. While gifts can be a thoughtful gesture for a friend, a family member, or a colleague, are they thoughtful to the planet? Here are some gifts that are made to last, and planet-friendly.
Suga yoga mat, the world’s first yoga mat made from recycled wetsuits. Ironically wetsuits and yoga mats -- two items that are supposed to help us feel a stronger connection to nature-- are made of neoprene, a material that refuses to break down. Suga was developed in Encinitas, California by a lifelong surfer and yoga practitioner, taking, old, torn, unwanted wetsuits and turning them into yoga mats. So far, the company has collected over 11,000 wetsuits and diverted over 28 tons of neoprene from landfills.
If you have a traveler, hiker, or outdoorsman/woman on your list, this is a practical gift that will last them for years, if not decades. Started in 2005, LifeStraw uses membrane technology to filter out contaminants in water. The tube-shaped filter comes with its own LifeStraw bottle or can be adapted to several other water bottles on the market. That means wherever you go -- out in the woods, on travels to remote corners of the world -- you’ll be assured clean, filtered water. The LifeStraw materials are strong, sturdy, and meant to last. Still doubtful? The bottle has been certified by the World Health Organization. Their Follow the Liters program always gives back to communities in Africa.
This Salt Lake City brand is a registered B Corporation that sells outdoor gear and clothing to drive social change. The company employs refugees, gives 2% of revenue to charities, and looks at sustainability in their materials. Their latest creation, the Teca windbreaker, is made from repurposed polyester taffeta. A colorful windbreaker, the Teca helps put old material to good use. Comfortable, effective, and recycled, the windbreaker is one of a growing list of items that use repurposed materials. In addition, the brand works with artisan groups in Bolivia to produce its llama wool sweater, Libre, and socks -- simple, straightforward wool gear that doesn’t itch or make you sweat. Made entirely of llama fibers from Bolivia, it helps provide income for suppliers, farmers, and those knitting the structured sweater.
Ellison Eyewear, a crowdfunded startup on equity crowdfunding site, Republic, produces biodegradable Ellison sunglasses and BlueTech lenses -- all made in a family-owned workshop in Greece. The company raised $125,000 in their first campaign and is now raising a second round of funding. With a give back ethos embedded in the brand, not only are they promising eco-friendly materials, but also people-friendly practices: each Ellison purchase helps provide eyesight care and treatment for those in need of it. So far, the company has provided care for 3,500 people.
Rothy’s flats are lightweight, moisture wicking, seamless (goodbye blisters!) and machine washable but since their launch last year, they’ve also diverted 650,000 water bottles from landfills, and manufacturing in a low-waste responsible way. After three years of research and product development, Rothy’s uses 3D-knitting technology to create the upper of the shoe which reduces production waste. With a carbon-free rubber outsole and insole made of recyclable foam, the entire shoe is constructed of alternative materials. You can give your Rothy’s a new life by sending them back to be recycled, free of charge, after their wearable life.
Nau is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Founded on the idea that there is always an opportunity to make things better, with a business model that places sustainability and philanthropy at the center, Nau’s still-standing Partners For Change donates a percentage of every sale directly to non-profit partners. Through the last decade, the brand has pioneered hundreds of eco-friendly fabrics and fibers, sometimes up to 35 in a season: recycled polyesters, recycled wool, etc. The
Launched by Tom Chappell of Tom’s of Maine, Ramblers Way is an ethical textile brand devoted to bringing back textile manufacturing to New England through wool and cotton clothing. From start to finish, the supply chain is made of ranchers in the West, spinners and dyers in the South and factories in New England. By using only natural materials -- wool and cotton - the clothes can break down after use. Though the pieces may seem pricey, they’re made to last.
If you live in a polluted city, or just want to monitor air quality, consider this simple device which hooks up with your phone and can break down pollution into various categories -- dust, pollutants, heat-related, chemical count. For those who are eco-conscious, it’s an interesting way to learn more about your daily, most intimate environment and ways to improve it.
