By Tess DiNapoli
Mom or dad, student or retiree, entrepreneur or employee—“essential” or otherwise—we’ve come together during these days when distance is a healthy necessity in the recognition that our choices have a real impact on those around us. Whether you’ve been singing the praises of ethical brands for ages or are new to understanding making socially conscious purchases, ways to make the right choice for your style and the planet have never been easier. Ethically sourced skincare, computer bags, and even baby clothes have flooded the market – and the cultural consciousness – so knowing which brands stand out in terms of quality and reliability is essential in starting (or sustaining) your sustainable lifestyle.
While no list of ethical brands can be perfect—thankfully, the options grow every year—these brands top our list as ideally suited for the modern consumer.
1. MAM Original
While many of us have entered the freeing (or paralyzing) jungle of possibility that is remote work, a lot of workers have yet to find the same lock-and-step productivity schedule that was almost incidental to our away-from-home offices. It’s no surprise that, for the work-at-home warriors sidelined by COVID, the ability to prioritize tasks and deploy time management skills are the most important factors in maximizing efficiency. Why not go the old-school route and invest in a quality timepiece?
Not only are timepieces at MAM Originals incredibly reliable, they’re built from reclaimed stainless steel, FSC Certified Wood, and recycled and vegan leather straps. All that means that you can have the classic wristwatch style and dependability, with a clear conscience to boot. MAM also uses recycled and biodegradable packaging, which means their CO2-neutral shipping will keep your watch and the world a little safer.
MAM isn’t just in the watch business, however. They’re all about creating sustainable accessories for both men and women, from watches to jewelry, bags and more. They’re versatile and forward-thinking, putting power in their customers’ hands with earrings that can be worn several ways and an innovative new raffia bag from their UFO collection that doubles as a home accessory too! They want to marry urban life and nature, and it really shows.
2. Hatched
Ethical brands are good for us now, and good for the future of the planet. It’s no wonder that Hatched is making organic, ethical products for the kids who will inherit the world. Your little one has a bright future, and Hatched has opted to make it even brighter.
Featuring accessories, toys, skincare, clothing, and more, Hatched is the ultimate source for parents to find organic and chic designs to adorn their little ones. Committed to fair trade, philanthropy, and child welfare, Hatched makes a line of adorable offerings that are as good for you as they are for your future superhero.
3. Ayr Skin Care
One of the weird facts we pull along from grade school into adulthood is the knowledge that the skin is the body’s largest organ. Today, we’re starting to recognize the mind-body connection that leads to a balanced body and healthy complexion. Ayr Skin Care offers skincare free of toxic ingredients, parabens, silicones, paraffin, gluten, soy, dairy, synthetic dyes, artificial perfumes, guilt, and buyer’s remorse. They even offer starter combos to guide you to the perfect skincare regimen, and a body care blog to help you make the most of their products and achieve luminous skin.
4. Cosmakery
Long gone is the time when glam and goodness stood in stark contrast; ethical skincare could always use a bit of help with blemishes. Luckily Cosmakery, the female-owned, cruelty-free cosmetics brand, has rushed to the leaderboard in the world of ethical cosmetics. Not only does Cosmakery match the moral must-haves for cruelty-free cosmetics, they focus on using clean ingredients. Even better, they excel in customer service and client satisfaction. Most famously, Emmy-award winning makeup artist Janelle Thomason has lauded Cosmakery as her professional go-to for star-studded events as well as daily glam.
5. Wildly Organic
For go-to necessities and snacks, it can be surprisingly hard to cut through the “all-natural” noise and find truly organic, ethically sourced, and reliably tasty brands. That’s where Wildly Organic has you covered. Independent and family-owned, they’re committed to a mission of nutrition, featuring minimally-processed snacks and essentials that meet the highest standard for household organics. They strive to not only have certified organic products, but vegan, gluten-free, paleo and keto certifications as well. From soaking and drying their nuts to retain more nutrients and cooking foods slower and at lower temperatures, to sourcing cacao beans from farmers who use sustainable methods, Wildly Organic has the conscious cook in mind every step of the way.
6. Targus
Long-known for their high-quality bags and accessories, Targus has answered the call of the modern workplace with a new EcoSmart® line of laptop bags and backpacks. The EcoSmart® product lineup has GRS-certified recycled plastic materials woven into each bag, making the bag sturdier and keeping that plastic out of our landfills and oceans. Eight million tons of plastic waste hit our oceans every year but, by switching your professional choices, you can do your part to make that number smaller.
Have a fave that didn’t make the list? Did we give enough props to these ethical brands? Tell us what you think on Twitter @litdarling!
About the Author
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.
