Spot a Sustainable Business!

On April 4, 1970, a grassroots event surrounding environmental crises occurred in Wisconsin, inspiring the creation of the first Earth Day celebration. As we approach Earth Day, it is essential to remember some tips and tricks to identify environment-conscious businesses and demystify sustainable shopping!

In the company’s “About Us” or “Sustainability” page, look for…

1. Simplified, compostable packaging

Packaging can be a major contributor to waste, yet it is often neglected because it’s seen as the vessel to the actual product. As a good example of a carbon-conscious initiative, Canyon Bicycles has partnered with Pack4Good to replace their old packaging with recycled and low-impact materials from “responsibly-managed” forests. By reducing their climate impact, they’ve saved nearly $400k by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 65,000 kg. By lessening their carbon footprint now, they save money by evading long-term environmental concerns and regulations.

Fig. 1. New Canyon Bicycles x Pack4Good Packaging

2. Climate-conscious Materials

During and outside of Earth Month, it is important to be aware of where your products are coming from and what they are made out of. North Face released climate-conscious cotton in Spring 2023, decentralizing fertilizers and adding fungal inoculates to protect soil health and carbon in the soil. 

Fig. 2. North Face’s Men’s Short-Sleeve Evolution Box Fit Tee

EthiCAL Apparel also sources from fair trade, 100% sustainably-farmed organic cotton to produce ethically-minded, eco-friendly apparel. Check out our shop here!

Fig. 3. EthiCAL Apparel’s manta-festing flying away Tee

3. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Factories damage our atmosphere through heavy amounts of toxic waste disposal and fossil fuel usage. Acknowledging this, the Clorox Company reduced their 2020 greenhouse gas emissions by half and reached their 100% renewable electricity goal for their United States and Canada operations.

While there are many positives to support in a business, you should also be wary of…

1. Irrelevant claims 

In 2019, Keurig claimed to their consumers and investors that their single-use K-cup pods were 100% recyclable. Later, the public found out the #5 plastic was not widely accepted for recycling, causing Keuring to owe $1.5 million for their deceptive marketing.

2. Insignificant Initiatives

In 2015, Coca-Cola introduced its sustainable packaging initiative, using a recyclable rPET plant bottle but failed to keep their word as the Coca-Cola Company ranked #1 for biggest plastic polluter for 6 consecutive years since 2017. 

Fig. 4. Coca-Cola’s Recyclable rPET Plant Bottle

3. Misleading numbers or percentages

In 2015, Volkswagen marketed new diesel cars as having low carbon dioxide emission levels according to their tests. Soon after, they paid $34 billion after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered it implemented software to activate emissions control only in its test cars.

4. Green-colored, “eco-friendly” packaging

Innisfree’s Green Tea Serum, appearing as a paper bottle, was actually a plastic bottle wrapped in paper. Consumers felt betrayed by the packaging, causing Innisfree to apologize for “overlooking” how consumers could believe the whole bottle was made of paper. 

Fig. 5. Coca-Cola’s Recyclable rPET Plant Bottle

Since looks can be deceiving, doing your own research is crucial to finding brands that will help sustain our planet for a lifetime. Hopefully, these tips were helpful in clarifying what to look out for during Earth Month!