The 10 Best Ethical Brands Of 2022
Sustainability is undoubtedly an increasingly important factor for fashion and beauty consumers when deciding what to spend their money on, but it can also be challenging to know where to look for eco-friendly and ethically made products.
Below, we round up some of our favourite ethical brands that produce high-quality, eco-friendly products so that you can enjoy shopping with a clear conscience.
Here are 10 of our favourite sustainable brands to consider adding to your wardrobe and skincare routine.
Earth’s Secret
How they’re making a difference: More and more studies prove that a good's night sleep is not a luxury, it's a necessity—and one we're not allowing ourselves.
Sleep is said to be a public health crisis of the modern world, as up to 10% of people experience chronic insomnia, which is more likely to occur in women than in men. Que Earths Secret, a trio of nutritional supplements - Calm, Thrive and Sleep - designed to help our body get the rest we need. The brainchild of Earth’s Secret, founder Amy Peacock, launched her company in the spring of 2021 and ever since, the company has gone from strength to strength.
Why we love them: The supplements contain five of nature’s most treasured natural sleep-inducing botanicals: chamomile, lavender, Tryptophan, Melatonin, and the rich Indian ayurvedic spice Saffron, to help enhance the quality of sleep.
How you can support them: Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Earth’s Secret and discover Amy’s five tips for a better night’s sleep. You can also visit her website at www.earthsecret.com
Steamcream
How they’re making a difference: The ever-popular natural Japanese skincare brand, Steamcream, is back! Handmade in small batches, the cream is created using their unique, time-consuming steam-distillation method, dating back to 18th century France which produces effective, lightweight moisturisers. The creams feature all-natural ingredients such as skin-repairing Argan oil, moisture-rich Moringa Butter and skin-smoothing Olive Leaf Ferment Extract.
Steamcream’s mission is to ‘make skincare simple’ and so far, has moisturised over 10 million people around the world. The company are firm believers that animals should not be sacrificed for our skincare and are cruelty-free and contain zero animal-derived ingredients.
Why we love them: Steamcream products are 100% vegan, with no artificial colouring, no gluten, no animal, gelatin or dairy products. Each aluminium tin is designed by Japanese artists and is environmentally friendly and fully recyclable.
How you can support them: Discover the very covetable creams and their delightful tins at www.steamcream.com.
Mamater
How they’re making a difference: Founded in 2018, MAMATER has established itself as an ethical jewellery and art atelier by committing itself to sustainable production methods and ethical trade practices. Founder Marilyne Kekeli’s lifelong passion for nature, plants and their conservation have been important guides in MAMATER's approach to trading and transforming precious metals and stones.
Why we love them: MAMATER celebrates femininity, featuring striking shapes sculpted from ethically sourced metals and rich colours fused with artisanal craftsmanship. On nature, she muses, “Nature is my canvas, my paint, my brush and my inspiration. It is the source of everything.”
Ethical sourcing and mining of her jewels are paramount to Kekeli: “While it yields beautiful fruits, mining is a destructive process that scars our planet and destroys animal habitats. I would love for us consumers to invest in better quality jewellery that can be worn forever. Less fast fashion jewellery, and more pieces with meaning that we will treasure for all of our lives."
How you can support them: Explore Marilyne's collection at www.mamater.com.
Olverum Pure Radiance Facial Oil
How they’re making a difference: Olverum’s commitment to sourcing their products sustainably is weaved into their philosophy and has long since been a key USP. Many of their ingredients, including the Raspberry Seed Oil used in Olverum Body Oil and the Papaya Enzyme in the Body Polish, are upcycled from food byproducts. According to Olverum, they say star ingredients often seen in other popular products are not sourced ethically: “Some species, such as Hawaiian Frankincense, have been exploited to the point of extinction. We make sure the Frankincense contained in our Body Oils is produced from renewable sources.”
Why we love them: With pure constituents such as cardamom and calmative Russian Clary Sage Oil, what’s not to love about the award-winning self-care label? Our star product of the range is the Pure Radiance Facial Oil featuring retinol, Rosehip and Cacay Oils plus CBD alternatives, mindfully formulated to bestow freshened dewy skin, revived spirits, and improved self-confidence. The oil also contains Bakuchiol, the first natural retinol alternative, suitable for all skin types.
0.5 fl. Oz glass bottle with dropper RRP. £60.00 Available at spacenk.com, Fortnum and Mason, and Olverum.com
So Just Shop
How they’re making a difference: On their website, SO JUST SHOP state that their aim is “to raise 250,000 women and their families out of abject poverty while ensuring that ethical and sustainable products are accessible to all,” and they are doing just that.
SO JUST SHOP works closely with small-scale artisan groups to ensure they have the funds, materials and training to produce each collection. The brand also work with co-operatives in marginalised communities; the product range includes accessories and homeware hand-crafted by women living in extreme poverty, disabled women, ex-sex workers, refugees, women viewed as outcasts by society and survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking.
Read their full impact report here.
Why we love them: Up to 80% of each sale goes back to the artisan groups that they work with and all materials are made from ethical and sustainable materials, promoting recycled and upcycled products.
How you can support them: Find them at www.sojustshop.com and discover the beautiful creations of artisans from all over the world.
OBJECT
How they’re making a difference: A zero waste hair care brand focussing on 'objecting' to plastic waste and 'fast-paced life ideals', OBJECT are slowing down and finding innovative and luxury solutions to haircare and bodycare. On why duo Jack and Hugo started OBJECT, they commented, “We were sick of all the plastic waste filling our bathroom so we looked for an alternative. We searched high and low for brands and products that fitted the bill of being natural, ethical and plastic-free.”
Featuring celestial-smelling shampoo bars, all products are made for different hair types, leaving nobody out and includes a nifty little aluminium travel tin to take away on holiday rather than a cumbersome shampoo bottle.
Why we love them: Ingredients are all-natural, containing beetroot, coconut and argan oil, shea butter, moringa and essential vitamins to keep hair looking its best. They’ve also just been awarded a Positive Luxury 'butterfly mark', to show their commitment to sustainability and the environment is genuine.
How you can support them: Explore the fun, interactive website at www.objectbeauty.com
Been London
How they’re making a difference: An all-female team based in London Fields, BEEN London sources materials destined for landfills and turns them into chic accessories. Founder Genia Mineeva started her career as a political journalist at the BBC where she ran campaigns for the UN, Change.org and Natalia Vodianova’s Naked Heart Foundation, amongst others. Identifying a gap in the market for waste elimination, Genia talked to local and international recycling plants, and each meeting led her to the same conclusion—there was so much potential in ‘waste’ that wasn’t being realised.
Genia dug deeper, studying Sustainable Value Chains at Cambridge University and discovered that there wasn’t much of a ‘market’ yet for recycled materials, especially premium, recycled leather. So BEEN London was born.
Why we love them: Materials are shipped by sea to minimise the carbon footprint and BEEN support the reforestation of the Amazon to help with carbon capture - every material used is certified by a trusted global organisation. Designs take a zero-waste approach - bags consist only of square and rectangular panels which produce close to no waste at all. Discarded leather trimmings are reborn as premium totes and crossbodies. Landfill-bound plastics are revived as silky linings and zips. Even pineapple leaves and apple peels are repurposed into vegan leather.
How you can support them: Discover the collection at www.beenlondon.co.uk.
James + Jake
How they’re making a difference: James + Jake have joined the growing number of brands committing to creating environmentally-friendly products that are not only 100% cruelty-free but use recyclable packaging with no animal testing. Commenting on their commitment, James + Jake said “We want to produce products and packaging that are ethical but also help men look and feel great without harming the environment. It’s why we make big promises on our quest to find new innovations to reduce our impact on Earth.”
Why we love them: Their products contain zero plastic exfoliants or microbeads, sustainably sourced ingredients and are certified by the Soil Association, proving it’s operating to the highest standards of sustainability and integrity.
How you can support them: Explore James + Jake and support an ethical, low-impact men’s skincare range at www.jamesandjake.com.
Good Botanics
How they’re making a difference: Founded by Michael Sythe, Michael Maitland and medical herbalist Molly Maitland, GOOD make environmentally and socially conscious plant-based products that promote the traditional practice of herbal medicine and sustainable agricultural processes. Growing their medicinal herbs in Bethnal Green, East London, GOOD work closely with a network of small scale ethical farmers for all additional ingredients.
Why we love them: GOOD promote earth care, people care and fair share. They believe human health and planetary health are intertwined: they invest profits into innovative projects that support environmental and social justice. Profits go towards the Mobile Apothecary project, which produces high-quality herbal medicine for free distribution to individuals experiencing homelessness on the streets of London.
How you can support them: Visit www.goodbotanics.com and discover their naturally grown, ethical herbs and medicines or visit www.phytology.org.uk.
Angela Langford’s Vegan ‘Thirsty Work’ Moisturiser
How they’re making a difference: Effortlessly transitioning from preparing delectable recipes under her chef’s hat, Masterchef finalist Langford now spends most of her time concocting hero formulations for her eponymous skincare label by hand in Pembrokeshire. Formulated with ingredients such as rosehip, raspberry and chia seed, Angela Langford has curated the perfect moisturiser for combination to dry skin.
Why we love them: The result of Langford’s hard work in the ‘kitchen’? A perfectly put together organic, vegan, cruelty-free moisturiser with zero chemicals. Zero. Suitable for even the most temperamental of complexions, Angela Langford Skincare offers a tailor-made solution to each unique skincare concern.
How you can support them: Discover Angela Langford’s full cruelty-free range at www.angelalangford.com. 50ml Thirsty Work Moisturiser, £37.50.
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