Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for eco-conscious consumers as they seek greener products and ethical brands. Shopping at sustainable small businesses is beneficial for the environment and local economies, making it a win-win for people and the planet.
We’ve compiled a list of small businesses that are committed to sustainability, from popcorn popped by the sun to compostable dryer balls.
Happy shopping!
BjornQorn: BjornQorn is an eco-friendly snack company that makes delicious popcorn without chemicals or preservatives. When it comes to creating their popcorn, BjornQorn leverages solar panels to power the cooking process and they also compost leftover kernels to minimize waste. They’re dedicated to providing better alternatives to traditional snack foods and reducing plastic waste.
Plaine Products: Every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists. Plaine Products is a personal care brand that offers shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion in refillable aluminum bottles. Plaine’s mission is to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable packaging solutions.
Coco and Seed: Love having a garden but don’t have the space? Try Coco and Seed’s garden kits. Their hydroponic garden kit has everything you need to grow herbs, greens, veggies, and even fruits indoors on your windowsill with no soil. Unlike traditional soil-based planting, hydroponics grows plants using water-based nutrient solutions and offers many benefits for the environment, including water conservation, energy efficiency, reduced land use, and more. The kits also come in mason jars, designed to be reused over and over.
Opo Coffee: Opo Coffee is a mission-driven coffee business using specialty coffee to positively impact people’s lives around the world. They compost their coffee and food waste, which diverted over 10,000 pounds of waste and created over 1,000 pounds of compost in 2023. They’re also committed to environmental stewardship, and donate 1% of their sales to environmental sustainability efforts as a member of 1% for the Planet.
LooHoo Dryer Balls: LooHoo Dryer Balls makes eco-friendly dryer balls. Dryer balls are a sustainable alternative to traditional dryer sheets and reduce energy consumption in the drying process. Their products are made in Maine, using only 100% domestic wool that proudly supports the US farming industry.
Kitchen Garden Farm: Kitchen Garden Farm is a 50-acre, certified organic vegetable farm owned and operated by Tim Wilcox and Caroline Pam. Their growing practices reflect their deep commitment to the quality of their products, the health of the land, and the safety of their workers. The farm also only uses natural products and sustainable techniques to grow vegetables.
Beyond Good: Established in 2006 by Brett Beach and Tim McCollum, Beyond Good is a single-origin chocolate and vanilla company that’s prioritizing organic agroforestry and fair pay. The bold flavor of their chocolate is the product of years of partnership with farmers based in Madagascar who practice sustainable agroforestry. Because their supply chain has zero middlemen between the farmer and factory, Beyond Good is able to combat climate change and boost biodiversity, while creating a resilient cocoa industry that’s focused on doing things right.
Luz Y Tierra: Luz y Tierra is the original Mexican-inspired candle shop. They work to collaborate with various artisans across Mexico and hand-pour all of their candles with 100% soy wax. Their extensive collection of clay and ceramic vessels are handmade and reusable pieces that can bring beauty to anyone’s home.
Orta Kitchen Garden: Orta Gardens produces a variety of seed pots and zero-waste kits. Everything they sell is made to last a lifetime and guaranteed to be plastic and toxin-free. They’re green-to-the-core in all aspects of their business, from responsible manufacturing to eco-packaging. The seed pot kits are biodegradable and can be planted directly into the soil, reducing plastic waste, and minimizing transplant shock for plants.
