4 Sustainable American Companies

With more and more people realizing just how dire the climate emergency is, sustainability seems to be the buzzword of the day.

Companies will go to great lengths to convince their customers that their products are recyclable, reusable, carbon-neutral, and so on. Not all brands, however, really put their money where their mouth is. Here are some companies based in the USA that are going above and beyond when it comes to sustainability.

For your capsule wardrobe: Vetta

A capsule wardrobe is a small selection of interchangeable garments which all go well together and look classic enough that they are unlikely to go out of fashion. Californian company Vetta is dedicated to helping you build your capsule wardrobe with ease: all their clothes are organized into different capsules, and you can either shop for items individually or buy the whole capsule in your size. Creating a capsule wardrobe means reducing your consumption, as you will be combining five or six items to create dozens of outfits. In addition to this, Vetta uses sustainable materials including deadstock, ships items in recyclable packing, and is committed to ethical production practices. Their carbon footprint is lowered by having some of their items made in the USA, which translates to fewer emissions needed to transport the garments from the factory to the warehouse. All in all, a great effort!

For your jewelry: 12FIFTEEN

Buying jewelry can be an ethical minefield, as diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals are often mined using practices that exploit workers and damage the environment. Wisconsin-based jewelry company 12FIFTEEN’s answer to this problem is to make and sell beautiful lab diamond rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Lab diamonds are, quite literally, diamonds grown in a lab. They are no less ‘real’ than diamonds mined from the earth, but unlike their mined counterparts, they don’t contribute to the destruction of the planet. As a nice bonus, they are often cheaper than mined diamonds, too!

For your outdoor clothing: Patagonia

Another Californian company, Patagonia makes excellent quality jackets, backpacks, and other essentials for outdoor activities such as hiking or skiing. As well as being committed to Fair Trade practices, they use organic cotton and plenty of recycled materials, making them an excellent choice for the conscious consumer—which, in this day and age, should be everyone who can afford to be! One interesting new initiative is their use of recycled fishing nets to make coat linings. They also have a secondhand online store, where you can trade in your used Patagonia gear for credits towards new stuff.

For your home: Avocado

Avocado Mattress, LLC was founded in 2016 when the owners realized they couldn’t find an affordable mattress made from organic and non-toxic materials. Nowadays, the company’s range also includes bed frames, pillows, bedding, and any other bed-related accessory you can think of, as well as towels, bath mats, bathroom furniture, and beauty products. They also recently launched a line of clothing called Hass and started a new initiative to use some of their profits to feed people in need.