Let’s be real: buying things feels good. As minimally and consciously as we all should try to conusme, we can’t change the fact that making a purchase triggers a release of dopamine. Now imagine that happy feeling while also knowing you’re helping a worthy cause by purchasing from brands that give back to the environment, the community, and animal welfare.
To be clear: we’re not advocating a shopping spree here. The most sustainable products are those you already own. However, if you do need something new, consider making your purchase matter by supporting a beauty, food, home, or clothing company that gives back.
Between Certified B Corps, members of 1% for the Planet, and triple bottom line businesses, there’s no shortage of ways brands are making it easier than ever to shop to support a better world.
In addition to admirable give-back schemes which was obviously the core consideration for this article, we’ll also be reexamining each of these companies using 22 criteria points in our Brand Rating System that will roll out over the next couple of months. You can learn more here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Maximize Your Buying Power With The Best Brands That Give Back
That would probably be Patagonia, who’s profits are now entirely allocated to either improving their own sustainable business practices or to funding climate-positive organizations directly.
Dr. Bronner’s keeps giving at their company core, which means every time you use their all-in-one Castile soap products, you’re voting for an all-around better world.
And Who Gives A Crap about more than turning a profit on the toilet?
Index: Companies That Give Back With Purchases
- Ethique Jump to brand
- Dr. Bronner’s Jump to brand
- Patagonia Jump to brand
- Thrive Market Jump to brand
- Who Gives A Crap Jump to brand
- Elvis & Kresse Jump to brand
- Solios Jump to brand
- tentree Jump to brand
- EarthHero Jump to brand
- Mental Houseplants Jump to brand
- Indosole Jump to brand
Ethique
If washing up is on the agenda, New Zealand-originated Ethique can help. The brand creates all manner of personal care and household cleaning products. Think: eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner, hosuehold cleaners, and pretty much anything else you might need to clean your skin or home—all in zero waste bar or compostable cardboard stick form.
Easily one of the best beauty brands that gives back, they donate 2% of their sales to one of their numerous charitable partners, which include Ecologi, Oxfam, Wildlife Warriors, and many more. To date, they’ve worked with over 270 school groups, tree planting initiatives, beach clean-ups, animal welfare organizations, and more.
Dr. Bronner’s
Not only does Dr. Bronner’s help you and I clean up, but they help the industry clean up their act by promoting the use of organic, fair trade ingredients and regenerative farming practices.
From non-toxic dish soap to body wash, this brand does it all—or, should we say, their bottle does it all via a comprehensive 18-in-1 pure Castile soap formula.
Giving back is part of one of this Certified B Corp’s six Cosmic Principles. It’s listed right under #6: “Fund and fight for what’s right”. In pursuit of this, they’ve become one of the best companies that give back to the community of farmers and makers around the world.
They contribute significantly (financial and otherwise) towards the raising of awareness for issues like fair trade and living wages, youth and community services, animal advocacy, drug policy reform, and more.
Dr. Bronner’s does this through multiple arms, including their Animal Advocacy Donation Program and Family Foundation—which fights for “systemic change by addressing the root causes of suffering, intolerance, and injustice faced by migrants and refugees around the world”.
Patagonia
Patagonia was one of the first to do capitalism with a conscience. Between eco-conscious fabrics, responsible manufacturing, regenerative agriculture support, repair programs, and the option to buy/sell used Patagonia gear, this Certified B Corp (California’s very first, actually) gives back.
Founder Yvon Chouinard recently changed Patagonia’s business dealings so that all voting stock is given to a “purpose trust” that seeks to continually improve their practices, and all non-voting stock goes to the non-profit Holdfast Collective and its mission to combat climate change. While not exactly a non-profit clothing brand, they come pretty close.
With an unfaltering commitment to the planet and belief that real change is possible with grassroots momentum, they fund environmental groups who fight for inclusivity, justice, action, and public involvement through their Patagonia Grants Program.
They also get everyday folks involved in environmental action groups through their Action Works program and undoubtedly inspired other brands on this list—not least because they founded 1% for the Planet.
Thrive Market
Has getting through this list worked up an appetite?
Let Thrive Market help. One of the best food brands that gives back, they can help both the world and you thrive, no matter your diet particulars and values. They have a variety of healthy food, body, and home care products that satisfy more than 70 different customizable values and diets.
For every membership purchased, this Certified B Corp gives a free one to someone in need, like single parents, college students, low-income families, veterans). Beyond that, they collect donations at checkout to further support those in need. Since 2015, they’ve raised more than $10 million for food equality—with goals to double that number by 2030—and obtained more than 300,000 signatures to urge the USDA to trial food stamps online
That’s on top of providing almost $2 million for COVID relief and to healthcare workers and $2.7 million for disaster relief.
Who Gives A Crap
This eco-friendly toilet paper brand, that’s who. Choose between 100% recycled paper, 100% tree-free bamboo TP, paper towels, and tissues. Regardless of which paper you choose, you’re getting a soft wipe and cute plastic-free packaging.
Their business model is based on toilets, or rather building them. 50%(!) of the profits from every single roll goes to one of their impact partners to build toilets and provide other sanitation and hygiene services in communities that need them. So far, they’ve donated over $13 million AUD and “still have a long way to go”.
If you want to hear more about this brand that gives back to the community, check out The Sustainable Jungle Podcast episode, where we interviewed co-founder Simon Griffiths.
Elvis & Kresse
Fashion brands that give back are putting out the fires of fast fashion—or literal fires, if we’re talking about Elvis & Kresse. That’s because their product line is made primarily with recycled London fire hoses, and some other recycled sustainable materials like upcycled Burberry leather, auction banners, military parachutes.
As a Certified B Corp and Social Enterprise Business for Good, they support organizations like the WWF, Barefoot College (which empowers women in rural villages with solar engineering skills), and the UK’s Fire Fighters Charity. In 2022, they donated almost £85,000 to their charity partners, following their 2021 giving season which donated almost £100,000.00.
Not only do they donate up to half of their annual profits to these charities, but they also give back to our planet by repurposing every single retired fire hose produced in London, using renewable energy exclusively for manufacturing, and offering lifetime repairs.
Solios
Watch out for this next Certified B Corp.
Why? Because Solios and their line of sustainable watches is truly worthing of watching, They’re made of durable materials including a silicone-based vegan leather, which is free of toxic chemicals, PU, and PVC. The straps are interchangeable and the hyper efficient watches are solar-powered, reducing the need to buy wasteful, disposable batteries.
Solios buys time for the endangered places on our planet. With a partnership with Rainforest Trust, every single watch purchase protects one whole acre of rainforest. Because rainforests are home to countless animal species (50% of total species, in fact!), protecting it not only preserves carbon consuming trees, but necessary biodiversity, too—so in that way, they’re also one of our favorite brands that give back to animals.
Listen to Sam Le Roux (one of the co-founders), who we interviewed on the Sustainable Jungle Podcast, discuss the role of Solios in disrupting the watch industry by creating elegant yet uniquely sustainable timepieces.
Speaking of the founders, Solios’ have been volunteers of Make-A-Wish for years and donate $50 per watch from Make-A-Wish collection, with a goal of reaching $25,000.
tentree
tentree speaks for the trees and hopes you will, too, by donning their clothes that give back.
The Climate Neutral Certified B Corp has eco clothing essentials for all occasions, like shirts, hoodies, joggers, pants, shorts, cardigans, and outerwear for men, women, and kids. Everything in their collection of clothing that supports a cause is made using either natural materials–like organic cotton or lyocell—or recycled synthetics.
More than that, every item purchased plants ten trees (totalling over 105 million so far!), specifically in areas in need of reforestation. The trees also help developing local communities by providing employment opportunities, ecosystem support, and food.
EarthHero
EarthHero is pretty heroic, even among other ethical alternatives to Amazon. You can find many of the sustainable beauty, body, and homecare brands we love on their site. In fact, EarthHero only works with ethically-minded companies.
In addition to supporting small businesses by giving them a platform, they’re fully carbon-neutral through CarbonFund, and a contributing member of 1% for the Planet. As of their 2022 impact report, they’ve exceeded $100,000.
They also put a creative spin on environmental initiatives, like their “Give-Back Friday” where they offer 20% off products, but give YOU the choice of how much of that savings you’d like to donate to environmental organizations.
Mental Houseplants
Did you know that plants can be used to help treat anxiety, depression, and stress?
Mental Houseplants knows, which is why this Massachusetts-based cool brand gives back advocates for the mental health benefits of plants on multiple fronts.
First, they do so by selling house plants so more people can enjoy them. From rare varieties like the Polka Dot Begonia to houseplant staples—like the gorgeous Golden Pothos we received from them—their website has a HUGE selection of plants to choose from, in addition to grow lights and soil to keep them alive.
Aside from making the world a little greener in a literal sense, they keep it green by practicing sustainable sourcing. They prioritize local growers who are located under 150 miles from their supplier’s Florida greenhouse, and work exclusively with small, family-owned farms that have been producing high-quality foliage for over 60 years.
Every purchase also sees 2% (a number they intend to grow as they themselves grow) goes to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), which is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the USA and supports thousands of individuals.
This is all in the name of Mental Health’s mission of: “Cultivating wellness and breaking down stigmas by harnessing the healing power of indoor plants for mental health advocacy and awareness.”
Indosole
Indosole is the product of two B’s: Bali and bikes. Founder Kyle Parsons saw on his Balinese vacation that old motorbike tires were being used to make sandals. So he did the same.
This shoe brand that gives back has converted over 80,000 tires into recycled flip-flops, slides, and platforms for men, women, and kids, and for every pair purchased, someone in need gets a pair through Soles4Souls.
The brand has a page of their website dedicated to people around the globe who are doing good things. In addition to sharing their causes, Indosole supports them financially and through organizing events.
Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from the The Ohio State University before completing a Masters in Environment at The University of Melbourne. She then went on to achieve a Permaculture Design Certificate at the Djanbung Gardens. Heather feels best when she is barefoot in a forest or has dirt under her fingernails. She’s constantly daydreaming about her homesteading future and has a rapidly-growing list of the best local (and not-so-local) hiking trails. When she’s not busy hoarding an embarrassing number of upcycled glass jars, experimenting with urban composting, or quelling her eco-anxiety on a long run, Heather spends her 9-5 working for a sustainable agriculture nonprofit, where she advocates for state and federal policies that support thriving farmers and a habitable future.
