Sustainable Brands

Top 20 Sustainable Brands Ranked on 5 Sustainability Metrics

In the modern marketplace, sustainability has become a crucial consideration for consumers. Many brands are stepping up to the challenge, integrating eco-friendly practices into their business models. Here’s a look at 20 of the most sustainable brands that are genuinely committed to caring for our planet.

Top 20 Most Sustainable Brands

1. Patagonia

Renowned for its commitment to environmental activism, Patagonia uses recycled materials in 87% of its products and promotes fair labor practices. The company encourages customers to repair rather than replace their gear.

2. TOMS

Known for its "one for one" campaign, TOMS donates a pair of shoes for every pair sold. The brand is transitioning to 100% sustainably sourced cotton and aims to use 80% recycled materials in its products.

3. Eileen Fisher

Eileen Fisher focuses on sustainable fashion through organic fibers and responsible sourcing. The brand is committed to reducing waste by encouraging customers to recycle their old clothes through its take-back program.

4. Allbirds

This footwear brand emphasizes natural materials like merino wool and eucalyptus tree fiber. Allbirds is dedicated to carbon neutrality and transparency about its environmental impact.

5. Veja

A pioneer in sustainable sneakers, Veja uses organic cotton, wild rubber from the Amazon, and recycled materials. The brand prioritizes fair trade practices and ethical sourcing.

6. Reformation

Reformation is known for its stylish clothing made from sustainable materials. The brand tracks its environmental impact and strives to minimize waste throughout its production process.

7. Mud Jeans

This denim brand focuses on circular fashion by allowing customers to lease jeans instead of buying them outright. Mud Jeans uses recycled materials and has significantly reduced water usage in production.

8. Lucy & Yak

An ethical clothing company that produces garments in solar-powered factories, Lucy & Yak uses organic cotton and recycled packaging while ensuring fair wages for workers.

9. Ninety Percent

This fashion brand donates 90% of its profits to charitable causes chosen by customers. Ninety Percent uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and linen, focusing on minimizing waste.

10. Pact

Pact specializes in organic cotton basics that are GOTS-certified. The brand promotes ethical manufacturing practices and transparency in sourcing.

11. Komodo

A pioneer in sustainable fashion since 1988, Komodo uses eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and Tencel while ensuring fair labor practices throughout its supply chain.

12. Tentree

Tentree plants ten trees for every item sold, focusing on reforestation efforts worldwide. The brand uses sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester.

13. Mananalu

Founded by actor Jason Momoa, Mananalu offers bottled water in aluminum containers to combat plastic waste. The brand offsets carbon emissions associated with its operations.

14. JuneShine

This hard kombucha company operates on solar energy and donates 1% of sales to environmental causes, emphasizing local sourcing of ingredients.

15. SnackTBH

A sustainable alternative to Nutella, SnackTBH uses palm oil-free ingredients and recyclable packaging while supporting reforestation efforts through its shipping practices.

16. Zegna

A luxury fashion brand committed to sustainability, Zegna owns a nature reserve in Italy and focuses on minimizing waste in production while offering eco-friendly materials.

17. Craftspring

Craftspring produces handmade products using sustainable materials while supporting artisans from around the world, promoting fair trade practices.

18. August

August provides 100% organic cotton menstrual products and implements a profit-sharing program to fund organizations focused on period advocacy and carbon offsetting.

19. Goodbuy Gear

This brand focuses on selling second-hand baby products, promoting a circular economy while offsetting carbon emissions through partnerships with environmental projects

20. Cuyana

Cuyana focuses on "fewer, better" products made from high-quality materials that are designed to last, promoting a more sustainable approach to consumerism.

To assess these 20 brands on sustainability metrics, Sure Sustainable used the following five key areas:

1. Materials: Use of sustainable, organic, or recycled materials.
2. Circularity: Initiatives to promote recycling, take-back programs, or circular production methods.
3. Carbon Footprint: Efforts to reduce emissions, including carbon neutrality or renewable energy use.
4. Fair Trade and Ethical Labor: Ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions.
5. Community and Philanthropy: Engagement in charitable efforts, donations, or community-building initiatives.

Brands Assessment on Sustainability Metrics

Brand	Materials	Circularity	Carbon Footprint	Fair Trade & Ethical Labor	Community & Philanthropy	Total Score
Patagonia	5	5	4	5	5	24
TOMS	3	2	3	4	5	17
Eileen Fisher	4	5	3	5	4	21
Allbirds	5	2	5	4	3	19
Veja	5	4	4	5	3	21
Reformation	5	4	4	5	4	22
Mud Jeans	5	5	4	5	4	23
Lucy & Yak	4	3	5	5	4	21
Ninety Percent	4	3	3	5	5	20
Pact	5	2	3	4	3	17
Komodo	5	4	4	5	4	22
Tentree	5	3	5	4	5	22
Mananalu	3	2	5	4	3	17
JuneShine	4	2	5	4	4	19
SnackTBH	4	2	4	3	4	17
Zegna	4	4	4	5	4	21
Craftspring	4	2	2	5	4	17
August	4	2	4	4	5	19
Goodbuy Gear	3	5	4	4	4	20
Cuyana	4	4	3	4	4	19

Insights:

• Materials: Highest scores go to brands using the most sustainable, organic, or recycled materials extensively (e.g., Patagonia, Veja, Mud Jeans).
• Circularity: Brands with take-back programs, leasing models, or other significant circular economy initiatives scored higher (e.g., Patagonia, Mud Jeans).
• Carbon Footprint: Brands working towards carbon neutrality or using renewable energy received higher scores (e.g., Allbirds, JuneShine, Tentree).
• Fair Trade & Ethical Labor: Brands ensuring fair wages and ethical practices were rated highly (e.g., Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Komodo).
• Community & Philanthropy: Brands with notable community initiatives or charitable donations scored the highest (e.g., TOMS, Ninety Percent, August).

These brands exemplify a commitment to sustainability through innovative practices, ethical sourcing, and community support. By choosing these companies, consumers can contribute positively to the planet while enjoying high-quality products that align with their values.