8 Best Sustainable Brands in the UK for a Green Lifestyle

Have you ever felt a pang of guilt when tossing an empty plastic bottle into the recycling bin? You're not alone. As awareness of the environmental impact of our actions continues to grow, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Sustainable brands offer a way to do just that – by supporting brands that prioritise eco-friendly practices, we can make a real difference in the fight against climate change.

The UK is home to a vibrant and diverse sustainable market, with a plethora of brands offering eco-friendly products and services. But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's just say that picking the top sustainable brands in the UK was no easy task. We wanted to ensure that we were highlighting brands that were truly committed to sustainability rather than those simply using buzzwords as a marketing ploy. And that means a real commitment to the environment, our social responsibility in keeping sustainable, fair labour practices, and those who are open and honest about their footprint. 

By evaluating green companies based on these values, we put together the top ten sustainable brands in the UK that are committed to positively impacting the world. So let's take a closer look at who made the cut.

 

1) Abel & Cole

Abel & Cole is an organic food delivery service committed to sustainability since their founding in 1988. They prioritise working with small, local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of their products and use recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Abel & Cole also supports a range of environmental causes, such as UK reforestation with Andover Trees United and tree planting projects in Uruguay.

 

2) Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate is a fair trade chocolate brand co-owned by the cocoa farmers who grow the cocoa used in their products. They use only the finest quality cocoa beans sourced from smallholder farmers in West Africa. In addition to their commitment to fair trade, they prioritise sustainable agriculture practices and work to minimise their environmental impact. Their product range includes a variety of chocolate bars, truffles and gifts.

 

3) Frugi

Frugi is a sustainable and ethical brand that creates organic and ethically-made children's clothing. They’re committed to using organic cotton, recycled polyester and low-impact dyes, promoting fair labour practices and ethical manufacturing by working with trusted partners to create quality products that last. But true esteem goes to their transparency and initiatives, as they are quite open with how their factories run and how their workers are treated. They support various causes, including wildlife conservation through Cornwall’s Wildlife Trust and funding teacher training programmes with eco-schools.

 

4) Veja

Veja is a sustainable sneaker brand that creates stylish and eco-friendly footwear from organic cotton, recycled plastic bottles and wild rubber from the Amazon rainforest. The brand is strongly committed to transparency and ethical practices, ensuring fair labour throughout their supply chain. Veja also works with small-scale farmers and producers, offering them fair prices and supporting sustainable agriculture practices. The company's sustainable practices include using renewable energy sources, recycling water and minimising waste in their production processes.

 

5) Neal's Yard Remedies

Neal's Yard Remedies is a sustainable beauty brand that uses natural and organic ingredients. They have a long-standing commitment to ethical and sustainable sourcing and have a program to support community trade and fair trade. They also prioritise eco-friendly packaging and are working to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Their product range includes skincare, haircare and body care.

 

6) Pala Eyewear

Pala Eyewear is a sustainable brand that produces high-quality sunglasses and prescription glasses. The company aims to create stylish, sustainable and affordable eyewear designed to last. Pala Eyewear uses sustainable materials like recycled plastic and bamboo to create their frames, and for every pair of glasses sold, they donate a pair to someone in need. The company also partners with NGOs to support eye-care projects in Africa, providing access to eye care for those who cannot afford it.

 

7) Teapigs

Teapigs is a UK-based tea company specialising in high-quality, sustainably sourced teas. Their goal is to provide consumers with delicious, ethical and sustainable teas that are better for both people and the planet. Teapigs source their teas directly from farmers, ensuring fair prices and sustainable practices. The company also uses biodegradable packaging made from renewable materials, and their tea temples (biodegradable tea bags) are plastic-free and made from cornstarch.

 

8) The Honest Company

Honest is a sustainable brand that offers a range of organic and eco-friendly products, including clothing, skincare and home goods. The brand uses organic and sustainable materials such as GOTS-certified cotton and linen and is committed to fair labour practices throughout their supply chain. Honest is also strongly committed to reducing their environmental impact, using sustainable packaging and implementing innovative initiatives such as carbon-neutral shipping. Their product range includes organic cotton t-shirts, linen bedding, natural skincare and reusable straws.

 

Stay Sustainable with Bower Collective

If there’s one thing that’s less common in the world of sustainability, it’s the refill movement. There are hundreds of eco-friendly brands out there that will get you top-quality sustainable products for you to relish for years to come. But in many cases, whether it’s handwash, shampoo or fabric conditioner, the problem lies in the packaging. Sadly, less than 10% of everyday plastic gets recycled, even when we throw them in the recycling bin. The rest quietly make their way into landfills across the UK, causing massive pollution and needing hundreds of years before they break down.

As a certified B Corp, we find that the greatest deterrent in reducing our waste footprint is through the power of refill. Our first step is to reduce our reliance on plastic altogether and provide our customers with lifetime dispensers made to last, like our reusable PET-grade shampoo pumps. We then enable you to refill these dispensers with your favourite scented liquids. It could be a forest mint body wash, a rosemary and thyme hand wash or perhaps a floor cleaner with a linseed soap refill. Whichever refill you choose, you can subscribe and save and receive an ongoing stream of amazing fragrances for your dispensers, ultimately reducing your carbon footprint by reducing your waste output. Keeping both you and the planet happy while being carbon negative.

If you want to join the refill revolution, we’d love for you to look through our award-winning best-sellers and become a part of our community at Bower Collective. Stay green!

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