As a white woman in the sustainability space, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to be actively anti-racist and encourage other non-black and non-POC folks to do the same — in everyday life, professional settings, and in the world of sustainability in general.
One of the simplest ways to get started is to actively support black and POC-owned sustainable businesses! It seems the vast majority of well-known “eco-friendly” and “green-living” bloggers, brands, and businesses out there are predominantly white. That needs to change! So, I’ve compiled this (non-exhaustive) list of black- and POC-sustainable businesses to support today, tomorrow, and always!
Categories
Beauty & Personal Care
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: India D. Williams
Best for: ethical, non-toxic nail polish
Highlights:
- Small-batch production
- Vegan
- 10-free list of toxic ingredients excluded from polishes
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Karen Young
Best for: stainless steel razors and shave care
Highlights:
- Body gloss and shaving cream are refillable
- Glass packaging
- Reusable, stainless steel razors keep plastic ones out of landfills
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Dana Jackson
Best for: luxury skincare and haircare
Highlights:
- Organic ingredients
- Non-plastic packaging
- Helps minority women affected by Lupus and other autoimmune diseases
Photos courtesy of brand and Yana-Janell Scott
Founder: Dr. Kristian Edwards
Best for: bath & body, skincare, beauty, home
Highlights:
- One-stop marketplace for all-natural products made by Black artisans
- Carefully curated by health experts
- Excludes harmful ingredients on their Toxic Twenty list
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Lake Louise
Best for: plant-based skincare
Highlights:
- Produced in small batches in the USA
- Cruelty free
- Green America certified business
Fashion & Clothing
Photos courtesy of brand. Photographers: Jordan Tiberio, Quil Lemons.
Founders: Mother and daughter duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka
Best for: tops, dresses, bottoms, jumpsuits
Highlights:
- Designs are rooted in African ethos and diaspora
- Garments made from durable, lifelong materials
Photos courtesy of brand
Founder: Tiffany Broadway
Best for: inclusive, empowering, sustainable and ethical swimwear
Highlights:
- Donates 10% of profits to social justice reforms
- Close and supportive relationship with factory workers
- Designed to be closed-loop, meaning materials are sourced responsibly and can be disposed of (at end-of-life) without creating waste
- Fabrics used are biodegradable in landfills
- Versatile swim tops can be worn both at the beach and in everyday life
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Amy Yeung
Best for: colorful clothing and jewelry
Highlights:
- Hand-made by indigenous artists
- Restored and repurposed vintage fabrics
Founder: Shobha Philips
Best for: inclusive nude lingerie
Highlights:
- Uses TENCEL and recycled fabrics
- Ethically produced in Los Angeles
- Shipping materials are made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable
- Label fasteners made from hemp instead of plastic
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Maxim Thuriere
Best for: watches, accessories, bags, beaded bracelets
Highlights:
- One tree planted for each product purchased
- Tree-planting projects in Haiti, Mexico, and Jamaica
- Products made with sustainable, recycled, and renewable materials
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Aurora James
Best for: luxury shoes, handbags, small leather goods, artisan-made gifts
Highlights:
- Vegetable-tanned leathers
- Use of by-product materials
- No sales to ensure quality materials and fair labor practices
Photo courtesy of Sophia Schrank for GALERIE.LA
Founder: Dechel McKillian
Best for: women and men’s clothing, accessories
Highlights:
- Curated collection of sustainable, ethical, artisan, and local clothing brands
- Continuously supports emerging sustainable clothing brands
Jewelry
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Founder: Sydney Ziems
Best for: ethically-made, vintage, and up-cycled jewelry
Highlights:
- Permanent and handmade-to-order collections are handmade to reduce waste
- Vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces
Founder: Sade Mims
Best for: sustainable earrings, rings, bags
Highlights:
- Each piece of jewelry is handmade
- Refurbished and up-cycled materials
Founder: Bayoush Mengesha
Best for: ethical, hand-made jewelry
Highlights:
- Ethical gemstones (no child labor)
- Recycled silver and gold
Home
Photos courtesy of brand
Founders: Byron and Dexter Peart
Best for: artistically-designed home decor, gifts, and more
Highlights:
- Curated collection of ethical, up cycled, and artisan-made items
- Certified B Corp
- 1% for the Planet
Photos courtesy of brand
Founder: Rochelle Porter
Best for: vibrant, happy home decor
Highlights:
- Ethically made
- Pesticide-free, organic cotton
- Fair wages
Founder: Camille
Best for: candles
Highlights:
- Candles made from sustainable, food grade coconut wax
- Free of phalates and parabens
- Reusable and recyclable containers
Founder: Justina Blakeney
Best for: home decor, art
Highlights:
- For every item purchased, 2 trees are planted
- Works with vendors to reduce packaging waste
- Working toward more responsible and sustainable business practices, including use of more recycled, compostable materials
Founder: Angela Richardson
Best for: cleaning and laundry products
Highlights:
- Organic, non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients
- Cruelty free
- Compostable and recyclable containers
Photo courtesy of brand
Founder: Zuleyka Strasner
Best for: zero waste groceries
Highlights:
- Reusable, non-plastic containers
- Organic produce and pantry staples
- Discounted prices for member customers
This is by no means an exhaustive list of black and POC sustainable and ethical businesses! Please share other businesses you love in the comments to keep the list going!
