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Washed Ashore sustainable jewellery.
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Lifestyle
5 Ethical Brands To Know: The Ocean Friendly Edit
Supporting brands who in turn support our oceans, is a wonderful thing to do this summer. We’ve gathered a list of five of our favourite ethical brands, who work in tune with the sea. This means avoiding plastic, upcycling materials, and producing locally.
1. Washed Ashore
Founded in sunny Southern California, right next to the Pacific Ocean, Washed Ashore creates beautiful and timeless jewelry. Every aspect of their brand is sustainable, from their production, to sourcing, to packaging. They manufacture their products with recycled gold and silver, to limit the amount of new and raw materials being used. Choosing to use recycled materials, also means Washed Ashore are steering clear of the mining industry, which often uses illegal practices, requires high consumption of water, and creates wastelands and pollution.
Their beautiful pearl and shell pieces are all made from upcycled materials. The shells are actually a by-product of the food industry, so it is wonderful that they are given a second life by Washed Ashore. The keshi pearls they use are also a by-product but of the commercial pearl industry, as they are usually considered a useless anomaly.
2. Haeckels
This wonderful skincare, body care, and lifestyle brand was created with seaweed as its star ingredient. Everything Haeckels of Margate do and create, always has the Ocean in mind. All of their wonderful products are made locally in the UK with organic and vegan ingredients. The brand is truly a pioneer in the industry for sustainable innovation, from their formulas to their biocontributing packaging. Which means not only does their packaging not harm the planet, but it actually contributes to our planet’s biosphere.
3. Vitamin A
This swimwear brand is one of the most sustainable options out there. Vitamin A has been at the forefront of sustainable swimwear for over ten years, as their founder actually created the first premium swim fabric made from recycled nylon fibers. All of their swimwear is made in the US and the majority is locally crafted in California, where the company is based.
They are a plastic free business and all of their packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable. The brand also donates a portion of their sales to environmental organizations working to protect our oceans. Plus, all of their designs are beautiful and size inclusive, meaning there is a style for everyone!
4. Ocean Bottle
Creating a product that’s part stainless steel and part ocean-bound recycled plastic that also feels and looks good too is no easy feat. However, Ocean Bottle can now confidently say they have created the most sustainably minded reusable bottle out there. 22 million kgs of plastic enter our oceans every day yet 80% of the world’s ocean plastic comes from a lack of waste management infrastructure in coastal communities around the world.
Ocean Bottle are on a mission to change this. For every bottle sold, they fund the collection of 11.4kg of plastic, equivalent to 1000 plastic bottles whilst investing in people-powered waste management. Plastic waste is collected by locals in coastal communities who can exchange plastic waste for money, healthcare, tech products, school tuition and micro-finance at their local plastic bank.
5. MOTHERSPF
Sunscreen is necessary year-round, but it is especially important in summer, when we are outdoors more, and the sun is stronger! MOTHERSPF is a female-founded, natural physical sunscreen, with absolutely no preservatives – only 9 certified organic ingredients with the active ingredient being non-nano zinc oxide. All ingredients are sourced with fair working conditions. This SPF is a true game changer in terms of a natural sunscreen being ultra-sheer and not leaving a heavy residue. Packaging is made via a closed loop, post consumer recycling system and is 100% recyclable.
