It’s really exciting to see the way the world is changing, little by little. There are some fantastic ethical brands out there who are committed to sustainability just like Lucy & Yak. So we wanted to give a shout out to some of the best ethical brands we love, those who are committed to change and doing it in a fair and ethical way.
1) Monzo Bank
First up is Monzo Bank. Transparency underpins everything they do, which is so important when it comes to managing your money. Based in London and Cardiff, Monzo Bank is all about problem-solving and building a system that works for everyone. They set out to make the world a better place, and that really resonates with us at Lucy & Yak. It really is a different way to approach finance and we are really impressed with what Monzo is doing. Look out for the orange cards in our office!
2) Oatly
Oatly first started life 20 years ago with scientists at Lund University, Sweden researching the best ways to turn oats into a nutritional liquid. What they discovered was a delicious oat milk that is an ethical and sustainable alternative to milk products. They’ve made a drink that is "in tune with people and planet". Again, they’re absolutely transparent about what they are doing and how they want to encourage others to make better choices!
This tweet is here to suggest that making a dairy-free smoothie with our super creamy oatgurt right now would be way more fun than continuing to scroll through tweets. pic.twitter.com/vJIk4mswEV
— Oatly (@oatly) January 27, 2020
3) Pala Eyewear
Inspired by eye-catching designs and sustainable supply chain, Pala Eyewear create premium sustainable sunglasses whilst looking out for communities in Africa. For every pair of sunglasses sold, they give back to eye-care programmes in Africa by providing grants to vision centres, dispensaries and screening programmes. Putting planet and people before profits, we love both their designs and ethos!
4) VEJA
If you love our Blake cropped fleece made of 100% recycled polyester, you will love VEJA - the first sneaker brand to use fabric entirely made from recycled plastic bottles. The fabric B-mesh is light, breathable and waterproof.
Stylish and easy to wear, VEJA have an amazing selection of classic sneakers that come in a range of beautiful colour ways, slotting easily into any wardrobe. Check them out here
5) OrganiCup
Half the population on Earth have periods for the majority of their lives. Yet no major period innovations have happened in over 75 years. Enter OrganiCup, the award-winning menstrual cup that replaces pads and tampons. Raising awareness of period poverty, the company is known for putting period waste and taboo around it in the spotlight. Committed to positive impact on the environment, cultural and social scales, the company donated over 5,000 menstrual cups and has worked with over 20 charity partners in 15 countries! And did we mention their product is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and made without hazardous chemicals?
6) NWG Living Water
It’s so familiar, isn’t it? You turn on the tap and out comes clean fresh water. You flush the loo and everything disappears and you don’t give it any more thought. But it’s worth giving it a little more thought. NWG Living Water aims to lead the way in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. There’s so much information on their website - it’s well worth a read. They describe the ways in which NWG contributes to community projects and takes a long-term view to manage water properly in the future. With the climate crisis in mind, it’s so important to think carefully about saving and managing water and NWG also welcome ideas and discussion from anyone passionate about this topic.
7) Good Energy
Good Energy says, “Now it’s time to stand up for our planet”. Well, that’s certainly what we believe at Lucy & Yak. That’s one of the reasons we use organic fabrics and have built a solar-powered factory in India. Good Energy provides 100% renewable energy which is exactly what we look for in an energy provider. It’s time to invest in the planet!
8) PHB Ethical Beauty
For all your cosmetics and beauty products, PHB Ethical Beauty is a great place to look. It’s a family-run British company that makes vegan, cruelty-free products. And 20% of their net profit goes to charity. How great is that! And they look after everyone in their supply chain, whilst making lovely products that will look and feel great.
9) Just Trade
JustTrade is a platform connecting FairTrade artisans to the consumers offering ethically made jewellery and accessories. Just Trade works with eight groups of artisans in Peru, Ecuador, India and Vietnam, making sure that the people doing the making are the people doing the earning. There are some really distinctive pieces here and it’s great to know that the skilled workers involved are getting paid fairly for their work.
10) BirdSong
And last but not least, BirdSong is a great place to look for all your wardrobe staples and accessory needs. Working with expert women makers who face barriers to employment – from artists and printmakers to seamstresses and painters – and paying them London living wage to bring designs to life, this up and coming brand is known for handmade accessories and statement-making tees!
What are your favourite ethical brands? Get in touch on Facebook and Instagram. Let’s keep the conversation going!