Things We Love: Celebrating Earth Day

Sustainable/Eco-friendly Products & Companies

AOII is committed to leaving this world better than we found it, which includes encouraging our members to practice sustainability and make eco-friendly choices wherever they can. For this issue, we wanted to provide our members with a collection of both ethical and sustainable companies. We also recognize that due to the extra care and processes that are necessary to create a sustainable brand, the pricing of some of these items may be higher than we are used to paying for fast fashion or unethically sourced materials. We hope you enjoy these brands as much as we do!

The Girlfriend Collective 

Meet your new go-to gym wear! The Girlfriend Collective combines high-end designs with eco-friendly materials to provide luxuriously comfortable athleisure and workout wear. With sustainability at the forefront of their core values, from packaging to leggings, all of their products are made from recycled materials and are recyclable. Their goal is to create a community of people who care about where their clothes come from as much as how they look. If you’re looking for flashy designs, The Girlfriend Collective isn’t for you. This is for the back-to-the-basics gal who loves neutral tones and monochromatic looks. If this sounds like a match made in heaven to you, you can learn more about their products here and shop their new arrivals here.

Summersalt

Summer is coming, which means it is officially swimsuit season! Enter: Summersalt, the self-proclaimed “unicorn of swimsuits.” Not only does Summersalt have earth-friendly practices like using recycled materials to create fabrics and product packaging, but they also boast honest pricing with no middleman and a data-backed fit that has taken over 1.5 million body measurements from 10,000 women. So, not only is it great for the earth and affordable, but it is also is made for all bodytypes. Committing themselves to a sustainable model, they craft fabrics from post-consumer materials and nylon waste that is literally pulled from our oceans. While swimsuits are their MO, they also offer a variety of products from sleepwear to sweaters. P.S. We recommend checking out this on-brand one-piece that is AOII-approved!

Imperfect Foods 

If you’re an empath who feels bad for that oddly-shaped avocado you saw at the supermarket that you know nobody else will buy, this one is for you! Imperfect Foods started with a mission to “Eliminate food waste and build a better food system for everyone,” and that is exactly what they have done. They have reimagined grocery delivery for a less-wasteful world by delivering fresh-from-the-farm products right to your door. This subscription service allows you to choose exactly what is being delivered to you. If you’re looking for a good place to start on your journey to a sustainable lifestyle, Imperfect Foods is a cost-friendly and convenient option!

Pela Case

Everyone loves a cute phone case, but did you know that you could get a compostable one? Based in British Columbia, Canada, Pela Case’s sole mission is to stop 1 billion pounds of plastic from ever being made. The business model is based on four C’s: Community, Creativity, Consciousness and Courage. Pela Case believes in transparency and posts their carbon footprint and waste-reduction plans on their website for accountability. They also offer a wide variety of smartwatch bands, AirPod cases and other accessories. So next time you go to order that $65 case for your brand-new iPhone, consider grabbing one of these adorable Pela Cases instead – the planet will thank you for it!

MakeUp Eraser 

Stop spending all your money on makeup wipes and be kinder to your skin with the MakeUp Eraser! The MakeUp Eraser (MUE) is a powerful cloth that effortlessly removes makeup with just water. The brand’s founder had a passion for sustainability, and wanted to use that to create a chemical and oil-free way for women to remove their makeup. Thus – the MUE was born. While its key purpose has remained the same, it has evolved over the years, and is now dermatologist approved, and comes in a variety of colors! The company is cruelty-free, vegan, and each MUE lasts 3-5 years/1,000 machine washes. Breakup with your oily makeup wipes and get yourself a MakeUp Eraser now!

ABLE

Not only does this women’s clothing company have a low carbon footprint and sustainable business model, but they employ and empower women as a solution to end poverty. ABLE prides itself on putting people before profits and is based in AOII’s “HQ home” state of Tennessee. ABLE has manufacturing partners in Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil and India, and all of their jewelry is made in Nashville, TN. They work with vendors that use recycled packaging, organic materials and other eco-friendly practices. If you love the earth and empowering women, check out some of ABLE’s best sellers here. 

This information originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of To Dragma.