The environmental crisis can often feel like an overwhelming issue with no solution, and it is quickly becoming one of the most talked about problems in modern times. The UN’s Peoples’ Climate Vote of 2024, the largest opinion survey on climate change, showed that 56% of people think about this issue weekly or daily, and 89% want more action from their governments. Our consumerist society often takes the blame for rising greenhouse gas emissions, but that, in itself, seems like a bottomless pit to approach… How are we supposed to prioritize going green when our entire lives are centered around this profit-driven system? Going against the status quo seems nearly impossible, but… what if we told you it didn’t have to be this way? We have curated a brief list of three of our favorite eco-friendly brands, which are changing the system from within by utilizing the principles of capitalism to drive forward their climate innovation. 

Ecosia

While this is a not-for-profit organization, it is not the typical NPO you will often see in the sense that it does not rely on donations—in fact, it does not even accept them. Ecosia is based on a business model, not a charity. It is a search engine practically identical to Google, except that it reinvests all its ad revenue into planting trees and funding climate action projects. Not only that, but their renewable energy projects produce more electricity than that required by our searches, leading to a net positive impact. In total, they have planted an astounding 248,334,978 trees—1,705,672 in January alone—and dedicate an average of roughly two million dollars to climate action each month (summing up to a total of about $115,848,554).

Shellworks

This London-based biotech company is working to replace plastic with the all-natural biodegradable material Vivomer. It has the same high performance and aesthetic versatility as the fossil-fuel-based alternative, but it is made from microbe-fermented waste biomass and can be easily composted at home. According to co-founder and CEO Insiya Jafferjee, “Vivomer is already cost-competitive with alternatives like aluminum, glass, and paper.” The startup has recently been able to raise $15 million to continue to scale up its business, including an expansion into the United States and more partnerships with diverse brands. 

Ohoskin

This innovative textile company has patented a new alternative to leather, made from Sicilian red oranges and cacti! They take advantage of vegetable and agricultural by-products such as peels, which would otherwise be thrown away. Their material has been used in furniture, automobiles, footwear, accessories, clothing, and more. 

In 2022, they also became completely fossil-free by replacing the PVC—an affordable and long-lasting synthetic plastic polymer previously used in their vegan product to increase its lifespan—with a “new component [that] comes from residues of the forestry industry and recycled plastic components.” Through this decision, they effectively cut their carbon dioxide emissions by 90%, reduced their waste, and further became part of the circular economy.

It is often easy to lose hope in the environmental cause when you feel like nothing you do has a true impact. However, there are millions of organizations out there using their platforms to create a better and more sustainable world—and succeeding at it. For this reason, we recommend that you continue researching beyond our inextensive compilation and, when possible, make the change for a greener future and support these eco-friendly businesses.