Partner Article

Truly eco-conscious brands

If you’re looking for a shampoo that has environmentally friendly packaging and doesn’t contain parabens, that’s easy enough to find. Likewise, if you’re in need of some fair trade java to make your morning cup of coffee with soy creamer sweeter, you can probably find the beans in your local grocery store without trouble and pick up a reusable coffee mug to green your morning ritual. But while most companies and brands have eco-friendly products to stay competitive, the company behind the brand may not be very green. Which brands are truly eco-conscious from the inside out?

There are a lot of eco-friendly brands, and the number is only sure to grow. But if green is one of your core values when shopping, prioritize these brands, which have proven themselves to be eco-friendly.

Nike: The sneaker giant received criticism in the 1990s for its labor practices, and some people claim that Nike still uses sweatshop labor to product its sneakers and clothes. However, Nike has done a great deal to investigate the labor conditions and its operating plants overseas and to address problems. The footwear company does boast a very green record: It upgraded facilities to improve energy efficiency and is aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2015. Nike headquarters in Belgium and the Netherlands are fully self-sufficient, running solely on renewable energy sources.

Johnson & Johnson: The pharmaceutical and good manufacturer took aggressive measures to lower CO2 emissions in the 1990s, with an overall reduction of 16 percent emissions. Other eco-conscious measures Johnson & Johnson tool include reducing hazardous and non-hazardous waste by one-third and installing solar panels to improve energy security. The company’s brands include Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Acuvue, and Tylenol.

General Electric: General Electric received flak from environmentalists for its role in adding PCBs to the Hudson River, but the appliance giant did step up to help clean the Hudson. Along with GE Appliances, the company’s Ecoimagnation program helps homeowners and companies build greener houses by incorporating energy-efficient measures.

Starbucks: While those paper cups Starbucks gives consumers aren’t eco-friendly, the companies recycling and composting practices are. Starbucks’ “Bean to cup” model aims to improve efficiency and eliminate waste at every step in the supply chain. The coffee giant is aiming to use 100 percent renewable energy sources for electricity by 2015 by purchasing offset credits from U.S. wind farms. Starbucks is also undertaking measures in stores to decrease energy use and maximize efficiency.

Staples: In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Staples an Energy Star partner of the year. The office products company reached a milestone in 2011 of using over 50 percent renewable electricity, comprised of wind and solar power. Staples is aiming to have 500 individuals stores receiving the Energy Star by 2012.

When shopping, green your own practices by taking a reusable grocery sack to store your purchases and committing to recycle your paper or plastic bag if you forget this step. Many more companies have green practices, of course, and too much variety is a wonderful thing in this instance. If you don’t see a brand that offers a product you need on this list, do some digging to find out which of the major brands offering your product or service does it the greenest.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Danielle M. .