You’d think that sustainable brands are a step in the right direction in helping our planet…but no. Some of these companies are nowhere near as green as they appear. So, here are ten of these brands and what’s really going on with them. You don’t have to stop buying from these brands—but you should know the truth.
Featured Image Credit: VitalikRadko /Depositphotos.com.
H&M’s Conscious Collection
First up is H&M and its Conscious Collection. The company has spoken a lot about using sustainable materials but when you look at how much stuff they churn out every year, it’s a bit confusing. The fast fashion model kinda encourages us to keep buying more & throwing it away—that’s not exactly great for Mother Nature.
Starbucks and Their Cups
Starbucks is on a quest to cut down on waste, thanks to its recyclable cups. Sounds great, right? However, most of these cups still end up nowhere near a recycling bin because the facilities to handle them are rather rare. Even with good intentions, we’re still a long way from eliminating disposable cups.
Tesla’s Battery Blues
Electric vehicles like Tesla are great for cutting down city smog & giving the polar bears a break, but there’s a catch. The batteries that power these futuristic rides need lithium and other metals—and that involves mining. We all know how bad that is for the planet. So while they’re greener than other cars, electric cars aren’t as sustainable as they seem.
Beyond Meat’s Conundrum
Beyond Meat is perfect for anyone trying to eat less meat, saving the world one burger at a time…right? Well, their products are quite processed and rely heavily on crops like soy, which causes many environmental issues. In some cases, it could be more ethical to actually eat meat instead.
Apple’s Green Ambitions
Apple is doing a lot to reduce their carbon footprint & use renewable energy, which is pretty cool. Yet we can’t forget the fast pace at which they release new products as every year there’s a new iPhone. This means that a lot of older gadgets get tossed aside—hardly exactly the recipe for reducing waste.
TOMS Shoes’ Giving Model
As part of the TOMS Shoe model, you buy a pair & they donate a pair. While it may feel good, critics argue this might not be the best way to help because it could affect local economies and create dependency in the market. They also question the sustainability of the materials the shoes are made from.
IKEA’s Flat-Pack Dilemma
IKEA is trying to go green by using recycled materials, although anyone who’s bought something from there will know their stuff doesn’t last the ages. When furniture falls apart quickly, it encourages a cycle of buy, break & replace. Eventually, we end up putting out more waste than we had in the first place.
Aquafina’s Water Bottle Woes
Aquafina has tried to lighten the load with its Eco-Fina bottles that use less plastic. It’s a step in the right direction, sure—but when billions of single-use bottles still end up in our oceans & landfills, it’s hardly fixing the issue. And even if they’re using less plastic in their bottles, they’re still plastic bottles!
Zara’s Eco Collection
A few years ago, Zara released its Join Life collection which uses eco-friendly fabrics. Sadly, you can still see the same old fast fashion footprint lurking in the background, as they still produce clothes at breakneck speed. Regardless of the fabric you’re using, you’re still using a lot of resources and energy.
Whole Foods’ Organic Odyssey
Last but not least, Whole Foods Market has done quite a lot to push organic & sustainable food into the spotlight. And they should be congratulated for that! However, flying in organic apples from the other side of the planet kinda defeats the purpose in terms of the carbon footprint. The company has also been accused of mistreating its workers.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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