Mød producenterne, der maler wellness-verdenen grøn

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How can a product have a positive impact on its surroundings? How can it inspire people to live more responsibly? How can it give back to the one planet we all share? These are the questions the following entrepreneurs constantly wrestle with in their quests to craft the ultimate sustainable brand. They’re reimagining the products we use every day—and shaping the future of wellness and personal care in the process.

This Earth Day, 1 Hotels is spotlighting these heroes for their contributions to a healthier world for generations to come. After all, we are all part of one planet, and the decisions we make today have long-term implications. Here are their stories, their triumphs, and their tips for living a little greener, whether you’re starting a sustainable company of your own or just trying to become a bit more conscious in your day-to-day.

Den duftsøgende

Hall Newbegin er på en mission for at få bjergene på flaske. Det er lettere sagt end gjort, men han gør store fremskridt med Juniper Ridge - enserie af dufte til hjemmet og kroppen, der er tilsat vildt høstet plantemateriale fra stedsegrønne planter, flerårige buske og krydderurter. Med blandinger som "Cascade Forest" og "Big Sur Cabin" fremkalder Newbegin en stærk påskønnelse af naturen med hvert sprøjt, og 10 procent af mærkets overskud går direkte tilbage til de landskaber, det henter inspiration fra. "For nylig hjalp vi med at beskytte omkring 300.000 hektar vildmark omkring Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Ud over vores donationsprogram deltager vi regelmæssigt i restaurering af stier og opmåling af vildmarksgrænser," forklarer han. "Vi har måske ikke så mange penge, men vi har stærke rygge og elsker arbejdet."

Den plantebaserede purist

Mike Del Ponte knows that all water isn’t created equal. That’s why his line of striking pitchers, carafes, and bottles, Soma, is equipped with some of the most effective filters out there. By replacing petroleum-based plastic with natural materials like coconut shell and sugar cane, he’s designed a filtration system that catches nasty contaminants like mercury, copper, zinc and chlorine without introducing any chemicals in the process. Sustainability shapes every aspect of his business. Soma reduces its carbon footprint by funding conservation-based forestry, using green packaging from post-consumer waste and recyclable materials, and, perhaps most importantly, utilizing responsible supply chain partners. “A big part of making sustainable products is about finding the right partners—whether it be manufacturing, design, or distribution,” Del Ponte advises any budding eco-entrepreneurs. “Stick to what makes the most sense for your brand and overall mission. Remember not to take on everything at once, and it’s important to do things thoughtfully versus rushing into them.”

Den visionære inden for belysning

Den Brooklyn-baserede designer Danielle Trofe står bag Mush-Lume-belysningen, som er fremstillet af mycelium (svampes rodstruktur) og landbrugsaffald som majsstængler og frøskaller. Den resulterende lampe er et naturligt, bæredygtigt produkt, der er dyrket, ikke fremstillet. Desuden er materialet, der er fremstillet af Ecovative, biologisk nedbrydeligt og kan returneres til jorden efter brug. "Det overordnede mål er at udfordre vores ideer om, hvad interiørprodukter skal laves af, hvordan de laves, og hvor de i sidste ende ender," siger Trofe, hvis andre produkter omfatter plantekasser lavet af mycelium og selvvandende vertikale haver. Du kan finde hendes moderne, finurlige design overalt fra Brooklyn Botanical Garden til 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridgehvor 130 af dem pryder loftet i Riverhouse . Trofes råd til alle, der ønsker at foretage et bæredygtigt skift? "Forbrugernes valg betyder noget. Vær opmærksom på det. Fra at købe lokalt til at spise økologisk og endda til tider vælge ikke at foretage et køb, påvirker hver person, hvordan vores begrænsede naturressourcer bruges og cykles."

Den, der sætter barren

Brianne Wests rejse for at nytænke branchen for personlig pleje begyndte med en enkelt statistik: 8 millioner tons plastik ender i verdenshavene hvert år. Dette svimlende tal inspirerede forskeren med en baggrund inden for kosmetik til at formulere Ethique, en serie af skønhedsbarer, der går langt videre end bare sæbe. "Faste produkter er ikke noget særligt nyt - alle har set og brugt sæbe, men ingen er nogensinde gået videre end bare shampoo eller sæbestykker og har lavet en hel serie af faste produkter, som vi har gjort," forklarer den newzealandske innovatør. Hendes faste shampooer, balsam, ansigtsrens, deodoranter, kropsvask og rengøringsprodukter er helt affaldsfrie og sparer i gennemsnit 3 plastikflasker pr. bar. Selve barerne er fyldt med lækkerier som æteriske olier, aloe og planteekstrakter, der er bæredygtigt produceret, aldrig testet på dyr og emballeret i genbrugspap. "At skifte fra plastikflasker på badeværelset til solide barrer er en relativt lille ændring for dig som enkeltperson, men hvis flertallet af os skifter, vil vi få en massiv positiv indvirkning på vores planet."

Den mesterlige upcycler

With humble beginnings involving a hammer, a knife, and scrap leather in the back of a VW van, Waltzing Matilda has evolved into a gorgeous line of upcycled bags, sandals, and accessories sold across the country. Virtually all of founder Mike Balitsaris’ designs begin with a scrap material like a leather boot from World War 1, a saddle from 1950, or a textile from the Navajo Nation. He then recreates these goods that would have otherwise be thrown away into new innovations that nod to a rich history. “I design after finding these forgotten pieces and becoming inspired to create based on their texture and the way they stimulate my sense of touch, smell, sound, and sight—I left out ‘taste’ on purpose,” jokes Balitsaris. All of his designs are crafted in Pennsylvania and built to last forever. Balitsaris has simple advice for anyone looking to live a bit more sustainably: “Have only a few things, but make them great things.”

Flaskebrigaden

By now, we all know that plastic water bottles are terrible for the environment, but they are pretty convenient during those times when we leave our reusable ones at home. That’s where Green Sheep Water comes in. By simply swapping plastic out for aluminum, co-founders Nicole Doucet and Jess Page have created bottles that are easier to recycle indefinitely (most plastics degrade during reprocessing and can only be repurposed once). Plus, aluminum is recycled more than twice as much plastic, so it’s more likely to be made of recycled material too. With major companies like Google and Patagonia stocking this better-for-the-planet alternative at their events, it looks like it just may be making plastic a thing of the past. “Changing consumer behavior is hard,” say Page and Doucet. “The fact of the matter is that sustainability on its own is not enough to inspire people to choose your product over your competitors. That being said, if you can build a better-all-around offering that has sustainability built in, that’s a much stronger place to start.”

Urtehåndværkeren

Brandy Monique, det magiske ansigt bag skønhedsmærket Fig + Yarrow, beskriver sit hudplejemærke som "en smule alkymi, en smule planteåndemedicin og en smule urtemedicin". Dette højstemte apotek indeholder balsam, salver, olier og tonics, der har en back-to-basics holdning til skønhed og fremhæver økologiske blade og blomster, der er plukket i nærheden af Moniques hjem i Colorado. De er fri for konserveringsmidler, parabener og giftstoffer og giver et hurtigt pust af natur i din morgenrutine. "Bare hold livet enkelt, for den største kvalitet findes i de mest enkle ting," siger hun. Hvem kan være uenig i den filosofi?

 (H/T mindbodygreen)

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