Six Asian-owned brands to support this Earth Day (and every day)

The average family in the United States spends hundreds of dollars on cleaning supplies a year, and most products aren’t designed to be reused over long periods of time. That’s what Sarah Paiji Yoo, the founder of Blueland set out to address after realizing that she was generating so many microplastics—which show up in the food and water we consume, and impact wildlife—from all the plastic products she was throwing away. That’s why she created effective cleaning products made with plastic-free packaging, plant and mineral-based ingredients, and bottles and containers designed to be reused with refill tablets. To date, Blueland has diverted more than a billion single-use plastic bottles from landfills and oceans.

August

August donates one percent of its revenue to sustainability non-profits.

Courtesy of August

Nadya Okamoto founded August to make sustainable period products more accessible for anyone who menstruates. Choose from their options of organic cotton pads, tampons, and liners, knowing that two pads are donated with every order, one percent of revenue is donated to sustainability non-profits, and the company is committed to reducing and offsetting their carbon footprint. They’re also part of a coalition of period product brands that will reimburse the “tampon tax” on select period products if you send the receipt within 10 days of purchase.

Tower 28 Beauty

Tower 28's packaging is made from recycled plastic to avoid excess packaging like paper inserts.

Courtesy of Tower 28 Beauty

In addition to being vegan and cruelty free, LA-based beauty brand Tower 28 is designed with folks who have sensitive skin in mind. The inspiration? Founder Amy Liu spent 15 years in the beauty industry and had sensitive skin herself, so she sought out to create a brand that was high-performance and fun while keeping all skin types in mind. Now, Tower 28 is the first and only makeup brand to fully follow the National Eczema Association's ingredient guidelines and avoid known irritants like essential oils and synthetic fragrances. Plus, the packaging is made from recycled plastic to avoid excess packaging like paper inserts. In keeping with their Earth Sensitive Pledge, at least 50 percent of their packaging contains post-consumer recycled materials. 

Diaspora Co.

Diaspora Co. partners exclusively with pesticide-free, multi-generational farms.

Courtesy of Diaspora Co.

Diaspora Co. is a spice company that prioritizes sustainability, whether it’s for the soil, farm workers, or the business. They partner exclusively with pesticide-free, multi-generational farms across South Asia that use regenerative farming techniques with the goal of improving long-term soil health and climate resilience. They also use recyclable and compostable packaging materials where possible.

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