Holiday seasons are rife with wonder. And waste. No matter how you celebrate this holiday season, I am sure you are searching for presents for your loved ones. I am here to help you check off everyone on your list in a more sustainable way.
The recent Netflix documentary, “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy,” serves as a powerful reminder of the environmental and social degradation caused by shopping sprees around this time. However, this film mostly focuses on the aftermath of the post-consumer waste, pictured through landfill heaps taking over our cities. In fact, the damage caused to our people and planet begins much earlier, in the way each of these products are made. Think about the safety and security of factory workers, raw material exploitation, chemical runoff, all powered by non-renewable resources.
Rather than shaming you for your past purchases, my goal is to encourage you to shop more mindfully this holiday season with B-Corp brands. Benefit corporations (or B-Corps) are businesses certified for meeting the highest standards for social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability that balances profit and purpose. To receive this prestigious certification, brands are assessed on their responsibility across five categories: governance, workers, community, the environment and customers. Being certified as a B-Corp means that the company is legally bound to consider the impact on all their stakeholders rather than just shareholders.
You may be surprised to learn that many of the brands you already love are B-Corps: Athleta, Ben & Jerry’s, Eileen Fisher, Faherty, Marine Layer, Veja, Warby Parker and so on. I am excited to introduce you to my favorite B-Corps and share some more sustainable gift recommendations.
For bags: FEED
FEED is a bag company dear to my heart because every product you purchase also donates meals to schoolchildren around the world through their partnerships. All their products are also made from GOTS organic cotton, recycled water bottles or semi-vegetable tanned leather. As a former FEED intern, I may be biased, but seeing as my dad cannot go grocery shopping without his XL Market Tote, their products truly are fabulous and functional. You can also never go wrong with their carryalls or totes.
For beauty: L’Occitane
Self care is so important, and L’Occitane offers “little luxuries.” Most famous for their hand creams, L’Occitane products provide a relaxing respite from everyday life. Their scents originate from farms in Provence, France, where they employ fair partnerships and sustainable agricultural practices. The brand is committed to fighting preventable blindness, with braille on all its packaging and international projects with UNICEF. For those with sensitive skin, I recommend their shea gift sets. Other favorites are anything and everything almond and lavender. Everything comes with beautiful gift wrapping already!
For shoes: Allbirds
Allbirds sneakers are made of an unconventional material: wool! Why? The brand’s co-founder, Tim Brown, comes from New Zealand, where sheep outnumber people 6:1. The brand’s wool is accordingly produced in New Zealand adhering to the highest standards in farming, land management and animal welfare. Wool is also soft, itch-free, breathable, odor resistant and biodegradable. My favorites are the vintage, varsity-style Couriers, for men and women.
For essentials: A-Dam & Pact
Pact: Although not as glamorous, one of my favorite gifts to receive are essentials: bras, underwear and layering pieces. I started shopping sustainably in this category to reduce the skin irritation I would get from synthetic fabrics, which was resolved by Pact’s use of organic materials. Pact is also carbon neutral and fair trade certified, meaning that you can look good and feel good simultaneously. Their Lace Waist Brief 3-Pack in Berry Bliss and Everyday Boxer Brief 4-Pack in Stitched Snowflake will bring you holiday spirit before you even start your day.
A-Dam: A-Dam also offers these essentials, but their specialty is silly yet subtle socks that are bound to make you smile. They use regenerated nylon for their sock collection which increases their flexibility and rescues waste, like abandoned fishing nets from the ocean and other nylon waste from landfills around the world. A-Dam’s Breakfast in Bed sock set is perfect for dining at your favorite D.C. brunch spots.
For high street fashion: Sezane
Sezane is an effortlessly chic French brand that elevates your style through quality and creativity. They also have a responsible production model with the absences of intermediaries, flash sales or overproduction, which is socially audited by independent experts annually. Three-fourths of their materials are eco-friendly and certified as such through the five most credible industry labels. You can check them out at their Georgetown pop-up (open through January 2025) or online! My favorites picks are the Scott Trench, Gaspard Cardigan, Jacob Jumper, Kyle Sweater, and Sidney Belt.
For adventure: Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi, named after an Ecuadorian mountain, is an outdoor gear company that sells colorful, responsibly made products, perfect for your 2025 adventures. Each item is made from 100% leftover deadstock, recycled or certified responsible materials. Through their Guaranteed For Good Commitment, the brand will also repair or replace any Cotopaxi gear. For small adventures, I recommend their Hip Pack and for big adventures, I recommend their 42L Travel Pack (this quite literally carried me across Europe). You also cannot go wrong with a llama logo!
Anna Shah, B.S. ’24, is a recent international business graduate who co-founded POP!, a sustainable pop-up thrift store, during her undergraduate experience. POP! won $25,000 of prize money at the 2022 New Venture Competition. She has served as a panelist at the Planet Forward Summit and last December traveled to Dubai on behalf of GW to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. She was the GW School of Business’ student commencement speaker last May.
