Jenny Bell

Sip sip hooray for zero waste tea! Beyond the environmental plastic waste, plastic tea bags release billions of microplastics into our tea, no less. Yuck.
Now that the cat’s been let out of the (tea) bag on this and other issues—such as responsible tea leaf sourcing—you, like us, are probably seeking out more ethical and, dare we say it, zero waste ways to drink tea.
Thankfully, there are brands committed to serving up sustainabili-tea with each piping hot (or iced) cuppa. We considered ingre...

At Ecosophy, we’re passionate about responsible textile production. We choose to work with growers and producers who adopt organic and sustainable practices as well as ensuring fair and safe conditions for their workers. Recently, we’ve been finding out more about regenerative agriculture and its potential to transform our fibre systems, rebuilding soil and water health to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.

Child labour is, sadly and unknown to many, endemic in the fashion industry. Complex, interwoven supply chains make traceability a major challenge. We take a look at the issues involved and list 22 of our favourite child labour free clothing brands.

What Is Biophilia?
Translated from its Greek roots as ‘the love of living things', the term biophilia is used to describe humankind’s innate, biological connection with nature. It helps to explain why walking through woodland can help us feel relaxed and rejuvenated, why mountain views uplift and inspire and why the sound of waves lapping gently on the shore can instil a sense of calm and wellbeing. We intuitively understand that being outdoors in nature is good for us and a growing body of research demonstrates that contact with nature can improve our physical and mental health. It can boost

How eco-friendly are sustainable dyes? Turns out it’s not so black and white—and we’re not talking about the colors.
There’s a lot to consider as far as the ecological impact of textile dyeing goes: ingredient sourcing, toxicity, water consumption, pollution, and waste. There’s also a fair amount of greenwashing going on which can leave us all feeling a little jaded.
Rather than taking a company’s claims of using “sustainable dyes” at face value, we need to ask some questions. Why are their d...

(Spoiler alert: It’s all about the wildflowers.)

We’re keen to help housebuilders create wildlife – rich green spaces that will:

Provide long-term biodiversity enhancements

Effortlessly meet the new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements

Boost property prices by adding visually appealing, desirable greenspace

Reduce long-term maintenance costs

And with several years of experience creating and maintaining species – rich grassland across different UK counties, we’re confident that native wild...

Holiday Business
Do you want to help local wildlife and boost your business’s eco-credentials at the same time?
We all need to do our bit for the planet. Whether you run a B&B, campsite, holiday park or hotel, providing habitats for wildlife is a great way to have a positive impact on your local environment. And it’s great for business too!
If you want to:
Enhance your guests’ holiday experience
Demonstrate your commitment to sustainability
Meet the growing demand for eco-friendly holiday acc...

Our parents were right when they told us not to be wasteful. If only someone could’ve passed that memo onto the entire fashion industry because textile waste is staggering.

Fortunately, there are some good apples out there—namely, zero waste clothing brands that are bypassing the one-way catwalk to landfill.

And that’s what we’re spotlighting here for you. Brands that not only prioritize responsible materials (think: upcycled/recycled materials), and ethical and transparent supply chains but also circularity in their business practices and garments...

What Makes A Brand Ethical? From Worker Conditions To Animal Welfare, We Break Down What Ethics In Fashion Looks Like

Updated by Phoebe Young
Edited & Fact Checked By Jenny Bell

Updated May 6, 2024

You might have seen the term cropping up in sustainability circles, and it’s a hotly debated topic in the fashion industry.

So, what is ethical fashion?

You’ve ditched dairy but you’re wondering which of those colorful cartons is the most sustainable milk alternative.
It’s a good question, especially when new types of plant-based milk keep popping up, each with their own unique taste and nutritional profile.
But what about the impact they have on people and the planet?
First things first: the average plant-based milk is much more sustainable than dairy milk.
A 2018 study by the University of Oxford, found that a glass of dairy milk emits thre...

Housing developers can play a key role in protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Wildflower meadows are a low cost, low maintenance, landscaping solution for boosting biodiversity in building projects, providing essential habitat for wildlife and providing communities with much-valued green space.
It’s estimated that we need to build around 340,00 new homes each year to address the UK housing shortage. We also need to build more homes for wildlife. Are these two needs at odds with each other ...

Are you running in circles trying to find a pair of sustainable shoes?

From materials to manufacturing—not to mention what to do with your favorite sneakers when they eventually wear out—there’s a lot to consider when choosing environmentally friendly footwear.

If it seems like an uphill challenge, don’t worry. We’ll help you head straight to the finish line with our list of the most sustainable shoe brands for all your pro-planet footwear needs.

So, who stopped us in our tracks during our hunt for the most sustainable shoe brands?

Let’s start with our favorites.

As planet-friendly fashionistas, we’ve been trying on various sustainable fabrics.
From animal-derived fabrics like ethical wool and ethical cashmere to semi-synthetic vegan fabrics like lyocell and bamboo, we’ve discovered that ethics and sustainability are rarely black and white.
Suffice it to say there’s a lot of greenwashing going on in the sustainable fashion world.
Conventional silk production (or sericulture) is anything but soft and shimmery—especially for the billions of silkworms ki...

Best known for its cool, airy properties, linen is a popular choice for warm summer days and holidays abroad. Linen is also widely considered to be a sustainable fabric. But is linen more eco friendly than cotton? We take a look and find out whether investing in this earth-friendly fibre is a good idea.
Linen is made from the flax plant, a blue-flowered plant that grows especially well in Western Europe. (Belgium and France are major producers). It’s one of the oldest known fibres in the worl...

It’s important to find the right pair of running shoes. Shoes that will enable you to run comfortably and safely and help you reach your personal fitness goals.

But what about ethics? Is it possible to find trainers that tick all the performance boxes AND tread lightly on the planet, people and animals? If you’re on the hunt for a pair of ethical running shoes then this article’s for you.