Making an Impact: Sustainability Partners in the Beauty Industry
Now more than ever, it is important to be mindful of our impact on the environment—both through our daily routine and where we choose to shop. Consumer knowledge is a powerful thing; the more you know about the companies you buy from the more you can do to promote change. So let’s take a look at our values, and the values of a few other company friends that are striving to make an impact in this industry.
The Maya Chia Impact.
Quality products only go so far if there is no meaning or purpose behind them. That is why it is part of our mission to be compassionate, both to the environment and the community. In becoming carbon neutral, Maya Chia made a commitment to neutralize our carbon emissions from product shipments. We turn around and invest in environmental projects creating clean energy, such as wind and solar farms, or protecting forests.
Last year, we also made the significant investment to install solar panels in our Charleston studio complex, and have the capability to offset 100% of our facility’s electrical needs through solar energy. To encourage the use of electric vehicles, we also installed a solar car charging station in our studio for our employees at no additional cost.
In addition to our environmental standards, we also give back to the community. We are the corporate sponsor of Adopt-A-Village Guatemala, a non-profit organization that provides education and skills training to families striving to improve their economic condition. Last year, Adopt-a-Village received the Energy Globe Award in honor of its sustainable gardening program, teaching the community how to grow nutritious food for today and for the generations to come.
We want you to feel proud about the Maya Chia products you put on your body. With environmental and socioeconomic values, along with cruelty free product options, we are trying to do our best to pave the way in the green beauty industry.
Warby Parker.
Another sustainable ally in the fashion and beauty industry is Warby Parker. Warby Parker is not only dedicated to selling fashionable and affordable eyeglasses, but also dedicated to preserving our environment. As one of the only carbon neutral eyewear brands in the world, Warby Parker offsets their carbon emissions by investing in green energy. After years of investing in wind farms such as the Sky Wind Project and the Dempsey Ridge Wind farm, they switched gears in 2020. They selected 2 new projects to support: the Greenville County Landfill Gas Utilization Project and the Laurelbrook Farm Compost Project.
Similarly, through a partnership with Royal Waste Services, Warby Parker has been corporately composting at their NYC headquarters since October of 2019. They also invested in Flowater machines, preventing the use of over 130,000 plastic water bottles. Warby Parker also uses 100% compostable utensils, cups, and plates in their Nashville and NYC headquarters, as well as their optical lab in Sloatsburg. In 2020, Warby Parker saved the equivalent of: 15 trees, 93,573 plastic bags, 1,748 pounds of landfill waste and 5,063 gallons of water.
Bite.
Plastic Free was one of the founding principles at Bite—a company selling sustainably packaged deodorants and oral care. Their best selling toothpaste bits are vegan, come in a refillable and recyclable container, and have over 17,000 five star reviews. Whoa! Bite doesn’t just stop there; they also sell plastic free dental floss, deodorants, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and teeth whitening kits.
Bite continues their plastic free values in their shipping materials. Instead of plastic poly mailers, they ship in kraft paper envelopes made from post consumer waste. Their boxes are made from recycled cardboard and are sealed with paper tape, making the package fully recyclable. Even the refills are shipped in biodegradable pouches as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Every year, over 1 billion tubes of toothpaste are thrown away and end up in landfills. With millions of customers served, Bite is well on their way in making a significant difference.
At the End of the Day
These are just a few of the many companies striving for sustainability in the beauty industry. While there are many more, we need to work to encourage an environmental standard for all companies, and be more mindful as consumers. By supporting sustainable businesses, you’re already taking a step in the right direction towards a greener future.