Greenlight Shopper

This is an interesting one that I found out about only recently. Greenlight Shopper is a Chrome browser extension that rates brands based on the Good On You sustainability scale while you shop online. With buzzwords like “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” being used without discretion in social media and marketing, it’s becoming close to impossible for a consumer to weed out the greenwashers from the real deal. Greenlight (and Good On You) do the research so you don’t have to — all you have to do is download the extension, browse a brand’s website, click the “G” icon on the top of your screen, and Greenlight will show you the brand’s ethical rating. This score is based on three categories: Animals, people and planet. One of our favorite features is that they recommend alternative brands based on the brand you’re looking at. This makes it really easy to switch to a similar brand that is more sustainable. To find out more about how the rating system works, you can check out Good On You’s rating guide. They source their information from parent company reporting as well as other independent certifications like Fair Trade, Cradle to Cradle, OEKO-TEX, and GOTS. This is legit — for each brand, they collect over 500 data points across more than 100 key sustainability issues, indicators, and standards systems.

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Organic Basics

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

If you’re on the lookout for some sustainable essentials for an active summer, Organic Basics has what you need. They choose the fabrics they use with care, handpicking them based on their environmental footprint and lifetime durability. For example, they use GOTS-certified cotton and TENCEL Lyocell for their collections. TENCEL is an interesting one — it’s incredibly soft, and is made from wood pulp from Aspen and Birch trees, which grow fast and use 80% less water than cotton plants. For their activewear, they use GRS-certified recycled nylon, which requires 80% less water and releases 90% fewer CO2 emissions than virgin nylon. Their SilverTech activewear line is treated with Polygiene, a bluesign approved recycled silver salt. This makes the fabric anti-bacterial, reducing the need for washing and prolonging the freshness of the pieces. In the world of sustainable fashion, Organic Basics is legit — they are B-Corp certified, PETA-approved, One Carbon World certified (i.e. carbon neutral), and they partner with 1% for the planet. Finally, they’re rated 5/5 on Greenlight! Photo: Organic Basics

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&SISTERS

Location: London, UK

Founded by mother-daughter duo Clair and Lucy Lettice, &SISTERS is a London-based brand reimagining sustainable menstrual health. Their reusable nüdie period cup (menstrual cup) is made from recyclable medical-grade silicone and is the perfect waste-free period product. It’s easy to use and provides up to 12 hours of protection a day. They also have pads and tampons made from 100% Soil Association Certified organic cotton (with biodegradable applicators). Better for the environment, of course, but they’re also better for you. Hypoallergenic, pH neutral, and free of synthetics and harmful chemicals, perfume and colorants, they are perfect even for the most sensitive skin. We love that this brand is all about women empowerment, gender equality and period positivity. They donate 10% of their profits to help end period poverty in the U.K. and beyond and are working hard to raise awareness and break taboos against menstruation.

If you’re interested in learning more, our team recently put together a list of sustainable alternatives to single-use, plastic period products, brands from all over the world that make them, and organizations working towards equal access to menstrual hygiene products — check it out here. Photo: &SISTERS

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Vegan cauliflower steak burger

Our social media intern, Julie Beedle tried this spicy vegan cauliflower burger by Make it Dairy Free, and it’s to die for (check out Make It Dairy Free’s website — they have a ton of tasty and easy-to-make vegan recipes). The key to this recipe is making it super spicy, so she added more hot sauce and paprika to the mayo and breading mixture to really feel the heat. The cauliflower is deliciously crunchy, and the creamy mayo also packs a real punch.

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower, cut into 3-4 steaks

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• ½ cup corn flour

• 1 ½ cups dairy free milk

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• 3 tbsp hot sauce

• 1 quart vegetable oil, for frying

• 4 sandwich buns

• 1 sliced tomato

• Lettuce

For the breading:

• 3 cups vegan panko breadcrumbs

For the vegan spicy mayo:

• ½ cup vegan mayo (Julie used Follow Your Heart)

• 1 tsp hot sauce

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Cut cauliflower into steaks by slicing the head into ¾-inch-thick slices.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and boil steak for 4-5 minutes.

3. In a wide bowl, add flour, cornflour, dairy-free milk, vinegar and hot sauce. Whisk together. (You want a thick pancake-like batter.) In another wide bowl add the breadcrumbs.

4. Add a cauliflower steak to the wet mixture and move around to coat evenly. Dip and cover the cauliflower in breadcrumbs.

5. To Fry: Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the cauliflower in batches for 4-5 minutes or until golden and crisp on all sides. Remove and drain on a wire rack with paper towels underneath.

6. For the spicy mayo, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl. Spread over the bun, add the cauliflower, lettuce, and tomato, and enjoy!

SEE HOW JULIE MADE IT HERE