7 Sustainable UK Companies that want to save the Planet
What makes a ‘sustainable company?
These are just a few questions that can seem simple to answer from the offset, but in reality, aren’t that simple to answer when you factor in external influences like dealing with scale, high traffic consumer demand and globalisation.
Here’s our short list of 7 UK based companies that tick all of the right boxes!
LUSH
Lush has put a lot of effort recently into building a strong eco-conscious brand. It was the pioneer of the first solid shampoo bar, and since then, others have followed. They offer a huge range of plastic free items in their stores and consumers can enjoy a wide range of exciting products knowing that they are made with the environment in mind. Lush are also in the process of removing palm oil from their products and are committed to animal rights, being vehemently against animal testing. They also have an extensive range of 100% vegan products.
JUNGLE STRAWS
Jungle Straws is a socially responsible British company who manufacture bamboo drinking straws and plastic-free products to businesses and Individuals worldwide. Their purpose is to support, educate, and inspire individuals and businesses of all kinds to make the switch to reusable and sustainable alternatives in order to reduce the devastating effects that plastic pollution is having on the planet.
They sell bamboo straws in the UK, and in over 40 countries worldwide and have overseen all aspects of their manufacturing and supply chain operations in person, relocating to the source of the raw materials in Vietnam in order to develop ethical relationships with the artisans and farms of whom they work with.
They have partnered alongside respectable organisations including National Geographic, Penguin Random House, The British Embassy & TOMS. Jungle Straws have also made a free eBook on how to be zero waste in the UK.
AERIAL POWER
London based drone company, Aerial Power has created an ingenious solution for cleaning solar panels. Their UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are self-flying, which makes the process eco friendly, cheap and efficient when compared to more traditional methods. The potential it could have on large solar farms around the world is profound, especially in areas where dust interferes with the panels and stops them from working properly.
PAVEGEN
Pavegen has come up with an innovative and smart solution in order to harness the energy from footsteps into electricity! They have created a flooring solution which converts the pressure created by footsteps which compresses electromagnetic generators below. This movement produces up to 2-4 joules of energy each and every step!
The possibilities with this type of technology are endless and we look forward to seeing what can be done in the future if installed in high traffic walkways in public spaces across busy cities worldwide.
WYATT AND JACK
Wyatt & Jack are an up-cycling company who create sustainable bags and fashionable accessories made entirely from up-cycled deckchair canvas, broken inflatables, and the PVC from bouncy castles that have recently come to the end of their lives!
They are based in the Isle of Wight and some of their largest clients include Thomas Cook and Jack Wills. Wyatt and Jack shows us exactly why zero waste is important.
GEORGANICS
Georganics only use pure, natural and organic ingredients in all of their products. They are hand crafted in small batches and are made from locally sourced ingredients. Furthermore, their packaging is designed to produce no waste – so no clogging up landfill sites with pollutants.
With all Georganics products there is absolutely no animal testing. Their products are suitable for vegans, and as you’d expect their environmental footprint is low. Their sense of fairness also stretches beyond their products, as they are proud to be a living wage employer.
GREEN TOMATO CARS
Green Tomato Cars are leading the way when it comes to sustainable travel. The operate an extensive fleet of fully zero-emission corporate cars with the UK’s largest collection of hydrogen fuel cell EVs. The have a large fleet of over 600 hybrid vehicles and this collection of cars helps to complete over 10,000 journeys a week in the UK’s capital city, London.
Additionally, Green Tomato Cars sets the blueprint for how to create a sustainable company, really going the extra mile (no pun intended). Emissions are offset by the company’s African project in Uganda which helps to subsidise fuel efficient cookstoves. Furthermore, they also use profits to invest in tree planting initiatives throughout the UK.