For the month of March, McElhinneys is aiming to shine a light on the positive changes we're making as a business in an effort to promote sustainability.
With that in mind, we would love to share some insights into brands stocked in-store and online that emphasise sustainability and have a focus on being environmentally friendly.
From using naturally-derived ingredients to consciously lowering climate impact across the entire product creation cycle, here are a selection of brands available at McElhinneys who are helping to create a more sustainable future for everyone:
1. Jo Browne
Irish brand, Jo Browne, founded by Joanne Browne in 2016, is a great example of a brand taking the initiative when it comes to focusing on sustainability.
From the start, Jo Browne has kept the emphasis on sustainability and being kinder to the environment by creating handmade beauty and homeware products using natural ingredients, from solid perfume to luxurious bamboo bedding.
The brand says: "Our ethos is to develop premium products in a natural, sustainable way."
2. Selected Femme/Homme
Clothing brands across the globe are slowly adapting to more ethical and sustainable methods of production and the dual brands Selected Femme & Selected Homme are a leader when it comes to promoting change for good.
Selected Femme/Homme emphasises sustainable practice in a number of ways, firstly through using sustainable materials and fibres that limit waste, water usage and emissions.
They also promote creating products that are made to last and the practice of recycling and restoring old clothing to support a circular economy.
The brand says: "Responsibly Crafted is our brand philosophy. It is our unwavering commitment to change the industry. To rethink the way we produce and consume fashion. From reducing our environmental impact to human rights and animal welfare. We care. And we believe."
3. Celtic Candles
Celtic Candles is an Irish family-run business that was first established in 1993 by the father and son duo James and Gerry Stewart.
The brand creates a range of soy wax candles, reed diffusers, lotions and room sprays with an emphasis on using recycled materials. Their products are vegan friendly, cruelty-free, are created using a blend of plant-based waxes and their packaging is made from recycled paper.
The brand says: "Our products are made using the finest natural ingredients from 100% natural resources."
4. Voya
Another Irish business that promotes sustainable practices is beauty brand Voya, which uses wild seaweed as a key ingredient in its products and uses recycled and biodegradable materials in its packaging.
The seaweed is sustainably hand-harvested off the Irish coast and is a renewable natural resource as only a small portion is cut at a time to allow the crops to regrow and replenish and also helps to protect the biodiversity of the west coast reefs.
The brand says: "Every step in our process is natural and sustainable. From sea to skin, we go to great lengths to maintain the unique purity of our seaweed. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do."
5. Vero Moda AWARE
Another fashion brand taking steps in the right direction towards a more sustainable future is Vero Moda which has a stand-alone clothing range called AWARE which features clothing produced using a range of sustainable materials including organic cotton and recycled polyester.
The collection is created with an emphasis on utilising eco-friendly materials to reduce the level of natural resources used during production, through the use of recycled, organic and innovative materials and low-impact dyes.
The brand says: "AWARE is a standalone collection of go-to pieces, born from a desire to be more conscious of the small everyday choices we make.
6. Vegan Tan
When it comes to tanning there are many brands out there that promote being cruelty-free but VeganTan takes things a step further with its huge focus on sustainability.
The brand was established in 2021 and has quickly grown a cult following internationally, and for good reason, as VeganTan is approved by the Vegan Society, contains natural ingredients and is also made using sustainable packaging from reclaimed plastic.
On top of that for every bottle sold, a percentage of the sale is donated towards a number of sustainability causes including removing single-use plastic from nature, supporting ethical wages for waste workers and keeping a plastic negative footprint throughout the supply chain and packaging of their products.
At McElhinneys we are aiming to become more sustainable in a bid to do our bit for the environment and we are excited to bring you along on this journey with us.
We can all do our bit for the planet by making small and simple changes that can lead to a big difference in the future.
Until next time,
Hannah x
