The most sustainable purchase is no purchase at all. Or, in the words of Joshua Becker, “The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.”

But every purchase we do make is a chance to tell industry that it’s time to get serious about our future.

I love shopping. I try to keep it minimal (and sometimes succeed), but when there’s something I need, for myself or my growing daughter, I enjoy the game of browsing online, reading reviews, researching the ethos of a company, sourcing out a great price, and clicking BUY. I feel extra good when my purchase supports an ethical, sustainable, local company.

How do you know if a company is ethical and sustainable?

Just read their website. They’ll tell you all the ways they love Planet Earth and manufacture with natural fibers and give all the workers in their supply chain a great life. KIDDING. Green washing is real, and I rely on external reviews to help me decide who to shop with.

The B Corp certification is a good start. If a company has earned this, it means they’ve passed an independent review and shown that their business plan improves the world around it.

Good On You gives companies a rating from “We Avoid” to “Great” based on their impact on people, animals, and the planet. These guys dig deep and grade hard — a good mark from them is hard to come by.

I also like Karma Wallet‘s rating model. They use the U.N.’s sustainable goals to rate companies out of 16.

Does a company have to tick all the boxes? Doesn’t that get expensive?

Very few companies tick all the boxes. How high your standards are is completely up to you and your budget. For me, for right now, if a company meets any of the above standards, I’m happy to support them. They’re showing that they care about moving toward a world that works — and my money is happy to show them some appreciation.

Not every purchase I make ticks any of these boxes. In a world that isn’t there yet, with friends and family who aren’t (all) there yet, perfection would be unsustainable for my sanity. Sometimes I buy a Starbucks drink in a single-use cup, sometimes I buy my nieces and nephews the plastic toys they’re craving as Christmas presents. Maybe next year I won’t do either of those things — the steps I’m taking now lead me to do less of them each day.

What I do is aim for balance. I make sure that every purchase is conscious. I make the most sustainable choice that I can to get my needs met.

Below are some of my favorite places to shop that do tick the boxes, across a variety of categories. It’s a growing list, and I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comment box below.

KIDS CLOTHING

Mini Mioche — soft and durable, these clothes are made in Canada and built to last. They have a range of clothes, from sweats to dresses, that feel great against your skin.

Therm Kids — high quality outerwear — sustainable, affordable, and cute styles. Originally from New Zealand and now based in Whistler, Canada.

Wheat — children’s clothing and shoes. Designed in Denmark, owned in Canada, ethical and sustainable manufacturing.

Whistle & Flute — cute, original sweats and T-shirts. Great prices, quality, and customer service.

Little and Lively — Beautiful, soft fabrics that feel great against your skin. This is one of my favorite places to shop for my daughter and myself.

ADULT CLOTHING

Athleta — women’s and girl’s athletic wear that my daughter and I both love. It’s not at the highest end of sustainable choices, but as a B Corp, I consider it an OK choice for sometimes. (And when their stuff is on sale, it’s very budget-sustainable.)

Encircled — Canadian made, owned, and operated. I haven’t shopped here yet, but plan to soon. Looks like an elevated, ethical alternative to Aritizia.

Kotn — Toronto-based company with gender neutral designs for adults.

Patagonia — An innovator in putting the planet first. High prices, but with quality to match, and you know your money is going somewhere good.

Salt – From Saltspring Island, their clothing is designed and made in Canada using sustainable materials. They have some cute kid options, too.

Tentree — My all-time favorite for sweats and lounge wear. Among other awesome actions, they plant a tree for every item purchased.

Understance (women’s underwear and bras) — Fits like a dream, amazing prices, and local (to me) in Vancouver.

Wallaroo (hats for the whole family) — Simple, fun hats — straw, canvas, and other sustainable hats that look great and protect you from the sun. Sadly, they only deliver in the States at the moment, but you can find their brand at some Canadian retailers too.

HAIR & SKIN CARE

Everist – An innovative Canadian company who ships shampoo, conditioner, and skin cleanser in concentrated tubes or tins — minus the water. They use clean, moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin, and none of the chemicals that suck for the planet or human health. I used to use a lot of product to tame my dry frizz after washing, but with Everist, I don’t need to. I especially love their quick dry hair towel.

The Body Shop is somewhere I’m happy to shop sometimes. (Like at our local mall where the cosmetics options are them or Sephora.) They get full marks in the animal welfare department, but Good On You rates them “It’s A Start” in the people and planet departments.

FOOTWEAR

Allbirds — A New Zealand-based B Corporation with great distribution across North America. My daughter has two pairs of shoes from here that are cute, functional, comfortable, and sustainable. I nearly bought a pair for myself, but (sob) I have too many shoes at the moment and really have to work on my minimalism. But I’m pretty sure these will be my next pair of shoes.

BEDDING/LINENS

Pact – An international company with clothing and home linens. They get great reviews on the ethical and sustainability fronts, and I’m including them here because a lot of people love them, but I find their pricing and quality inconsistent.

Simons – We bought our daughter’s bedding in their sustainable (Visions) department. Great prices for organic cotton.

Tofino Towel Co. — These beach towels and ponchos are dreamy. Pricey, but watch for sales!

HOUSEHOLD

IKEA – Not only is it super fun to spend a day there eating and browsing, but it’s a global company with amazing ethics — from running their stores on renewable energy to healthy (hormone and antibiotic free) foods in their (super value) food court to using 98% recycled or FSC-certified wood in their furniture.

PLANT SUPPLIES

Frondly – Our go-to plant store in Vancouver for soil, supplies, and (though we try to resist them because our house is a bit of a jungle) new plants. They source their plants locally, use minimal (and 100% recyclable) packaging, and plant a tree for every plant sold.

Kanso Designs – Simple, elegant pots made from recycled materials. (A Canadian company to boot.)

Mossify — A Canadian company that invented the bendable moss pole. They use sustainable materials and plant a tree for every order.

LUGGAGE

Monos – This Vancouver-based company is climate neutral certified and makes the best luggage I’ve ever owned. Prices are high, but they run excellent sales (Black Friday in particular).

Solgaard – Their carry-on closet has a neat design, and I like that they have a built-in battery pack option. I don’t own one (I love my Monos carry-on and don’t need another one) but they’re on my short list if I ever need to replace mine.

Do you have a favorite place to shop that you think is doing the world a favor by being in business? Leave me a comment so I can check them out!