I can't stop talking about conservation and sustainable kiwi branding. Back in September, we had it Conservation Week Here in New Zealand. The focus this year was taking action for nature.
We're all familiar with the well-known actions you can take to help save the environment, like volunteering and picking up trash. But over the years, through my work and growth, I've found two other key ways anyone can easily share: Being an ambassador for nature and supporting brands that support nature.
The easiest way to participate in the save? Never talk about it. Post information about the trips you take, the birds you see, and the places you love. be a guardian of nature; The more we talk about it, the more popular it becomes, inspiring others to do the same.
Once enough people start talking, it becomes much more difficult to silence them.
I was lately Doubtful sound In a project with RealNZ with one of my favorite Kiwi influencers, Morally Kate, an absolute legend. Kate is a pioneer in sharing the values of sustainable living in a friendly, non-judgmental way, when it comes to taking care of the planet. I turn to Kate's pages when I'm looking for sustainable brands to support. She knows it all! It's also funny.
We all have a choice of where to put our dollars down these days; I've been working really hard trying to be more discerning about where I spend my money. Nowadays, I'm intentionally looking for brands involved in local conservation projects. They also have sustainability goals that they *actively* work towards and have good values when it comes to caring for their beautiful Aotearoa.
Here are my 10 favorite sustainable kiwi brands that support nature.
1. Zeden Cider - An expertly crafted apple cider with a purpose
Over a year ago I became friends with Bevan, the creator behind New Zealand's coolest cider brand - Zayden.
Created a few years ago with the idea of supporting and protecting the indigenous biodiversity we have here, Zeden fuses conservation with culture. In fact, New Zealand has long been a paradise of sorts. For more than 80 million years, New Zealand's flora and fauna evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. Humans arrived less than 1,000 years ago and have lost a large part of this heritage.
Zeden Cider is made with crisp East Coast apples and Hawke's Bay feijoas. Brewed at Gisborne on the dry method of cider from England, it's far less sweet than most cider's I've tried. Zeden is a great way to celebrate nature with friends.
To me, Zeden represents the modern Kiwi brand that has conservation and sustainability in mind. I hope to see this become more common. Donate 10% of their profits to Jungle and birdswho have long been fighting for nature here, it's a great way to give back to the land we love.
I have been an ambassador for Zaidan for a year. I am so excited to help promote their latest project, Eco HeroesWhere we will be celebrating heroes monthly in save. If you know of a Conservation Champion, be sure to nominate him!
2. RealNZ - Get you closer to nature while traveling
Too many pioneers in matching tourism to conservation, RealNZ (formerly Real Journeys) has been taking care of the earth and protecting our precious environment since the 1950's. RealNZ takes care of some of the South Island's most iconic tourist experiences. From boat trips in Milford, Doubtful Sound, and Rakiura/Stewart Island, you'll find RealNZ everywhere here. It supports multiplayer extensively conservation projects in these areas.
In the past, the future of Fiordland National Park was threatened by the expansion of hydropower. They wanted to raise the levels of Lakes Manapuri and Te Anau for power generation (that would have damaged the unique landscapes and natural habits of the area). Les and Lady Olive, the OG founders of RealNZ, have joined fellow conservationists in a grueling campaign to save the lakes.
The successful Save Manapouri campaign is often referred to as the birth of the conservation movement in New Zealand. Since then, RealNZ has remained committed to conservation and invests revenue in conservation activities across southern New Zealand, making it one of our favorite sustainable kiwi brands.
3. Allbirds - Totally cute and sustainable shoes
Uh, allbirdsMy favorite shoe and one of my favorite sustainable kiwi brands! It started as merino wool sneakers, and has quickly evolved from a kiwi-smart startup into a multi-billion-dollar industry. You can now shop for them all over the world.
A native New Zealander, co-founder Tim Brown, like all kiwis, was aware of the magical qualities of merino wool. Curious by nature, he began to ask himself why such a truly wonderful and sustainable resource was not in the footwear industry. It was in this spirit of admiration that the Allbirds journey began.
Allbirds is now a certified B Corporation, the environment is a stakeholder here, and sustainability And positive initiatives are an essential part of their brand. From reusing recyclable materials in shipping to giving shoes to communities in need to using sustainable materials in their products, Allbirds is paving the way for brands to be both environmentally friendly and wildly successful. I've been living in their shoes for years.
4. Air New Zealand - Pioneers in everything, including flight of flightless birds
It's no secret that I'm a longtime fan of Air New Zealand. And no, not just because it's the only airline here. Smart, quirky, friendly, and modern, AirNZ always seems to be three steps ahead of everyone in the aviation game, especially when it comes to their commitment sustainability Protecting the environment here, is not an easy task for the airline.
Best Green Airline 2019, AirNZ, is striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. They are adding more fuel efficient aircraft to their fleet, using sustainable aviation fuels, using reliable decarbonization solutions, and eliminating many single aircraft. Use of plastics from flights.
Air New Zealand is also helping to transport several threatened taonga species around New Zealand in partnership with the DOC. Since 2012, they have relocated more than 3,200 threatened species and are conservation dogs. It also supports more than 38,000 hectares of sustainable pest control.
5. BEAUTIFUL - Save your skin while you save the birds
The past year has been all about skincare for me. I was so excited to discover my friends at bestow beautyHomemade Kiwi brand offers a natural range of organic skincare products and superfoods rich in specific nutrients needed to nourish beautiful skin from within. Our skin is a reflection of our lives and how we take care of ourselves.
Bestow Beauty has supported the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust, a community conservation trust set up in 2002 by the Te Puke Forest and Bird and local community to care for the degraded North Island brown kiwi in the pristine Ōtanewainuku forest near Tauranga, which is home to many native plants and birds. Magnificent, including 69 pairs of endangered plants How?Which includes one of the most beautiful and wonderful songs in the forest.
Besides assisting with pest control and other initiatives with confidence, Bestow also helps relocate new birds from other areas to join existing populations to diversify their gene pool.
6. Gaia collection - earrings with impact
Gaia group It started as a Lionheart Small Business Enterprise (YES) project in 2021 by Year 13 students, Olivia Idriwera and Finch Bennett, from Wa Ura Montessori School in Nina, Wellington. Handmade sustainable earrings not only spread awareness about endangered species in New Zealand but also make an impact when it comes to the environment here.
Gotta have Stan a young, local, Kiwi woman who leads a business that helps our local species!
A portion of the sale of the earring goes toward Forest and Bird's Fairy Tern Project, which helps create an alternative breeding site for the endangered Fairy Tern, a beautiful shorebird that doesn't get as much media attention as it should; There are only 40 birds left.
7. Ecostore - home and body care made in New Zealand
eCostore It was founded on the north coast of New Zealand in 1993 by the Rand family, who wanted to make their home as clean and green as possible. You'll find Ecostore products and refill stations in supermarkets and homes across New Zealand.
Certified B Corp with a certified carbon-neutral plant in Auckland, Ecostore manufactures household cleaners, laundry, body care, skin care, baby care, and oral care products. They remove harmful chemicals in order to prioritize people's health. In addition to using all biodegradable ingredients, the plastic bottles are made from renewable sugarcane. It is 100% recyclable and takes carbon out of the atmosphere as it is grown to reduce carbon emissions.
Ecostore strives to be the most trusted and sustainable home and body care brand in the world, paving the way for our most used and best-selling products to be created with the planet in mind. I have been a fan for a long time and always will be!
8. Meridian Energy - Kakabe's power
Who would have thought that I would ever blog about an energy company, but here we go!
You guys are well aware of the fact that my favorite bird in New Zealand is the gentle, delicate, flightless macaw - kākāpō. An endangered national treasure, along with the Department of Conservation and Nakai Tahoe, Meridian Energy He was the main sponsor when it came to helping bring this taunga species back from the brink of extinction.
I feel it should be mandatory for major brands to support a threatened species in New Zealand. Meridian Energy is a New Zealand energy company that generates electricity from 100% renewable sources - wind, water and sun. They operate under the core belief that this is the only way forward for people and the planet.
Can you say it louder to all the power companies in the back? Meridian operates my houseplant store, nodein Lyttelton.
9. Ethics - Plastic-free, carbon-positive, rigid rods
Ethique has to be one of my other sustainable kiwi brands. I use their bars at home and on the road. It started a decade ago when Professional ethics Founder Brianne West began mixing formulas for shampoos in her kitchen in Christchurch, and Ethique has quickly become a household brand here in New Zealand, with a plethora of skincare, bodycare, haircare, and household cleaning products.
Nowadays, sustainability remains at the heart of everything at Ethique.
Their ingredients remain cruelty-free, vegan, and free of palm oil. Everything is ethically and justly sourced. They also pay their employees a living wage, in addition to donating 2% of sales. It is 100% plastic free and is a carbon positive a company.
10. Heritage Campaigns
I've been friends with Heritage Campaigns For a long time. Pioneers have taken me on an authentic expedition of conservation and adventure to the most remote destinations in the world, to stunning New Zealand Islands under Antarctica again in 2018.
Heritage Expeditions was founded in 1985 by Rodney Russ to raise awareness of the natural world through responsible expeditions. Rodney is an absolute legend in New Zealand when it comes to conservation. A biologist with the New Zealand Wildlife Service (later DOC), he has worked extensively protecting and saving some endangered species such as the kākāpō, Chatham Island black robin, and discovered Campbell Island teal.
Rodney was a pioneer in his belief that it was important to share this amazing biodiversity with people so that they could become ambassadors, advocating for and supporting conservation efforts. Like me, it has long been believed that conservation and responsible travel are two partners that together can achieve what might be otherwise unattainable. These values resonate across Heritage Expeditions. They support many of our beloved conservation efforts as well as offering scholarships for young Kiwis to join these expeditions.
what do you think? Do you have any favorite sustainable kiwi brands you love that I missed? Or other international brands that you like? Leak!
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