8 Sustainable Companies in Canada that Put the Planet First

Eight Canadian companies that put the planet first are Encircled, Workhall Studio, tentree, Alice + Whittles, Vitae Apparel, ChopValue, effydesk and Onyx + Blue. Each one builds recycled, plant-based or reclaimed materials into what it sells, from multi-wear clothing and recycled-bottle swimwear to sustainable products for the home office made from used chopsticks. If you want to support eco-friendly brands that make a difference for our planet, this list is a good place to start.

Global Citizen reports that while the world currently produces 1.3 billion tons of waste annually, that number is estimated by the senior director for the World Bank's Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice, Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, to grow to “an almost-inconceivable 4 billion tons by 2100”.

When we consider the 8 million tons of waste per year that ends up in the world’s oceans, it’s more important than ever for us to work together and help organizations working on protecting the planet.

Incorporating sustainable practices into our everyday lives can help us work together towards a circular economy, but where should you begin?

While there are “global 100 companies” lists that feature the world's most sustainable corporations working with large-scale operations around the world, we’ve gathered a list of 8 notable sustainable businesses based in Canada that you can support, each known across North America for the difference it makes for the planet.

What Does Sustainability Mean?

Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, a definition from a University of Alberta brief cited by McGill University.

According to McGill University, the University of Alberta brief describes sustainability as a value shared by individuals across the globe, and a means of “meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Besides thinking about what sustainability can do for us, it’s equally as important to consider what we can do in our power as citizens and consumers to be the collective driving force for change.

One way you can contribute is to support organizations that actively use recycled materials to reduce their environmental impact on the Earth. By reusing, recycling and reducing our carbon footprint on the planet, we can work together to pave the path for a greener future.

Which Canadian Companies Put the Planet First?

These 8 Canadian companies put the planet first by making clothing, footwear, furniture and office supplies from recycled, plant-based or renewable materials, and by cutting waste in production.

Which Canadian Fashion Brands Are Sustainable?

Encircled, Workhall Studio, tentree, Alice + Whittles and Vitae Apparel are five Canadian fashion brands that use recycled, plant-based or low-waste materials.

Many creative Canadian fashion brands on the rise are finding new ways to use recycled and raw materials to create earth-friendly products. Here are 5 eco-friendly fashion and apparel brands making a difference for our planet.

1. Encircled

“Fast fashion and trends are disposable, our clothing isn’t”. Encircled aims to provide classic, versatile pieces that help build a wardrobe that you’ll love for years to come.

Encircled aims to reduce the use of synthetic fabrics, and the waste associated with fast fashion, by providing versatile, multi-wear designs. Their designs echo the mantra, “More options. More fun. Less clothes. Less impact.”

2. Workhall Studio

What’s a home office without comfy work clothes? Indigenous-owned and operated Workhall Studio is proud to offer sweaters, pantsuits, dresses (and more) made from plant-based or plant-blended fabrics. With a strong focus on waste reduction, this company also offers free tailoring, so clothes that don’t fit don’t get tossed.

3. tentree

tentree is a climate-neutral, certified B-Corporation that creates “Earth-First” sustainable essentials, and plants 10 trees per item purchase. By planting trees for each purchase, tentree aims to make a big change accessible to everyone, and show that every big change starts small.

By 2021, tentree had planted over 50 million trees, which in return have removed millions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and reforested over 5,000 hectares of lands. Tentree’s collection includes clothing, backpacks, and accessories that are comfortable and functional.

tentree has been commended by Nicole Schwab, Co-director of 1t.org and the World Economic Forum's Nature Based Solution as a shining example of how the private sector can make an monumental impact in the fight against climate change.

4. Alice + Whittles

“Doing better by the planet + people.”

Sofi Khwaja, CEO, and partner Nick, are the founders and producers of Toronto’s eco-friendly brand, Alice + Whittles. The brand’s signature natural, fair-trade rubber boots and recycled shoes are made from “reclaimed ocean plastics, recycled PET, vegan water based glue”, and rubber sourced from sustainably-managed forests.

Read Alice + Whittles’ Ethical Policy to learn more about their mission to become 100% sustainable.

5. Vitae Apparel

Vitae Apparel is an eco-conscious, female-owned fitness apparel company that believes in female empowerment and ethical manufacturing, and it has gained recognition for the eco-friendly fabrics in its swimwear.

RecoTex is a water-repellant, polyester fabric made entirely from recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) water bottles in Taiwan. In 2020, Vitae Apparel donated over 30,000 face masks made from this eco-friendly material to establishments in Vancouver, Canada.

Which Canadian Brands Turn Waste Into Home and Office Products?

ChopValue, effydesk and Onyx + Blue turn recycled chopsticks and renewable materials such as bamboo and stone into furniture and office supplies for Canadian homes and workplaces.

6. ChopValue

ChopValue is a Vancouver-based certified B-Corp, urban recycling company that’s been helping Canadians reduce carbon emissions and our carbon footprint since 2016. ChopValue’s mission is to “make a difference, one chopstick at a time”.

ChopValue’s unique and transparent business model also shows the importance of carbon-negative supply chains and manufacturing processes. ChopValue leads by example by creating functional and sustainable product and design solutions from discarded, disposable chopsticks.

To grow its positive environmental impact, ChopValue has expanded its circular economy business across Canada and globally, promoting a sustainable microfactory franchise concept to recycle chopsticks and manufacture climate-positive, carbon-negative products all over the world. The results of ChopValue’s efforts are illustrated in detail in its Urban Impact Report.

ChopValue and effydesk joined forces in 2021 to give recycled chopsticks a renewed life, support Canada's circular economy and bring Canadians sustainable home office furniture that helps desk workers work more productively.

7. effydesk

Our signature eco-friendly standing desk, the Terra Standing Desk, has a butcher block top made from 10,854 recycled chopsticks, produced in collaboration with our strategic partner, ChopValue.

Each Terra top is carbon negative, storing more carbon than its production process creates, which makes it an ideal addition to the conscious home office. It ships free across Canada and the US and carries a 20-year warranty on the frame, motors and electronics.

In efforts to raise awareness for Earth Month and promote ways to help offset CO2 emissions, effydesk partnered with OneTreePlanted to plant 100 trees for every Terra desk sold in April 2021.

8. Onyx + Blue

Onyx + Blue contributes to the circular economy by keeping materials in use before they end up in the landfill. Their office supplies are made from renewable, recyclable materials like bamboo, stone, corn starch, and biodegradable fabrics.

The manufacturing process requires less water and bleach, which means the products make less of an impact on waterways and ecosystems. Each of their eco-friendly products is packed with recycled materials, and all their labels are printed with soy-based ink (an earth-friendly alternative to regular ink).

How Can You Go Green With effydesk?

The simplest way to go green with effydesk is the Terra Standing Desk, whose carbon-negative top turns 10,854 used chopsticks into a height-adjustable work surface.

effydesk is an ergonomic office furniture company designed in Vancouver, Canada. From cardboard upcycling ideas to ergonomic tips for working more productively, effydesk is always looking to share new ways for desk-job workers to do good and feel good mentally and physically at the end of the work day.

Research suggests that poor posture can affect productivity, motivation and performance at work. Knowing that our bodies are made to move, we're here to help you combat the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Our ergonomic office furniture collection is crafted on the belief that you should feel good mentally and physically by the end of your work day.

Designed for both personal and professional use, our ergonomic solutions are here to help you enjoy effy in your home office or at your work office, with ease. We offer a variety of ergonomic sit-stand desks, ergo office chairs and perfect-pairing office essentials to help you achieve your ideal sitting and standing positions, so you can get more done, more comfortably.

Visit our shop collection to see all the ways you can improve your workplace ergonomics and support our mission to work towards a greener future today.