62 Women-Owned Sustainable Businesses to Support Now and Always

How many times have you supported a company for its

#girlpower message, only to realize there are no girls behind the scenes... at all?

Plenty of the brands that target women seem female-founded, so it's surprising to find out they're anything but. In honor of

Women's History Month, we rounded up truly women-owned sustainable businesses—ones that not only have products we love, but inspiring female founders we adore.

The next time you're shopping for literally anything (seriously—there's makeup, skincare, apparel, home goods, and more), check out these 60+ women-owned sustainable businesses to support. You're not only getting a great product, but every "buy now" button you click is also bettering the planet and supporting a woman's dream. What's better than that?

Yes, the

Brightly Shop is woman-founded, woman-owned, and—of course—sustainable. Founded by Laura Alexander Wittig, our mission is to empower conscious consumers to make small, sustainable changes that have a positive impact on the planet—and the life living on it. Our shop features several sustainable items, from everyday swaps to limited-time exclusives. Each product is made with the planet in mind and has our Brightly stamp of approval.

Alpyn Beauty, founded by Kendra Kolb Butler, features botanically-derived beauty products that are comprised of naturally-regenerating wild ingredients picked at a high altitude. There's wild dandelion masks, a wild huckleberry peel, and more. There's an extra bonus to buying, too: One percent of all profits go back into environmental causes.

Copper Cow Coffee, founded by Debbie Wei Mullin, let’s you do two of your favorite things at once: 

drink great coffee and better the planet. The pour-over coffee is sustainably sourced and uses natural flavors. And the company's fully compostable single-use filter allows you to make high-quality coffee in the comfort of your own home or on the go—wherever you want to sip.

Women’s Bean Project was founded by Jossy Eyre in 1989, who was volunteering at a women’s shelter and recognized a need to equip women who have significant barriers to employment with practical tools for self-sufficiency. By hiring women and giving them steady paid work at the same time they receive training, the nonprofit’s program helps address recidivism and unemployment while offering consumers dry goods, like baking mixes and dried fruits. (And yes—beans, too.)

Rachel Faller founded Tonlé in 2008. The gender-inclusive clothing is uniquely twice recycled from factory deadstock bought at a Cambodian marketplace by a group of makers. On top of the sustainable fashion the company produces, it contributes to a circular economy through its Open Closet, allowing you to trade in your old pieces for other pre-loved threads. 

Aether Beauty is a must-try for vegan makeup. Founder Tiila Abbitt prides herself on ingredients that are natural, ethically and sustainably sourced, and good for your skin and the environment. In addition, the company has an ethical production process and low-waste, carbon-neutral shipping. Fun fact: The eyeshadow is also infused with crystals, adding that self-care element we all need. 

The story behind 31 Bits is one that’d make for an indie coming-of-age movie that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Founded by a group of women when they were juniors in college—Kallie, Alli, Jessie, Anna, and Brooke—the ethical and sustainable business features gorgeous jewelry hand-crafted by artisans in Uganda and Indonesia. The artisans receive fair wages, unlimited family leave, and an apprenticeship program that helps them start their own business.

Know the name of the person who made your shoes? With Root Collective, you will. Founded by Bethany Tran, the company works with artisans in Guatemala to create its products, who receive 50 to 400 percent above the fair wage minimum in Guatemala City. From apparel to shoes to bags, these are items you’d be proud to rep.

Diaspora Co. is a spice company founded by Sana Javeri Kadri, a third-generation Mumbai native. The company prides itself on its tight-knit and ethical relationships with farm partners in India and Sri Lanka. Aside from paying farm partners an average of six times more than the commodity price, it's also transparent about its supply chain.

Tata Harper

founded her skincare company of the same name on her 1,200-acre farm in the Champlain Valley of Vermont. Everything is manufactured and packaged in-house at the farm—no subcontracting in sight. All the company’s products are cruelty-free, non-toxic, and 100 percent natural. The brand also boasts an Ecocert certification and promises ingredients that are free from GMOs, fillers, synthetic chemicals, and artificial colors and fragrances.

Phoebe Yu founded the bamboo-based sleepwear brand, Ettitude, back in 2014 (7 years ago!). She set out to make beds comfortable around the globe through a sustainable lens. The brand has quite a few certifications under its belt, including Eco-Cert, PETA-Approved Vegan, and FSC. It works hard to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and prevent water waste in its production process.

From sexual to menstrual wellness, LOLA starts important conversations—and does so sustainably. Most well-known for its period cups and cotton tampons, the duo behind LOLA—Jordana Kier and Alexandra Friedman—ensures only high-quality, natural ingredients. No toxins, dyes, or synthetic fibers included. Plus, it’s donated over 6 million products (and counting!) as part of its advocacy for menstrual equity.

Get ready for cuteness overload with these hand-sewn organic cotton baby clothes. Business is personal for founder Alyssa Kerbel, who was inspired to start Mini Mioche when looking for ethical and sustainable gender-neutral clothes for her own children. The products feel good, look good, and do good with no-plastic packaging, give-back programs, and ethical manufacturing.

Áplat, founded by Shujan Bertrand, is all about sustainability. The company manufactures in San Francisco, California, and all products are made with zero-waste. How, you ask? They utilize origami principles to make food, wine, garden totes, masks, and more. Plus, you'll love the minimalist designs: Everything is gorgeous.

From artisan-crafted bags to jewelry to home goods, Raven + Lily prides itself on its commitment to its community and sustainability. Founded by Kirsten Dickerson, all of the products are made from natural and biodegradable materials. The company is also a certified B Corp.

You can see Cuyuna’s philosophy—"fewer, better"—in everything co-founders Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah do, from their

partnership with ThredUp to crafting sustainably-made clothes that’ll be fashionable forever. The company's manufacturing has been honed down to one country, and it only uses high-quality materials like recycled cashmere or substantial silk. The company is also Bluesign certified.

The focus of SOKO founders Gwendolyn Floyd, Catherine Mahugu, and Ella Peinovich is providing ethically-crafted and skillfully-made jewelry from Kenya to give artisans access to a global marketplace without exploitation. From original pieces to classics, once you try them on you won’t want to take them off. The company is also a certified B Corp.

Warp + Weft, founded by Sarah Ahmed, makes perfect-fitting

eco-friendly jeans for everyone. Besides the guarantee of top-notch denim, it also requires less than 10 gallons of water, is frequently made from recycled materials, and provides an ethical working environment.

Founded by Alison Haljun and Christin Powell, Kinship’s skincare products leave you with an undeniable glow that can only come from a brand formulated by real scientists. The ingredients are clean, the packaging is made from recycled plastic, and everything is cruelty-free.

Founded by Hillary Peterson, True Botanicals combines a focus on sustainability with science and clinically proven formulas. Rich in certified-organic and wild-harvested components, every product carries the MADE SAFE stamp of approval, confirming it’s made without 6,500 toxic chemicals. The company is also certified cruelty-free, meaning no animal testing, ever.

Cultivated by former aesthetician Lesley Thornton, KLUR’s inclusive ethos and simplistic botanical formulas will definitely win you over. The company explains each product and how it benefits for your skin, taking away any confusion in clean skincare. Plus, we love how the company only sells core products, signaling it puts product quality over quantity.

Oui The People is basically a one-stop shaving revolution. Founded by Karen Young, the brand’s body care and shaving products incorporate a slew of hardworking ingredients that protect and nourish the skin. All products are free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, petrolatum, and synthetic fragrance, and the containers are glass, recyclable, or refillable. 

Isha Punja founded Hutmentality with one mission in mind: reclaiming traditional clothing to create something cutting-edge. Hutmentality features only hand-stitched clothing crafted by Indigenous artisans in India, making it in limited and high demand. The patchwork and patterns are simply gorgeous, and so are the morals that drive it.

Bena Burda, founder of Maggie’s Organics, is bringing organic and clean cotton to your closet. Maggie’s Organics puts in the work to ethically create clothing that’s comfortable and lasts. You'll also be able to read about the process, step by step. You'll find socks, leggings, apparel, and home goods.

The Little Market has products just as cute as its name. Founded by two friends—Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla—it's a nonprofit, fair trade shop where your money is guaranteed to go back to the artisans who make the products. From homeware to accessories, you’re bound to find a one-of-a-kind product you’d love.

Nomen Wine’s bottles are what you’d get if you crossed an eco-activist, a vintner, and a fashion illustrator, all in one. The all-female founding team of five share not only a love for the wine industry and passion for sustainability, but also a last name: They're sisters in addition to co-founders. The company’s major claim to fame is PET wine bottles, which tackle several of the sustainability pitfalls of the wine industry, like the heaviness, fragility, and disposal methods required of glass wine bottles, all of which contribute to major packaging waste and carbon emissions.

Cayla O'Connell Davis and Lauren Sagadore set out to create an ethical fashion brand, and they did just that. The proof? The marriage between style and sustainability in all of Knickey’s products. Knickey steers clear of toxic threads and pesticides with its use of OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton, its Fair Trade certified factory (and business), and its recycling promise. It's the ultimate one-stop-shop for all of your underwear needs.

Chamberlain Coffee is pretty well-known among Gen Z, as it's YouTube star Emma Chamberlain’s coffee line. What many people don’t know, however, is that the coffee blends are actually ethically-produced and sustainable. The brand is Fair Trade certified and uses USDA Organic coffee beans. In addition, the coffee is responsibly roasted in California and wrapped in eco-friendly packaging.

The Anchal Project was founded by sisters Colleen and Maggie Clines. While on a trip to India, Colleen was stunned by the few opportunities presented to women there—not to mention the risk of sexual exploitation—and she wanted to fight for them. After raising some money to pay the artisans, the Anchal Project was officially deemed a nonprofit. You'll find everything from face masks to pillows.

Stasher bags are magical. The reusable options are made for every occasion, including on-the-go snacks, fridge storage, toiletry storage, and so much more. Founder Kat Nouri created the brand following a vision she had in her kitchen one day. Instead of opting for single-use plastic, these bags are made from platinum silicone—and they'll literally last you forever.

Similar to Colleen Clines, LXMI founder Leila Janah was also struck with inspiration following a trip she had taken—only hers was to Uganda. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2020 after losing her battle to cancer. But her legacy still lives on in LXMI. The company uses organic and natural materials, and has a primary aim to provide job opportunities to East African women, paying them three times the local wage salary.

Loved by many (including Kelly Rowland!),

Mary Louise Cosmetics is a staple. From making DIY skincare products in her dorm room to creating her own successful skincare brand, founder Akilah Releford never settled on mediocre ingredients. She ensures all of her products are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated with clean ingredients. It's also a Fair Trade certified brand.

Harper Coats, founded by Rachel Thaw, makes ethical and sustainably-produced outerwear for every season, without the exorbitant markups you see on other winter apparel. All coats are cruelty-free and fully vegan and transported using ocean freight to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Best of all, the brand disavows “coat elitism,” meaning all of the brand’s coats are machine washable. Really.

To create Ordinary Habit, mother-daughter duo Teresa and Echo Hopkins put their puzzle-making skills to work. Literally. Ordinary Habit is centered around mindfulness, selling products like cards and puzzles made from recycled materials. It features hand-drawn artwork, and the brand is committed to donating a portion of its profits to the Loveland Foundation. 

UNWRP is the ultimate gift-accessory company, and it was founded by Ashley London Fouyolle in her small Brooklyn bedroom. The brand has everything from luxury, vibrant wrapping papers to home decor. The recyclable wrapping paper is made out of 30 percent post-consumer materials and FSC certified paper. You can also buy fabric wrapping paper that can be used over and over again.

Dieux Skin features three inspiring female co-founders: Charlotte Palermino, Joyce de Lemos, and Marta Freedman. They set out to create a quality skincare brand that showed real results and only market actives with third-party research. Everything is vegan and cruelty-free and comes in sustainable packaging.

Proclaim founder Shobha Philips originally started the company out of frustration: She hated not being able to find a nude bra that matched her brown skin. But that's not a problem anymore. Not only is her company inclusive, but it's also sustainable. The bras and underwear are made in Los Angeles from eco-conscious materials like TENCEL and REPREVE recycled polyester.

Practical and comfy, BENDY was founded by a pair of friends who met in college: Mary Sue Papale and Caroline de Baere. They put their minds together to come up with a simple shoe with a low carbon footprint. On top of its sustainable sourcing, BENDY is made in California by workers who receive a fair wage and safe working conditions.

Order from Fly By Jing, and your tastebuds will thank you. Founded by Jing Gao, a chef and expert on Chinese cuisine, her goal was to bring “uncensored Chinese flavors to the table.” And that she did. Aside from the unbeatable flavor, her sauces are crafted in small batches in Chengdu, Sichuan, and everything is vegan, non-GMO, and free from artificial additives and preservatives.

ANI+CO is a must for any candle or smudge stick fanatic. From gift sets to wax melts, the company has you covered. Founded by Brittany Bernier and hand-poured in Brooklyn, NYC, from coconut wax, you'll be able to have a self-care routine free of any harmful ingredients.

Founded by Amy Mitchell, Lisse has a wealth of Leaping Bunny-certified shaving products. The plastic-free safety razors are a star

among our Brightly community—especially given that the brand provides options for a variety of different skin types. You can also shop with purpose knowing two percent of the razor sales empower young girls through menstrual health education in East Africa. 

Clean Circle, founded by Lena Chao, has all your makeup-removing needs covered. The company makes reusable skincare pads made from bamboo, and makeup-remover pads made from bamboo charcoal. Once you're done with your pack, simply put everything in a drawstring bag and machine wash.

Ethique was born in New Zealand when founder Brianne West started experimenting with concocting homemade products in her kitchen. Today, Ethique makes bar shampoos, conditioners, body products, face cleansers, moisturizers, and more. Besides a long list of ingredients, the brand avoids unequivocally, all products are also verified cruelty-free, vegan, and free of palm oil and palm oil derivatives. The company is also a certified B Corp and maintains direct trade partnerships with many of its producers, aiming to close the gap between farmer and consumer. 

Hathorway, founded by Jessica Phann, makes ethically-made, modern jewelry you’ll never want to take off. The pieces are handcrafted with upcycled buffalo horns—a byproduct of waste that the company transforms into something beautiful. Hathorway also donates 10 percent of its profits to organizations that empower women.

AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, combines a commitment to ethical production, veneration for artisan craftsmanship, and passion for creating and cultivating sustainable jobs in Africa to produce gorgeous handcrafted handbags. Each is woven by hand in Ghana and made from sustainably-harvested raffia from Ghanaian family farmers. AAKS also launched an initiative called “Weaving for Change” designed with the aim of creating dignified, fair work opportunities for refugee artisans in Burkina Faso.

Habit Cosmetics, founded by Aja Frierson, is convinced that you needn’t sacrifice quality for sustainability value, or safety for beauty. The company nail polish and makeup products are all non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free, and packaged in post-consumer plastic as well as FSC-certified paperboard boxes.

For Days, founded by Kristy Caylor and Mary Saunders, make clothing using GOTS certified organic cotton fabrics, as well as dyes that are certified by Cradle to Cradle, which assesses brand performance across five sustainability categories. Every piece is 100 percent recyclable, and its packaging material is reusable. In addition, its SWAP program lets customers send in any previous purchases for new items at a low cost.

If you're anything like Plaine Products founders Jessica Stevenson and Jayme Jenkins, you might have noticed how many

single-plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles you go through in a year. Because of that, the two industry veterans set out to make more effective and sustainable hair products. The formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of harmful chemicals.

TomboyX, founded by Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez, praises inclusivity in its brand image and voice, actively supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ+ rights, and body positivity. The company holds a wealth of factory certifications, including ones from the Fair Labor Association, Sedex, and the ICS. It's also well-versed in the art of sustainable fabrics, using materials like TENCEL Modal and certified OEKO-TEX cotton.

Three Ships, co-founded by Connie Lo, only formulates its skincare products with high-quality natural ingredients. And when they say natural, they mean natural. The products are formulated according to the very strict European Union standards, which means the company avoids more than 1,300 potentially harmful chemicals. Everything is also vegan and cruelty-free.

Darzah, a nonprofit fashion brand founded by Janette Habashi, uses a unique embroidery style called tatreez that's been passed down by generations of Palestinian women. Every product the company sells is completely home-made by women in the West Bank of Palestine. In addition, the company is Fair Trade certified, providing all artisans with safe working conditions and a living wage. And, all materials are locally and ethically sourced from the region.

Wholesome Culture, founded by Audrey Castonguay, is a sustainable clothing brand with a focus on what we wear and its impact on the planet. The clothes are made with water-based ink and use environmentally conscious materials, like recycled water bottles and bamboo. The products are also delivered in biodegradable recycled packaging to cut down on waster. Also cool: The clothes are printed in response to demand, which drastically cuts down on excess material—and whatever extra material the company does have is donated to help people in need.

Founded by Rachel Temko, all of Whimsey + Row's clothing is made in limited batches in Los Angeles under ethical conditions and with fair wages. The company uses fabrics like certified organic cotton and TENCEL, as well as deadstock/upcycled fabric. The company is also zero-waste.

Founded by Cherie Hoeger and Amber Fawson,

SAALT has reusable period products that are good for you and the planet. Everything from its menstrual cup to underwear is ethically and sustainably made. And, all fabrics are manufactured in a WRAP-certified factory and are OEKO-TEX and Bluesign-approved. The company is also a certified B Corp and donates two percent of its revenue to provide period care to parts of the world that need it most.

You can make pro, chef-worthy meals, minus the cooking experience, with Omsom. Founded by sisters—Vanessa and Kim Pham—the company provides pantry shortcuts for different Asian dishes, combining all the sauces, aromatics, and seasonings you need for a great-tasting meal. Aside from being committed to investing in sustainable packaging, the company also has a strong commitment to ethical sourcing for its ingredients.

Living in Hawaii, Chelsa Davis made frequent trips to the ocean. But after taking a closer look at the ingredients in the shampoo she was using, she found a lot of chemicals—all of which eventually wash into the ocean. So she founded Ao Organics Hawaii, a natural and organic skincare company. All products come in a glass bottle or tin, so you can recycle and reuse the containers. The skincare products are formulated with zero synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances, and they contain locally-sourced materials.

The Citizenry was founded by college best friends Carly Nance and Rachel Bentley to empower artisans from around the world. They've traveled to each country to personally develop relationships with the artists and ensure ethical conditions. Each product is made in small batches and 10 percent of proceeds are directed right back into the artisan communities.

Priscilla Tsai initially started creating all-natural, eco-friendly skincare products to help her own skin. Now, you can find Cocokind just about everywhere, from Target to Ulta. Cocokind puts sustainability front and center during all parts of the production process, from the ingredients it uses to its packaging.

Marley’s Monsters, founded by Sarah Dooley, is a one-stop-shop for all things zero-waste. From the company's coveted

zero-waste unpaper towels to its plastic-free packaging, Marley’s Monsters helps you craft an eco-friendly home with grace.

If you’re looking for sustainably-made, minimalist bags, you’ll love Opus Mind. Founded by Kathleen Kuo, the products are crafted by expert artisans in a family-owned factory in Florence, Italy, with scraps of leather from a glove factory. The end result is backpacks, purses, and totes you’ll want to wear everywhere.

Everist does haircare a little differently. Founders Jessica Stevenson and Jayme Jenkins have a planet-friendly approach to every level of their products, from biodegradable ingredients to recyclable kraft paper packaging. The pure aluminum tubes that carry Everist’s waterless shampoo and conditioner concentrates are endlessly recyclable, and the brand takes back the only part that isn’t—the small plastic cap—to repurpose it for you.  

Handbags that are made beautifully, ethically, and sustainably? Count us in. Shelley Tenneyson, founder of MZ Fair Trade, has the goal of connecting consumers to talented artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico, who utilize traditional Zapotec weaving. You'll find totes, purses, backpacks, and even home decor.