April marks Earth Month, a time to celebrate our planet and take action to protect it. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on our shopping habits and consider how we can make more sustainable choices. And with the start of spring, now is a great time to update your wardrobe and beauty routine with some sustainable style essentials.
One impactful way to do this is by supporting fashion and beauty brands that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
At Square One, we’re proud to showcase a variety of brands that are leading the way in sustainable fashion and beauty. To help keep track of these sustainable brands, check out our exclusive shopping search engine, StyList. All you have to do is create a StyList account and search for your picks from sustainable brands at Square One. From there, you can save your faves to a wishlist and share your sustainable finds with loved ones.
Read on to learn more about sustainable brands at Square One that deserve your attention and support this Earth Month and beyond.
KVD Beauty
KVD Beauty Mini Tattoo Liner Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Mad Max Brown 0.007 oz / 0.2 mL
$20.50
From Sephora
Salt & Stone
Salt & Stone Mini Bergamot & Hinoki Refillable Body Wash with Niacinamide + Probiotic 3.4 oz / 100 ml
$17.00
From Sephora
Sol de Janeiro
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Visibly Firming Refillable Body Cream ml
$49.00
From Sephora
Grown Alchemist
Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Vegan Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum .84 oz / 25 mL
$75.00
From Sephora
Sustainable Fashion Brands
When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, consider shopping for brands that use sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural fibres like linen and bamboo. These materials are better for the environment and often have a lower carbon footprint than sustainable materials (plus, they feel like a cloud on your skin!). Additionally, look for brands that use as few natural resources as possible throughout their products’ life cycle, as well as companies that support ethical labour practices.
Canadian fashion brand Frank and Oak “inspires better living” with its conscious products that last through time, while Reformation (available at Holt Renfrew) has solidified itself as the fashion girlies’ go-to for cute clothes that you can feel good about. You can also find more sustainable brands such as KOTN, Stella McCartney, Veja and Girlfriend Collective at Holt Renfrew.
Frank And Oak
Veja at Holt Renfrew
Clean Beauty
L'Occitane
Tata Harper Skin Care at Sephora
If you’re wanting to incorporate sustainability practices into your beauty routine, there are a few things to look out for. You’ll want to find brands that use sustainable beauty ingredients (that is, those formulated without harmful ingredients) and sustainable packaging that has as little waste as possible (think: reusable glass jars and compostable cardboard). And just like we mentioned, look for companies that take steps to lower their impact throughout their entire supply chain and that create products with the well-being of animals, people and the planet in mind.
A great place to start is by checking out Sephora’s “Clean at Sephora” program which features products that are free from over 50 harmful ingredients, including sulfates, parabens and phthalates. Our top picks include Biossance, Tata Harper and Rose Inc.
Other sustainable beauty brands we love include L’Occitane en Provence, The Body Shop, Lush and Salt & Stone (available at Indigo).
Recycle and Repurpose
Another way to incorporate more sustainability practices into your everyday life is to recycle and repurpose items you already own.
Holt Renfrew’s H Project, Sephora, The Body Shop, Lush and MAC Cosmetics have beauty recycling programs which allow you to recycle beauty items such as compacts, lipsticks and concealer, foundation and mascara tubes. From there, the items are sorted, separated and used to create new products. Additionally, H&M has a Garment Collecting program that collects any brand’s unwanted clothes or textiles in any condition (bonus: you receive a thank-you voucher to use towards your next purchase).
MAC Cosmetics
Lush
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Square One, we are proudly committed to sustainability through our recycling program, bicycle park stations, solar panels and water management.
Additionally, we are continuing to expand our sustainability program with the introduction of a rooftop garden featuring various herbs and vegetables. Harvests from the 500sq/ft garden will be donated to Eden Food for Change, a local food bank that serves west Mississauga.
Square One is also home to one beehive from urban beekeeping company, Aveole, that will live on the rooftop to support and help grow the bee population. The bees travel 5kms to pollinate, contribute to biodiversity and provide a food source while contributing to the greening in the neighbourhood and local gardens.
To learn more about sustainability at Square One, click here.
By supporting these brands and others like them, we can make a positive impact on the planet while still enjoying the latest fashion and beauty trends. This Earth Month and beyond, let’s make a conscious effort to shop sustainably and support brands that are working towards a greener future. For our top sustainable style picks, click here.
