Brand Alternatives: Small Brands for Sustainable & Ethical Essentials

When considering brand alternatives for sustainable shopping, this table presents a thoughtful selection of shops for everyday essentials, steering you away from big-box retailers that might not align with your values.

The table showcases brand alternatives with a quick snapshot of what it offers, inviting you to explore sustainably made or ethically sourced products. You'll discover brand alternatives for eco-friendly household items, comforting personal care, and more, all crafted by smaller businesses committed to ethical and earth-friendly practices.

If you're just curious about sustainable brands or looking for long-term brand alternatives, this list gives you options to shop responsibly without giving up convenience or quality.

Share your favorite brand alternatives in the comments, and we'll add them to the list! 

Jump to: 

• Baby/Kids
• Books
• Clothing
• Gifts
• Groceries
• Household Supplies
• Personal Care
• Pet Supplies
• Stationery & Office Supplies

Baby/Kids (brand alternatives for Target, H&M)

• Lovevery - Montessori-inspired toys and play kits.
• Once Upon a Child - Children’s consignment chain for clothing, toys, and gear.

Books (brand alternatives for Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

• Bookshop.org - Supports indie bookstores with online book sales.
• Libro.fm - Audiobook platform that partners with local bookstores.
• Libby - Free library app for borrowing audiobooks and ebooks.

Clothing (brand alternatives for Gap, DSW, Poshmark, Lululemon, Urban Outfitters)

• Allbirds - Sustainable sneakers and apparel made from natural materials.
• Bombas - Ethically made socks and loungewear (donates to homeless shelters).
• Depop - Secondhand clothing marketplace.
• Kotn - Sustainable basics made with Egyptian cotton.
• Pact - Affordable organic cotton basics.
• Patagonia - Ethically made outdoor & casual wear with a lifetime repair guarantee.

Gifts (brand alternatives for Macy's, Target)

• Here I Am - Self-care boxes from women-owned small businesses
• The Little Market - Fair Trade home decor, jewelry, and accessories by artisans worldwide.
• Uncommon Goods - Curated unique, handmade gifts and creative kits.

Groceries (brand alternatives for Walmart, Amazon) 

• Hungry Root - Personalized meal plans and groceries
• Imperfect Foods - Delivers "ugly" produce and groceries to reduce food waste.
• Local Harvest - Directory for finding local farmers’ markets and CSAs.
• Thrive Market - Online marketplace for organic, non-GMO groceries delivered sustainably.
• Wild and Wise CSA - Organic teas and medicinal products from locally sourced herbs (CA)
• Missionary Chocolates - Vegan truffles and chocolate treats.
• ButcherBox - Sustainably sourced meat and seafood subscription.
• Wild Pastures - Ethically sourced meat and seafood delivery.

Household Supplies (brand alternatives for Target, Walmart)

• Blueland - Plastic-free cleaning supplies (tablets you mix with water).
• Grove Collaborative - Eco-friendly cleaning and household products.
• Package Free Shop - Zero-waste household essentials.
• Earth Hero - Eco-friendly marketplace for sustainable everyday essentials.
• Public Goods - Minimalist, sustainable toiletries and home goods.

Home Goods (brand alternatives for Wayfair, HomeGoods)

• The Noble Brand - Natural candles and scented products.
• Pure Plant Home - Plant-based coconut wax candles.
• Slow North - Natural candles and home goods.
• The Sill - Houseplants and planters delivered with care guides.
• West Elm - Fair Trade-certified furniture and decor.

Personal Care (brand alternatives for L'Oreal, Revlon, CVS)

• BLK+GRN - Marketplace of natural, non-toxic, Black-owned brands.
• Ethique - Plastic-free shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars.
• Hyssop Beauty Apothecary - Natural skincare and wellness items.
• Good Medicine Beauty Lab - Natural skincare and body care using desert botanicals.
• KOA+ROY - Wellness cubes for sore muscles and inflamation
• LA Salt Co - Sea salt scrubs, bath soaks, and body care.
• Meow Meow Tweet - Eco-friendly skincare and bath products in compostable packaging.
• Ollie Blossom - Eco-friendly bath and wellness products
• Seedbloom - Herbal products for skincare and wellness.
• Simply Earth - Subscription box for essential oils
• Spinster Sisters Co - Plant-based skin, hair, and body care brand
• Unearth Malee - Organic, Thai-inspired bath products.
• URB Apothecary - Small-batch botanical skincare.
• Wildflower Rituals - Herbal bath and body items.
• withSimplicity - Clean beauty and skincare essentials.

Pet Supplies (alternative brands for PetCo, PetSmart)

• The Farmer’s Dog - Fresh, customized dog food delivery.
• Only Natural Pet - Holistic, natural pet supplies made in the US.
• Wild One - Stylish, sustainable leashes, collars, and pet accessories.

Stationery & Office Supplies (alternative brands for Staples, OfficeMax, Target)

• Aya Paper Co. - Eco-friendly greeting cards and stationery.
• Decomposition Books - Recycled notebooks and journals.
• EcoPenClub - Plastic-free pens and stationery.
• Pen + Pillar - Stationery and prints, donations to refugee causes.
• two hermanas - Eco-friendly greeting cards.
  

Shop Small Brand Alternatives

Here I Am is committed to sharing information about small, women-owned brands using sustainable practices and providing safe, effective products. You can find many of these brands in our self-care collections: 

• Plant-Based Skincare
• Clean Bath & Body
• Essential Oil Candles
• Pure Aromatherapy Oils
• Eco-Friendly Journals