10 Sustainable LGBTQ+ Businesses to Support in 2023

Alder New York

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Alder New York is a Queer and woman-owned clean beauty brand. The company makes vegan skincare for all ages and genders, and uses clean ingredients according to Environmental Work Group and E.U. standards. The products are packaged with recycled materials, and made in the United States.

Boy Smells Park Life

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A relaxing candle is a welcome reprieve after a long day, and the Park Life candle by Boy Smells incorporates the scents of summer in the great outdoors. Made with recyclable, responsibly sourced ingredients like basil, fig, sage, sandalwood, and spices, this handmade candle will create calming ambience in the home. The 8.5-ounce candle comes in a small glass tumbler, and is made from natural coconut and beeswax (with a cotton wick) and has a burn time of around 50 hours.

Boy Smells began in 2016 as a small operation in a Los Angeles kitchen by co-founders and real-life partners Matthew Herman and David Kien. The company now has more than 16 original scents, as well as cologne fragrances, and a collection of naturally-dyed undergarments for all genders and sizes.

Price at time of publish: $46

Ladyfingers Letterpress Greeting Cards

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If you’ve ever spent time in a greeting card aisle and settled on a card that didn’t quite say what you wanted it to, Lady Fingers Letter Press is worth checking out. The company specializes in custom-made stationary, rubber stamps, and invitations. But it also offers a wide range of unique greeting cards that are funny, genuine, and heartfelt, plus many address modern-day events that can be difficult to find in other stores (like same-sex wedding invitations).

Our personal favorite: this graduation card that reads “Don’t forget about me when your startup goes public.” LGBTQ+ owned-and-operated, many stationary gifts and other items are made by hand, locally, and sustainably. When items are not made in the shop, the owners work with other environmentally-friendly businesses.

Tomboyx Apparel

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The queer-owned, Tomboyx made a name for itself selling gender-neutral undergarments, but the brand is also making a splash with its apparel and accessories. Many of the garments use sustainable fabrics, like OEKO-TEX certified cotton and Tencel.

Tomboyx uses sustainable sourcing whenever possible, follows best labor practices, and takes measures to reduce waste. Items are packaged in recyclable cardboard and reusable, biodegradable product bags. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Tomboyx donates at least 1% of annual sales to grassroots, Earth-conscious nonprofit partners.

Otherwild

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Otherwild is a queer-identified, woman-owned store that sells an array of zero-waste products, artisan jewelry, clothing, houseware goods, and natural cleaners. Founded in 2012, the shop has a physical location in L.A. We love the colorful Swedish dish towels, pretty reusable food wraps, and handy zero-waste kits.

Arium Botanicals

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Houseplants are trending right now, and Arium Botanicals makes it easy to get started without having to leave your home. Specializing in various species of houseplants (including some harder-to-find plants), the Portland-based shop also sells handmade ceramics from local artists.

If you’re just getting started, Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum N’Joy) is one of the easiest to care for, but the shop also has numerous types of Calathea, a beautiful choice for urban gardens. The plants are ethically sourced from certified U.S. nurseries and packaged in recyclable or biodegradable materials. Arium Bortanicals is a queer, Latinx, and vegan-owned business that supports environmental sustainability efforts.

Arcane Swim

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If you’re shopping for a that new summer swimsuit, queer-owned Arcane Swim offers gorgeous bikinis and one-piece swimsuits, plus vintage and second-hand clothing. The company prioritizes sustainable efforts in its business model, from using eco-products in new clothing to donating extra fabrics to animal shelters in need.

The swimsuits are stylish, eco-friendly, and comfortable, and created by a small group of Brazilian artisan women using Amni Soul Eco, the world’s first biodegradable nylon fabric (that’s Oeko-Tex 100 certified). In addition, the company plants a tree for every item purchased, uses carbon-neutral shipping and compostable mailers.

Wildfang Clothing

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Known for fashionable gender-neutral clothing, Wildfang has established itself by using classic “men’s styles,” and adjusting them to fit women’s sizes and shapes – and by adding their own unique design elements, like the Essential Coveralls. In fact, the company partnered with Nordstrom to release a new, gender-fluid collection.

In addition to supporting multiple charitable organizations, the company follows several sustainable efforts. Wildfang partners with factories that are SA8000-certified (for social accountability practices and humane working conditions), and they also meet standards for energy and water conservation and wastewater management. The store uses recyclable mailers and has removed unnecessary product packaging.

Noto Skincare

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Take pride in your skincare with Noto Botanics’ all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skin products. Hand made in small batches, Noto’s bottles are glass or post-consumer recycled plastics, and are packaged in biodegradable materials. Charity-focused, and queer-owned, Noto’s products provide an immediate glow to your skin – and they smell fantastic.

No detail is spared in making these beauty products, with some items – like the resurface scrub – containing more than 25 natural ingredients. The essentials bag has it all, including the resurface scrub to exfoliate, the wash for a gentle surface and body cleans, and the deep serum to hydrate – all in a reusable cotton tote.

Price at time of publish: $99