Sustainability is the future. From travel and name-brands to agriculture and food, we are seeing organizations from all sectors focused on the goal of maintaining a sustainable future. Here are a few sustainable food brands and their commitment to a greener future.

(This post is written by Cheerful Choices contributor, Katie Erickson.)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own; I never feature a brand that I don’t love! See my disclosure policy for more details.

Why is sustainability important?

For the sake of the planet and all living life it holds, it is our duty to ensure a healthy environment for future generations and the plants and animals that we share this beautiful place we call home. For our species, there are a number of ways we can minimize our energy usage and reduce our carbon footprint, including our most valuable need: what we eat. 

Check out these 13 sustainable kitchen tips too!

B Corp brands

Locating foods and food brands who share this desire for our world can often be difficult. Luckily in 2006, 3 friends recognized this same vision and started a movement. B Corporation, or Benefit Corporation, is a nonprofit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.

Over 7,000 companies in 91 countries are a part of it. To bear the B-Certified Stamp, they undergo rigorous tests of performance, accountability, and transparency based on factors like employee benefits and charitable donations. They are tested every 3 years and pay a yearly certification fee to maintain their social and environmental impact status.

Other eco labels

• Fair Trade Certified – Fair Trade Certified is an award-winning sustainable sourcing model aimed at improving lives while protecting the planet. Like B-Corp Certified companies, Fair Trade Certified companies undergo rigorous testing to meet the company’s standards while protecting the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, and other producers, and environmental health at the core of its focus. (explain in 1-2 sentences)
• Certified Humane – This registered nonprofit certification organization is dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals in food production. The Certified Humane organization does this by expanding consumer awareness that drives the demand for kinder and more responsible farming practices. 
• Food Alliance Certified – Food Alliance is another nonprofit organization that offers a whole system certification to address safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and environmental stewardship for farmers, ranchers, and the food and beverage industries. 
• USDA Organic – This popular certification operation connects already certified companies and those looking to become certified to programs, services, and educational materials that help organic farms and businesses. With climate change and food security at the center of this organization, USDA Organic aims to ensure climate solutions are a top priority and that access to healthy foods promote well-being in an equitable way.  
• Marine Stewardship Council – The Marine Stewardship Council has a mission to end overfishing and ensure seafood is sustainably caught. This organization recognizes the importance of fish and seafood in maintaining food security, so look for brands with the sea green label. 

Examples of sustainable food brands

Here are some brands and products you may already know and love. Their sustainable practices help have a minimal impact on the environment and optimal impact on employees, customers, and business. 

Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs

Eggs are one of the most commonly recognized nutritious foods across the globe. In fact, packed inside the shell of one large egg are 6 grams of protein and important vitamins like B12, B2, vitamin-D, and the vitamin-like compound choline. They also contain minerals such as selenium and iron, all of which play a role in bone health, immunity, cell growth, and more. 

Pete and Gerry’s was B-certified in 2013 with the mission of partnering with family-owned farms to set the new standard of farming practices and animal care. Not only B-certified, this brand also bears the stamps of Certified Humane, USDA Certified Organic, and 1% for the Planet.

Try using eggs in recipes like one pan frittatas and homemade protein bistro boxes.

Ben & Jerry’s

As a dietitian, I’m all about balance–and that includes satisfying a sweet tooth! Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream aims to support positive change through thoughtful ingredients, activism, and by supporting important causes they feel strongly about. 

B-Certified since 2012, Ben & Jerry’s is sure to sweeten your summer while also helping farmers, animals, and the environment thrive. 

Once Upon a Farm

Finding foods your little ones enjoy is no easy feat, let alone locating those that are tasty and nutritious. Thankfully, you can look no further – certified since 2017, Once Upon a Farm uses high-pressure pasteurization that locks in the nutrients and flavors of farm-fresh ingredients into craveable, organic snacks and meals for children of all ages. With varieties like Cauliflower Fields, Oats & Roots, and Ancient Grains & Greens, all fruit and veggie blends are organic, non-GMO, and contain no added sugar, preservatives, or other additives.

Once Upon a Farm strives to be a purpose-led company that uses quality standards to test their ingredients for 400+ environmental and industrial toxins, including heavy metals. You can find this brand at a number of retail stores oreven build your own subscription online.

Drizzle Honey

Drizzle Honey was B-Certified in 2019 and is also a Certified Women-Owned and Operated company. They aim to provide safe habitats for bees to build their homes. The northern wildflower fields of Alberta offer bees access to a variety of pollen and nectar-rich food sources–including the clover that Drizzle Honey is known for.

Drizzle Honey also donates to pollinator research and educates its customers on the importance of pollinators. They continue to partner with local beekeepers to maintain control of the quality and safety of their honey while reducing their carbon footprint.

They have fun flavors like Cinnamon Spiced, Cacao Luxe, Turmeric Gold, and Berry Bliss! Try drizzling honey over sheet pan pancakes or blend into a smoothie bowl.

Purely Elizabeth

Just like Hippocrates felt that food is thy medicine and medicine is thy food, Purely Elizabeth believes that food can heal, and when you eat better, you feel better. That’s why Elizabeth Stein set out 15 years ago and created delicious and wholesome products that don’t sacrifice between nutritious ingredients and culinary taste. From her array of granolas and oatmeals to her cereals and cookbooks, Purely Elizabeth uses sustainability to thrive. 

B-Certified in 2015, Purely Elizabeth understands we cannot continue to ignore the impact that scaling food products has on the health of the planet. To make this impact a positive one, the family at Purely Elizabeth supports farmers that are transitioning from traditional farming to regenerative agriculture practices. These methods work to restore soil health and broken ecosystems to help replenish the earth. You can find Purely Elizabeth products online  or in your local grocery store.

Vermont Creamery

There’s nothing like a good cheese spread. Always ready for a summer picnic, football Sunday get together, or a BBQ at the neighbor’s house. Cheese not only ignites the taste buds, it also brings people together. Specializing in fresh goat cheese, aged cheese, culinary creams, and cultured butter, Vermont Creamery has been crafting these outstanding products for over 35 years.

B-Certified in 2014, Vermont Creamery has worked on perfecting every single detail of what they make. They also believe in their mission to spend energy on ensuring their business makes a positive impact on their employees, customers, farmers, communities, and their friends. They have a variety of fun goat cheese flavors like Wild Blueberry, Lemon & Thyme, Strawberry Spritz, and Chocolate & Cherry. They also haveaged cheeses like St. Albans and Coupole. Try adding their cheeses to a themed board like a valentine’s charcuterie board or a fall charcuterie board.

Alter Eco

Mhmm, chocolate! The treat that accompanies every mood and occasion. Alter Eco is a chocolate-centric food company that cultivates their product through regenerative agriculture and carbon sequestration. oth of these practices aim to reverse climate change and manage air carbon dioxide concentrations by capturing excess carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in healthy soil.. 

Alter Eco was B-Certified in 2009 and understands how climate change impacts all life on Earth. The company’s mission is to offset disproportionately affected marginalized communities, who are threatened with food insecurity, a lack of a clean water supply, biodiversity, and so much more. Alter Eco uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports–a 1988 established intergovernmental body of the United Nations who advances scientific knowledge on climate change–to guide them on their business practices. 

From Chocolate Nut Butter Bombs to Raspberry Blackout chocolate bars, –all products are Certified Organic and readily available at stores and online.

Danone

When you think of yogurt, you might also think of Danone, the maker of some of our favorite brands like Activa, Oikos, Silk, Evian, and Horizon Organic. Danone is established in countries all over the world including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, and B-Certified in each of them as well.In North America, Danone was B-Certified in 2018. 

Danone puts high expectations on their products and expresses a mission of repairing the global food system with a more sustainable path moving forward. They believe this requires joining other like-minded companies to work towards social and environmental good for all. 

Quinn Snacks

Quinn creates environmentally conscious and transparently sourced snack foods, such as popcorn and pretzels. They recently became certified as a B Corporation in 2023. This certification reflects Quinn’s longstanding commitment to sustainable agriculture, ingredient transparency, and the elimination of synthetics and chemicals from the food system, aligning with their efforts to positively impact workers, customers, communities, and the environment.

Others we love

Here are a few others we applaud for their dedication to sustainability. While they may not possess a B-Certification, they remain steadfast in their commitment to sustainable practices.

• Clif Bar – energy-sustaining bars
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) – sustainably produced seafood
• NOW Foods – powders and supplements
• Maple Hill Creamery – grass-fed milk, yogurt, and kefir
• Teton Waters Ranch – grass-fed and certified humane beef
• Lotus Sustainables – reusable produce and tote bags for shopping
• Richards Rainwater – clean caught water from the sky
• Mushroom Council – mushrooms require very little land, water, or energy to grow
• Pacific Coast Producers – canned foods with aluminum cans that are forever recyclable

Have thoughts on other sustainable brands you think should be featured in this guide? Use the contact form to let us know!

Final Thoughts

With dozens of other food brands, as well as thousands of other varying sustainable products, check out who else is B-Certified here. From mattresses and shoes, to clothing and food, you’re sure to find brands you’re excited to try or those you already buy. 

It’s exciting when you discover products all over your home you already support. You’ll feel like you belong to a community fighting for a common goal. And don’t forget about those other sustainable certification organizations mentioned earlier. They too have designed a set of standards companies can follow to honor their commitment to sustainability for all. Sustainability for people, business, and most importantly… the little blue planet we all call home.

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