Megan Schaltegger

While you might not naturally associate consumerism and sustainability together (we’ll admit, the two aren’t typically synonymous), that’s not to say eco-friendly businesses don’t exist. They do! In fact, New York City is crawling with successful brands that actually prioritize the planet beyond the simple rinse, recycle, repeat routine.  Although, you too, should practice sustainability on a larger scale in everyday life, supporting your fave vegan burger joint (like Lekka), or shopping secondhand is an easy way to, you know, not ruin the earth. We all want that. Here are seven green, sustainable NYC businesses you should visit now to keep it green.

New York City is a playground of activity—hence the whole “city that never sleeps” reputation. And while we’re more than fine filling up all that time with Michelin-starred dinners and tableside martinis, there’s more to our city of culture than just good food and drink. But yes, that too.  NYC is home to world-renowned museums, zoos, cultural experiences, wellness centers, and views—the latter of which we recommend enjoying from a rooftop pool deck. Maybe Royalton’s, but more on that below. Those things are just that much more enjoyable when you become a regular. Membership programs allow you to take full advantage of that New York city playground. With that said, here are the best New York City memberships worth investing in this year.

Zero-waste wellness shop and refillery Earth & Me was born with a green-focused goal in mind: “sustainability, quality, and affordability shouldn’t be mutually exclusive,” owner Kayli Kunkel writes on the site. And that’s exactly what she’s accomplished with her Astoria-based shops. Located on Steinway Street and 31st street, both outposts boast an expansive collection of sustainably-made goods. Think bamboo straws, body cream, conditioner, recycled glass pitchers, and even toilet paper. While you can buy pre-packaged goods, with an on-site refillery, Earth & Me encourages customers to bring their old containers and stock up that way. They even have free donated bottles available.

Brooklyn’s La Nature is a shop and refillery aimed at decreasing our ecological footprint. The store, which was started out of owners Hayley and Peter’s NYC apartment during the pandemic, includes household goods, bath & body products, on-the-go essentials (reusable straws, cotton net bags, etc), and gifts. You can visit the IRL store in Park Slope or stock up online. As for how exactly La Nature is helping us decrease that ecological footprint, that’s easy: the store includes zero-waste products and an on-site refillery. Everything is also ethically made, meaning the products were created with the least possible waste and produced in a safe and sustainable environment. 

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to amp up your personal style, look no further than Brooklyn-based shop Zero Waste Daniel. The NYC clothing designer and self-proclaimed “zero-waste lifestyle pioneer” Daniel uses pre-consumer waste sourced directly from the local garment industry and other hard-to-recycle materials. The mission is this: send nothing to landfills. “I don’t make work that hurts people, or oppresses people, that makes someone hate their body or their face, or that pollutes someone’s water,” Zero Waste Daniel writes on the site. “I’m willing to work with what we’ve got, I don’t care how long it takes, I care that you look good. I care that it’s made here, that it’s made fair.” 

On-site laundry is a luxury in New York. But here’s the good news if you’re not part of the privileged few with an actual washer-dryer: Celsious exists. The brand, as seen on The Drew Barrymore Show (NBD), washes every single load at its Williamsburg location with skin-safe and planet-friendly products. It’s a classic wash-dry-fold service—founded by sister duo Theresa and Corinna Williams—and it’s even folded by clothing category and color, making the organization process that much easier. It’s luxury meets sustainability. What more could you want? 

The NYC Fair Trade Coalition aims to bring together like-minded entrepreneurs and activists. The grassroots org offers educational experiences and promotes fair trade businesses and retailers across the city. Its Sustainable Fashion Community Center lets you book a two-hour experience that includes a presentation on the issues in the fashion industry and how to lead a more sustainable life, before you get to shop the swap and pick out 10 new clothing pieces. The presentation fee is a $100 donation, while the clothing swap is just $10 per person.

ICYMI, meat isn’t exactly the most eco-friendly food source (and can actually contribute a lot to your carbon footprint). South African social entrepreneur Andrea Kerzner and Michelin-starred chef Amanda Cohen’s vegan Tribeca hotspot, Lekka Burger, troubleshoots that problem with food that tastes just as good as it is for the planet. “Lekka Burger was created to offer delicious food without a negative carbon footprint in response to a UN report stating that if we continue eating cattle and dairy the food supply on this planet will no longer be sustainable, majorly impacting climate change,” co-founder and CEO Andrea Kerzner told Time Out.

Harvey Leon and Rony Byas opened their Brooklyn boutique (of the same name, Byas & Leon) to bring the community zero-waste, fair-trade clothing. The store not only offers ethically sourced textiles made by independent artists and curated vintage pieces, but a community for creatives as well. The brand offers a philosophical photo walk series, book readings, community meals, and environmentalist education. The pair is not only practicing sustainability through the boutique but using it as a destination for teaching these practices as well. You can shop online or visit the 404 Tomkins Ave, Brooklyn location Friday through Sunday noon to 7pm.