Buying from companies that support the planet and humanity

My new Patagonia hat

This past year I've thought more about the companies I buy products from. I try to research companies before I buy anything to check whether they support humanity and the planet in some way. I'll admit that I don't do this for every purchase, but I do try to check this as much as I can.

Why did I start doing this? I would say it has to do with my practice of meditation and my research into spirituality. It brought me to a realization that our actions matter and have an impact. We are all connected in a web of life. I changed and evolved the last couple years. Through this evolution I started to care about the planet and all of humanity at a deeper level. Also, in the beginning of 2026, I did quite a bit research on climate change which inspired me further on this topic.

I recently needed to buy new running pants. Instead of searching on Amazon based on reviews, which is what I used to do, I searched online for companies that are sustainable and ethical. I ended up buying pants from companies, Pact and Patagonia.

The Pact website says the following (link here):

• Organic Certified: Our gentle on skin promise means clothes that are free from toxic dyes, harsh chemicals and PFAs.

• Fair Trade: Trade supports safe working conditions, fair wages, and meaningful community investment — independently verified at every stage. Made with care for the people behind every piece.

• Simpli Zero: We measure the impact of every Pact product and offset this through reforestation, renewable energy, and community projects that sequester carbon from the atmosphere. That means more wear, less waste and zero net carbon emissions when you purchase a garment from us.

Patagonia has a lot of information about their activism for the planet but below are a few quotes from their website (link here):

• "We give our profits to the planet: Earth is now our only shareholder.

  If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do."

• "More recently, in 2018, we changed the company’s purpose to: We’re in business to save our home planet."

• You can also find an episode with the Patagonia CEO on the podcast, What if we get it right? speaking about their business model and mission: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/earth-is-our-only-shareholder-with-patagonia-ceo-ryan/id1773809532?i=1000741039106

It's not just clothes, I also think about the food I buy now. Below are a few examples of the products I buy frequently that support the planet and humanity:

A can of Steaz ice tea says Regenerative Organic Certified on the can. This is what their website says, "Being Regenerative Organic Certified® means going beyond 'doing less harm'. It’s about creating a net-positive impact on the planet — rebuilding soil health, restoring biodiversity, and ensuring every person in the process thrives."

Lundberg rice is also Regenerative Organic Certified. Their website says the following: "Lundberg Family Farms was founded on the belief of leaving the land better than you found it. This belief originated on the farm and helped us become a leader in organic farming. Over time, this belief has been integrated into all operations and is written into every job description."

Animal Welfare Certified chicken. The Pine Manor Farms chicken website says the following: "Pine Manor chickens are under careful watch from the time the egg hatches until they arrive at the store. They are raised without antibiotics and are fed an all-vegetable feed that doesn’t include any animal by-products."

Organic fruits and vegetables that don't have synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered ingredients.

So yea, I end up spending more at the grocery store. We all have to make decisions and this is important to me. I realize not everyone has access to organic, healthy, fresh food and that is not acceptable. Everyone should have access to healthy food, everyone. I have gratitude for the clean food available for me to eat. I'm also buying this food to support a cleaner, pesticide-free planet and companies that want to support the planet and humanity. It's not just about what I'm consuming, it's also what I stand for.

I don't want anyone to think I'm sanctimonious here. I'm just trying to do the right thing and I think we should talk about that more. What do we want for our future on this planet? I think we should support these companies that are also trying to do the right thing. I never write blog posts to guilt or shame. Everyone has free will to do what is best for them. I'm sharing this to expand minds and provide my thoughts and perspective.

I want to conclude this blog post by asking some questions, why aren't all companies required to support humanity and the planet? Why aren't all companies required to create a net-positive impact? For every tree a company cuts down for their product, shouldn't they regrow two more? Why doesn't the government spend more on new farming inventions like vertical farming? Shouldn't this conversation be on the news everyday?

Today is Earth Day and my final question is, why do we need a day to remember that we are stewards of this beautiful planet, shouldn't everyday be Earth Day?