This St. Paddy’s Day, the iQ 360 team is going green with our favorite mission-driven, environmentally friendly brands from each hub. These brands are changing their communities with practices and products that combat climate change and enable a more sustainable way of life.
Elemental Excelerator
Honolulu, Hawaii
Why we love this brand
Each year, Elemental Excelerator finds 15–20 companies that best fit its mission to develop climate change solutions. Each company receives up to $1 million in funding to improve systems that impact people’s lives: energy, water, food and agriculture, mobility and the circular economy. Since 2012, Elemental has awarded over $36 million to 99 portfolio companies who are deploying new technologies and ideas that address economic, social and environmental challenges posed by climate change. For a company that’s involved with dozens of other companies, each with differing industries and projects, Elemental Excelerator is able to clearly communicate its values through a strong and cohesive brand.
Photos via Elemental Excelerator's website
Gotham Greens
Brooklyn, New York
Why we love this brand
Gotham Greens is a pioneer in urban indoor agriculture and a leading fresh produce and food company that is on a mission to transform how and where fresh produce is grown.
Founded in 2009, the company opened its first greenhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y. and now operates 500,000 square feet of high-tech greenhouses across five U.S. states. Its brand is thoughtful, innovative and intentional, bringing fresh and sustainable food products closer to an audience of consumers who were hard to reach through traditional farming methods.
Photos via Gotham Greens's website and Instagram
The Zero Market
Aurora, Colorado
Why we love this brand
The Zero Market is on a mission to transform the way people shop by bucking the disposable culture. It offers reusable items like cloth napkins, beeswax food wrap, bento boxes and grocery totes to help consumers reduce their reliance on plastic waste. Customers can BYOB — bring your own bottle — and fill up on natural shampoo, household cleaner and laundry detergent, which is purchased by weight, similar to buying from bulk bins at the grocery store. The Zero Market even offers workshops and consulting services to help individuals and businesses live a zero-waste lifestyle. Its brand is simple, natural and earthy, just like the products it offers.
Photos via The Zero Market’s website and Instagram
Rothy’s
San Francisco, California
Why we love this brand
Rothy’s believes beautiful, sustainable style is the way of the future. Its bags and shoes are carefully crafted with a proprietary blend of marine plastic and Rothy’s signature thread, spun from single-use water bottles. Each product is 3D-knit to shape, which results in far less waste than typical manufacturing. Its vegan and biodegradable shoe boxes are made from 85% post-consumer recycled materials, and Rothy’s works with Carbon Fund to offset the fossil fuels used for shipping each product. Rothy’s communicates its commitment to sustainability at every step — all without compromising on style.
Photos via Rothy’s website and Instagram
Fight Juice
Washington, D.C.
Why we love this brand
Fight Juice was born from a simple idea: to consume less sugar and more vegetables. Working with local farmers, it takes produce from farm to blender to create juices packed with super food vegetables and powerful antioxidants. Fight Juice’s mission extends beyond serving its customers — it wants to serve the community, too. For every juice purchased, the company donates Fight Juice to Washington, D.C. schools to help students get all the nourishment they need.
Photos via Fight Juice's website and Instagram