Sustainability

Sustainability has been a hot topic in recent years, and brands are taking steps in the right direction by making a commitment to decrease their carbon footprint or protect the environment. In celebration of this year’s Earth Day, Unreserved applauds these businesses that are rising to the occasion, making responsible choices that are not only in their businesses’ best interests. 

Mattel

There’s no better way to shape the future of the world than through children. Mattel’s Matchbox believes in the power of play as a vehicle to help children around the world to explore the world around them. By promoting green technologies and behaviours, the brand is steering kids toward a more sustainable future. 

The product assortment features not only electric and hybrid vehicles, but they take it a step further with the representation of eco-conscious lifestyle. The Matchbox Recycling Truck and the recent Matchbox Action Drivers™ Fuel Station (which includes an EV charging station!) are testaments to the toy brand’s commitment to green initiatives. 

In an Instagram post, Mattel breaks down the life cycle of a Matchbox toy and outlines the strives the business is taking to further reduce their carbon emissions. 

 

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Estée Lauder Companies

The industry titan Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (ELC) has joined Global Shea Alliance (GSA). The Alliance has long been advocating for improving the livelihoods of rural African women (who are the collectors and processors of the resource) and their communities while simultaneously developing a sustainable shea industry. ELC’s membership commemorates the company’s commitment to protecting shea parklands as well. 

 

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The giant formulates an assortment of skincare, makeup and hair care products across its portfolio. In these categories, shea is ever-present and is used for its softening and moisturising properties. Fans of the brands such as Bobbi Brown, Aveda and La Mer can rejoice in the fact that for every item that you purchase from ELC, somewhere in the world, a woman is getting fairly compensated for her hard work and the source of a favourite ingredient is being safeguarded as it should. 

Per GSA’s website, this partnership means that ELC agrees to respect GSA’s sustainability guidelines, implementation criteria, and work streams. ELC also consents to submit a draft plan and annual report to GSA on their policies, practices, and activities pertaining to the guidelines and work stream. 

Ferrari 

For a super car that is known for being petrol thirsty, Ferrari is shifting its gear—its green lights all the way for its new sports car.

Last Thursday, whilst at the company’s annual general meeting, chairperson and interim CEO John Elkann said: “We are very excited about our first all-electric Ferrari that we plan to unveil in 2025 and you can be sure this will be everything you dream the engineers and designers at Maranello can imagine for such a landmark in our history.” 

The announcement contradicts former CEO Louis Camilleri’s statement, where he claimed that the company would never go fully electric, let alone have a 50 percent battery-powered model in his lifetime. 

No further information on the said EV has been provided as of now, but the news alone is enough to excite automotive enthusiasts everywhere. 

Everyday Humans

Industry leaders such as ELC aren’t the only ones making moves toward a more sustainable front. Indie sun protection brand Everyday Humans is in on the plan as well. Founded by Hong Kong-born Charlotte C. Pienaar, the brand suits up its cult-favourite sunscreen formula in post-consumer recycled plastic. Even the pump is recyclable, which is not the case for many packaging with the ‘Recycle Me!’ stickers. Another product in its lineup, the No Problemo Pre & Post-Sun Water is bottled in 100 percent biodegradable PET. 

The formulations are also planet-friendly, with active ingredients that are reef-safe. During a virtual media event, the founder addressed the question of product refills. “With sunscreen, it’s really hard for us to do refillables as you can’t really pump the formula. The protection can actually degrade over time if dispensed that way. So the best option for us is to use recycled plastics.”