Best of Green Awards 2021: Celebrating the Changemakers in Sustainability
Honoring the visionaries and brands advancing sustainability in the 2021 Best of Green Awards.
Best of Green Awards 2021: The Changemakers
The Treehugger Best of Green Awards 2021 shine a much-needed spotlight on the innovators, activists, businesses, and organizations helping to drive a more sustainable future. Recognizing progress across key areas of everyday life, the annual awards showcase the finest solutions, ethical brands, and inspiring individuals determined to make a difference. From food to fashion, tech to travel, Treehugger’s rigorous selection highlights those at the forefront of eco-friendly change.
About the Best of Green Awards
Every year, Treehugger draws on community nominations, editorial expertise, external recommendations, and rigorous criteria to select leaders advancing sustainability. The Best of Green Awards span diverse categories, featuring both proven solutions and innovative progress, all backed by a commitment to environmental responsibility. The awards panel vets each candidate based on impact, transparency, scalability, and their ability to make green living easy, accessible, and effective.
The Eco-Changemakers: Categories & Winners
This year’s ‘Changemakers’ span a wide range of sectors. Below, we outline the categories, highlight top winners, and explain their key contributions to sustainability.
- Sustainable Living
- Eco-Friendly Home
- Green Beauty & Personal Care
- Conscious Food & Drink
- Technology for Good
- Eco Travel & Transportation
- Innovators in Fashion
- Wildlife & Pet Sustainability
- Changemakers: Individuals and Organizations
Sustainable Living Champions
Treehugger’s awards recognize products, brands, and people making sustainable living more attainable. The winners set standards for efficiency, low-impact materials, and practical solutions for daily life.
- Reusable Alternatives: Companies producing high-quality reusable water bottles, food wraps, and shopping bags stood out for their impact on reducing single-use plastic.
- Zero-Waste Pioneers: Brands offering packaging-free products and bulk options, helping consumers cut household waste.
- DIY & Upcycling Solutions: Kits, guides, and platforms enabling people to repair, reuse, and creatively upcycle everything from furniture to clothing.
Eco-Friendly Home
The home is a key battleground for sustainability. Winners in this category are making it easier to create healthy, low-impact living spaces.
- Non-Toxic Cleaners: Authentic green cleaning brands like Branch Basics and Blueland proved that performance and safety can go hand-in-hand, earning top marks for their plant-based formulas and refill systems.
- Energy-Efficient Appliances: From smart thermostats to low-flow water systems, these products lower household emissions while enhancing comfort.
- Sustainable Decor: Makers of responsibly sourced furnishings and upcycled home goods received praise for aesthetics and circularity.
Green Beauty & Personal Care
Treehugger’s panel spotlighted brands raising standards for personal care: safe ingredients, zero-waste packaging, and responsible sourcing.
- Clean Beauty: Skincare and cosmetics free from harmful chemicals, microplastics, and animal testing led the pack.
- Deodorant & Hygiene: Compostable, refillable, and plastic-free packaging innovations set new benchmarks.
- Sustainable Hair & Body: Solid shampoos, bars, and lotions showcased advances in reducing packaging and water waste.
Conscious Food & Drink
Brands transforming food and drink for the better earned their place among the Changemakers for their diverse approaches to sustainability.
- Plant-Based Provisions: Producers offering tasty, nutritious alternatives to conventional dairy and meat featured prominently, with a focus on sustainable ingredients and ethical sourcing.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Companies prioritizing soil health and biodiversity, using farming methods that restore nature rather than exploit it.
- Zero-Waste Packaging: Edible wrappers, compostable containers, and bulk options for snacks and pantry staples.
What others are reading
Technology for Good
Innovative tech solutions can accelerate sustainability, and this year’s awards highlight breakthroughs in clean energy, digital platforms, and education.
- Solar Gadgets: From phone chargers to camping gear, solar-powered devices made green energy accessible on the go.
- Smart Home Innovations: Products helping people monitor energy use, water consumption, and indoor air quality.
- Eco-Education Platforms: Apps and websites making it easy to learn about sustainability, track carbon footprints, and make informed choices.
Eco Travel & Transportation
Travel, commuting, and exploring the outdoors are being revolutionized by eco-smart design and alternative transportation.
- Electric Vehicles & Bikes: Advances from companies making electric transportation more affordable and accessible.
- Low-Impact Luggage: Bags and accessories crafted from recycled materials and designed to last.
- Adventure Gear: Sustainable outdoor equipment, from refillable water filters to compact solar cookers.
Innovators in Fashion
Fashion’s environmental impact is huge; these winners are flipping the industry script with transparency, circularity, and responsible design.
- Upcycled Garments: Labels transforming textile waste and scraps into stylish, unique pieces.
- Transparency Leaders: Brands sharing full supply chain details, material provenance, and labor standards openly.
- Vegan & Cruelty-Free: Footwear, accessories, and apparel using no animal products or harmful chemicals.
Wildlife & Pet Sustainability
Treehugger partners with experts in pet care to select the best eco-friendly products and practices for companion animals.
- Molly Mutt Beds: Eco pet beds made from upcycled textiles, minimizing landfill waste and supporting animal comfort.
- Natural Pet Foods: Brands using organic, local ingredients for pet nutrition to minimize carbon footprints.
- Plastic-Free Toys: Durable toys made from natural or recycled materials, designed for safe chewing and play.
Changemakers: Individuals and Organizations
Treehugger’s awards also honor those taking bold action on the front lines.
- Grassroots Leaders: Activists and community organizers influencing policy and lifestyle change at the neighborhood level.
- NGOs & Nonprofits: Multi-sector organizations leveraging science, advocacy, and education to fight pollution, social injustice, and habitat loss.
- Corporate Trailblazers: Businesses integrating sustainability into their mission, supply chain, and community outreach.
Selection Criteria & Judging Process
A transparent, multi-step process ensures only the most impactful entities are recognized. Candidates are vetted for:
- Materials: Low-impact, recycled, or responsibly sourced
- Manufacture: Fair labor, resource efficiency, non-toxic processes
- End-of-Life: Recyclability, upcyclability, return programs
- Emissions: Reduced carbon footprint in operations and delivery
- Social Responsibility: Commitment to climate goals and community activism
Table: 2021 Top Changemaker Innovations
| Category | Winner/Example | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Sustainability | Molly Mutt | Reduces landfill waste via upcycled pet beds |
| Eco Decor | Bitti Gitti Wooden Sound System | No power required, made with non-toxic birch wood |
| Home Cleaning | Branch Basics, Blueland | Easy refill systems, non-toxic formulas |
| Green Beauty | Package-free shampoo bars | Eliminates plastic bottles, clean ingredients |
| Sustainable Fashion | Upcycled denim jackets | Circular design, waste reduction |
Why These Changemakers Matter
Award recipients are not mere flashes in the pan; they embody a paradigm shift. Their influence extends beyond sales—they inspire change, provoke conversation, and set new benchmarks for impact. With priorities shifting globally toward sustainability, these Changemakers provide hope, guidance, and practical paths for individuals, families, and institutions to reduce environmental footprints.
Expert Voices & Community Input
The selection process is enriched by insights from scientists, designers, policy experts, and everyday consumers. Treehugger’s Best of Green Awards leverage diversity and broad expertise:
- Consumer nominations and testimonials
- Professional panel reviews
- Field-testing and hands-on feedback
- Long-term sustainability metrics
A collaborative approach ensures integrity, transparency, and relevance in an ever-evolving landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes a Changemaker award winner?
Winners are selected for their proven impact in making sustainability mainstream—covering product innovation, business ethics, social responsibility, and measurable environmental benefit.
How can individuals support Changemakers?
Consumers can support Changemakers by choosing their products, sharing their stories, and adopting the sustainable alternatives they provide—thus helping drive demand for responsible innovation.
Is there a way to nominate a brand or person for future awards?
Treehugger invites nominations from its readers and expert community. Details on future submissions are available on their website during the annual awards period.
Are the products listed affordable and accessible?
The awards prioritize products and solutions known for practical accessibility, though availability and pricing vary. Many options are competitively priced against conventional alternatives, with long-term savings on offer due to durability and resource efficiency.
Do these awards include global companies or only U.S. brands?
Treehugger’s awards spotlight both domestic and international brands, ensuring a diverse, global representation of sustainability leaders.
Get Involved: Join the Changemakers Movement
Sustainability hinges on collective action. The companies, products, and individuals honored by Treehugger prove that meaningful change is possible, accessible, and rewarding. To support the movement:
- Follow and share stories of award winners
- Make conscious purchasing decisions
- Participate in advocacy and community sustainability initiatives
Treehugger’s Best of Green Awards 2021 stand as a guide for anyone eager to live ethically, invest responsibly, and influence a fairer, cleaner world for generations to come.
References
- https://www.mollymutt.eu/blog/best-of-green-pets-2021/
- https://amagansettseasalt.com/the-buzz/in-the-news/treehugger
- https://www.bitti-gitti.com/news/best-of-green-awards-2021
- https://onefinehouse.wordpress.com/2021/04/29/green-cleaning-awards-2021/
- https://www.acquisition-international.com/winners-list/?award=101239-2021
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