From dietary supplements to insect repellents, the world of personal care products is a maze to navigate when your priorities include sustainability. Fortunately, the health and wellness world has also proven to be incredibly responsive to consumer changes in attitude, with companies increasingly prioritizing transparency and responsibility. Many of these companies market their products to outdoor enthusiasts. We use the products from the five brands below with confidence in their sustainability credentials and, importantly, effectiveness in the field. These brands stand out for those of us who love the outdoors.

Burt's Bees

Product Type: Self-Care Skin Care Essentials
2022 Impact Report

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Burt's Bees is all about natural personal care products that emphasize sustainability, responsible sourcing and eco-friendly packaging. As they like to say, Burt's Bees makes it easy to cut waste from your routine. Examples of this include:

• Since 2021, Burt's Bees facilities are powered by renewable electricity through a virtual power purchase agreement to put solar on the grid in Texas.

• 83% of Burt's Bees packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable or designed for recycling

• Lip balm is made from 95% natural products like beeswax, aloe and Shea butter.

• Burt's Bee's products are not tested on animals.

• Burt's Bees lip balm tubes are made with 70% recycled and plant plastics. The tube itself is also recyclable.

• Lip balm aren’t shrink-wrapped; instead, they have a slightly longer label that prevents tampering.

• Their towelettes are made from repurposed cotton tees, and the package has a sticker rather than a plastic closure.

• Burt's Bees uses TerraCycle to help consumers recycle. Simply request a free mailing label and TerraCycle takes care of the rest.

How we use Burt's Bees: The original beeswax lip balm is our go-to for lip protection and hydration. The mini stick is particularly great for keeping in our backpacking gear.

Dr. Bronner's

Product Type: Vegan & cruelty-free products for your home, body & hair.
2023 Impact Report

With a whopping 206.7 total B-Corp score, Dr. Bronner's has the certifiable goods. To put this record score into perspective, the median score for a business is 50.9. To further put this into perspective, the most deservedly celebrated of sustainable outdoor brands, Patagonia, has a score of 166. How does Dr. Bronner's set itself apart when compared to even the world's most vaunted sustainable companies? To put it simply, there isa no company that has more fully integrated sustainability into literally every component of its business than Dr. Bronner's, and they have been that way since their inception in the 1940s. The mission of the company was and remains - 'We are All One or None!" In fact their sustainability credentials are so numerous, we don't even know where to begin here. But here's a start:

• Dr. Bronner's provides 100% free health care for employees and their families, has a 5 to 1 cap on executive salaries, and provides yearly bonus of up to 10% of salary for full-time employees

• The company pays farmers fair and stable prices that cover production costs and guarantee a profit, protecting farmers from volatile global markets.

• Dr. Bronner's implements crop diversity, organic agriculture (no synthetic inputs or pesticides) and other soil fertility measures (use of mulch, compost) for healthy, productive soil.

• Dr. Bronner's products are fair trade, organic and maintain a laundry list of sustainable certifications.

• Dr. Bronner's uses 100% PET plastic bottles and offers cardboard packaging alternatives for most of their products.

How we use Dr. Bronner's: We use the unscented, pure-castile liquid soap for a huge number of things around the house and at camp. We use it to make cleaning solutions for windows, countertops and floors. We also use it for soap for dishes at camp and for our bodies. Bonus points for purchasing the refill in sustainable packaging!

Murphy's Naturals

Product Type: DEET-free mosquito repellents
Impact/Sustainability Report

Insect repellents do not have a good reputation for sustainability, health and wellness. Murphy's Naturals, on the other hand, have a well-earned reputation for not only being healthy and safe but also for actually working when the mosquitoes are at their worst. Focusing on a "triple bottom line," this B-Corp makes decisions based on evaluating financial impacts, while also weighing the impact on people and the environment.

• Murphy's does not use dyes, synthetic ingredients, or fillers in its repellents.

• 2% of revenues goes to philanthropic causes and are a member of 1% for the Planet.

• Company employees logged almost 500 ours of volunteer service (2022).

• The company is "plastic neutral," meaning that for one pound of plastic produced, that same amount of plastic will be collected from the environment.

• Repellent ingredients are oil of lemon eucalyptus, water and corn ethanol

How we use Murphy's Naturals: We don't hike or camp without the lemon eucalyptus oil insect repellent spray. We have large and small bottles to make sure we never get caught in a swarm without it!

Tom's of Maine

Product Type: Natural personal care products
2023 Impact Report

Tom's mission is simply - "do good, for real." This ethos is clearly evident in their products and daily operations, as Tom's products are made from naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients and never tested on animals. Climates, plastics, packaging and waste are the company's core Sustainability priorities, including a goal to be 100% renewable energy by next year (2025) and to have 100% sustainably sourced materials by 2030.

• Tom's of Maine has supported hundreds of nonprofits by giving back 10% of its profits, and employees are encouraged to use 5% of their paid time (12 days) volunteering for causes they are passionate about.

• Most products are vegan, kosher, halal-certified and gluten-free. All packaging is recyclable through a partnership with upcycling leader TerraCycle or participating municipalities.

• Tom's newest deodorant barrel is 100% recycled.

• Tom's just launched an incubator to help environmental entrepreneurs in underrepresented communities find funding.

• Products have no artificial flavor, fragrances, colors, sweeteners, preservatives, or animal ingredients.

Nature's Life

Product Type: Dietary Supplements
Impact Report

Nature's Life believes that even dietary deficiencies can often be traced back to depleted soils. The company seeks to replenish nutritional gaps without taking away from the health of the earth. They are VERY focused on quality for their dietary supplements, turning away 90% of new raw ingredients and triple-testing every product in a Utah-facility that is 455 GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) Certified.

• Nature's Life lab is ISO 17025:2017 Certified, which means it meets an internationally recognized high standard set for testing and calibration laboratories.

• Nature's life is a member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of sales to conservation groups.