From fashion to beauty, sustainable marketplaces catering to the conscious consumer are the way forward for e-commerce.
When it comes to shopping in 2021, e-commerce is our mainstay. From daily necessities, beauty brands to luxury buys, everything is ordered in as we stay in. While it’s great for commerce, the environmental impact extends to transport emission, digital storage, and packaging. Which is why a regular reality check on the contents of your cart is a must-do.
After all, according to a study by research firm Nielsen, over 70% of global consumers are willing to change their patterns to reduce the impact on the environment. If you fall into this category and are looking for earth-friendly alternatives to your consumer needs, then sustainable marketplaces are your next spot. These e-commerce websites are not simply promoting products under the umbrella of sustainability but also talking about habits, practices, and ways you can give back to the earth. If you’re looking to jump on the eco-conscious bandwagon, then these sustainable marketplaces are for you.
Sustainable marketplaces in India —
BrownLiving
What: One of our biggest pet peeve when it comes to e-commerce deliveries is the excess and unnecessary plastic packaging it comes with. Tackling this issue head-on is BrownLiving, a plastic-free marketplace that uses paper wrapping, water-activated paper tape, and plant-based starch glue.
Why: Launched in 2019 by earth advocate Chaitsi Ahuja, Brown Living has come into the spotlight recently because of its association with environmentalist and film producer Pragya Kapoor. “All of us have a role to play in conserving the earth, and I believe we must make sustainable and kinder choices every day,” shares Pragya about her tie-up. On a mission to make sustainable products accessible, the website is home to a wide range of vegan, zero-waste items.
Buy: We love the eco-kits and hampers they have on offer for gifting. Beej’s Legend Hamper for men (Rs 7,500) contains handcrafted FSC certified cork pieces — wallet, passport sleeve, reversible belt, and card case.
Vanity Wagon
What: If you’re slowly becoming a clean beauty convert, then the host of homegrown sustainable options on the beauty marketplace, Vanity Wagon is sure to please you.
Why: With over 100 brands, Vanity Wagon is basically opening up our eyes to the world of clean beauty. Founded by husband-wife duo, Prateek and Naina Ruhail, the platform’s prime focus is bringing together cruelty-free, toxin-free, natural beauty products with proper certifications on board.
Buy: One of the natural skincare brands we tried and discovered here is Arata that is vegan, chemical-free, and uses organic ingredients. For their ec0-friendly packaging, they use 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles and food-grade ink, and their face serum gel left our skin rather soft and supple.
Upcycleluxe
What: A slow fashion-tech luxury platform that vets the brands to ensure that they are not only sustainable but is free from child labour, follows fair living wages and treats the workforce with respect.
Why: A luxury marketplace with a rigorous vetting process, Upcycleluxe is founded by Harshita Chandra. Before onboarding a brand they check on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) followed certifications and the positive impact they have.
Buy: With a host of niche, sustainable brands on board, it’s difficult to choose one. Cross a Line by Vaishale Mittal works with Khadi denim, handloom denim and silk denim, and the Deborah skirt (Rs 9,600) in chestnut handloom denim is an absolute dream.
OneGreen
What: One of Asia’s largest sustainable marketplaces, OneGreen is basically a depository of green items for everything you could require.
Why: Finding the right alternative can be a struggle and OneGreen aims to bring all sustainable options under one umbrella to solve that. From baby clothes to beauty, home decor to personal hygiene, this is a great place for your daily essentials if you’re looking to find a homegrown alternative to Amazon.
Buy: Spread happiness with a zero-waste gift bundle from Bare Necessities that contains a coffee body scrub, bath salt, lip balm, spa bars for the ultimate relaxation.
Shuffling Suitcases
What: Shuffling Suitcases believe that ‘sustainability is for everybody’ and are trying to drive people to live a slow life by giving them fashion & lifestyle alternatives, through our consciously curated sustainable pop-ups all over the world, workshops, slow discussions and community building exercises.
Why: An online market place with 100 + sustainable brands was launched by Devyani Kapoor, as India’s first sustainable platform for homegrown ethical brands to connect with their TG as well as to bring the artisans at the forefront of the chain rather than at the end of the chain.
Buy: With 100 + sustainable brands, it is difficult to choose. Their Fauji Saree (Rs 21,500) is perfect for this festive season.
Cica India
What: Pronounced as Sikka, they bring forth homegrown brands that blend design, nature and the country’s crafts. Each of the products are crafted through a series of responsible practices to reduce the environmental impact and bring forth the crafts with each product.
Why: Their philosophy remains rooted to working with brands that are constantly evolving with times and working on being better versions of themselves. The platform is built on 3 core values: Made in India, Ethical and Single-Use Plastic Free.
Buy: This Diwali, gift your loved ones this unique gift of ceramic incense holder from Nature Therapy.
Akshita Nahar Jain
Sr Associate Editor
Akshita Nahar Jain has worked with various publications, including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar Bride, and Time Out Delhi, and written extensively on fashion and lifestyle. A sucker for alliteration and stylish sitcoms, she enjoys scrolling the web for less travelled destinations.
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