Sustainability

Activewear is the holy grail of the wardrobe. 

Cue the Macklemore flashbacks. It's clear that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome. Especially in Auckland, with the best op shops per capita, so we say. 

While Ruapehu is known as the go-to destination during winter months for keen skiers and snowboarders, the autumn months are just as good. 

The warmer weather is here, and that means it’s the season for lavender to bloom. Here are the best farms across New Zealand where you can stroll amongst the fields, take a picture for the gram and pick your own lavender. Hot tip: pop a few flowers into your next glass of champagne.

Sunflower season is short but sweet and while there might not be an abundance of sunflower farms in Aotearoa, there are five magical spots you’ll definitely want to visit.

There’s no getting around the fact that The Good Life requires something to live that good life on (aka a planet) but climate anxiety really knocks the dopamine out of a cheeky add to cart. 

Black Friday is on the horizon—Friday 29 November, to be exact—and while it’s a froth-worthy occasion for some, it prompts a wave of eye-rolling for others. The Conscious Countdown, however, is, allowing you to snag a bargain from a curation of local businesses that put the planet and people first. 

It’s all about choosing brands based on our own values—not just the dollar value of a product.

We've compiled a list of the top places to adopt a dog in Auckland so you can be part of the solution.

The best things in life are furry, so we've compiled a list of the top places to adopt a cat in New Zealand so you can help a kitty in need.

Forget everything you thought you knew about vegan and vegetarian food. Far from its can-o’-chickpea origins, vegan fare is now unapologetically delicious.

This week, and every week henceforth, we encourage you to go beyond learning how to order your coffee in Māori in exchange for a free brew at work, and do something to create a lasting impact for yourself and te reo Māori.

Psst, we’ll let you in on a secret—heaven is a place on earth. From mainland Fiji, a scenic two-hour boat ride will take you to the magical Yasawa Islands. The word Yasawa, meaning ‘heaven’, is a totally apt translation for the breathtaking vistas seen before your very eyes.

Nan used to say "your butcher knows best" so we’ve called on the best on Aotearoa—literally.

Commissioned by Auckland Transport, pockets of Māori mahi toi (art) are woven through the city centre. What starts as a functional project—say revamping infrastructure—becomes a powerful art project. 

At long last, women’s sport is taking centre stage and we are here. for. it. As we head into the cooler months, all eyes are on our Black Ferns and their highly-anticipated 2024 test calendar. 

Run clubs are gaining popularity and for good reason. Fitspo is dead—and real, authentic, cool breeze, crisp air, blood pumping, good-for-you activity is in. 

Give your space a budget and eco-friendly revamp with some of the best second-hand furniture stores in Auckland.

Sophie and Sam Hurley dreamt up Honest Wolf after searching for a niche in the market they could cater to using their farm’s existing resources.

Cue the roadie, it's time to broaden your knowledge of our hītōria (history).

VR tech to restore the feeling of lost limbs and exercise therapy that employs AI—we’re living in the future, baby—and the Lexus Design Award is here to showcase and bring to life this world-class tech.

How do the pair find time to inject subtle luxury into their jam-packed schedules as parents and sustainably conscious empire-starters?

In this video, Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds speaks to the importance of cultural preservation through Māori content creators such as himself in the digital world.

From a 9-5 desk worker to a professional op shopper, Tabitha Coleman has turned one of her biggest passions into a full-time job.

Our journey isn't just about learning; it's about reclaiming a piece of our whakapapa that was nearly lost. It's about bridging the gap between generations and healing the wounds of the past. 

Shaneel Lal, a Fijian-New Zealand writer, LGBT rights activist, and New Zealand's first-ever trans person to win Young New Zealander Of The Year, advocates for the preservation and amplification of queer stories in mainstream media, emphasising society's obligation to ensure a brighter and more inclusive future for the next generation of queer individuals.

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re a) on a device, b) connected to the internet, and c) know your way around the wonderful world web. While it’s easy to take these factors for granted, it’s important to realise this isn’t a reality for a lot of New Zealanders. 

For me, Matariki represents a time of celebration, reflection, and connection to people and land across New Zealand. 

Irrespective of how you feel about trans people, no one deserves to be excluded because of who they are.

Shopping sustainably is becoming easier and easier, with more local NZ brands being launched all the time specifically developed to be way better for the environment than their predecessors. We've filled our list with some of the lesser-known brands, so you can support small business while you build your more sustainable life.

Today is International Women’s Day, an important day for all those who identify and women and allies. To celebrate, we reached out to 10 inspirational women to see what they had to say on this year’s theme #EmbraceEquity.

Whether you’re a baby feminist or a seasoned equality fighter, this list covers the freshest feminist reads from Australian and international authors alike. From mind-blowing factual works to eye opening fiction and even a few timeless classics, put your reading glasses on and add these prime publications to your to-read list.

Green does not mean boring, folks. And, proving they know what’s what when it comes to all things good, The EcoFest Festival is returning for a month-long party of all things seriously eco! 

Here we are again, whānau. Cyclone Gabrielle, hot on the tail of the recent floods, has put further strain on our communities. Here are 11 ways you can contribute to the Cyclone Gabrielle relief effort.

Essential reading.

It's time you watched Seaspiracy.

In recent times there’s been a welcome shift in tides to bring style and sustainability together thanks to some clever brands adopting planet-savvy changes. 

Multi-award-winning NZ clean skincare brand Emma Lewisham has just dropped a next-level Sleeping Mask which is basically beauty sleep in a bottle.

Say goodbye to plastic bottles and hello to healthy hair with Ecostore's new shampoo bars. 

Let's talk the "P-word".

Good for your tush, good for the planet.

Held annually since 1974, the day acts as a reminder to individuals and businesses who are well on their sustainability journey or those at the very start, that we can all be making little changes in our day to day to protect the planet in a big way.

To put it simply, the theory behind the CE is about transforming our current linear consumption model (Take-Make-Waste) into a circular one that keeps products and services in use for longer (well, forever) to reduce environmental impact and protect precious natural resources. 

Each year, countries all around the world unite together for Earth Hour, one of the largest global movements where millions of people pledge to become more earth-conscious by partaking in an electricity-free hour. On 26 March at 8:30pm we’re turning off the lights, the electricity and even our phones (you can do it!) for one hour all in the name of sustainability. 

While the rest of us are settling into the new norm of an already strange 2022, luxe skincare brand Emma Lewisham has been busy proving itself a sustainability powerhouse once again by recently gaining a B-Corp certification. This means the brand is now recognised as meeting the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, joining the ranks of a global community of businesses that balance profit and purpose. Talk about a guilt-free shelfie. 

Today is International Women’s Day, an important day for all those who identify as women and allies. To celebrate, we reached out to nine inspirational women to see what they had to say on this year’s theme of #breakthebias.

We all know how important good sleep is, just like we know how important quality bedding is for obtaining that sleep nirvana. Since it can feel a little daunting to navigate the many options on the market right now, we’re here to help. Whether it’s cotton or silk that tickles your fancy, we’ve got something for you!

Bless your ears with these incredible LGBTQI+ podcasts that will make you laugh and cry with their raw, honest and hilarious storytelling. From celebrity hosts and guest stars to award-winning journalists and activists, these queers podcasts are seriously binge-worthy.

If you haven’t heard of Rotoroa Island, you better catch up, stat, because you’re definitely missing out.

The term zero waste has been on the upward trend for a while now, but it’s one that we hope will stick around for the long haul. When you consider that one million plastic bottles are purchased around the world each minuteand that 91% of plastic is never recycled, well it’s enough to make your head hurt. Most people are aware by now of what you need to do to reduce your waste at home, and it’s not all that different when you’re travelling, but we’re going to break it down for you so there are no excuses.

Making beautiful soaps with natural, plant-based ingredients only, this small Kiwi business is doing its bit to help to address the world’s big packaging problem by delivering bulk packs of soap to your door.

With Plastic Free July coming to an end and Conservation Week on the horizon, being mindful of our consuming habits should be our way of life. With the average Kiwi consuming 31kg of plastic per year (yikes), reducing our environmental footprint is something we need to consciously strive for every day.

When it comes to the beauty industry, sustainable and eco-conscious aren’t often the first words that come to mind, which is why we’re just a little bit obsessed with Anna Ross, the boss babe behind vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand Kester Black.

Washing your hair with solid shampoo and taking your keep cup everywhere is a solid way to make sustainable changes, but it’s super easy to forget that the environment comes into the equation with pretty much everything we do, and that includes getting married. 

No matter what kind of reader you are, we’ve got your bookworm needs covered with all of the best LGBTQI+ books, from romantic comedies to confrontingly honest memoirs and powerful classics.

From growing your own vegetables to cutting down on single-use plastics, slashing your food waste and walking more, here are seven ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Here at Urban List, we're passionate about putting our best foot forward, dedicated to being as conscious as possible when it comes to sustainability.

Little else compares to the feeling of drinking a coffee when you so desperately need one. As you’re sipping on your daily fuel, it might not occur to you that coffee directly contributes to environmental degradation in a myriad of depressing ways.

EveryHuman is the only marketplace in Australia and New Zealand bringing together the best adaptive fashion brands from around the globe, allowing people with disabilities to look and feel their best.

You’ve probably heard that the gut is the second brain, or that you are what you eat. If you’re wondering how to approach healthier eating, look no further. The Two Raw sisters are here to help with cookbooks that’ll have you making easy, cost effective plant based dishes.

To feed our obsession with bees we caught up with the founder of Bees Up Top, Jessie Baker to ask her all our burning bee-related questions and to also ask how she ended up championing our tiny buzzy friends.

2020 is officially the year of the staycation, and we can't think of a better spot to spend our next getaway than in the heart of the city itself, at the newly revamped Britomart precinct.

Follow a few of these gems to fill up your feed with sustainable, original and drool-worthy fashion. 

There are times in life when you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and treat your body and mind to a little TLC.

This month, we look at the power of positive headlines in a crisis, the industry emerging to serve our newly-formed at-home dining habits, 5G's unlikely place in pop culture, the dismantling of high maintenance beauty and international shopping, and our new-found enthusiasm for a ballet class. 

As far as dream jobs go, they don’t get much greater than owning your own record label. Top that off with the fact that you’re only 23 years old and you’ve got Perth music mogul in the making, Vincent Tolefe. Transforming his love of beats into Your Angle Records, Tolefe is solid proof that hard work, patience and passion are all the ingredients you need for the kind of day job most could only image.