Planet

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

Whether you’re out for a veggie deal, are craving some homemade treats, or just want to support local grassroots creatives, Wellington’s market scene has got you.

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.

If Macklemore taught us anything during his brief but incontestable reign over the radio, it’s that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome.

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.

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.

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

Shop our selection of the best Christmas gift ideas this side of the North Pole.

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.

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. 

Unless you're Barbie, the amount of single-use plastics we have is not fantastic. And with the drive of consumer culture and mass packaging, for many, the gravity of the problem is often overlooked. 

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.

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! 

Well, whānau, what a time. As we finally come up for air following the unprecedented floods in Tāmaki Makaurau and with potentially more coming on the horizon, it’s time for us to come through for each other. 

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.

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.

It's no secret we love Christmas and all the glitz and glam that comes with it, from beautifully wrapped gifts beneath pretty trees, to swanky end-of-year parties with fancy food and drink. However we also know that, as the Grinch himself discovered, 'Christmas means a little bit more'. It's about spending time with loved ones, creating special memories and most importantly—helping out those less fortunate than ourselves.

Make more conscious gifting decisions this Christmas.

Not many people can say they started a beauty brand in their own kitchen, but Brianne West did just that when launching Ethique.

Essential reading.

Chef's Josh Barlow and Brody Jenkins' menu deserves the top spot on your NZ eats list. 

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. 

Activewear is the holy grail of the wardrobe. 

We’ve been longingly watching from across the pond and now it’s our time to enjoy the stunning outdoor vacay of a lifetime—Unyoked is finally launching their very first New Zealand nature escape, and it's going to be epic.

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.

adidas is inviting runners of all levels to crush the kilometres to help end plastic waste in our oceans. 

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.

You’ve got Azalea Banks’ 212 blasting through your headphones, you’ve just clocked your fastest km to date, and you’re rounding out your morning run with an epic view of the sunrise. Feels good, doesn’t it? 

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. 

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!

If there’s one thing we love about summer, it’s the stacked social cal. And after this year, throwing on your party threads never felt so good. Whether it’s balmy beachside picnics, classy evening soirées or just a good old festive dinner—summer is where the socialising is at.   

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.

We all know the struggle of trying to find the right pillow. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle, so we’re here to guide you in the comfiest direction.  

Face masks are now essential wear for all New Zealanders.

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.

If Macklemore taught us anything during his brief but incontestable reign over the radio, it’s that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome.

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.

The winners of The Circle Awards AUS & NZ 2021 have officially been announced, and our carts (and hearts) are full of sustainable swaps we never knew we needed.

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. 

Realising this gap between food waste and food insecurity, Nick Loosley founded Everybody Eats - a locally-based, not-for-profit with a mission to reduce food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand. With Everybody Eats scaling across NZ, we caught up with Nick to find out more about their origins, their mission, and hear about their new Goodie Box initiative. 

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.

Ethique have gone and launched the line of eco-friendly lip balms we’ve all been waiting for.  

Check out our picks of Auckland’s best health food stores and get set to overhaul your pantry.

From combining pure, organic oils and creating divine signature scent combinations to making classy recyclable packaging, Becca Project has reimagined essential oil use through a range of covetable products.

Time to let op-shop fever set in. Whether you could easily lose a day browsing pre-loved goodies, or you’ve come across some of the harrowing stats about the clothing industry, there’s no denying the demand for second-hand clothes is growing.

Kiss goodbye those roots and split ends the environmentally-friendly way, here are the very best of the sustainable salons in Auckland. 

If you’re planning a Queenstown getaway, make it a memorable one by heading out to Glenorchy and exploring the impressive scenery in an electric 4WD buggy. Delta Discovery offers self-drive tours (so much more fun taking on river crossings yourself) in a 100% emissions free vehicle loaded with GPS technology. 

New Zealanders are becoming more connected to their choices than ever, making conscious decisions on the 5 W’s (and H) of spending our money. And for what reason? Why, the future of our planet of course!

When it comes to plant-based eating, Dunedin brings its A game. We’re talking dedicated shrines of veggie goodness creating such epic concoctions, you won’t even notice you’re eating healthy. Even the most stalwart carnivores will be convinced to add a little more plant spice to their lives. Viva la revolution.

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.

We’ve ditched single use coffee cups, switched to stainless steel straws and now we’re turning our attention to our wardrobes. And considering it takes close to 8,000 litres of water to make a single pair of jeans, it’s no wonder so many fashion brands are taking a closer look at their practices, ditching fast fashion and taking a more considered approach to clothes. 

We’ve put together a great tour of the best sustainable spots Welly has to offer and even better, we’ve got the perfect mode of transport to do so. Mevo is a Wellington-based car-share company that lets you rent luxurious Audi A-3s and Volkswagen Polos (#cargoals) for as long as you may need them through their app, similar to Lime.

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.

The sustainability sphere is a rapidly evolving one, and alternatives are cropping up for everyday items left, right and centre. From using organic cleaning spray to drinking carbon-zero beer, read on for some greener versions of lockdown essentials you’ll want in your virtual cart.

And Greta Thunberg makes a cameo too.

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

The award-winning sea cabins have been built just above the ocean and give you panoramic scenes of rocky mountains and surrounding islands. 

Bike sales are currently going through the roof and it’s not hard to understand why. Neighbourhood walks are great and all but if you’re looking to up your exercise and basically get from A to B a hell of a lot faster, a bike’s your best bet.

Unlike other sneaker-streetwear collabs, rather than only producing a pair of limited-edition kicks to covet and shop, this creative meeting-of-the-minds is more about sharing design know-how in the name of sustainability, and skilling up in all things DIY-style in the era of iso.

Have you ever looked at the skincare in your bathroom cabinet and just wished for a fairy wand to make everything natural, ethical, and sustainable—as it should be? Maybe you've even given yourself a retinol burn, or seen a depressing Vice article on what really happens to the plastic you think you've dutifully recycled.

If you thought garden mythology didn’t exist, think again.

As far as sustainable fashion goes, activewear seems to be the category most regularly pushing boundaries in the quest for earth-friendly fashion. Because your next sweat sesh shouldn’t have to cost the earth—here are five of our favourite sustainable activewear labels. 

It's 2020 and here's what we know for sure—plastic of any kind is seriously bad for the environment. And yet shamefully, Australia and New Zealand rank up there as two of the most wasteful countries in the world according to an international survey of countries that produce the most municipal waste. We use an estimated five billion plastic bags a year and they take zillions of years (true, scientific data) to break down.

From helping the local flora and fauna, reducing your carbon footprint or getting around to finally recycling that stuff, here are six places you can get involved to do your bit.

Vegan food is big business these days, with whole eateries dedicated to a cuisine that was once actually quite hard to come by. This is especially true where sweet treats are concerned, with a raft of drool-worthy goodies now readily available to curb those sugar cravings and without so much as a single speck of butter, egg or milk (unless, of course, it's the non-dairy kind!).

There’s no denying it, 2020 has been one rollercoaster of a year. With the bush fires, COVID-19 and long overdue international outrage over the treatment of people of colour—emotions are running high, and rightly so. So, although you might be feeling emotionally exhausted right now, we’re going to ask you to dig deep because today is World Oceans Day, and your help isn’t just needed, it’s essential.

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.

Green thumbs at the ready. As much as you're loving reconnecting with your family, flatmates and workmates post-lockdown, there's something truly heart-warming about meeting new people in a positive space, and what better place to do that than volunteering at your local community garden.

We've said goodbye to plastic bags, now move on to bigger and better things with these Earth-friendly online stores. With everything from reusable shopping bags to cruelty-free beauty, you'll be able to shop with sustainability in mind with this list of environmentally-conscious stores.

While we love a good trip to the supermarket, the amount of plastic and packaging involved in all our favourite foods can get a little out of hand. If you're feeling this way too, try out buying in bulk—you'll be reducing your waste and helping our planet breathe a little bit easier.

Let us introduce Urban List Sustainability, a commitment we are launching in partnership with Bank Australia to take our platform and our incredible community to the next level as we commit to having an even more positive impact on the planet and its people.

To help your lockdown cellar stoking, we’ve handpicked a bunch of New Zealand wineries delivering nationwide during Level 4 lockdown (some of which, even for free). 

Some of you might already be there, some of you will take a few weeks yet, but if there’s one thing we can bank on it’s that all of us will get bored enough during lockdown to deep clean our homes.

It’s impossible (not to mention unethical) to ignore the climate crisis that’s going on in the world today, but we’re the first to admit that we’re probably not going to stop travelling anytime soon. Instead, we’re trying to find the most eco-friendly ways to live our best lives. 

We caught up with Natalie Procter ahead of her show at NZFW '19 to talk setting up your own business, teleportation and her life-changing trip to India.

 Designed by Parsons BFA fashion grad, Marissa Petteruti—it's all about uniform dressing, organic cotton and detachable sleeves for maximum fashion impact, low environmental footprint. 

Seriously though, how much time do you have because we’ve been lusting over everything all damn day.

Down in this beautiful pocket of the world we’re blessed with some of the most incredible beaches and marine life, but it’s on us all do our bit to ensure the next gen can enjoy and appreciate that big, beautiful blue and its inhabitants.

People are becoming more aware of the impact consuming animal products has on our bodies and our planet and are gradually reducing their intake. With so many ways of doing this, you can hardly blame us for feeling a little lost when it comes to understanding what all these diets actually mean. We set out to discover what the differences between veganism and plant-based eating really are, and this is what we found.