In honour of Earth Day, we’ve curated a collection of sustainably-made food and drinks that we can stand behind. Some of the products use upcycled ingredients, while others are made using carbon-neutral and small-scale manufacturing methods. From artisanal jams to upcycled tea blends to a crisply-delicious Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, there’s something for everyone.
Tea Canisters,
Pluck Teas
Like all of their teas, Toronto-based Pluck Teas’ makes their five upcycle-certified tea blends in small batches. Premium ingredients (like the upcycled cacao shells used in After Dinner Mint tea) are sourced from local fellow food makers. Flavours include Chocolate Chai and Citrus Ginger.
$40
Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative,
Harmless Harvest
Harmless Harvest is widely known for their coconut water, and they now have an upcycled-certifed plant-based yogurt alternative made with the leftover coconut meat. It’s available in the flavours Plain, Vanilla, Blueberry, Strawberry and Mango.
$7
Tierra Rica Sauvignon Blanc,
Tierra Rica
Produced using sustainable practices – including 100% renewable energy – this certified-organic and -vegan Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is expressive, crisp and refreshing. It showcases aromas of citrus fruits, tropical notes of passionfruit and pairs beautifully with seafood.
$15.95
NextMilk,
Silk
Silk’s sprawling sustainability initiatives span water conservation, pollinator protection, tree-planting programs and more. NextMilk is their newest product on the market, made with a formula of oat, soy and coconut. It’s a perfect dupe for using in recipes that call for the authentic stuff.
$4.50
Protein Delivery,
Wild Fork
Toronto-based Wild Fork offers over 500 blast-frozen proteins for home delivery – all part of their mission to cut food waste by extending the shelf life of staple groceries that are often tossed after expiry. Stock levels are carefully monitored so that extra inventory can be donated to Food Banks Canada well ahead of the expiry dates.
$30
Spice Passport,
Burlap & Barrel
Burlap & Barrel partners directly with suppliers to source the ingredients for their creative and flavourful spice blends, which allows them to pay a fair price and ensure sustainable practices. This spice ‘passport’ contains 8 half-teaspoon servings of their best-selling blends.
$10
Pulp Chips Variety Pack,
Pulp Pantry
The Shark Tank panel fell in love with these innovative veggie chips made from the fibre left behind after vegetables are juiced. Four flavours are available now for pre-order: Jalapeño Lime, Salt ‘n’ Vinegar, Sea Salt and Spicy Barbecue.
$35 U.S.
Seafood Snacks,
Scout Canning
The wild yellowfin tuna in Scout’s new to-go seafood snacks is harvested ethically in North American waters using a diver-assisted method to avoid bycatch. The snack packs come with three different crunchy topping options: Chili Crisp, Za’taar and Chile Jalapeño.
$15/3
Plant-Based Ripened Brie,
Future of Cheese
From superstar chef Craig Harding and Canadian cheese expert-extraordinaire Afrim Pristine comes Future of Cheese: a plant-based brie with a perfectly mild flavour and smooth texture. The packaging is plant-based and compostable, and all ingredients are sourced from sustainable suppliers.
$12
Variety 3 Pack,
Chia Smash
Chia Smash sources unwanted and rejected produce to make their flavourful fruit spreads. The Blueberry, Cherry Pomegranate, Raspberry and Strawberry flavours are all packed with superfood antioxidants and give a second life to food that would otherwise go to waste.
$35 U.S.
Ginger Beer,
Greenhouse
Canadian beverage company Greenhouse goes through a lot of ginger to make their cold-pressed juices, kombuchas, detox shots and more. They now upcycle the pulp and use it to brew a ginger tea that forms the base for this bold, refreshing ginger beer.
$4.45
Ramen Kits,
Abo Ramen
Abokichi’s make-at-home ramen kits are healthy, totally plant-based and utterly delicious. The noodles are made with okara, a byproduct of soy and tofu manufacturing, and the broth is made with the by-product of sake brewing.
$15
Canadian Wildlife Federation Coffee – Monarch Blend,
Equator Coffee Roasters
Pollinators like monarch butterflies are essential for preserving Canada’s ecosystems. Proceeds from this nutty, vanilla-flavoured blend from Ontario-based Equator go to the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s conservation efforts.
$18.50
Licorice & Sea Buckthorn Chocolate Bar,
Goodio
The cocoa used by Finnish fair-trade chocolate company Goodio is never sourced from cleared rainforest areas or transported farther than necessary, and the gorgeous packaging is biodegradable. This distinctive flavour is made with sweet licorice and Nordic sea buckthorns.
$10
Reserva Malbec,
Terrazas de los Andes
Terrazas de los Andes’ Malbec bottles have undergone an eco-friendly makeover: a lightweight design made with sustainable materials that reduces the winery’s CO2 emissions. The wine itself is expressive and indulgent, with notes of black plums, blackberry, baking spices and mocha.
$20
Beanies,
Remix Snacks
These addictive Canadian-made snacks are made with upcycled carrots that have been rejected for not meeting the aesthetic standards required for retail sale. The crunchy puffs come in two flavours: Smoky Paprika and Vegan Chedd’r.
$33/6
Raspberry Gin Liqueur,
Wayward Distillery
All the spirits at Vancouver Island’s Wayward Distillery are crafted on a base of fermented and distilled from sustainable locally-sourced honey. The company also teamed up with Pollinator Partnership Canada to donate a percentage of proceeds to ecosystem-conservation efforts.
$26
Classic Gum,
Simply Gum
Chewing gum is often made with synthetic plastics, so unlike many other companies that use synthetic plastics to make gum, Simply Gum uses consciously-harvested chicle (tree sap) from Central America to make their lightly-flavoured gums available in Spearmint, Cinnamon and more.
$22/5
Everything Flax Crackers,
Nud Fud
The ultra-healthy crackers made at Nud Fud are plastic-neutral, meaning that for every bag sold, an equivalent plastic bag is pulled from the ecosystem. The fibre-rich Everything crackers are made with activated golden flax, sunflower and sesame seeds, then sprinkled with garlic, poppy, onion and sesame seeds.
$7.30
Raw Honey made with Propolis, Royal Jelly + Bee Pollen,
Beekeeper’s Naturals
Beekeeper’s Naturals uses remote apiaries that are never over-harvested, and a portion of proceeds from the company’s sales go to bee conservation efforts. This jar is packed with raw, enzymatic honey infused with royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis.
