Celebrate sustainability with these Birmingham companies + cocktail kits

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the lumbar earth month cocktail kit
Photo via The Lumbar’s Facebook.

If you weren’t aware, April is Earth Month! It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time as we’re all finding a new appreciation for the outdoors during these uncertain times. So in honor of celebrating our planet, we’re highlighting a few local sustainable businesses doing their part to take care of the environment.

The Lumbar

Cocktails and sustainability—try naming a more dynamic duo. The Lumbar is all about incorporating science into their atmosphere and now they’re celebrating Earth Month in the best way possible—with cocktail kits!

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You’re the Bees Knees, Queen Bee 🍯🐝 To celebrate 🌏 Earth Month for the rest of April, we’re launching two new cocktail kits! With each kit, you’ll receive a bag of pollinator garden seed. The goal: to help save the 25% of the world’s bee species that are approaching extinction. Protocol: Mix cocktail > plant pollinator garden > save the world🌎 BEES KNEES🍯🍋 Gin, Honey, & Lemon Included in the kit: New Amsterdam gin, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, house honey syrup, a mason jar for shaking and drinking, lemon wheels, straws, and a bag of pollinator garden seed $28 / makes 8 drinks QUEEN BEE👑🐝 Reposado tequila, honey, lemon, angostura Included in the kit: @hornitostequila reposado, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, house honey & bitters mix, a mason jar for shaking and drinking, lemon wheels, straws, and a bag of pollinator garden seed $35 / makes 8 drinks Open Tuesday-Sunday, 12-7pm☀️

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With every purchase of a Bees Knees or Queen Bee cocktail kit, you get a bag of pollinator garden seeds and soil mix. You get to enjoy a refreshing cocktail and help the world. It’s the ultimate win-win.

Bungalow Bungalow

Woodlawn’s Bungalow Bungalow encourages customers to reduce their plastic waste by offering eco-friendly refills of everyday household cleaning products. This includes soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner and dish soap to name a few.

Although they’re not open during this time, I couldn’t leave Bungalow Bungalow off this list. It just didn’t feel right. Luckily, they’re planning to launch an online store soon.

basic.

If you’re looking to transition your wardrobe away from fast fashion and remain local, look no further than basic. They focus on the conscientious, small-batch production of ethically-produced basics.

Fun fact: You can use the code BHAMNOW for 20% off your purchase.

Other sustainable clothing stores for my fellow fashionistas

Trove Design Shop

Based in Woodlawn, this shop is as aesthetically pleasing as it is sustainable. They offer a curated mix of handmade, vintage and secondhand designer goods.

Clotheshorse

This family-owned consignment boutique first opened its doors in 1992. Since then, their knack for designer items has attracted customers from all over the South.

Second Hand Rose

Since 1985, Second Hand Rose specializes in designer label clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories—all secondhand, of course.

Earth Creations

Earth Creations uses natural clay and low-impact dyes on environmentally-friendly fibers to make clothing for men, women and children.

Freedom Soaps

Family-owned, small batch and all natural. Those are the words that perfectly describe Freedom Soaps. With products that are just as good for the environment as they are for your skin, everything they make is produced with real ingredients that you can actually pronounce.

UAB Sustainability

UAB is one of Birmingham’s driving forces. The institution knows how big of an impact they have on the city and through the Sustainability program, they plan to transform the campus by 2025.

Their sustainability plan addresses UAB’s energy usage, food waste reduction, transportation and recycling efforts. You can read more about the innovative project here.

Royal Cup Coffee and Tea

Did you know Royal Cup Coffee and Tea was started right here in Birmingham? Besides making an awesome cup of coffee, they put in an impressive amount of effort to ensure sustainable practices.

Their dedication to sustainability has led them to win the 2019 Manufacturing Innovation of the Year Award. Royal Cup is committed to improving with goals such as:

  • Increasing landfill diversion rate to 25%
  • Begin monitoring Royal Cup’s carbon footprint
  • Transitioning to more environmentally friendly packaging film and filter paper
  • By 2025, become a carbon neutral company

Looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

At Bham Now, we’re dedicated to helping Birmingham stay informed and healthy. These articles will help you jump-start a more sustainable lifestyle:

What are some of your favorite sustainable brands in Birmingham? Let us know on social @BhamNow.

Chaise Sanders
Chaise Sanders
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