The Future Is Eco-Friendly: Here Are The Sustainability Influencers Leading The Way

As sustainable practices become more common in fashion, FMCG, and beauty, their importance is clear. These practices help protect the environment, reduce pollution (especially in fashion), and preserve habitats. Recognizing our duty to reduce environmental damage and create a healthier planet, World Environment Day focuses on these efforts. Let’s look at the influencers making a big impact in promoting sustainability.

THE TOP 5 SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCERS PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES

1. Tara McKenna – @zero.waste.collective (357K)

Tara McKenna, a Canadian sustainability influencer, began her low-waste journey in 2017 after realizing the global trash problem during her travels. She founded the Zero Waste Collective, an online community for zero waste education, and offers business coaching through tara-mckenna.com to help others adopt sustainable practices.

2. Rob Greenfield – @robjgreenfield (212K)

Rob Greenfield, known as the “Trash Man” or the Dude Making a Difference, uses unconventional methods to promote sustainable living. From wearing his trash to foraging for food and cycling penniless across the US, Rob’s life exemplifies sustainability. Featured on National Geographic, BBC, and USA Today, he highlights extreme waste to inspire everyday changes.

3. Valeria Hinojosa – @waterthruskin (438K)

Valeria Hinojosa, a Bolivia-born social entrepreneur and certified yoga instructor, left private banking to pursue sustainable living. Based in Miami, she runs the blog Water Thru Skin, sharing her advocacy for responsible, holistic living. Her content covers sustainable travel, lifestyle tips, and eco-friendly products, making her one of the most prominent sustainability influencers.

@waterthruskin

A combination of eco-conscious mentality with spiritual health! #Acer #recycled #recycle #PCR#SustainableLiving #responsiblestyle #Lifetips

♬ original sound – Valeria Hinojosa – Valeria Hinojosa

4. Lauren Singer – @trashisfortossers (323K)

Lauren Singer, a renowned environmentalist and entrepreneur, has lived zero-waste since 2012, famously fitting her waste into a 16oz mason jar. Her blog, Trash is for Tossers, started in 2014, has become a key resource for zero-waste living. In 2017, she launched Package Free shop, significantly reducing landfill waste. She also manufactures and sells non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products.

@trashisfortossers

My zero waste essentials I always have on me #zerowasteliving #sustainableliving #zerowasteswaps

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

5. Ashley Renne – @heyashleyrenne (142K)

Ashley Renne promotes sustainable tourism and low-impact plant-based living through her blog and YouTube channel, Hey Ashley Renne. She creates content on sustainable travel, smart technology, and vegan lifestyle, aiming to end animal exploitation, protect the environment, and enhance health and wellness.

@heyashleyrenne

For Earth Month, let’s remember that sustainability is not black and white – it’s a spectrum. Let’s bust some eco-friendly packaging myths! Also @Flexible Packaging Association is a helpful resource for recycling guidance [ad].   🌎 True or False? “Flexible packaging isn’t recyclable!” ✨ Answer: It depends!    It’s mostly not curbside recyclable. But about 50% of flexible packaging can easily be recycled through store drop-off programs. We take loose, stretchy plastic like bubble wrap and food packaging like cereal liners and bread bags to our local grocery store drop-off.   🌎 True or False? “Glass is always more eco-friendly than flexible plastic packaging!” ✨ Answer: It depends!    When it comes to weight, for example, glass is heavy and plastic is lightweight. Flexible plastic packaging requires less water and energy during manufacturing and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions than glass   🌎 True or False? “Plastic packaging isn’t a sustainable option!” ✨ Answer: It depends!    Flexible plastic packaging has overlooked benefits and plays an important role in circular economy solutions like refillable packaging and post consumer recycled packaging.   ❗️Remember: Sustainability requires nuance. Depending on the scenario, flexible packaging can surprisingly make more sense than other forms of packaging that are marketed as “sustainable” so use your best judgment based on the situation! Did any of these surprise you?

♬ original sound – Ashley Renne 🍉

THE TOP 5 FASHION SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Danielle Alvarado – @sustainablykindliving (21.2K)

Danielle Alvarado, of the Instagram account Sustainability Kind Living, has over 20K followers. She aims to counter fast fashion by promoting sustainable clothing. Her content focuses on low-waste living, avoiding impulse buying, and supporting small brands, placing her among the top green influencers.

2. Scott and Brett Staniland – @twinbrett (95.6K)

Twin brothers Scott and Brett Staniland are renowned for their passion for slow fashion. Scott creates content for Green TV Media, while Brett, who appeared on Love Island, raises awareness about fast fashion’s dangers. Their combined influence showcases that you don’t need new clothes to look stylish, making them key players among sustainability influencers.

@twinbrett

Great news… oh wait. More greenwashing and factually false nonsense from Shein! #shein #fastfashion #greenwashing #twinbrett #sustainablefashion

♬ original sound – Brett Staniland

3. Venetia La Manna – @venetialamanna (284K)

Venetia La Manna is a podcaster and content creator who has turned sustainable fashion into a career. As a co-founder of the Remember Who Made Them movement, she advocates for better practices in the fashion industry. Venetia encourages consumers to support brands prioritizing sustainability, reinforcing her position as one of the leading sustainability influencers.

@venetialamanna

Buy Less For More Joy ♻️🎄 I want to acknowledge that shopping second hand and rewearing old clothes is easier for me as a straight-sized person whose body has stayed roughly the same size in recent years. My fashion advocacy is – first and foremost – non-consumption related. My aim is to offer a multitude of ways for everybody to join in the fair fashion movement, so if you’re looking to learn about issues including garment worker rights, greenwashing and the textile waste crisis, please see my page for resources 💚
#SustainableFashion #Sustainability #ChristmasOutfits #ChristmasOutfitIdeas #FestiveFashion #SecondHandFashion

♬ It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams

4. Aja Barber – @ajabarber (238K)

Aja Barber, a UK-based influencer, simplifies the complex issues of the fashion industry. Author of Consumed, Aja details the problems of fashion consumerism and offers solutions for change. Her vibrant, sustainable outfits prove that slow fashion can be both exciting and responsible.

5. Izzy Manuel – @izzy_manuel (17.7K)

Izzy Manuel is celebrated for her vibrant, sustainable fashion choices. Her content includes sustainable beauty products and skincare routines, inspiring others to embrace slow fashion and making her a significant sustainability influencer.

THE TOP 5 BEAUTY SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCERS

1. Celeste Thomas – @celestethomas (80.9K)

Celeste Thomas is a holistic skincare and wellness influencer based in Los Angeles. As a registered nurse specializing in skincare, she brings a unique perspective to clean beauty. Her posts on conscious beauty products and healthy living have made her an ambassador for brands like CocoKind and Nutrafol.

@celestethomasrn

They can cause acne, larger pores, premature aging, & irritation. List 👇🏼 A & D Additive Acetvlated Lanolin Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract Alaria esculenta Algae Extract Almond Oil Andiroba Seed Oil Apricot Kernel Oil Ascophyllum Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter (this can vary and some may do fine) Avocado Fruit Avocado Butter Avocado Oil Baobab Oil Basic Red Beeswax Bismuth Oxychloride Blue Algae Borage Oil Brazil Nut Oil Brown Algae Buriti Oil Butyl Stearate Butylene Glycol (can be problematic for some if at the top of a label) C13-14 Isoparaffin Camelina Oil Capric Acid Carrageenan Carrot Seed Oil Cera Alba Ceteareth 20 Ceteareth-6 Olivate Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20 (when both are in product together) Cetyl Acetate Cetrimonium Bromide Cherry Seed Oil Cheru Seed Oil Chlorella Chondrus Crispus Chullu (Wild Apricot) Seed Oil Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract Cocoa Butter Coconut Coconut Butter Coconut Alkanes Coconut Oil Cocos Nucifera Codium Fragile Extract Corallina Officinalis Extract Corn Oil Cottonseed Oil Cranberry Seed Oil Cupuacu Butter D & C Red D & C Red 17 D & C Red 19 D & C Red 21 D & C Red 27 D & C Red 3 D & C Red 30 D & C Red 33 D & C Red 36 D & C Red 4 D & C Red 40 D & C Red 6 D & C Red 7 D & C Red 9 Date Seed Oil Decyl Oleate Dhupa Seed Oil Di (2 Ethylhexyl) Succinate Dioctyl Malate Dioctyl Succinate Dunaliella Salina Extract (algae) Eicosanoic Acid Ethoxylated Lanolin Ethelhexyl Cocoate Ethylhexyl Palmitate Ethylhexyl Pelargonate Evening Primrose Oil Flaxseed Oil Fractionated Coconut Oil Fucus Vesiculosus Gigartina Skottsbergii Extract Glyceryl Isostearate Glyceryl Oleate Glyceryl Oleate Citrate Glyceryl Stearate SE Glyceryl-3-Disostearate Glycine Soya Oil (soybean) Grapeseed Butter Grapefruit Seed Oil Green Algae Green Coffee Oil Groundnut Oil Haematococcus pluvialis Extract Haslea Ostrearia Extract Hazelnut Seed Oil Hemp Seed Butter Hexadecl Alcohol Hexyl Laurate Himanthalia Elongate Extract Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Irish Moss Isoceteth-20 Isocetyl Alcohol Isocetyl Stearate Isodecyl Oleate Isononyl Isononoanoate Isopropyl Isostearate Isopropyl Lanolate Isopropyl Myristate Isopropyl Neopentanoate Isopropyl Palmitate Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate Isostearate Isostearic Acid Isostearyl Isostearyl Isostearate Isostearyl Neopentanoate Jojoba Butter Jojoba Oil Jojoba Wax Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract Karanja Oil Kukui Nut Oil Kapok Oil Kelp Kukui Nut Kukui Oil Laminaria Laminaria Longicruris Extract Laminaria Digitata Extract Laminaria Saccharina Extract Laneth 10 Lanolic Acid Lanolin Lanolin Oil Lanolin Alcohol Laureth 12 Laureth 23 Laureth 4 Laureth 7 Lauric Acid Lauroyl Lysine (coconut derivative that some can be reactive too) Lauryl Olivate Linseed Macadamia Nut Oil Magnesium Myristate Mahua Seed Oil Mango Butter Marula Oil Mastocarpus stellatus Microcystis aeruginosa Mink Oil Moringa Oil Myreth-3 Myristate Octodidecyl Stearoyl Stearate Octyl Palmitate Octyl Stearate Octyldodecanol (this should be fine in skincare with such small amount but if severely acne prone may need to avoid) Oleth-10 Oleth-20 Oleth-3 Oleth-3 Phosphate Oleth-5 Oleyl Alcohol Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Olive Oil Olive Butter Olive Oil Olive Oil Peg-7 Esters Ozokerite (1-2 so most are fine) Myristic Acid Myristyl Alcohol Myristyl Lactate Myristyl Myristate Myrtrimonium Bromide Nahor Seed Oil Neem Oil Padina Pavonica Extract Palm Oil Palmitic Acid Palmaria Oalmarta Extract (Dulse) Parrafin Peach kernel oil Palash Oil Palm Kernel Oil Palm Oil Palm Oil Butter Papaya Seed Oil Peach Kernel Oil Peanut Oil Pecan Oil Pequot Oil Pine Nut Oil PEG 16 Lanolin PEG 2 Sulfosuccinate PEG 200 Dilaurate PEG 65 PEG 8 Stearate PEG 100 Distearate PEG 150 Distearate Peg 16 Lanolin PEG 200 Dilaurate Pentaerythrital PG Caprylate/Caprate PG Dipelargonate PG Monostearate Phytantriol Pilu Oil Plankton Plankton Extract (may be find based on formulation) Potassium Cocoate Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate (fine for most) Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Polyglyceryl-Diisostearate Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyquanterium-4 Porphyridium Cruentum PPG 10 Cetyl Ether PPG 1 Emily Morrow list cont in comments! #porecloggingingredients #acne #acnetreatment

♬ original sound – M. Lauren Graphic Design

2. Beatrice Turner – @beatriceturner (43.7K)

London-based Beatrice Turner runs The Fair Edit, a blog dedicated to cruelty-free and sustainable beauty. Known for her tips on zero-waste living and sustainable travel, Beatrice has partnered with brands such as Juni Cosmetics and Olio, establishing her as one of the top sustainability influencers.

3. Alba Ramos – @mrsalbaramos (315K)

Alba Ramos, a Florida-based influencer, shares her journey of clean living after her son’s autism diagnosis. Her honest reviews and tutorials on non-toxic products have seen her collaborate with brands like Aveda and CocoKind, making her a trusted voice among sustainability influencers.

4. Becks – @bottled.blue (15.8K)

Becks is a London-based influencer known for her aesthetic reels and vegan beauty content. Her Instagram and YouTube channels feature makeup tutorials, vegan recipes, and sustainable travel tips, attracting a loyal following.

5. Besma Whayeb – @besmacc (14.5K)

Besma Whayeb, based in Brighton, began her slow-living journey in Paris. She promotes fair pay, ocean plastics awareness, and fashion racism discussions, partnering with brands like Green People and Nordgreen. Besma’s honest conversations about sustainability issues resonate with her audience.

THE TOP 5 ZERO-WASTE SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCERS

1. Kate Bamber – ‍@my_plastic_free_home (218K)

Kate initiated her Instagram to offer practical sustainability tips for all time constraints. Since then, she’s launched The Natural Living Shop, offering 100% sustainable products endorsed by global zero waste influencers.

@my_plastic_free_home

Here is how you can clean your home using citric acid: Citric acid is amazing for descaling, add a couple of tablespoons to your kettle, top up with water and bring it to the boil to get rid of all of that nasty limescale – works great with coffee machines too. Make a citric acid cleaning solution by adding 2 tablespoons to 500ml warm water, mix and add to a trigger spray bottle to use as a natural cleaner all over your home. This is great on tiles, sinks, all over the bathroom and it brings your taps up sooooo shiny! Of course its also great for removing limescale from the bottom of your toilet, pour it in, add hot water and let it sit overnight to work it’s magic. It’s great at tackling rust marks on stainless steel too – spray it on (make sure any appliances are unpuggged) and rub away with a little foil to get rid of rust! There are a few do’s and don’t’s when it comes to Citric acid: Don’t use on porous surfaces such as stone or granite. It’s also important to avoid using citric acid to clean your wooden flooring, furniture, or any surfaces protected by wax or sealer. Citric acid also shouldn’t be used on wood surfaces. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see more of these tips! 👇 Happy green cleaning 💚🌿 Ad – my shop! Where you can buy citric acid: https://thenaturallivingshop.co.uk/shop/swoof/name-Citric+acid/ #greencleaning #citricacid #naturalcleaningproducts #naturalcleaningtips

♬ Chill Vibes – Tollan Kim

2. Madeleine Olivia – @madeleineolivia (93K)

Madeleine Olivia documents her sustainable lifestyle and home renovations on Instagram. She shares vegan recipes and tips for low-waste cooking, making her a go-to influencer for sustainable living advice.

@madeleineoliviaa

What i eat when i crave meat: blackbean meatball edition! Recipe from my cookbook Make It Vegan #makeitvegan #meatalternatives #meatballs #vegancooking #veganfood #whatieat

♬ original sound – Madeleine Olivia

3. Jhánneu Roberts – @jhanneu (44.9K)

Jhánneu Roberts, named in the Top 100 Creative in Environmental Impact, empowers her community to live mindfully. Partnering with brands like Grove Collaboration and Volvo, Jhánneu’s content promotes zero-waste living and environmental awareness.

@jhanneu

Sustainable travel essentials #ecotravel #sustainability #sustainableliving #ecotips #traveltips

♬ Make It Better (Instrumental) – Anderson .Paak

4. Max La Manna – @maxlamanna (1M)

Max La Manna shares low-waste recipes on TikTok, gaining over 1 billion views. His collaborations with brands like Waitrose and Sainsbury’s highlight his influence in promoting sustainable cooking.

@maxlamanna

Welcome to a new series where I make recipes with ingredients that are often thrown away 🥦 #foodwaste #vegan #veganrecipes #plantbasedrecipes #youcancookthis

♬ original sound – Max La Manna

5. Alexis Nikole – @alexisnikole (4.4M)

Alexis Nikole’s TikTok focuses on foraging tips, sharing her knowledge of safe-to-eat plants. Her content encourages a zero-waste lifestyle and showcases the niche aspects of sustainability influencers.

@alexisnikole

ROSEWATER BIRTHDAY CAKE 🎂 im 32!! Lets bake a cake!! This is based off of Domestic Gothess’ Persian Lovecake recipe, but with a bunch of foraged twists!!

♬ Bright, gentle, spring jazz piano for a long time(978527) – Single Origin Music

This overview showcases potential creators for businesses to partner with to promote sustainability. Collaborating with these top sustainability influencers allows companies to align with eco-friendly values and contribute to a greener future.

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