While at the corporate and governmental level, things between cannabis and hemp have become divisive, for consumers, it shouldn’t be an either-or — it can and should be both. With 420 and Earth Day coming up this week, here’s a list of some of the most sustainable and organic cannabis and hemp companies on the market.
RELATED: Stock up for 420 with these can’t-miss deals
A sustainable consumer’s shopping guide
A March 2025 life cycle assessment of the cannabis industry found that the energy consumption was “greater than that of cryptocurrency mining.” The research, done by Evan Mills, an expert on cannabis’ energy usage, noted that emissions could be reduced “by up to 76 percent by shifting more cultivation outdoors.”
One of the key barriers to sustainable solutions that Mills highlighted was “low consumer and producer awareness,” in other words, consumers and businesses aren’t aware of how big an impact their decisions have. For example, “the average daily or near-daily cannabis consumer’s emissions are equivalent to driving 8,411 km (13,500 miles) in an average car.” That average can be brought lower by making smart purchasing decisions to buy sungrown cannabis and products that work to minimize their packaging and environmental footprint.
In 2024, I published a first-of-its-kind study on cannabis packaging waste, which found that while “many consumers value ethical products, most dispensaries are not equipped to accurately educate them.” One solution I called for was robust public education campaigns like those for paint, oil, and batteries to ensure consumers know the right way to dispose of their cannabis and vape waste. Here are some simple tips to help reduce your packaging waste:
- Less weight doesn’t always mean less waste (a glass jar is recyclable, a mylar bag is not).
- Look for products packaged without plastic or made using ocean-bound plastic or hemp bioplastic.
- To be recycled, a cannabis package must be cleaned out of all cannabis residue.
- Vape pens and their batteries must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
RELATED: Is legalization to blame for the sustainability problems in cannabis?
Sustainable cannabis products to spark up your 420
Autumn Brands
After major headlines about pesticides in legal cannabis rocked California’s cannabis industry last year (on the tail of headlines from 2023 about pesticide issues in Nevada and Washington), it is more important than ever for consumers to know their farmer.
Autumn Brands is a “family farm along the coast of Santa Barbara County [that] uses sustainable farming techniques, natural sunlight, and zero pesticide cultivation.” They are setting a new industry standard for their “100 percent no-spray cannabis farming.” Like Mills called for with his recent study, all the cannabis they produce is sungrown using recirculated water, which minimizes their environmental impact. In addition to their farming practices, Autumn Brands uses bamboo lids in their tincture packaging and otherwise has worked to mitigate the environmental harms of cannabis packaging across their entire product line (flower, tinctures, and topicals).
Nasha Hash
While Autumn Brands has you covered for most product categories, they do not sell concentrates. When it comes to selecting an environmentally friendly concentrate, consumers need to keep two questions in mind: how was it grown, and how was it processed?
Nasha Hash answers that first question by using cannabis flower grown outdoors with regenerative practices by small, craft farmers in Humboldt County. Many of the farms they partner with, like Mattole Valley Sungrown, are certified organic through Sun+Earth and other certification programs.
In the world of cannabis concentrates, there are solventless concentrates like hash or rosin (made through water, heat, pressure, and/or agitation), and there are extracts made through the use of chemical solvents (like alcohol, hydrocarbons, or CO2). Even though extracts can be made using closed-loop systems that can capture and reuse solvents, at the end of the day, hash and rosin will always have a lower environmental impact than an extract like BHO or distillate.
If you want to try a fire concentrate that is as strong as an extract, Nasha Hash has artisanal quality rosin and hash that will give the most potent distillate a run for its money. Just in time for 420, Nasha has just begun to sell flower as well as hash.
RELATED: Celebrating 420? Read this first
Muha Meds
I love top-quality hash almost as much as I love sustainability, which is why I’ve doubled up on hash companies for my 420. Like Nasha, Muha Meds has a wide variety of incredible concentrates all made from “100 percent organically grown cannabis.”
To make this a 420 worth remembering, pick up some of Muha Meds piatella concentrate, the gold standard for concentrate. This cold-cured process minimizes oxygen exposure and maximizes the terpene content. The word “Piatella” is derived from the Italian “‘piatto’, which means ‘flat’, while the suffix ‘-ella’ gives it a meaning similar to “small brick” or “small flat piece.” These little bricks pack a big punch.
Kiva
Not everyone wants to smoke or vape their cannabis; some people want to eat it. When it comes to cannabis edibles, based on my first-of-its-kind study on cannabis packaging waste that came out last year, Kiva was one of the edible companies that stood out for their packaging being easier to recycle and thus more sustainable.
The child-resistant packaging (CRP) on their Kiva Bar carton is “100 percent biodegradable,” or, since it is made from cardboard, recyclable, and their CRP metal tins are “fully recyclable.” This is a welcome return to Kiva’s pre-regulation packaging, before CRP requirements forced them to adopt tins that used non-recyclable plastic inserts — now they have the best of both worlds: CRP and recyclability.
Beyond their sustainable packaging, Kiva’s chocolates and gummies have consistently remained some of the best-tasting edibles in the legal cannabis market. Another thing that really sets Kiva apart from its competition is its use of minor cannabinoids like CBN and CBG.
Storz & Bickel
While not a cannabis or hemp product, the vaporizers sold by Storz & Bickel (S&B) are a wonderful companion to any cannabis or hemp flower (and concentrates, too, depending on the model of vaporizer). If you are looking for an excellent portable vaporizer that is a pocket-sized version of their flagship Volcano, check out the Venty. In honor of its 25th anniversary and 420, S&B has released a special edition green and gold version of their classic Volcano.
Sustainable clothes to look fresh on Earth Day
Jungmaven
Out of all the products sent to me for this article, no one had more sustainable or thoughtful packaging than Jungmaven. As an unapologetic packaging nerd, I loved the minimalist, paper-heavy packaging.
It’s no surprise that Jungmaven has its packaging dialed in; the company is a hemp pioneer that’s been making high-quality hemp clothing since 2004. For this 420, and its 20th anniversary, Jungmaven has launched the “Get On Grass” collection—celebrating and inspiring deeper connections with nature.
Jungmaven also has its Ever Jung Resell program, enabling peer-to-peer resale of Jungmaven garments and further increasing the sustainability of their clothing by encouraging a longer product lifespan.
RELATED: Studies suggest hemp could save the planet
Rawganique
Like Jungmaven, Rawganique sells everything from men’s and women’s clothing to home goods. While there is a ton of cool stuff to profile on their website, the standout for me has been their 100 percent organic hemp shower curtains. My wife and I bought some four years ago for our old apartment, which had a big clawfoot bathtub but needed some new shower curtains. My whole life my relationship to my shower curtains was to keep them as clean as I could for as long as I could, but ultimately they would get too covered in soap scum to be worth cleaning and I would throw them out to buy new ones.
That is not the story of Rawganique’s hemp shower curtains, which are machine washable. While they sell a special wax for them, we did not get the wax and have not regretted our decision; they’re still like brand new after four years. Pro-tip: run a dehumidifier or a fan after your shower to encourage the curtains to fully dry.
8000Kicks
Named 8000Kicks because “hemp has been used since 8000 BC for all kinds of textiles,” 8000Kicks has an outspoken commitment to sustainability. Beyond a devotion to making high-quality hempen shoes, 8000Kicks has multiple certifications for the sustainability and quality of their materials and invests in capturing CO2 through their hemp farms and planting trees. They are also constantly seeking ways to cut down on the energy usage at their factories.
8000Kicks doesn’t just use hemp fabric to make their shoes; their Weedo sneakers are made with “up to 200g of premium CBD weed” and are *the* shoes every stoner sneakerhead needs.
Nomadic State of Mind
Nomadic State of Mind is most known for their rope sandals, which, while they are not made from hemp, have good reasons for that. At first, they did use hemp rope, but through “a lot of expense and trial,” they found hemp fibers didn’t work the way they needed for their rope sandals. They settled on using poly cord, which is long-lasting, durable, lightweight, and fits with their morals. The result is long-lasting sandals that are fully machine washable — I still wear my first pair from more than 10 years ago. Good news for the serious hemp heads out there, Nomadic State of Mind sells a hemp sandal made from recycled hemp sail.
“Our passion for sustainability, animal welfare, and social responsibility is integral to every part of our process and entire product line,” said Vivienne Green, their US-based public relations manager. “When it comes to sustainability, what better way to start caring for the planet than with your literal footprint?”
RELATED: Cannabis could fuel the green-building movement
Threadless
Threadless is an honorable mention. While they do not sell any shirts made from hemp, they have several excellent shirts for both 420 and Earth Day. Even though they do not use any hemp, the printing process is completely waterless, and their ink is 100 percent biodegradable and is completely vegan-friendly.
Unfortunately, graphic t-shirts made from hemp, or even organic cotton, are few and far between, so the best you can hope for is a company that is actively working to minimize its environmental impact. Even better, Threadless’ shirts are made to last; I am still rocking out some of the originals I bought over twenty years ago. Since durability is the best form of sustainability, hemp or not, Threadless does the job.
This year, make your 420 an Earth Day celebration with some cannabis and hemp brands that will be healthier for your body and are better for our planet. While this is a lengthy list of sustainable companies, it is by no means an exhaustive list, since, thankfully, there are new green businesses starting every day.
*This article was submitted by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the content.