What’s Trending: eco-friendly edition!

In efforts to support the environment, the footwear company Timberland has been striving towards a list of goals to meet by 2020, including using recycled materials in shoes, planting 10 million trees and becoming fully waste free. Learn more about their environmental impact and buy their shoes at www.timberland.com.

Pacifica is a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand that guarantees discount loyalty points if you recycle their product’s packaging. Buy this facemask and sign up for the recycling program at their website, www.pacificabeauty.com.

REI, an outdoor supplies and clothing retailer, takes an eco-friendly stance by requiring all 1,000 brands sold at their stores to meet a set of sustainability requirements in efforts to eliminate their environmental footprint.  The closest REI outlet is located in Mellody Farm in Vernon Hills.

From their mission statement, Native Foods guarantees delicious food without using any animal products. They also aim to only use organic food, biodegradable and recyclable packaging and build energy-efficient restaurants. The Chicago cafe offers soups, salads, and plant-based burgers. 1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Uncommon Ground, a Chicago restaurant, features the first certified rooftop farm in the U.S. The rooftop garden -- complete with planter boxes and beehives -- is the main source for their produce. They offer American-style food options for brunch, lunch, and dinner. 1401 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60660