Life is not just about soap for Oregon Soap Company’s founder Gregg Arnell of Portland. It’s about being a responsible environmental steward and producing soap in the cleanest, most renewable way possible, and the ethos of his company reflects this stewardship. Maker of organic soaps for nearly 30 years, Oregon Soap Company uses primarily organic vegetable oils and natural ingredients, Oregon Tilth-certified, to produce its bar, liquid and castile soaps. These soaps are also Carbonfund-certified carbon neutral: For every 10 bars of soap sold or 5 gallons of liquid soap sold, a native plant or tree is planted in partnership with Friends of Trees and Trees for the Future. Since 2007, more than 750,000 native plants and trees have been planted. Carbonfund also supports third-party and verified renewable energy, including wind farms and solar power, to replace reliance on fossil fuels. Using renewable energy is another cornerstone of Oregon Soap Company’s mission.

For a decade, the family-owned skin-care and cosmetics business Mad Hippie of Portland has carefully crafted products free of harmful ingredients while remaining a dedicated steward of the environment. Owners Sam and Dana Stewart rooted their company in “the less is more” philosophy, borne back in the days they lived and played in the “harsh equatorial sun” on the beaches of Central America. Concerned about the lack of clean, natural products available to protect surfers’ sun-damaged skin, they developed a stripped-down line of skin-care products and cosmetics, free of harmful ingredients, parabens and preservatives. Made with a clean base, these vegan, cruelty-free products are packed with antioxidants, peptides and vitamins—what the Stewarts call “rejuvenating actives.”