Every year on April 22, Earth Day is a global reminder that protecting our planet isn’t just about policies. It’s about everyday decisions, including the brands we support. While the climate crisis feels overwhelming at times, stories of bold, community-rooted innovation continue to emerge across Southeast Asia, bringing hope, creativity, and real change.
In this blog, we’re spotlighting 7 brands from Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia that are proving sustainability can be local, beautiful, and deeply impactful. From fashion to food to future tech, these businesses are rewriting what it means to grow with purpose—one conscious product, project, and partnership at a time.
SusGain
In a city where convenience often overshadows eco-consciousness, susGain emerges as a transformative force, turning everyday actions into meaningful contributions to sustainability. This free mobile app gamifies green habits, allowing users to earn points for eco-friendly activities like recycling, using reusable items, and shopping at sustainable local businesses. These points can be redeemed for rewards, and a matching donation is made to a local charity of the user’s choice, creating a triple-win scenario for individuals, communities, and the planet.​
Vision: To empower consumers, businesses, and communities to drive the change towards sustainability.​
Name meaning: A blend of “sustainable” and “gain,” reflecting the app’s mission to make sustainable living rewarding and accessible.​
Impact: Since its inception, susGain has partnered with over 90 local sustainable brands and mapped more than 1,000 green data points across Singapore, including water refill stations, recycling bins, and eco-friendly retailers.​Â
🗣️ “We strongly believe that it requires a large number of stakeholders across all domains to come together and work on it collectively.” — susGain Team
The Plastic Flamingo (The Plaf)
A flamingo made of plastic? It’s a playful image for a serious issue: ocean-bound plastic waste. Known as The Plaf, this social enterprise collects plastic waste from households, businesses, and coastlines—and turns it into eco-lumber for shelters, benches, and emergency housing.
What makes them special is their community-based collection system, which empowers locals and businesses to be part of the solution.
Name vibe: Quirky and bold—just like their mission to make sustainability impossible to ignore.
“Our mission is to stop plastic from reaching the ocean.” — Charlotte Lesage, co-founder of The Plastic Flamingo​
Rags2Riches
Fashion that looks good, feels good—and does good. Rags2Riches (R2R) began in Payatas, a community beside one of Metro Manila’s largest dumpsites. The idea? Give artisans access to design, fair wages, and the global market.
They turn upcycled fabrics and indigenous textiles into stunning bags and homeware, handcrafted by empowered women in low-income areas. Their work is a love letter to Filipino culture and craftsmanship.
💡 Name origin: From literal “rags” (scrap fabric) to “riches” (livelihood and dignity).
🗣️ “We’re not just making bags—we’re weaving stories of hope and second chances.” — Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, Co-Founder
EQUO
Plastic straws are so last decade. Meet EQUO, the Vietnamese brand making compostable straws and utensils from coffee, coconut, sugarcane, and more. Think innovation with attitude—they’re not just replacing single-use plastics, they’re creating a lifestyle around conscious consumption.
EQUO is led by Marina Tran-Vu, who’s also passionate about eco-education and female leadership in green entrepreneurship.
💡 Name inspiration: “Eco” + “quo” (from status quo). A challenge to make sustainable the new normal.
🗣️ “Our goal isn’t just to reduce plastic use—it’s to build a movement around mindful consumption.” — Marina Tran-Vu, Founder
Burgreens
Delicious, nutritious, and climate-conscious—Burgreens is Indonesia’s largest plant-based food chain. Founded by a nutritionist and a chef duo, their restaurants serve hearty meals made with local, organic produce, supporting regenerative agriculture and smallholder farmers.
They’ve expanded into food kits, retail products, and lifestyle coaching—all with the same goal: helping people eat green without sacrificing flavor.
đź’ˇ Name origin: Burger + greens. Familiar comfort food, reimagined for the planet.
🗣️ “You don’t have to change your lifestyle overnight. Start with one meal. One bite. One choice.” — Max Mandias, Co-Founder
Green Li-ion
Ever wonder what happens to old batteries? Most end up in landfills or get downcycled. Green Li-ion is flipping that script. Their tech recycles lithium-ion batteries into 99% pure raw materials, giving them a second (and better) life.
Founded by a team of scientists and engineers in Singapore, they’re creating closed-loop systems that make battery use truly circular—essential for our electrified future.
💡 Name meaning: “Green” stands for sustainability. “Li-ion” = lithium-ion batteries. Simple, powerful.
🗣️ “We don’t just need more recycling—we need better recycling.” — Leon Farrant, CEO
Hug
In the Thai dialect of Isan, “Hug” means love. And that’s exactly what this brand is all about—a love for nature, Thai culture, and self-care. Hug produces organic, nearly chemical-free skincare products, using ingredients like Surin Hom Mali Rice and Thai herbs, all sourced from local, ethical farms.
From refillable packaging to fair trade partnerships with rural farmers, Hug is building a circular beauty ecosystem that’s deeply rooted in Thai tradition.
💡 Name meaning: “Hug” = love in Northern Thai. Soft, local, human.
🗣️ “We believe skincare can heal more than just skin. It can heal the land, the people, and the spirit.” — Hug Organic Team
Closing Thoughts: One Region. One Planet. Infinite Impact.
These brands are more than their products. They’re visions born from love—love for people, land, heritage, and the future. They’re not just helping Southeast Asia adapt to climate change, they’re helping it lead.
This Earth Day 2025, support brands that go beyond greenwashing and actually walk the talk. Because when you spend with purpose, you vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
🌿 Which of these brands do you already love—or want to try next? Let’s keep the conversation going on socials!
If you’re a brand with a mission or story to tell and want to be featured, let’s collaborate. Contact us here to promote your brand with us.
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