Here's the original article

While most of our efforts to advance sustainability—like the use of high-efficiency condensing boilers, LED lighting, electric vehicles, and low carbon fuels—happen behind the scenes, one part of our approach is easier to find as you’re walking through the terminal: Sustainable brands. 

“We encourage our commercial partners to source local, sustainable products whenever possible,” says Benedict Ma, Director, Passenger Retail Experience. “Supporting Canadian brands not only brings unique, locally made items to travellers at YVR, but also helps put dollars back into the local economy, so passengers can feel good about the impact of their purchase.” 

As you pass through the terminal, keep an eye out for sustainable products from these six local brands. 

Apparel and accessories from tentree

Selling sustainable, stylish goods made from hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel, this Vancouver-born brand plants ten trees for every item sold.  

Find tentree products at World Duty Free in the U.S. Terminal. 

Lightweight knitted bags from ATACZ 

Help cut down on plastic waste with a handbag from ATACZ. They process recycled plastic bottles into yarn and 3D knit them into lightweight, colourful bags—each bag uses the equivalent of approximately 150 plastic bottles! Since launch, ATACZ has upcycled nearly 30,000 plastic bottles into yarn. As a proud member of 1% for the Planet, ATACZ pledges 1% of annual revenue to environmental causes.  

Find ATACZ products at World Duty Free in the U.S. Terminal. 

Locally made treats from Gem Chocolates 

Based in Kerrisdale, Vancouver, Gem Chocolates crafts their premium chocolates with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, prioritizing B Corp and Non-GMO Project certified partners in B.C. and Canada.  

They also believe in providing genuine employment opportunities for people with neurodiverse abilities—one third of their employees are members of the neurodivergent community. 

Find Gem Chocolates at Cascadia Collection in the Domestic Terminal. 

Plush toys from Vancouver Aquarium Shop

From sea otters to orcas, all plush toys at the Vancouver Aquarium shop are made from recycled fabric and stuffing. To reduce plastic waste and keep oceans clean, the toys have eyes, noses, whiskers, and hang tags that are sewn on, and are free from plastic beads and pellets. Plus, our purchase supports ocean conservation work and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. 

Find Vancouver Aquarium Shop before security in the Domestic Terminal. 

Charcuterie boards from ChopValue 

ChopValue is a Vancouver-based company that transforms used chopsticks into high-performance products. Since 2017, ChopValue has collected more than 1.5 million chopsticks from YVR’s food courts—diverting material from landfill and saving over 77,000 kilograms of carbon emissions. 

You can spot their creations around our terminal, including some of our food court tabletops! Feeling inspired? Pick up their charcuterie boards, coasters, cribbage boards and more at Vancouver Duty Free. 

Find products from ChopValue at Vancouver Duty Free in the International Terminal. 

Hats from SixHats Supply Co. 

Founded by two friends who were born and raised in B.C.’s Sea to Sky Corridor, SixHats Supply Co. creates timeless, West Coast–inspired ball caps. Through a partnership with The Thirst Project, which operates in some of the most remote regions of Africa, each hat purchased supplies six people with clean drinking water for a year. 

Find products from Six Hats Supply Co. at Alpine Loft in the International Terminal.