Nau, a clothing company based out of Portland, Oregon, is attempting to combine commerce and environmentalism under one roof. At Nau’s website, every product sold has information concerning the product’s sustainability and environmental impact. In fact, Nau touts that, “we’ve put a great deal of work into ensuring they [the clothes] are recyclable or compostable whenever possible.” Ideas are offered on the website for what to do with the company’s clothes once you no longer need them in a “product afterlife program.”

Most interesting, however, are the “grey matters” and blog sections of the website. In grey matters, the company discusses some of the morally ambiguous issues that arise when taking part in a for-profit endeavor that necessarily relies on labor and raw materials, and creates environmental strain. Topics such as carbon offsets and global sourcing (aka using overseas labor) are discussed, highlighting even that which could paint the company in a less-than-perfect light. Each section tells the reader where the company stands on the particular issue, and what the company is doing to minimize any negative impacts.

The blog portion of the website, too, is not merely a section to brag about all the company is doing to help the environment. In this section, the writers openly grapple with the issues facing them as individuals - the accidental destruction of nature, and the waste created by airline travel, and how to offset it. What’s so interesting about this company, and the people involved with it, is that they don’t profess to having all the answers associated with trying to make their clothing the cleanest, most eco-friendly products on the market, but they’re doing their best to be transparent in the steps they’re taking.

You can by visiting the site, and learning about the delicate balance of making money while helping the environment.