4 Brands That Are Committed to Keeping Bees Alive and Thriving

The bee population is in crisis right now, and it's up to us to restore their natural habitat and encourage them to reenter our green spaces. Without bees, we wouldn't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, or get to pick up huge, dinner-plate-sized dahlias at the farmers market. We need their pollinating power.

Although there's a lot of work to do, there are a handful of companies that have started efforts to save the bees, whether that's selling items that use bee products or using percentages of profits to donate to bee-saving causes.

One of the key players in pollinator conservation partnerships is the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It's a science-based nonprofit organization that works with scientists, land managers, educators, farmers, and citizens to protect and restore pollinators and invertebrates. A listing of Xerces' corporate supporters is on their website. Look for their Bee Better Certified seal on products so you know that the product's ingredients were grown in ways that support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Häagen-Dazs

We all know Häagen-Dazs for their amazing ice cream. But did you know that they have donated over one million dollars to pollinator education and research? They have over a dozen ice cream flavors that are bee-dependent, meaning they need bees for the ingredients. Bee-dependent flavors have a special label on the outside of the carton. In 2016, Häagen-Dazs installed a hedgerow at the farm of their almond supplier to create a pollinator habitat. Soon, all of their almond flavors will have the Xerces Bee Better seal that indicates that the almonds were grown and harvested in a bee-friendly way.

Me & the Bees Lemonade

The story behind this lemonade brand is pretty amazing—it was started by a 4-year-old in Austin who was passionate about bees (and her great-granny's flaxseed lemonade). She started the Healthy Hive Foundation which puts donations toward foundations that benefit bees. So far, they've been funding bee apiaries, which is like an outdoor room to keep honeybees. Buy Me & the Bees Lemonade and the profits from each bottle go toward the Healthy Hive Foundation.

Buy It: Me & the Bees Lemonade With Mint Pack of 12, $61, Amazon

Burt’s Bees

This skin care brand started as a collection of beeswax lip balms and has since expanded into hair care, makeup, and oral care items. Their products are 100 percent natural and are sold in sustainable packaging. Burt's Bees started foundations to help plant over 5,000 acres of pollinator habitat (that's 15 billion seeds!).

Justin’s

Famous for their nut butters, Justin's relies on bees to pollinate nut plants and develop quality harvest. That's why they partnered with Xerces Society, People & Pollinators Action Network, and Growing Gardens to support sustainable agriculture, spread awareness, and educate others about pollinator conservation. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Justin's efforts with these organizations helps to promote pollinators in their local area and provides scholarships and classroom visit for more than 800 children.

Buy It: Honey Almond Butter, $10, Amazon