Uncommon Goods
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Best for conscious gift-givers seeking unique, artisan-made products from a deeply values-driven marketplace. What stands out is their status as a founding B Corp (since 2007, current score 95.0) with exceptional worker treatment, starting wages at 100% above federal minimum, and a fully fur-, feather-, leather-, and pearl-free catalog. The caveat: as a curated marketplace of 600+ independent makers rather than a single manufacturer, they have inherently limited visibility into each maker's full supply chain, and recent sustainability reporting has been less visible than their early-era transparency.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Founded
- 1999
- Product categories
- Lifestyle, Accessories
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- Certified B Corporation (founding member, May 2007; current score 95.0), fur/feather/pearl/leather-free catalog
Uncommon Goods sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Approximately 20–33% of products incorporate recycled or upcycled materials, and ~50% are handmade by independent artisans. The entire catalog bans fur, feathers, pearls, and leather. However, as a marketplace, not all products meet the same sustainability bar, some items are conventionally manufactured goods.
Exceptional for a retailer. Lowest-paid workers earn double the federal minimum wage; seasonal workers earn 50% above. Company pays 80% of health insurance premiums, offers paid family leave, education reimbursement, and open-book management. Founder lobbied for NY state minimum wage increases and paid family leave legislation.
Catalogs printed on FSC-certified recycled paper (30% post-consumer waste). Closed-loop cardboard recycling in warehouse. Shifted business online to reduce catalog waste, Participated in MillionTreesNYC. However, no formal carbon offset program, no science-based targets, and no recent environmental impact report.
B Corp score (95.0) is publicly available and independently assessed. Open-book management internally. Regular blogging about values and initiatives. However, no formal annual sustainability report, no detailed supply chain mapping for their hundreds of makers, and no published supplier code of conduct.
Most products range $15–$150, with some items up to $300+. Mid-to-premium pricing, comparable to other curated sustainable marketplaces (Made Trade). Products are unique/artisan, you're paying for creativity and ethics. Shipping costs are a frequent customer complaint. Perks membership (~$17/year) offers free standard shipping.
What they do well
- Founding B Corp with exceptional track record: certified since May 2007 with a current score of 95.0 (nearly double the 50.9 median for ordinary businesses). Named B Lab "Best for the World" in Community multiple years (2016–2022) and Forbes Small Giant (2018).
- Industry-leading worker compensation and benefits: starting wages 100% above federal minimum, paid family leave, education reimbursement, open-book management, financial empowerment counselors, 80% health insurance premium coverage. Founder actively lobbied for NY state policy changes.
- "Better to Give" charitable program: since 2001, customers can direct a $1 donation to a nonprofit partner at checkout with every purchase. Over $2 million donated to date.
- Comprehensive animal-free policy: no fur, feathers, pearls, or leather sold across the entire platform, which is unusual for a general gift retailer
- Platform for 600+ independent makers: approximately half of products are handmade, supporting small artisan businesses with storytelling and a curated marketplace
Room for improvement
- No formal carbon offset or climate action program, while they use FSC paper and recyclable packaging, there's no carbon neutrality commitment, science-based targets, or shipping offset program. This is a gap compared to competitors like EarthHero (carbon-neutral shipping) or brands with 1% for the Planet commitments.
- Limited recent sustainability reporting, the most detailed sustainability content dates from 2014–2017. No formal annual impact report or recent ESG disclosure exists. For a founding B Corp, more regular and transparent environmental reporting would strengthen credibility.
- Variable supply chain visibility, as a marketplace of hundreds of independent makers, Uncommon Goods has limited granular visibility into each supplier's practices. No published supplier code of conduct, third-party audit program, or supply chain map for makers.
About Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods was founded in 1999 by David Bolotsky, a former managing director at Goldman Sachs who headed its U.S. Retail Research Division. Using personal savings and small investments from friends and family, he launched the company from Brooklyn's historic Army Terminal, where it remains headquartered today. When the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, Bolotsky downsized from 35 employees to just 5, an experience that deepened his commitment to building a "better, not bigger" business.
The company operates as a curated online marketplace and catalog retailer, connecting consumers with unique, creative designs from 600+ independent artists and makers. About half of products are handmade, and roughly a third incorporate recycled or upcycled materials. The entire catalog is fur-, feather-, pearl-, and leather-free.
In 2007, Uncommon Goods became one of the founding B Corporations, and Bolotsky helped advocate for legislation making B Corp legal status possible in New York State (signed into law in 2012). Their current B Corp score of 95.0 is nearly double the 50.9 median, with their Workers subcategory scoring an exceptional 42.4 points. The "Best for the World" designation in Community reflects their $2M+ in charitable donations through the "Better to Give" program.
Shipping is via standard carriers with free returns within 30 days. The Perks membership (~$17/year) offers free standard shipping. Pricing ranges from $15–$300+, positioning them as mid-to-premium in the curated gift space.
Product highlights
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