FAIR TRADE / ETHICALLY MADE EVERYDAY FAVORITES
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Of course, repair & secondhand are the best choices but sometimes something new fills the need. This is by no means complete but these are my go-to sources for every-day purchases. Fair Trade does not have to always mean expensive though it usually has some price premium. As I’m trying to live low on the consumption scale, most of my purchases are consumables or clothing.
When shopping at stores or online, you can presume that if something is made in the USA or a Western European country that it is ethically made because of existing minimum wage and worker safety requirements. If it is made anywhere else, look for Fair Trade, GOTS on the label.
CLOTHING, LINEN, FURNITURE, GIFTS & HOME DECOR
Fair Indigo Great quality, classic women’s clothing and accessories. A few men’s items, also.
Marine Layer – Clothing, womens & mens. Re-spun one-of-a-kind upcycling program that spins your old tees into something new. Some vingtage clothing. See their impact report.
Pact – Clothing for Women, Men, Kids, Babies plus Bed & bath. A selection is always offered at Whole Foods. Offers the option to offset the carbon footprint of your shipment. Use your Pact shipping box to donate your old clothes to nonprofits. Uses materials that minimize packaging lifecycle footprint.
SERVV International – Fair Trade Clothing, jewelry, home decor,
Under the Canopy – Linens for Bed, Bath, Loungewear. Organic and GOTS certified for ethical treatment of workers.
West Elm – Bedding & fabrics are organic & GOTS certified, furniture is FSC sustainably sourced and FairTrade manufactured.
Ten Thousand Villages – for purchase online and selected shops (usually in tourist districts). Jewelry & personaly accessories, home, kitchen, outdoor decor, spa & wellness.
CHOCOLATE (consider these for school fundraisers!):
Alter Eco Foods – Available in many gift shops and specialty groceries. Also carry granola, quinoa
Beyond Good – African chocolate bars & melts; vanilla beans & extract. Available locally at Sprouts
Divine Chocolate – Widely available in chain groceries. Order in bulk and specialty sizes and flavors online. Offers bite sized chocolates for Halloween handouts
Endangered Species – Widely available in many stores. Order in bulk online.
Equal Exchange Available in many gift shops and specialty groceries. Also carry coffee, tea, dried fruits, nuts, olive oil, canned tomatoes and bagged snacks.
Lake Champlain Chocolates – Regional chocolatier, available nationwide online.
Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates – San Luis Obsipo CA and online. Truffles, bars, barks, bakers supplies
SERVV International – Fair Trade chocolate, foods, clothing, jewelry, home decor.
Theo Chocolate -Widely available in chain groceries. Order in bulk and specialty sizes and flavors online.
UnReal – For those with allergies, UnReal makes chocolate candy favorites (M&Ms, Reeses, etc-type) WITHOUT gluten, corn or soy. Offers multi-packs for holiday treats. Watch the founder’s TED Talk to learn more!
COFFEE
I am happy to report that, 12 years on from my first posting, organic and Fair Trade/Ethical trade coffee is now widely available at groceries nationwide and in bags & by the cup at many coffee shops, both chains and small independent shops. Thank you for your continued patronage of these products. I am no longer listing individual roasters as there are now too many to track.
OFFICE SUPPLIES & FINANCIAL
BIC ReVolution – Retractable pens, correction tape, mechanical pencils, stick pens, permanent markers, highlighters made of at least 50% recycled plastic. I have purchased them at Office Depot, CVS, Target, probably more.
Wisdom Supply Co – Notebooks, tab dividers, weekly planners, sticky notes, pens, pencils & more.
GoECOlife – Recyled plastic paper shredders. Available online and in stores.
Checks: Check Gallery Recycled paper, non-toxic veggie-based inks.
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