Is Your Easter Candy Ethical?
Chocolate is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but for the children working in slavery conditions in cacao fields across West Africa’s Ivory Coast, the reality behind it is anything but sweet. Check out this great article: The bitter truth behind the chocolate in your Easter basket.
Loose Tea Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Organic, Fair-Trade loose tea is the eco-friendly choice compared to tea bags. There is less packaging involved with loose tea and larger portions of the plants are use to create a more robust flavor. Organic farming improves the fertility of the soil and stops the use of harmful chemicals and that in turn makes farming safer for the farmers and their families and for the surrounding wildlife.
Fair trade empowers the tea workers to improve their lives. Fair wages and respectable living and working conditions are combined with the ability, education and training to manage their own funds as they see fit.
Here are 5 Ways Loose Tea Reduces Your Carbon Footprint:
1. ELIMINATE WASTE: No tea bags and excess packing… No landfill…
2. REUSE: Resteep leaves for added “green” factor, value, & enjoyment!
3. COMPOST used leaves.
4. REUSE / RECYCLE metal tea tins.
5. BONUS… Resteep your tea leaves a final time to water your house plants.
Source: http://theteaspot.com/eco-friendly-tea-products-organic.html
STOPstart: Stop the trafficking. Start a new life.
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While searching online, I came across these wallets made from recycled rice & feed bags by STOPstart. I decided to purchase one and 2-3 days later it was in my mailbox. This wallet is very well made, professional and I would recommend it. They make items such as handbags, totes, messenger bags, travel bags, wallets, and billfolds.
“StopStart is a registered World Fair Trade organization. They are committed to building sustainable businesses through the education, training and development of local Cambodians. StopStart Enterprises has its roots in the mission of Stopping human trafficking and Starting new lives. Their desire is to build sustainable businesses that will change the lives of the Cambodian people and bring hope where there has been despair. They are training and developing local Cambodians to grow and develop the businesses. Currently approx. 30% of the StopStart Enterprise workforce have been rescued from slavery and are being trained and developed in language, design, machining and management.”
By purchase their products, you enable men, women, and children who have been trafficked, impoverished or abandoned to be reintegrated back into society.
Purchase items from STOPstart with free shipping in the US: http://www.kingdom-ventures.com
10 Lead-Free Reusable Shopping Bags
Reusable shopping bags are affordable and a small step in helping keep the planet clean. There are several types to choose from such as organic cotton, canvas, recycled plastic, non-woven-polypropylene, and more…
In the US, tests show that some non-woven-polypropylene bags made in China, contain high levels of lead. Most of these bags have been pulled off the shelves, but cloth bags are the safest bet. Not all bags made in China contain lead.
Fair wage, fair trade, organic or recycled bags cloth bags can easily be washed and be the safe alternative. Next time you purchase a reusable shopping bag, please be careful with the type of bag you choose. This will help you stay healthy and avoid contaminating your food.
Here are 10 safe, lead-free, reusable shopping bags available:
1. Eco Enthusiast
2. ChicoBag
3. Eco Bags
4. Envirosax
5. ReUseIt
6. RuMe
7. LeadFreeBags.com
8. Project GreenBag
9. Plastic Pollution Coalition
10. Green Eyed Monster
Eco Fashions from Ecolissa.com
Ecolissa.com launched Sept. 1st 2010. Ecolissa carries only fashionable eco friendly and vegan women’s clothing and accessories. They specialize in dresses and easy to wear separates.
I purchased the dress and jeans pictured below. The Stewart + Brown Margaret Shirt Dress is extremely cute and comfortable! The Good Society Skinny Denim are very attractive and well made. These will both become a part of my every day wardrobe.
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The Stewart + Brown Margaret Shirt Dress is all about charm, with a sweet heart neckline and drawstring waist the fit is incredibly flattering. Classic fit. 100% Organic Tissue Cotton Woven and Made in the USA. |
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| The Good Society Skinny Denim is a flattering, snug fit top to bottom with utmost comfort. Made of 99% Fair Trade Organic Cotton and 1% lycra. Colored with natural dye. Japanese designed and made in India. For every pair of jeans purchased, Goodsociety will give 25% to someone in need. | |
PeopleTowels
PeopleTowels are the newest concept in sustainability. I first discovered PeopleTowels in January 2010 at the Go Green Expo in Los Angeles. They mentioned they were doing a design contest for Earth Day, and asked if I knew any designers. I told them I was a designer, so I decided to enter the contest. I was one of the top 3 winners and my design called “Wise tOWeL” can be purchased on their site. They have so many fun designs to choose from, so you can stock up.
Reusable PeopleTowels are a small sustainable lifestyle change that everyone can do to reduce their carbon footprint. These reusable personal hand towels are made of a patent-pending fabric that’s 100% certified organic Fair Trade cotton. The light-weight fabric is absorbent, yet dries quickly. PeopleTowels are printed with eco-friendly dyes.
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