Since 1988 Global Exchange, has taken a stand against exploitive, corporate-based retail and raised awareness about fair-trade activism, as well as environmental, political and social justice. Through their brick and mortar stores, Global Exchange has proven that purchasing from companies that produce fairly traded food and crafts items can be profitable. These same products are now available through their fair-trade online store. By remaining steadfast to their pledge of operating according to socially conscious fair-trade criteria, Global Exchange offers a wide selection of sweatshop free products and staples such as coffee, tea and chocolate can be delivered to your door, as well as various gift baskets, jewelry, books, crafts and clothing. Chocolate? Fair trade? Delivered? YES!!!

Find It Here: Global Exchange

By Sarah, May 27, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Fair Trade, Gift, Resources

While buying less is always preferable, we’re not completely immune to the joys of shopping. But remember, when you shop, your dollar speaks for you — whether you want it to or not. Enter Co-op America, a program that has tackled the noble task of teaching consumers how to shop responsibly with their Responsible Shopper program. By alerting consumers to a company’s practices you will become better informed and learn which companies are truly environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Take a stroll through the alphabetized list of companies on their site and get the scoop on the good and bad and the ugly of corporate America. If you’re struck with the urge to do something positive, check out the Actions page where you can join different campaigns like the Adopt-A-Supermarket Campaign, the Green Supermarket Pledge or Six Degrees of Exploitation, to name just a few — because as long as your dollars are speaking for you, they ought to be saying something worthwhile, yes?

Find It Here: Responsible Shopper

By Sarah, May 22, 2008  
Filed under: Do Good, Fair Trade, Resources

Ever since I heard that vinyl bibs contain lead, I’ve been backing off the plasticky bibs and going for cloth. Cloth bibs tend to be much easier on the eyes anyway. One of my favorites are these 100% organic cotton, soft terrycloth bibs by La Queue du Chat (aka The Cat’s Tail). We love this French company for their bib designs, but we love them even more for their commitment to fair-trade practices. Their bibs are manufactured in an Indian factory that works exclusively with organic cotton. Female workers make equal pay to their male counterparts (no children are employed), and all workers receive higher-than-average wages, a yearly bonus of one month’s pay, medical insurance, and free access to a doctor and a pharmacy for themselves and their families. Working conditions are safe and clean. But wait, there’s more! They even send a collection of their baby clothes to charities that provide assistance to homeless mothers. Wow. Suffice it to say that we’re hooked on them.

Find It Here: Comptoir d’Enfance

Congratulations to Debbie, winner of a fair-trade, organic cotton bib by La Queue du Chat, courtesy of Comptoir d’Enfance.

By Cristina, May 2, 2008  
Filed under: Baby, Eat, Fair Trade, Organic, Win

I’m really trying to buy more used items these days because not only is it better for the environment to not buy new stuff all the time, it’s also better for my pocketbook. But when I’m looking for natural and fair-trade toys and clothing, I’ve had trouble finding them used. So I was totally psyched (do people still use that word?) to find The Conscious Child. While The Conscious Child mainly carries brand new items, it is their small selection of gently used environmentally friendly baby and toddler products that made us fall in love with this unique online store. Browse their shop to buy, or sell some of your own items for cash upfront. While their inventory is sometimes a little low, you can find some good deals if you check back often - like this organic cotton Under the Nile baby gown priced at only $15.99 and available elsewhere for $22.00. Shop owner, Sarah, personally and fully inspects all used items for first-quality condition prior to selling them so you can feel confident in what you’re buying. So if you’re the type who loves to shop consignment stores, flea markets, garage sales, or if you’re just a closet Craigslist addict with a bent towards green living, then take a peek at the selection of gently loved items at The Conscious Child. But hands off the ecological wool booties, kay? Those are mine :)

Find It Here: The Conscious Child

Congratulations to Lily K., winner of a set of (3) handcrafted beeswax body balms from The Conscious Child!

By Cristina, April 23, 2008  
Filed under: Fair Trade, Organic, Reduce/Reuse, Win

When it comes to chocolate, I don’t usually need an excuse to eat some but now I have even more reason to indulge because I’ve found a green mom’s dream cookie company - Liz Lovely’s Online Bakery and Chocolate Shop. This socially responsible company specializes in fair-trade, non-GMO, organic, vegan chocolates, cookies, fruits, nuts and all kinds of other yummy and totally guiltless goodies. Almost every product is made from scratch in their very own bakery in Vermont. These are true artisan goods, made by real people instead of machines and free of preservatives and artificial flavorings. Their packaging is pretty darn eco-conscious, too, right down to the biodegradable ribbon and the compostable, “corn-tainers”, which biodegrade within 90 days. Check out their gift samplers, which give you a little taste of everything. As for myself, I think I see an Easter Treat-ster sampler with my name my kids’ names on it.

Find It Here: Liz Lovely

Congratulations to Julianne, winner of a $40 “Easter Treat-ster” sampler from Liz Lovely! 

By Cristina, March 14, 2008  
Filed under: Biodegradable, Eat, Fair Trade, Gift, Indulge, Organic, Win

Avoiding plastic seems to be particularly challenging around Easter time. There are the plastic eggs, the plastic Easter grass and of course, those hideous plastic Easter baskets. Since I am decidedly anti-plastic, I have been on the lookout for the perfect (non-plastic) Easter basket this year and I think I’ve found it - The Bolga Basket from Go Natural Baby. Hand woven in the town of Bolgatanga, Ghana in West Africa, these brightly colored, fair-trade Easter baskets are each handmade of straw by a local artisan weaver and colored with natural plant extracts. Each basket is a unique work of art and only a very limited quantity are available. You might also like their traditional gathering baskets, which are also fair-trade, handmade, 100% plastic-free and guaranteed to serve you long after the Easter egg hunts are over.

Find It Here: Go Natural Baby

Congratulations to Candice of Alabama, winner of a fair-trade basket from Go Natural Baby!

Deal: Go Natural Baby is having a huge sale, going on now until noon on March 21, 2008.

By Cristina, March 10, 2008  
Filed under: Fair Trade, Kids, Reduce/Reuse, Win

Buying organic, fair-trade children’s clothing doesn’t mean having to sacrifice style, especially when it comes to the hand-appliquéd dresses, t-shirts and pants from Kice Kice. Founded by artists and twin sisters Karen Kice and Lesley Nishigawara, Kice Kice specializes in environmentally and socially responsible clothing. Their spring 2008 line is made from 100% organic cotton and features playful designs that are comfortable enough to wear during playtime, but stylish enough to wear out for a special event. Each garment truly looks like a work of art - and like a work of art, each garment is individual and varies slightly due to its handmade nature.

Find It Here: Nonchalantmom

Congrats to Heather D., winner of the pictured dot shirt, valued at $38.00!

By Cristina, March 7, 2008  
Filed under: Baby, Fair Trade, Organic, Toddler, Wear, Win

SLO Chai is a small family-owned tea company based in California that pays close attention to the ecological and social impacts of their business and commit 1% of profits toward sustainability education. Their fair-trade and certified organic products include sweet and spicy chai blends of Green Tea, Honeybush, Yerba Mate and Black Tea as well as Vanilla Spice Latte, Brew-Your-Own Chai Mix and Chai Chocolate. Yes, you read correctly. SLO Chai makes a 65% Fair Trade Organic chocolate blended with the authentic SLO Chai spice mix. In their words, “a sweet and spicy treat!” In addition to tea and chocolate, their website offers a variety of chai gift assortments, tea presses, recipes and SLO Chai gear featuring their groovy red elephant on organic cotton t-shirts.

Find It Here: SLO Chai

By Sarah, March 1, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Fair Trade, Gift, Indulge, Organic

Milk or dark, fruit or hazelnuts; take your pick of this fair trade certified, eco-conscious chocolate from a farmer-owned company. Besides perusing the chocolate bars, you can also browse mouth-watering recipes, read their blog, find out how they got started and get the story behind the symbols on their wrappers. And if you’re one of those romantic types that just has to do something for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, this elegant, beautifully-wrapped chocolate is a fabulous (and fair trade) departure from those tired heart-shaped boxes of not particularly good chocolate they sell at your local drug store.

Find it Here: Divine Chocolate: A Farmer-Owned Fair Trade Company

By Kris, February 6, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Fair Trade, Gift, Indulge

Valentine’s Day is arguably the quintessential Hallmark holiday and yet I can’t complain too much about a day designed to give women chocolate and flowers. And speaking of flowers, if your sweetie is in the market to get you some, tell him you’d be extra impressed if he managed to get you the certified, sustainably-grown variety. Finding them is easier than you think. Just look for the VeriFlora symbol at your local grocery store or floral shop. If you can’t find them locally, check out VeriFlora’s website for online floral retailers that specialize in “eco bouquets” like those at OrganicBouquet.com. VeriFlora flowers are grown using fair labor practices and sustainable crop production. Their growers also strive to protect ecosystems and conserve resources and energy.

Find It Here: VeriFlora

By Cristina, February 4, 2008  
Filed under: Fair Trade, Gift, Organic, Sustainable, Tips