There are several reasons why adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is important. First, it helps us reduce our environmental impact by conserving natural resources. Second, it reduces the amount of trash produced by making people think twice before throwing something away. Third, it saves money because it requires less energy to produce goods and services. Fourth, it makes us feel good because it gives us a sense of accomplishment. Finally, it promotes healthy living because it encourages us to eat better and exercise more often.

Adopting a Zero Waste Lifestyle – Some Whys and a Few Hows

Waste management is a worldwide crisis that needs public attention. But simple lifestyle adjustments can contribute to the solution of this global issue.

Plastic has become a worldwide major crisis and we can all make a difference to resolve this problem. This is fairly simple. 

A study, released in 2015, estimates that “2.5 billion MT of municipal solid waste was generated in 2010 by 6.4 billion people living in 192 coastal countries (93% of the global population)”. Of this number, 275 million metric tons (MT) was of plastic waste,  with 4.8 to 12.7 million MT entering the ocean. Just to give you a little perspective, a metric ton is equivalent to 1000 kilograms, so 8.8 million tons of American plastic waste was disposed of in the ocean in 2010.  

Source: http://jambeck.engr.uga.edu/landplasticinput

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) reported that  “in 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash and recycled and composted about 87 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.3 percent recycling rate”. Still according to EPA, by diverting these materials from landfills we have prevented the release of approximately 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking over 39 million cars off the road for a year.

Local recycling programs, such as the one created by  Recology in San Francisco, have shown great results as it has been able to either recycle, reuse or compost 80% of the 4 to 5 thousand tons of garbage generated per day in the city. Recology’s spokesperson, Robert Reed, says the company’s goal is to achieve ‘zero waste’, but he acknowledges that they still have another 20% of waste that can not be recycled from items such as plastic straws, styrofoam, and synthetic rubber. And we now see more initiatives been taken locally to create better waste management solutions. 

Plastic is not and was never designed to be disposable because it’s indestructible…this habit that we have is starting to threaten human health. Jo Ruxton, Plastic Oceans Foundation

Although recycling and waste management programs have shown positive results to reduce our waste disposal in landfills and the ocean, they do not provide a long-term sustainable solution to all the waste that is generated. Waste prevention discussions are gaining more emphasis as we, as a society, realize that recycling and composting, although offering an alternative to solid waste reduction, is not the real solution to the estimated 2.2 billion tons of trash to be disposed per year by 2025. The same goes for sitting back and drinking soda in a disposable plastic cup while acknowledging the issues but not taking action. 

That’s where leading a ‘Zero Waste’ lifestyle comes in. Leading a ‘Zero Waste’ lifestyle requires some careful consideration, research, and inspiration, but with just a few small adjustments you can start making an impact immediately. I have curated a list of practical steps to help you find inspiration on how to start this life change now.

Zero Waste At Home

Shop Second Hand Clothes

 Although this sound unappealing and impractical to many, you’d be surprised by the gems you can find in thrift shops. You can bring that pile of clothes you haven’t worn in years, swap them, and leave the store with a lighter conscience. Other than the common ‘guilt’ resulting from shopping binges.

Replace Those Plastic Containers and Disposable Items 

Due to the widespread awareness of conscious consumption and waste disposal, it is now easier to find companies such as Fillgood that offer alternatives to plastic containers by offering weekly local delivery in reusable glass containers for skincare and cleaning products. Remember that ‘Milk in the Glass’ weekly delivery model? They have a similar model, but for natural cleaning and skincare products! It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Replacing paper towels with reusable rags, packing to-go meals in glassware, bringing your own cloth shopping bags to stores, getting rid of those Ziploc bags and using reusable sandwich bags; are also all great alternatives to avoid plastic waste at home.

 Buy in Bulk

The immediate benefit of buying in bulk is the reduction in disposable packaging waste. Bringing your own glass containers to grocery stores is becoming more common now, and by doing so, you are ditching those unnecessary plastic bags and packaging that otherwise would end up in landfills and the ocean.

Also, bulk goods not only allow for us to cut down on food waste as you buy in smaller quantities, it does also require less transportation resources. It is a winning practice all around.

Oh, and did I mention this can be fun too? This has become one of my favorite habits now. Really!  

Buy Local Produce

Buying local produce is not only a great way to reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of waste from containers as you can bring your own shopping bags, it also supports local small businesses and farmers. Plus, you’ll get fresher produce and all the natural vitamins and minerals from them.

Give Some Love to Your Leftovers

About 40% of our food goes to waste in the U.S. Not to mention the amount of $ that goes to waste with it. Finding creative ways to revamp your lunch leftovers can not only help you save some $ but also keep trash from ending at landfills. And remember that whatever can’t be salvaged can be composted.

Compost Your Trash

This can become a big step, and it may require a blog alone for itself as there are a few ways you can compost your trash (freezer, countertop, blender, etc.). But before deciding on which method you’ll use, check with your local waste management provider for their requirements and guidance (i.e. containers, items that can be composed etc.) as they may change from place to place. 

Zero Waste At Work 

Bring Your Lunch

Again, it goes back to avoiding the use of all of those to-go packaging, utensils, and unnecessary plastic waste. Besides, you can bring your now-loved leftovers to work.

Reduce Printing & Recycle

 You’d think that going digital would be the norm nowadays, but I was surprised to learn that the average usage of paper, per worker, is 2 lbs per day. That is per worker! With the many digital resources we now have with gazillion organizational apps, it is time to put away those paper notepads, and start taking notes on your computer. 

Also, avoid paper printing by making more use of emails, and even by using online signature options. Technology is here for a reason, let’s use it wisely! If printing is unavoidable, remember to recycle as much as possible. 

Zero Waste Socially

Bring Your Own Water Bottle

Sounds cliché, right? But please indulge me and do this math with me. According to health resources, we should drink an average of 2-3 liters of water per day. That is equivalent to 4-6 plastic water bottles per day, approximately 180 plastic bottles per month, that you are preventing from ending in landfills or the ocean. Besides, there are some really cool BPA-free water bottles available in the market nowadays. How cool are you now?

Skip the Straws

I know your inner child is screaming at this one, and so did mine when I first decided to make this change. But trust me, you’ll feel much better ditching them once you remember that those little ‘suckers’ can not be recycled. 

Although adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle may seem like a small step towards waste reduction when compared to the overall amount of waste that is daily generated worldwide, keep in mind that EVERY CHANGE COUNTS and that everyone started from a simple step at some point. My first step was to stop using disposable utensils at work. I adopted the same concept at home, and I haven’t bought disposable utensils for almost two years now. The rest came naturally, such as substituting paper towels for reusable rags, always bringing my shopping bags to stores, and not using plastic bags for fresh produce, the list is now long.  

Making little adjustments in your lifestyle, one at a time, are key to keeping your focus and helping you realize your achievements. And finally, don’t forget to give yourself credit for the changes you’ve already made! When you start giving yourself credit for your achievements, you will realize you want to make additional adjustments, and soon you will be talking to everyone about the benefits of this lifestyle change.  

Need More Inspiration? Check what these like-minded people are doing to reduce their footprint and be their own change.

Going Zero Waste – I just find it inspiring in general. Need I say more?

Plastic Pollution Coalition – Check out their plastic-free guides.

Plastic Oceans Foundation – They have a great documentary too “Plastics Ocean”. Worth checking out!

Trash is for Tossers – This young lady is quite inspiring and has some great tips on Zero Waste living.

We Hate to Waste – Check out their leftover recipes.

Zero Waste Home – Bea Johnson is considered a Zero Waste guru, giving many resources and tips on leading a Zero Waste lifestyle at home.

Listen to

• our podcast episode featuring Stephanie Regni, Founder of Fillgood.
• NPR – Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse

How to Have a Zero Waste Lifestyle with Stephanie Regni, Founder Of Fillgood [Ep1]

“We…give voice and give the microphone to people who are coming out of the prison system. Men and women who share with us and gift us with their stories of re-entry and the challenges they face, the stigma they face.”

1. The US Criminal Justice: A money making machine
2. The Incarceration of Women in the U.S has increased by 700%
3. One In Four Podcast: A voice for people coming out of prison
4. An unfair and inhuman system
5. The Story of Khadija Clifton, a woman in jail

1. The primary goal of the criminal justice system, is to make money not to help the incarcerated population

The main function of primary services such as healthcare and criminal justice in the U.S is to make someone rich somewhere, not to take care of people. In light of the COVID-19, making a parallel between criminal justice and the healthcare system is not a far stretch. Almost 10% of the U.S. population does not have health insurance, and we are talking about the richest country in the world. We are now witnessing the direct consequence of a lack of strategic investment in health care all around the world. The criminal justice system is no better. In the U.S., minorities, and especially men of color, are a target compared to white men.

To give an idea of what we are dealing with, 1 in 3 black men and 1 in 6 Latino men are incarcerated in the U.S…compared to 1 in 17 white men.

2. The number of women in the incarcerated population has increased by more than 700% over the last 25 years.

Since 1980, the rate of growth for females has been twice as high. 60% of women in state prisons have a child under the age of 18. Most of them are primary caretakers.

During those months, it was really hard. It was very tough. I wished for a nice place to sit; versus plastic chairs and stools with no back support. I am pregnant. Really pregnant. -Khadija

The story of Khadija Clifton, a woman in jail

Khadija Clifton, our senior advisor and reporter, has brought stories to us on the podcast. She was once incarcerated. She is only in her mid-twenties. She’s 27 and was incarcerated while pregnant. So in the United States, there is the bail system. When you’re incarcerated you have to await trial in prison, actually in jail. Because you’re still within 18 months, you stay. If it’s the first 18 months, you can stay in jail. And then they move you to a federal prison, which was state prison to a prison facility when you are given a longer sentence. So Khadija could not pay for bail. She was pregnant. No one could afford bail to get her out of jail.

She had to stay in jail while pregnant. In one of our episodes, she talked about going to the doctor for visits and checking on prenatal care. She had a correctional officer inside the visiting room with her as if that were like almost the father. She actually said that it was invasive. It was inhumane, and she was not going to run away. They shackled her feet.

I mean, do we really need to treat people like that? That’s not humane no matter what they’ve done! There has to be a level of compassion.

The harsh reality of incarcerated women

Khadija also spoke about not having enough food while she was pregnant. Now, I mean, if you’ve ever been pregnant (I’m a mom who has adopted someone so I've not gone through pregnancy but I know from my friends), you know that you have to eat for two.

So Khadija was telling me that she was often hungry and the meals were not extremely nourishing and not enough. Currently, she focuses, for instance, on addressing food deserts in the United States, particularly in communities of color and in communities that are underserved. Khadija leads interviews when it comes to food insecurity and incarceration and re-entry. One episode we’re working on that she’s leading is about this particular topic. I just spoke to someone at this conference who wants me to highlight the worker of an organization that has farms in Detroit and it’s a returning citizen who created that and they serve restaurants but they also hire individuals from the previously incarcerated population. And again, Khadija would be thrilled to do that story.

What does the U.S. incarceration system reveal about American society?

Bea Spadacini lives in Washington D.C. and the first season of One in Four Podcast covers Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. In the District of Columbia, there used to be a federal prison called Lorton.

There’s no more federal prison. There’s only jail. But that means that people who are sentenced to periods longer than 18 months are sent all over the United States to federal prisons. That could be as far as 500 miles away, could be Kentucky, Oklahoma, all the way to Oregon, California, which makes it extremely hard for them to stay in touch with their families, not to mention extremely expensive.

When did you start your activism against incarceration?

My activism started after the 2016 U.S. election. I used to focus on international issues in my career to be based in East Africa. My role was communications and media person for a number of international organizations. So I used to go to refugee camps and talk to women, survivors of sexual gender-based violence, child soldiers, all kinds of marginalized communities for the most part and people living with a lot of trauma. Then we had the presidential election in the United States in 2016 and a lot of things have happened since then. In 2018, I made the conscious decision to focus nationally and look at the issue of incarceration. My heart went out to the incarcerated population and mass incarceration in this country seemed like a pretty obvious human rights issue to touch on.

We tend to focus on organizations that facilitate the re-entry process for the incarcerated population and the programs available that are usually unknown. They’re really community based and grassroots based and full of passionate people who believe in their job and who help people navigate the many re-entry challenges they face.

3. A voice for the incarcerated population coming out of prison and jail

One in Four gives a voice and give a microphone to people who are coming out of the prison system. Men and women from the incarcerated population gift us with their stories of re-entry and the challenges they face, the stigma they face.

We also ask listeners to take action. I mean, all of us can be either a mentor to someone reentering society. We could be business owners. So we encourage business people to perhaps hire returning citizens and have an interview or share some skillset that they have with returning citizens.

Any remarkable person you have met on your journey?

Dave Sampey is our other senior advisor on the one in four podcasts. I was fortunate to meet Dave through free minds. Dave was incarcerated when he was 19 years old. He was given a choice to go into a youth rehabilitation program.

So obviously he took that choice except he didn’t realize that this youth rehabilitation program was one year of solitary confinement. It’s cruel and inhumane; 23 hours in a 9 by 11 cell. He was young and traumatized. Dave shared a poem with us on our radio interview that we did with a local radio station. It was heartbreaking but Dave came out of this trauma. Now he’s very passionate about disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline.

What turned Dave’s mindset around?

When he was first incarcerated. He went to jail in the district of Columbia. He walked in and at first, he thought this was a rite of passage like, you know I made it. Yeah. I’m like a man now.

Then he soon realized that there was a sea of black faces and he said, Holy smoke, man, this is where this is, this is a trap!

And I have fallen into the trap. I’ve been baited and I'm going to shift the narrative. So I really credit him for opening my eyes and being a fierce advocate for young men, in inner cities to like alternatives to school, to prison pipeline.

He says that he fell through the cracks in the middle school years. And this is what a lot of young men of color end up doing. The middle school is a very fragile time in young people’s lives, particularly males, and especially males of color because all of a sudden they’re being perceived differently as a threat.

Yoga activism

Dave feels strongly about the importance of health and wellness and meditation and grounding. He sees interventions around health and wellness as alternatives to detention and to punishment. So, these young men in schools across the country, and particularly in the district of Columbia where he grew up, really are not just going from school to prison. Dave has come recently with me to do a yoga activist training because it’s really about being into the world and being change-makers and bringing different kinds of tools to the communities that are hurting.

4. An outdated and hurtful judiciary system hurting the incarcerated population

Title 16

Title 16 is a law in the District of Columbia that was passed to allow juveniles to be sentenced as adults.

Do we really want this for our young people? People who have made a bad decision and need to be rehabilitated? Do we want them in the adult prison system? I mean, is that the right thing to do? Doesn’t that cause more trauma?

The 46,000 collaterals

There are 46 collateral, 46,004 six zero zero zero collateral consequences that have been documented, that are part of the previously incarcerated population.

They vary from state to state. It could be having to fill out an application that asks you do you have a criminal record? And you have to check that box. And that means you're not even gonna make it through the interview.

Or, it could be a collateral consequence like you can’t:

• Get a license to walk dogs and that could be just a very basic way to make a living sometimes.
• Acquire a license to become a beautician.
• Find housing, public housing. You know how many people have families that live in public housing, they come out of prison or jail and they can be reunited with their families because they cannot live in public housing because they have a felony record.

46,000 collateral consequences. Two of the people that we have interviewed already in one season are dead because of the 46,000 collateral consequences because it’s really hard to make it. It’s discouraging. They live with post-traumatic stress disorder. If they have no community support, no mentorship, no program. At some point, they’re going to relapse into addiction at some point. They’re just not going to make it. We lost two people who were just shining stars. Honestly. These people wanted to give back but they succumbed to addiction. They were not addicts but the thing is they got depressed and they didn't make it and no one was there to help them. That shouldn’t be the case for our previously incarcerated population. They deserve better.

The harsh reality for returning citizens

A lot of returning citizens (previously incarcerated population) don’t get jobs because they have a felony record. So what do they do? They end up starting their own business. But that’s equally hard. It’s hard for anyone, let alone if you have a felony record. So they also have need to have access to financial loans. There are programs that we highlight, but there are also people that we’ve introduced into that podcast episode that we wanted our audience to get to know a little bit more. So like Graham, Mick Loughlin, he is in his day job. He is the director of social impact for Optum, which is a company under United health insurance. And they do amazing work on social impact. They’ve also helped returning citizens, equipped them with the skills they need to be successful upon their re-entry.

5. Reentry for incarcerated population: humanize and educate to raise awareness

Reentry into society is not a light topic, but the stories we bring forth, are stories of resilience, of humanity. Our goal is to humanize, educate, elevate these conversations. If anyone cares about public safety and being safe, well then maybe we should also think about how we can keep people out of the criminal justice system? And that they're not over criminalized or criminalized at all, even before committing crimes.

So ever since the election, in 2016 in the United States of America, we it has definitely come to the surface that we remain a very racist country.

So, as citizens of this country, we have a duty to change the laws. It’s about systemic oppression. Michelle Alexander in her book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, talks about mass incarceration as a new form of slavery.

The unfair monetization of the jail system

The fees and fines that people get in jail are extortive. The average 15-minute phone call costs families just under $25 dollars. A report that the department of justice under Eric Holder, commissioned documented that the fees and fines are put in place to really trap people. The report also said that the same fees and fines get people to jail or give people a record. And it is not fair. If you’re in our community, you’re driving by and you have a 20 mile per hour. The system is out there to get us to trap people in particular in poor neighborhoods. That is not right. And so to me, we need to educate ourselves.

And how can we make the situation better?

We have the power of our vote. Let us vote in the right people, the right policies. We also have the power of our wallet. Whenever you go out and buy something, get to know that company.

Question the financial institution that you're banking with. Do they support private prisons? Find out, be a voice for change. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions and patronizing businesses that give back to the community or hire returning citizens. This is where we have power as regular people.

We must live with purpose

I did a story for The Guardian newspaper years ago when I was an aid worker and I started wondering if my colleagues in the United nations or indifferent nongovernmental organizations in Europe and in the US knew where their pension money was going. You could be working on criminal justice reforms and yet your pension is invested in a company like a correctional Corporation of America, which is now called civic Corps.

Great name, right? Civic Corps. So benign and yet it’s a prison-for-profit company. So we have to be careful and start educating ourselves because do you want to be complicit? I certainly don’t want, even if I have only a thousand dollars to save, my money supporting that kind of company. So it's not easy. It’s a lot easier to just say we’re very busy. We have no time. And you know, cause we all are busy. I’m a single parent. I’m very busy too. And you’re the gift that we have every day. How do you want to live with purpose? Not every one of us has to ask that question to ourselves, but there’s a lot of statistics out there that are not right. I think what we’re saying is we have to get rid of the private jail system.

Private prisons are not the only problem

I’ve learned something in doing this podcast that the private industry, the private prisons are actually not a large percentage.

There’s a lot of profiteering in the public and state prison because of the services that are in there.

The commissary, the phone calls, those are privatized and they’re also in state and federal prison. I called an inmate the other day that I met three months ago. I just wanted to check on him and he called me back, but he only had like a minute to talk to me. He said, I don’t have money to talk to you. And I said, well, call me, collect. So I had to pay. Basically, I received a call from that particular facility asking me to put at least $20 from my credit card into some kind of account so that he could call me back. The average 15-minute phone call costs families just under $25 dollars.

A money-making machine from within?

He couldn’t even call me collect. They wanted my money first. And then he called me and it cost me $4 immediately just to answer. Then the phone went down and within five minutes, you know, pretty much all the money was gone. So look, somebody is making money, you know, uh, and it’s with our tax dollars like you said. And you know, I think there is somewhere in the literature, I think is Dostoyevsky (a Russian author) who said something about how we have to look at the level of civilization of a society by looking at how they treat inmates and the prison. You know, for most of the incarcerated population, they are treated for the mistakes they commit. That is where humanity comes in.

What changes would you recommend for this situation?

We’re not talking about condoning. But when we start profiteering, when we use prison labor? And when we pay prisoners 60 cents a day for a whole day worth of work and expect them, if they have children, to pay child alimony while they’re in prison? I mean how the heck can they do that? So the more I do this, the more I learned, the more I'm educated and the more I feel like this is wrong and I'm going to like keep doing this because it needs more people to care about this cause we are all connected.

That does not mean everybody that has a criminal record ends up in prison or jail. But the truth is that a lot of people do and a lot of people are black and brown. So we need to look at this a lot more carefully. There are also white people that we have interviewed that have gone into the prison system, no doubt about that. And you know, it’s about poverty sometimes and also not having the right lawyers. There are people that commit crimes that are happily out there in society and they’ve never gone to prison or jail. So there is discrimination in our justice system.

Which audience are your hope for the podcast?

I say sometimes that my target audience is three out of four people that are not directly impacted by the justice system. But if they care about public safety, then they should care about making the incarcerated population reenter society successfully, become productive citizens so that our communities are overall safer and we can live in a more inclusive and equitable society.

Where does your drive come from?

I’m inspired by a lot of women. My friend who started free minds book club, I share a dog with her. It sounds funny, but he’s our baby and in some ways, the dog is what bonded us. And then I realize about the amazing work she’s doing and she inspired me. My mom, who’s incredible, is 80, and she's a yoga teacher. She started becoming studying yoga and becoming a teacher and in her full power the moment she let go of the patriarchy and she started stepping into her own power.

I've worked in East Africa for a long time. I cannot tell you how many women that I've met that were survivors of sexual, gender-based violence or were single moms and raising four or five kids. I have interviewed so many women that gave me strength and I became an adoptive mother.

4. Moving Forward: how can we change our perception and subsequent treatment of the incarcerated population?

We have a lot of self-thinking that we have to do. Each one of us, certainly myself, I’m a white woman. I have ‘white privilege’. I’ve had it in my life and I am trying to understand what can I do to use my privilege to create a platform that brings attention to issues that are important and that can change the way we treat people, the way we treat each other.

How can we teach the youth about social issues?

My daughter is 13. For those of you who have teenagers as well, we're in the same boat here. So she sent me a text yesterday cause she saw a pair of shoes for $10 and she told me, ‘Mom, can I buy these shoes because they’re $10 but it used to be $125?’ And my reply was, you can buy them but make sure they are not a product of child labor. You know, they are not cheap because of child labor. And she’s like, yeah mom, I know about child labor.

You know, my daughter just wanted to dismiss me. And I’m like, well what exactly do you know about child labor? And she said, well, you know, they’re from a famous brand, they’re Nike shoes. And I’m like, okay, but I need, if you buy those shoes, I would like to challenge you to send me a one-pager today, with three paragraphs about child labor. My daughter is wordy, sent me a one-pager about child labor. And I know I can be a pain in the neck, but I’m hoping that something stays with her and she might be a better person down the road.

How best can we create impact?

I just think that with my daughter, I showed her it’s a great example that doesn’t cost anything to do to change the world. It’s about raising awareness really. I mean, my daughter has come with me to events where she’s met previously incarcerated inmates. She has written letters to inmates, let, letting them know, you know, cards, birthday cards, letting them know someone out there is thinking about them.

What would be your parting shot to people especially in assisting previously incarcerated population?

What is clear is that we are reaching the end of a system; the health system is broken; our criminal justice system is broken; education system is broken so what’s next?

Being aware of these issues is key; because it is going to help to implement new solutions; we can not fix what we don’t know. And with awareness, we can assist our previously incarcerated population better.

Go deeper

• One In Four Podcast
• Incarceration rates worldwide and in the U.S.
• Following the Money of Mass Incarceration
• https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/united-states
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, talks about mass incarceration as a new form of slavery.

Why should you buy women fair trade products?

Based on research published in Forbes, women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families and communities.

70% of individuals living in poverty are women.

Buying fair trade products has an important impact on lifting women out of poverty.

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We have selected 18 fair trade products and companies we love. Happy shopping!

1. Elisha C: Sending Haitians Kids To Schools
2. Neococo: Creating job opportunities for women refugees in Los Angeles.
3. Serrv: fair trade certified – securing fair wages and safe working conditions for artisans and farmers.
4. The Little Market: Build a brighter future for artisans
5. Dressember: A world without slavery=ending human trafficking
6. Terra Thread: A fair trade line of premium bags providing work in India
7. Gallant International: Organic Cotton And Fair Trade Products
8. Kate Spade: On Purpose, working with women in Rwanda
9. SoulSpace USA: Organic Yoga Pants On Steroid
10. Vava Coffee: a fair trade coffee social enterprise supporting women in Kenya
11. Indego Africa: support the integrity of artisan-made goods and create opportunities for women who make them
12. RefuShe: a Community for Refugee Girls, by Refugee Girls in East Africa
13. Islenas provide opportunities to women in Porto Rico
14. AKS Sneakers: a positive impact on women in Pakistan
15. The Tote Project Ending Human Trafficking
16. Carry the Future provide aid to refugee families in Greece, Jordan and more
17. Made with a Purpose provides stable jobs to women in India
18. Tonlé Provides Jobs To Women In Cambodia with an ethical fashion line

Breaking the poverty cycle with women Fair Trade led companies.

1. Elisha C: Haiti in the hands of Haitian

Every purchase on Elishac.com provides artisans with job security and helps to end poverty in Haiti. Additionally, you can make a donation to Elishac.org, the non-profit leg of Elisha C. The foundation sends underprivileged children to school and college. Learn more about Elisha C inspiring story and listen to Be Your Change podcast episode 7 here where we talk to the founder Elisha Chan.

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2. Neococo: Creating job opportunities for women refugees.

You will definitely adore the selection of sweatshirts this online shop has to offer. They’re perfect for your Instagram pictures (hashtag #SweaterWeather). Aside from its fashionable look, NeoCoco is a mission-driven apparel company that creates jobs for women refugees and displaced women. Buying their featured products helps them regain their identity and restart their lives.

3. Serrv: fair trade certified – securing fair wages and safe working conditions for artisans and farmers.

70 years ago, this nonprofit has made it a priority to ensure that artisans and farmers living in poverty are treated with respect and dignity, and paid fairly for their work. Their handmade products are environmentally-friendly and designed to support optical care to thousands of artisans around the world who are suffering from vision loss. 

4. The Little Market: Build a brighter future for artisans

Their collection of fair trade goods is made by artisans in need, including refugees, people with disabilities, women transitioning out of homelessness, and survivors of trafficking and domestic violence.

5. Dressember: A world without slavery

Dressember has a unique mission to help end human trafficking. For example, wear a dress or a tie, every day for a month in December and become an active participant in this wonderful campaign.

6. GALLANT INTERNATIONAL INC“>Terra Thread: A fair trade line of premium bags

The Terra Thread Earth Motivated Collection is a line of premium bags made using family grown Organic Cotton and fair labor practices. Every aspect of Terra Thread was created with the earth and its people at the forefront.

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If you are looking for fair trade organic products to resell don’t search further. Gallant International is a premier Fair Trade certified supplier of 100% organic cotton promotional and retail products. Their extensive range of products includes shopping bags, yoga bags, cosmetic pouches, backpacks, kitchen linens, t-shirts and much more! We love Gallant and appreciate its focus on organic and pesticide-free products.

8. Kate Spade: On Purpose

on purpose is Kate Spade’s social enterprise initiative. Their mission is to use our on purpose supply chain to empower women and girls to be the heroines of their own stories.

we believe that all women are the heroines of their own
stories, and that empowered women can transform the world.

9. SoulSpace USA

In need of cozy fair trade yoga gears and pants, Soul Space USA is like a dream comes true. All their products are made of organic cotton and chemical-free sustainable fabrics.

10. Vava Coffee – a fair trade coffee social enterprise supporting women to acquire land

In 2009 Vava Angwenyi made the singular decision to create real change in the Kenyan Coffee industry. Between the challenges of poverty, corruption and fear, she saw smiles. As a result, she saw smallholder coffee farmers that wanted to change their lives but could not get their voices heard. Listen to our interview with Vava here

11. Indego Africa: support the integrity of artisan-made goods and create opportunities for women who make them

Indego Africa focuses on providing local and raw materials that are of high quality and durable. Everything is carefully handcrafted. The artisans use natural resources such as sweetgrass, palm leaf, bolga straw, and banana leaf.

12. RefuShe, a Community for Refugee Girls, by Refugee Girls in East Africa

RefuShe helps young refugee women to heal, grow and become the best version of themselves.

Women are the hope of society – they are tough and unbreakable.

Women are vulnerable at times but once each storm passes, they come out stronger and more mature.

13. Islenas provide opportunities to women with diverse background in Porto Rico

Islenas’stylish espadrilles are made and crafted in Puerto Rico with love. The shop partners with sustainability platform Retazo and non-profit Centro Sor Isolina Ferre to design and implement a training and manufacturing program to provide opportunities to women.

14. AKS Sneakers, a positive impact at every level of production

AKS Sneakers helps women living in Pakistan with a great line of fair trade, vegan and organic cotton sneakers AKS Sneakers produce limited editions of sustainable comfortable sneakers that are affordable and fashionable. Every piece is made with love. Designed in San Francisco, the materials are organic and natural. It helps their artisan not to get armed by chemicals and help their health and the environment.

15. The Tote Project Ending Human Trafficking

The Tote Project’s mission is to help end human slavery. Every time you buy a tote, you help empower six survivors of sex trafficking to pursue their dream job. Spread love and positivity and consider checking out their beautifully crafted bags. Together, let’s help raise awareness about human trafficking.

16. Carry the Future provide critical aid to refugee families in Greece, Jordan, Tanzania, Bangladesh, the US and Mexico

Children should always be a priority and be cared for. Carry the Future partner with trusted organizations to fund projects to improve the children's and families’ quality of life. They provide critical aid including clean diapers, baby beds, newborn supplies, hygiene kits, and more.

17. Made with a Purpose provides stable jobs to women in India

Created by Reshma Thakkar, each purchase on Made With A Purpose helps women from India to unlock their full potential with a stable job. When you empower a woman, you empower a community and help her to educate girls and eliminate child marriage…This Texas-based company opens women’s eyes to a broader world view and explore opportunities they may have never known possible.

India’s women are her greatest asset.

18. Tonlé: it only takes a woman

Tonle’s founder Rachel moved to Cambodia in 2008 with funding from a Fulbright grant to research sustainable and fair trade textiles. After working with several artisans groups to learn about best practices and opportunities, she quickly realized there was a gap in market for affordable, sustainable and ethical fashion. Then Tonlé was born! Tonlé is a circular ethical brand upcycling fabrics and highly conscious of the impact on the environment.

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Let’s support one another. Become an advocate online or in real-time and make a positive impact on our world.   

One of the most secrets of Parisian neighborhoods, Montreuil is well-known for its left-wing politics and its diverse immigrants' population. The city has been led by a succession of Mayors affiliated with the French communist but also the Green party.

1. The Move
2. The Explorer

One of the most diverse Parisian Neighborhoods: an Incredible Melting Pot right at the door of Paris.

Montreuil is one of the most diverse Parisian neighborhoods. The result is an incredible melting pot of culture, diverse languages, and a deep artistic community that goes back to the early century with the movie industry. Today, the town is home to more than one hundred thousand people. Known for its cultural diversity, its working-class and recently a more Parisian Boheme lifestyle, Montreuil hosts a tight community of artists and counts more than 800 artist workshops. You can listen to any genre of music and live music any night of the week. Restaurants serve food from all over the world.

Rebecca Dry, a creative British immigrant adventurer has been living in Montreuil for a long time. Her background in media and branding made her attracted to the interesting texture of Montreuil. The result is Love Montreuil, an online magazine showcasing the wonderful things that go on in the Paris suburb of Montreuil in France. Both locals and tourists can find the best places to eat, drink, see a show, or just read about some unique, creative people in the area.

“So it's almost like a hidden jewel and lots more people from Paris are coming to live here now, which is good. They wouldn't have touched it 10 years ago and now it's kind of trendy to live here, you know, so they call it the Brooklyn of Paris…and it tends to be where people maybe dare to be a bit different.

Just how Montreuil is a melting pot of identities, so is Rebecca Dry. Her day job is in communications, but she is a person full of passion. Rebecca loves to sing and tell stories and she combines those two loves to build Love Montreuil to what it is today.

A Tireless Explorer of Parisian Neighborhoods

Rebecca: I'm English. I’ve lived in Paris for 21 years. Half of my life. I'm someone who does a lot of different things, a lot of different activities. I launched the online magazine called Love Montreuil, which is obviously about my hometown, where I live now just outside of Paris, where I've been for now 17 years.

So what made you decide to move from Paris to one of the most unknown Parisian neighborhoods?

Rebecca: Paris was a kind of accident but it was kind of wished for as well. When I was a student in England, I came to France for my third year. I went down the kind of the beginning of the Southwest of France in a town called [inaudible]. And I was there for a year between the age of 19 and 20…20 and 21 absolutely adored it. I came back to England to finish my studies. And when I graduated after my fourth year of studies, I only wanted to come back to France. It was like an obsession.

I used to work for the French government as an English assistant. Two years after, that was over, I received a letter saying that they have a lack of English assistants in the system and asking me if I would like to do it again? And we have a job in Paris or a job within a village with 300 people in the mountains in the Pyrenees. And I was like. I like nature, but I think I might go to Paris. So this thing was like a godsend.

Rebecca’s Parisian’s Neighborhoods Life

Well after one year I've been in Paris. I absolutely adored it, loved it, then got a job in advertising. I started working and communication was what I wanted to do and then I've never been back. So it was kind of a coincidence. I wasn't even to stay a year or two and I've been here 21 years. Four years after living in one of the most bobo Parisian neighborhoods, the 11th district which is kind of a mixed area, very arty, very trendy, I wanted to invest in something. I could not afford an apartment in Paris, it was too expensive for me at the time.

Montreuil’s First experience

Rebecca: I was young, so I knew Montreuil, which was just outside of Paris. Very arty, very kind of cool. But very can people like, Montreuil is dangerous, you know, there's loads of, you know, it's kind of a scabby area. But I'd been going to funk parties there at night for years. I'd never seen it during the day, but I kind of was familiar with it. I thought I'll come to check out Montreuil. It's not too far from the East of Paris where I lived. And I found a flat there that was probably half the price and five metro stops away. So I thought I'll invest here. And I came to Montreuil.

It is an amazing place there's nowhere like it in France. There's nowhere like it here. 1,500 artists live here. There's something like eight to 900 artists workshops. There's tens of fab labs. There is a punk and rock music culture but also a gypsy culture.

Montreuil’s Commitment To Nature: The ‘Mur de Pêches’

Culture in Montreuil is everywhere and along with culture, there is the environment with many public vegetable gardens and the famous ‘Mur de pêche’, which means the wall of peach.

Rebecca: There is a kind of cultural heritage in Montreuil. The Mur de Pêche is the peach wall. There are acres and acres of peaches. It used to be grown for the Royal family. They are now being restored. The walls are covered with peaches. It is now an artistic area where there are a festival and three beautiful parks. And there's just this feeling of creativity everywhere you go and feeling of an alternative lifestyle as well.

People from Montreuil are different. They are rebellious.

One of The Most Diverse, Artistic and Rich Parisian’s neighborhoods

Rebecca: The press has called Montreuil, the Brooklyn of Paris. It tends to be where people maybe dare to be a bit different. Creating new projects, places as well, which are really cool and trendy and alternative. And the cultural offer is amazing: dance, theater, and music. There is a huge amount of music studios here at least 12 different recording studios, quite well-known ones.

It's buzzing and a great vibe everywhere you go. You can feel it in the streets. It's colorful. There is a lot of street art and artists are respected in Montreuil. Artists get helped with housing and funding for the art as well.

Secret Parisian Neighborhoods: The Inspiration Behind Love Montreuil

Rebecca: I've been living here for 17 years. I was very Parisian when I first came here. It wasn't the same offer here either, so I used to go to Paris all the time and the last few years I've been noticing, I've literally been staying in Montreuil. Not hardly going into Paris apart from work. There are some beautiful exhibitions or you know, still amazing things you can find in Paris. But the offer was getting better and better in Montreuil. It used to be a couple of places to go out on at night, but now there's lots of choice, amazing DJs, amazing live acts, brilliant exhibitions, festivals, et cetera.

I thought to myself, there isn't a website about this town that I myself would love to read and fall upon. You know, I would love to know about what's going on in this town. So there was nothing. I thought, why don't I create one? So I decided to do it and I decided to create it myself from scratch, like the website, everything, the photos, everything, the content, with a view to valorizing and valorizing my town and also the people who make it move and shake.

It’s All About Storytelling

Rebecca: I created different sections I'm passionate about think are important. A guide with information about where can you eat, drink, where to go out, where to see an exhibition. The main section is the story section. It's four to six new people stories every month. It can be about a founder of a jazz festival or the owner of a new restaurant. It can be the portrait of a sculptor or street artist. There are all sorts of different stories.

Love Montreuil is a cultural snapshot of what's going on here. It's not a guide to go out. There's already a guide that exists in Montreuil.

Juliette: That's a very interesting combining all of these different almost asset of the city. I don't like that word when you talk about culture and art, but kind of the richness and mixed city. I think that mixing art and with anything is very powerful,

Rebecca: Extremely powerful, it elevates it to another level. With my normal job, I organize events and do communication strategy and, and loss for the things we do with communication. But I worked for two years was in an agency in Paris and we used art to communicate with for brands.

And, you know, as soon as art's involved in anything, the opportunities are endless. It becomes more fun. It becomes creative. It's just such a great platform for anything.

A Collaborative Approach

Juliette: I like the approach you're having, which is kind of making sure you link all these different labels of the society and then really trying to make them collaborate together.

Rebecca: Exactly. Because obviously in Montreuil, there's a lot of trendy places and people think it's getting too gentrified and et cetera.

But on my website, I showcase all the old shops as well, the traditional shops. The kind of places which are not chic. I'm interviewing some of the guys who live in the African home here. There are lots of African workers' homes and maybe a photography project with the girl I've met with them as well.

The Paradox of Diversity and Gentrification Of This Secret Parisian Neighborhoods

Rebecca: Montreuil is kind of a paradox. Some very wealthy people live there even though it's still very considered as a kind of working-class area. It's obviously the fact that it was cheaper. It attracted a lot of wealth and people invested here. But I don't want my website just to be some of the kind of snobby reading destination. Montreuil ‘s cultural mix like you said is fantastic. I want my website to reflect that as well. When I interview people, the same thing comes back for every single person is the cultural mix city here, the cultural mix. Everyone's said it.

Everyone is like, that's why I love Montreuil. I want to go to a shop run by these Iraquis guys and have all these products from the Middle East. All these amazing things you’ve never seen before. I want to have an African traditional meal. Turn the corner and go to a Vietnamese restaurant. Walk further up and go to the Indian store. Shop at the Portuguese supermarket, and check out I these amazing Italian restaurants. This is what Montreuil is about.

If we loose diversity, that wouldn't be Montreuil anymore.

Meet Rebecca, The Singer

When Rebecca moved to this secret Parisian neighborhood, it made sense. She is an artist herself. And the reason that today I think you're doing a media site, which is kind of, promoting art and in mixed city and stories refers to the last 17 years where you've been mixing your communication background and music and publishing your first album and second album. So where does this love of art and music come from?

Two albums of original music

Rebecca: It's strange when I think about it. I tried to answer this question myself a lot because I'm a singer. I've released two albums of original music in France. I had a lot of radio play as well on national stations and which is still absolutely unbelievable to me. But I had a very classic and lovely childhood. My family expected me to go to university and get a job. We lived in the North of England and it's a small town. So it wasn't a big city with lots of opportunities like London. And the art world was so far away from my reality when I was young. Being an artist, a dancer, a singer was like, that's for the other people.

I had musical abilities as well. I used to play the violin. The piano in orchestras for about 10 years and sing in the choir. But I was good at it, I won a few talent shows, but it was never like, I'm going to be an artist now. Looking back, I sometimes wish I had tried to make it as an artist, as a singer because I knew I was a good singer. I was nine, 10 kind of thing, but it wasn't for us. It wasn't our type of family. So I always did it as a hobby on the side.

It was normal for me to love music but to be an artist myself was something else. And it's something I developed later on in life when I was maybe 35 or above, which is quite late really.

Do You Have Regrets about not becoming a professional singer earlier in life?

Rebecca: I didn't really believe in myself and I wish I had when I was younger. People who make it, they push themselves forward. I don't like putting myself forward.

Rebecca: And I never, still to this day, don't see myself as an artist even though I am. And I write songs and I can sing and I've got people telling me I have a great voice and a professional level and everything. I don't know, it's just, um, under the side to me, once again, it's on the side and it's never been the main job. And

I think in life things are just circumstance of where you're from, where you are born into.

I've always been torn between two things. Being academic and then being artistic. When I was young I was, I just wanted to have my degree, doing a normal job, have security. Not at all Bohemian, not at all artistic at all.

A traditional childhood

Rebecca: My family was always like, you know, making sure you have some stability in life and then the artistic thing is on top. You're not going to be an artist. For me, artists were equaled poor, being in a hovel somewhere and never getting any work, you know, like being a singer, like as a career that is just so, that was so scary to me. You know, it would never even cross my mind anyway. But yeah, doing it as a hobby and keeping it always on the side is something we should kind of **confusing** the need in you to be creative kind of relieves you of this thing.

But there's always that frustration of, and what if I had have become professional and I think I would have loved to have been professional singer because when you sing you are in a complete bubble.

It is just an amazing feeling. There's nothing like it. It's just euphoric and thanks to music as well and all the people I've met through music, it's helped me with my creativity and my writing as well.

Does your art sensibility has influenced your journalist’s work?

Thanks to my singing, it all binds together because the singing got me another job in journalism, which hones your talent for meeting people, empathizing, finding the right words, getting them to express themselves in an interview, which then helps you again for what I’m doing now. So all these worlds combined, I think it’s quite logical. If you’re interested in art and culture in yourself, then you can be creative in different domains. So to me, it kind of all links back.

Well, that's a very rich, busy life as you see is super active women. Never satisfied with yourself…

The need to give back

Rebecca: I just think what do I contribute to society? It always just gets me. Am I going to leave a trace? What have I done when I've left this earth to leave a trace? I'm always wondering. And this website is about doing some positive for the community I live in. Working in communication and marketing, you sell things, you organize events, it means nothing in life.

I'm trying to give some sense to life as well, through creativity, through my music, through this project, through other things. I always have this constant thing of like, what are you actually doing for this world? I feel it's still not enough.

How Did You Choose What You Like The Most?

I've always been torn between lots of different things in life. Should I be in a singer? Should I've stayed in England? Should I have to come to France?

And I think it's good to be creative, but I also think it's, it creates a lot of frustration in people who are always kind of wanting to do more projects.

Juliette: It sounds like you're on a beautiful journey.

Rebecca: I am on a journey definitely.

And the most important thing for me is people. I like people, I like meeting people. I'm nosy. That's why I'm a good journalist. Probably. I like getting stories, meeting people, getting to know people. I think it's just so interesting. I'm constantly curious about people and I think it's so amazing what we're surrounded by people who can help each other. People can inspire each other, you know? And I think if we don't get to know people enough, we can stay with a small circle of friends, but there's so much more out there, so many amazing people who are doing amazing things.

Montreuil, One of The Most Vibrant Parisian Neighborhoods.

Talking about Montreuil is like talking about the incredible diversity of France often invisible in the mainstream media, in politics or in corporate France. For me, that’s what I love France, not the pretty postcard but more this incredibly complicated mix of cultures and history. Close to 9% of Muslims live in France, but the country still does not offer the option to learn Arabic in school. My hope is that Rebecca’s work can shine a new light on French culture far from the usual postcard.

So, if you get to Paris, get in the metro and go on a journey of Montreuil.

In our world of consumerism and instant gratification, it’s no wonder most of us forget to consider the original source of the product itself. For generations, society has been telling us that all that matters are the assets you have, but with a wave of social impact sweeping across the world, we are starting to see more companies and more consumers choosing to buy products with a clean line of production. What does this mean? It means that every piece of the product has come from a certified fair trade factory that is following the guidelines set in place by its certifiers.

In 2015, the United Nations introduced seventeen sustainable goals to transform the world by 2030. In this episode,  Drakshan Khan talks about the United Nations’ sustainable development goal #5, gender inequality. As the CEO and co-founder of AKS Sustainable Sneakers, Drakshan shares with us how AKS came about and how they have been able to positively impact the lives of Pakistani women and girls through equal opportunity.

Supporting Women Artisans: Achieving Gender Equality

We believe that through employment and fair trade you can lift artisan communities around the world. 80% of women in developing countries are involved in the artisan sector who invest their earnings back in their children. We work directly with all our women artisans and give them above market price for their craft, giving them the ability to triple their monthly income.

women make 3 times their average salary working with AKS

Make a difference

Get involved and start paying attention to the products you purchase. With a booming ecosystem and the movement of socially conscious companies, Drakshan Khan helps us to better understand the ins-and-outs of fair trade and how we can make a difference. An easy start is to buy products that matter like the sneakers from AKS for example

The Best Quotes Of The Show

I have a co-founder who is my sister and we share similar values and we have a similar reason for being here. I can’t think of a better partner to have than your own sister!

Just like in any country, there are cities that are thriving and more forward-thinking. And in Pakistan, it is no different. There are cities where women are thriving and doing great work but there are areas and rural villages that need more Women’s development.

I never thought that I would be an entrepreneur, my background is in finance and economics. I love studying communities and how we can uplift them. So I guess social entrepreneurship was just a natural fit for my calling.

Learn from other women social entrepreneurs how they started their fair trade companies. 

Make sure you buy organic fair trade cotton when you shop If a product is too cheap, someone is suffering somewhere

One way we can help as consumers is to start buying fair trade and consciously-made products which are produced by women. We can also favor companies with women founders and we can help to accelerate their path to a better future. Based on research published in Forbes, women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families and communities, as compared to 40% for men. There is another statistic that suggests an approximately 70% of individuals living in poverty are women.

At Be Your Change, we carefully select products that will inspire you and maximize your impact. We’ve made a selection of fair trade companies for you to choose from.

1.Elisha C This online shop aims to help end poverty by providing job security, child education, and tools to combat poverty. We love the classy finds and unique kimonos, everything is affordable as well.  

2. Neococo You will definitely adore the selection of sweatshirts this online shop has to offer. They’re perfect for your Instagram pictures (hashtag #SweaterWeather). Aside from its fashionable look, your purchase will help the company create jobs for displaced women. Buying their featured products will help them regain their identity and restart their lives. Check out the site and start putting items in your cart!    

Copyright Fair Trade USA

3. Serrv This shop boasts homemade products that are not just environmentally-friendly, they help empower artisans and farmers.  These eye-catching products were created with passion and designed to support optical care to thousands of artisans around the world who are suffering from vision loss. 

4. The Little Market If you want to help women who are trying to make ends meet while purchasing something with exceptional quality, this website is your go-to. From candles to bags and home accessories, there are plenty of finds to fit every budget. How awesome it is to shop and help at the same time! 5. Dressember Dressember has a unique mission to help end human trafficking while making purchases that allow fashionable self-expression. If you commit to wearing a dress or a tie, every day for a month, you can become an active participant in this wonderful campaign. Join the movement now by clicking on their website! 

Copyright Fair Trade USA 

6. Fillgood.co This website is perfect for anyone aiming to live a zero-waste lifestyle or for those who are just trying to make the world a better place. Fillgood’s mission is focused on reducing waste while having a minimal environmental footprint. Their products are safe and do not harm people or the ecosystem.

7. Indego Africa Indego Africa focuses on providing local and raw materials that are of high quality and durable. Everything is carefully handcrafted and comes from natural resources such as sweetgrass, palm leaf, bolga straw, and banana leaf. Visit their website and see for yourself how Indego creates jobs for artisans and educates women and youth across Africa.

8. Refushe Women are the hope of society – they are tough and unbreakable. They may be vulnerable at times, but once each storm has passed, they come out stronger and more mature. In this online shop, they intensify women’s skills to survive. They help young refugee women heal, grow and become the best version of themselves. Check out an awesome scarf and donate!   

9. Islenas Look good, feel good and do good: You can set and accomplish these goals for yourself by heading to this website! Be on the lookout for stylish espadrilles made and crafted from Puerto Rico with love. The shop partnered with sustainability platform Retazo and non-profit Centro Sor Isolina Ferre to design and implement a training and manufacturing program that is providing an opportunity to women in different sectors with diverse backgrounds. Talk about Women’s Empowerment!

10. AKS This online shop helps artisan women living in Pakistan. AKS Sneakers produce limited edition and sustainable sneakers that are comfortable, affordable and fashionable. Every piece was made with love! Designed in San Francisco, the materials are organic and natural so you also help the environment by purchasing their products.

11. The Tote Project The Tote Project’s mission is to help end human slavery. Every time you buy a tote, you help empower six survivors of sex trafficking to pursue their dream job. This is the perfect time for us to spread love and positivity, so consider checking out the beautifully crafted bags and help us raise awareness about human trafficking.

12. Carry the Future “The youth of the nation are the trustees of posterity.” Children should always be a priority and therefore be cared for. Carry the Future partnered with trusted organizations to fund projects that improve the quality of life for the children and families they serve. You can help them fulfill their mission by making a donation on their website to help them provide critical aid including clean diapers, baby beds, newborn supplies, hygiene kits, and more. You can also check out their online store here for a great selection of jackets, mugs and other types of apparel.

13. Made with a Purpose Lend a helping hand for the new year and buy hand-sewn bags from this site. Each purchase will help six women unlock their full potential with a stable job. This Texas-based company opens women’s eyes to a broader world view and allows them to explore opportunities they may have never known possible. Check out these hand-sewn bags. You won’t regret your purchase while also empowering these women from India!   Let’s begin the new year and the new decade in the spirit of generosity and giving.

If you want to learn more about fair trade and how you help women with your purchases please listen to our recent episodes featuring Karrie Putksas and Anna Lecat.

Let’s remember to support one another and become advocates online or in real-time! Go ahead and support these websites, not only you will gain valuable possessions, but you’ll also gain a sense of fulfillment knowing that you made an impact on our world.  

Learn to podcast, share your work, ready to jump to get your voice out there in the sphere of women change-makers, be sure to register for our podcasting retreat for March 2021!

Fair Trade USA has been working for years to help get people out of poverty worldwide and a large number of this population is women. 70% of people living in poverty are women and women and girls count for 71% of human trafficking. On the positive side, women reinvest up to 90 percent of income in their families and communities compared to 40 percent for men (Forbes). So, if we start buying fair trade and consciously made products made by women, we can actually accelerate the path to a better future for women worldwide!

Fair Trade is a model with the goal to alleviate global poverty. Fair Trade certifiers work hard to create fair trade guidelines that promote equal/fair pay, good working conditions, and workers’ rights. Many companies across all markets are investing in fair trade certification and are positively impacting in developing communities. From building sustainable businesses to providing education, the fair trade movement is helping to make solid and secure changes for those living in poor communities around the world.

Studies have shown that women influence 83% of all consumer spending in the U.S. (Source inclusionary leadership group).

So when women buy products that are women made, they have an impact on the world’s community of women.

In this episode of Be Your Change podcast, Karrie Puksas Brand Activist at Kroger and Abby Ayers from Fair Trade USA talk about their partnership and how Kroger is committed to giving their customers fair trade options at a reasonable price. Listen to learn more about how these companies are teaming up to make Fair Trade products more accessible to the average consumer.

Listen to the episode here

What You’ll Learn

Have you ever wanted to understand consumer shopping habits and how grocery stores are able to analyze the data to provide products that their customers want? Karrie will give us a brief history of Kroger and why their brand, and fair trade, should be important to you. We will also learn from Abby about Fair Trade USA guidelines and how those guidelines have affected the local communities and people they are working with.

The Best Quotes Of The Show

So I’d like to think of myself a bit of a brand activist because I really try to push my colleagues and business partners to invest more in community engagement and sustainability efforts. We listened to customers and we know that our customers rely on us as retailers to be the curators of sustainable products that we need to offer products that they want and they are demanding more transparency and they want to see an authentic commitment to ethical action. -Karrie

I think that community development premium, it does two things. So it obviously gives them additional funds to invest in programs but what that really does is creates this model empowerment of pride that they have a resource that they can identify their needs, and they can then solve those needs. -Abby

We want consumers to be empowered to vote with their dollars to support brands and companies like Kroger who will make these investments into the supply chain and who offers these products. -Karrie

Go Deeper

Learn more about becoming a fair trade advocate and how you can vote with your wallet.

• Simple truth 
• Fair Trade USA

Books

• Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made It Her Business to Help Women in Poverty Worldwide
• Sustainable Impact: How Women Are Key To Ending Poverty
• Buy The Change You Want To See: Jane Mosbacher and Wendy Paris The money we routinely spend on food, clothes, gifts, and even indulgences is an untapped superpower. What would happen if we slowed down to make more thoughtful decisions about what we buy?
• Fair Trade Campaigns National Conference: 

Keep in Touch

• Follow us on Facebook page here and Instagram
• Join our Facebook group here
• Subscribe to our newsletter here

For our latest episode of Be Your Change, Juliette Roy sat down with Rosa Lee Harden, a leader in this movement. Harden co-founded Social Capital Markets, or SOCAP, a large network of investors and entrepreneurs who want money to flow towards the greater good. Roy caught up with Harden at the group’s tenth annual conference in San Francisco.

Each choice we make counts: what we choose to consume or not consume; who we work with; and what stories listen to. Every action matters, and small actions can have big social impacts in the world. No matter how much money you have, you can make a difference. Here are four ways to start:

1.Know Your Bank, Know Their Values

Where your paycheck goes every month can make a difference. The city of Seattle recently cut ties with Wells Fargo for the bank’s support of the Dakota Access Pipeline. That took more than $3 billion of cash flow out of the hands of Wells Fargo.

While your monthly direct deposit isn’t in the billions, you can still be thoughtful about where you put it. Harden suggests looking at credit unions or a local bank instead of the major multinationals. “You should allow your money to be co-mingled with the money of other people who are thinking about their values in the same way you are,” she told us.  

2.Check Your Retirement Accounts

Harden said a goal of the SOCAP Conference is to educate people so you “don’t just hand your retirement funds to some relative stranger and say just make me some money.”

Instead, consider whether your retirement money is invested with companies that match your values. You might also want to look into socially-conscious funds from places like Vanguard.

3.Look at Your Shopping Habits

Think twice when you buy a product. Are you perpetuating a bad system? Or are you supporting companies with a social impact mission? “Start looking more carefully at food labels,” Harden suggested. She continued: “Is it grown in a way that is good for the planet? Or, look at your clothing options and make sure that at least a few things that you buy came from a factory that didn’t use slave labor in any way.” Brands like Les Lunes are making eco-friendly fashion. 

4.Invest Your Time

Time is money, right? So if you don’t have extra cash to invest, consider how you’re investing your time. Volunteer, do pro bono work, or advocate for a worthy cause. You’re guaranteed to make an impact.

Want to know more about investing? Check out these sites:

• SOCAP
• Ladies Who Lovebomb Podcast: Georgia Lee Hussey helps ladies get that cash
• Ellevest