All posts filed under: Responsible Shopping

How much water was used to produce your dinner?

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Something that I’ve thought about recently is how much water was used to produce the food that I eat. One of the reasons why I eat almost no animal protein anymore is because of the statistics that I read about how much grain and water went into the production of various animal proteins (see the reason’s why page). But animal protein isn’t the only thing on our plate that’s water intensive. I’ve read a number of articles about how much water goes into the production of rice, almond milk, and avocados – but there’s not often a comparison to alternatives. For example, does rice use more milk than pasta? And, are all rice varieties the same? What about farro or some other ancient grain? Anyway, this is something I’ve always wondered about and I’m actually working on an article right now that highlights milk alternatives and how much water goes into the production of each one.

Chocolove

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Alright, I’m back with a new time zone! We’ve finally made it to Sydney and this is the first day where things aren’t completely crazy (it’s Wednesday, we got here on Monday). So, I wanted to start my new adventure by telling you about one of my favorite chocolate brands, Chocolove. To be fair, I’ve only had their dark chocolate, but I’m assuming the milk chocolate bars are just as delicious. Right now, my favorite is their Chilies and Cherries in Dark Chocolate. Chocolove is a chocolate bar company that takes their social responsibility seriously. They take a variety of approaches towards ethics, social issues, and sustainability (see below), because they believe that each of these approaches addresses a different need for both the customer and the farmer. Read more here.  

Alternative Apparel

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I accidentally found Alternative Apparel last night and am so happy that I did. They have a lot of clean, fresh styles. They even have a workout line! Here’s one of the tops that I like from their website. Alternative Apparel believes in supporting social change through responsible business practices that consider and respect people as well as the plant. Read more here.

Mercado Global

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One of my friends interned one summer in Guatemala for an organization that works to empower women by introducing them to the global market with the production of bags. Mercado Global empowers indigenous women in Guatemala to become their own agents of change in their communities. According to their website, 75% of indigenous Guatemalans live below the poverty line and 58% live in extreme poverty. Read more here.

Nomadix: Versatile, 100% Recycled Material Towels

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Touch of Modern recently had this company Nomadix on there. The company sells versatile, 100% recycled material towels. The towel is supposed to be able to flow between going to the beach, going to yoga, and traveling. Three things that I’m getting ready to do a lot of! I bought one for myself and one for the dude so he can easily take it back and forth to the beach with him once we’re in Sydney. It’ll be nice to only have to pack one activity towel/person. Here’s one that I ordered. Also, read more here.

Rodale’s Online Shopping Haven

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If you’ve never heard of the website Rodale’s, take the time to do a quick online search. It’s incredible, they have clothing, fitness accessories, beauty products, food stuffs, and items for the home and garden. Personally, I’m tempted to buy the garland pictured below, hang it against our huge window and hang all of our holiday cards from it with clothes pins. According to this part of the website, Rodale’s is a place for people who care about their health, the environment, and their family, but don’t feel that they should have to sacrifice style, comfort, or quality to live in “harmony with nature.” Rodale’s is also for people who “believe that the people who make your products are valuable human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity.” Read more here.

People Tree

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For over twenty years, People Tree has worked with fair trade artisans and farmers in developing countries to make “ethical and eco fashion.” Here’s one of their shirts that I adore. The People Tree website introduced me to the concept of “slow fashion”. It’s defined as “standing up against exploitation, family separation, slum cities and pollution.” Their slow fashion garments are “hand crafted in organic cotton and sustainable materials, using traditional skills that support rural communities.” In addition to labeling itself as slow fashion, People Tree also identifies itself as fair trade and sustainable fashion. Read more here.

Foldable Water Bottles

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First, I should start by disclosing that I drink a lot of water. Easily over 90 ounces a day. I’m not a large person, so you would think this might be an issue. But I’ve checked with my doctor. Don’t worry, I’m fine. One thing that I have a problem with, often, since I commute to and from work on public transportation is carrying a water bottle with me. They can be heavy if they’re full, and unnecessarily bulky if they’re not. That’s why I bought a Platypus water bottle years ago and try to have it with me at all times. Read more here.

Warby Parker

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As someone who needs glasses to see almost anything, I love all of the emerging, affordable glasses brands that have been established over the past couple of years (I especially love the ones that do home try-ons). While I was in graduate school a couple of years ago, I mentioned to a friend that I needed a new pair of glasses, but couldn’t afford them. She suggested that I check out Warby Parker’s website and I’ve been hooked ever since! Here’s a picture of my most recent pair. Warby Parker not only provides affordable glasses to consumers in the US, but they have partnered with VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. According to Warby Parker’s website, almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses, which means that 15% of the world’s population cannot effectively learn or work. Read more here.