Earth Month Activities for Kids of all Ages!
Earth Day has come and gone but Earth month continues (and to be honest- shouldn’t Earth Day be every day?). One of the best things we can do to celebrate Earth month is inspire future generations to take care of our planet. Educating our littles is crucial, since the future of the Earth is in their hands. Here are several ideas to get started: 1. Read an Earth Day book There are tons of good children’s resources out there, including books. Here is a list of Earth Day books I highly recommend! 2. Teach your child about composting Food scraps are organic and biodegradable, but food scraps that we put…
7 Sustainable Stocking Stuffers
Looking for last minute stocking stuffers? Here are some options that are good for people and the planet! 1. Alter Eco Chocolates Alter Eco is called “the cleanest, greenest chocolate” for a reason! The B Corp company uses small, Fair Trade farms, organic ingredients, and all recyclable or compostable packaging. These gluten-free goodies also give back through agroforestry to combat climate change. 2. Zambeezi Lipbalm This organic beexwax lipbalm is made with all Fair Trade and organically grown ingredients. Available in different flavors or in variety packs! Use my code ImwithFairlyRobyn for 10% off! Fanm Djanm recycled headbands 3. Fanm Djanm Headbands This Haitian-owned company sells headbands that are made…
Why buy Fair Trade?
We have a choice and a voice Happy Fair Trade Month! As consumers, I like to say that we have a choice and a voice. We have a choice when purchasing products, and increasingly more consumers are choosing to buy products that match their principles and values. Buying products with the Fair Trade Certified label ensures that production of the items you’re buying is being regularly evaluated along the supply chains to meet quality standards. Buying Fair Trade benefits both the producers and consumers and gives both a voice for the kind of change they’d like to see in the world. The benefits of buying Fair Trade When you buy…
What does “Made by Free Women” Mean?
While browsing an awesome sustainable market place called Simple Switch, I stumbled upon a brand called Made Free, which sells an assortment of sustainable goods including totes, t-shirts, and leather goods, most with the slogan “Made by Free Women”. So what exactly does this mean? For a woman to be considered “free” they need to be free from slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor. Additionally, to unbind women from the restraints of poverty, they should be paid a fair living wage for their work. According to the World Bank, there are over 750 million people living in poverty, and many work in the apparel industry in South Asia. Millions of…
Be the Cause in Santa Claus: 10 Children’s Toy Brands Not Made by Children
On Christmas morning, millions of children in America will open their presents to find this year’s most popular toys. Unfortunately, the Christmas spirit is long gone for many of the children who worked long hours to make those toys. The reality is that most of the toys gifted on Christmas morning are made with child labor or forced labor, by children as young as 7 years old; children who should be enjoying their childhood and playing with toys themselves, not be forced to make our toys. Whenever I am considering a gift for my nephew or nieces, I hold a toy in my hands, and wonder what little hands touched…
Fair Trade Jewelry that Shines and Inspires
What better way to celebrate Fair Trade Month than with an assortment of fair trade jewelry? While it can be difficult to search for fair trade items to meet all your needs, there is no shortage of fair trade jewelry. Whether you like statement jewelry or prefer a minimalist look, there’s plenty of styles for even the pickiest accessory connoisseur. Fair trade jewelry is handcrafted by artisans in developing countries using sustainably collected and often eco friendly materials. Some jewelry designs reflect the artisans’ cultures, while other designs are targeted at a more mainstream consumer crowd. Buying fair trade jewelry supports artisans and helps to end the cycle of poverty…
Where can you Find Fair Trade Clothing?
October is Fair Trade Month- a time to celebrate artisans and the products they make and and are fairly compensated for. When you think of fair trade goods, most likely you think of food, coffee, home decor, crafts, and jewelry. However, fair trade has expanded in recent years and includes clothing too. What is fair trade clothing? When you buy garments with the Fair Trade certification you are purchasing apparel made with strict ethical trade standards. It ensures adequate working environments and fair pay for workers, often in developing countries. Clothing is a labor intensive business, and people deserve to be paid fairly for their labor. What are the benefits…
Happy Fair Trade Month! Understanding the Movement
There are so many reasons to love October. The leaves are changing, apples are ripe for picking, pumpkin spice- everything is in stores, and the thrill of Halloween (my personal favorite holiday) lingers all month long. October is also Fair Trade Month, an annual observation of the importance of the fair trade movement to our global economy, and a time to encourage others to buy fair trade. But what is fair trade anyway? Here is a breakdown of the term and some frequently asked questions. What is fair trade? Fair trade is a term for a trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade by paying fair prices to…
Colorfully Curated Gifts for Her, Under $50
When I’m thinking about gifts for someone close, I often think about their favorite color(s). My mom loves red and purple, my sister in law also loves red, and my friend Jessica’s favorite color is blue. So whether you are looking for a gift for a birthday, shower, Mother’s Day, or just to remind a friend you’re thinking of them, I’m sure you can find something in this colorfully curated gallery that brings someone to mind. All items are fair trade and/or sustainably made. Enjoy!
20 for 2020: Women Who Inspire Those to Go Green and Shop Ethically Part 2.
When I started my blog post about inspirational women in sustainability I had every intent of keeping it short, say maybe, 10 women. 15 max. However, there where too many badass women to name. In fact, it was hard keeping it to a list of 20! Here is part 2 of the 20 for 2020 inspirational women in sustainability series. 11. and 12. Lauren Conrad & Hannah Skvarla Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla inspire those to empower artisans by shopping fair trade home decor. The two co-founders formed the idea for their fair trade company The Little Market when on a trip to Uganda and Tanzania. While in Africa they…