Its CYBER MONDAY! Whether that means you went to work and wont actually be working, or just avoided that awkward situation all together by calling in sick, I promise I wont tell.
While you're sitting at the computer shopping all day, why don't you sit back and take a break. Maybe read an article or two, maybe help save the world...
"But I need to shop today, how could little ole me do anything to help save the world?" Oh thanks for asking, because its actually a lot easier than you think! People spend tons of money buying gifts as it is, so why not buy gifts that give back to someone or something else too. We all know that Toms gives a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair bought, but you may not know that there are tons of companies that do similar things. Without further adieu here are the companies that I think deserve more attention this holiday season.
1. GivePerf
Mission: Provides sustainable employment to artisans in need around the world. A portion of the proceeds are used in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity to go toward building houses in Nepal, Haiti, and Guatemala.
Featured Product: La Playa throw
2. Tentree
Mission: Partnered with non-profit organizations, Tentree provides a long term impact to communities directly effected by deforestation. For every product sold, ten trees are grown in a community, giving them food, education and long term employment to ensure deforestation does not happen again and that their environment and ecosystem are stable and reliable for living purposes.
Featured Product: timber tee
Mission: To clean up one pound of trash along the coastline per item sold though company hosted pick up days. The websites philosophy states that "We believe that every living creature is united by the blue of our world's oceans and waterways and we all have the responsibility to protect them."
Featured Product: Sutter's Mill Tool Bag
4. Sevenly
Mission: Sevenly chooses a cause of the week every ween and $7 or seven percent of the profit of the products sold during that time period go toward the cause of the week. They also have partnered with several other organizations to work with them for longer than a week and provide the most possible funding. These organizations range from Autism speaks, Southeastern Guide dogs, TAPS and many more.
Featured Product: camping collage print
5. Clothe Your Neighbor as Yourself
Mission: Each product purchased gives one hundred percent of the profits to the organization that you choose. The provide education, clothing, wigs to cancer patients, diapers to single parents, anything that they can. Since they give one hundred percent of the profits to the organizations they are kept alive by generous donations from people or companies who believe in their work.
Featured Product: unisex 5th edition tee
These companies are going beyond the traditional to bring a positive change in the world through business. On top of doing something good for the world, the products are of great quality and make you want to show them off to your friends. That will get them interested, and will cause a snowball effect within the product industry.
It's our responsibility to look out for the world. You don't have to get on plane and go to Africa on a mission trip to do your part. You can do something as little as buy a blanket that will donate money to building houses around the world instead of from a retail store that uses unethical production practices. Next time you go to buy something this weekend, see if you can get something like it (or better) from a company that tries to make a difference.
Hope this helps you make some more ethically friendly purchases this holiday season.
