Welcome to Good Market Info!
Click the logo to return to the Good Market app
Welcome to Good Market Info! Click the logo to return to the Good Market global app.
Welcome to Good Market Info!
Click the logo to return to the Good Market app
Welcome to Good Market Info! Click the logo to return to the Good Market global app.
Welcome to the 52 social enterprises, cooperatives, responsible businesses, voluntary organizations, and networks that became Good Market approved in March 2021! This month’s roundup includes new community members from Paraguay, Mexico, the United States, Nigeria, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Japan. More than 1,789 enterprises across 62 countries are now part of the Good Market commons. ❤️
Igbatoro, Nigeria
Springboard is a Nigerian social enterprise that uses cocoa, plantain, and rice to lift smallholder farmers out of poverty, create meaningful jobs for rural youth and women, and contribute to nutrition, economic development and sustainable landscapes. Farmers organize themselves at a community level and form a cooperative of 25 to 35 members. Springboard coordinates farmer-to-farmer training on best practices for sustainable farming and cooperative management, assists with pre-financing, insurance, extension, and certification services, and offers a toll-free helpline in four languages. The farmers are able to sell 100 percent of quality harvest to Springboard at significant margins with Fairtrade premiums, and Springboard sells to local and international markets according to Fairtrade conditions. Through the cooperative program, farmers have been able to diversify, grow more crops in a sustainable manner, sell more, and sell for more. More than 60 percent of Springboard farmers are rural youth and women.
Hardwick, Massachusetts, United States
Local Futures is dedicated to renewing ecological and social wellbeing by restoring cultural and biological diversity and strengthening local communities and local economies worldwide. They are a pioneer of the new economy movement. Since 1978, Local Futures has educated millions on the systemic root causes of our contemporary social, environmental, and economic crises, developed a strategy for change called economic localization that simultaneously addresses the root causes of these crises, and connected a global network of resonant people and organizations. They raise awareness through books, campaigns, events, education for action tools, and films including The Economics of Happiness and Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh. Local Futures founded the International Alliance for Localization, hosts World Localization Day, organizes Economics of Happiness conferences, and maintains Planet Local, an online library of inspiring grassroots initiatives. They are registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a remote team and offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ladakh. Local Futures is part of the New Economy Coalition and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.
New York, New York, United States
London, England, United Kingdom
Impact Hub King’s Cross brings social innovators together through their coworking space and business support programs to collectively build a more fair and sustainable future. Members become part of a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs and have access to a collaborative workspace, meeting rooms, event venues, free or discounted expert consultation, talks, business clinics, community events, and a growing global network. As part of their commitment to inclusion and accessibility, Impact Hub King’s Cross provides discounts for startups, students, and individuals from underserved groups and runs free programs for people facing barriers to participation, including black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups, refugees, and people who have experienced homelessness. They are developing systems to monitor carbon emissions and transition to net zero. Impact Hub King’s Cross is registered as a Community Interest Company. They have B Corporation, Social Enterprise Mark, and Living Wage Employer certification and are part of Social Enterprise UK, Knowledge Quarter, the Islington Sustainable Energy Partnership, and the global Impact Hub Network.
Crested Butte, Colorado, United States
Montanya Rum is a female-founded, female-owned rum distillery that makes award-winning aged American rum nearly 9,000 feet above sea level in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. They are committed to putting planet before profit, giving back to the community, enabling their staff to thrive, and creating opportunities for women and minorities, and they preferentially source from suppliers with shared values. Montanya Rum is made from non-GMO sugar cane sourced directly from a cooperative of family farmers in Louisiana. Their distillery, barrel room, warehouse, and tasting room are 100 percent wind powered, are designed for water recycling and heat exchange, and have reduced landfill-bound waste by 75 percent through the installation of a biodigester and the elimination of single use plastics. Montanya Rum provides above average wages and benefits in a rural economy and mentorship, office space, and commercial kitchen space to female distillery owners, upcoming nonprofits, and local businesses. They donate to organizations focused on the environment, outdoor recreation, the arts, and social justice with a particular focus on Black Lives Matter and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) initiatives. Montanya Rum is a certified B Corporation, uses Cradle to Cradle certified bottles and Forest Stewardship Council certified recycled paper and cartons, and offsets carbon through Terrapass and plastic through RePurpose Global.
Oslo, Norway
Empower is building a global plastic waste ecosystem based on the same philosophy as the Norwegian bottle deposit system. By giving plastic waste a value, they aim to stop plastic leakage into the environment, incentivize collection, and contribute to a fully circular economy. Empower is working with partners around the world to set up collection points, issue financial rewards for plastic deposits, and provide digital tools to support transparency, market access, and low-cost operations. The Empower platform uses blockchain technology to register deposited plastic digitally and trace it through the value chain. This transparency and traceability enables them to map waste flows and ensure that the plastic ends up where it has the highest value and the lowest cost to society. For every dollar donated, two kilograms of plastic waste are removed from the environment. Individuals and businesses are able to contribute monthly to become plastic positive, fund cleanups, and provide income opportunities for people in need.
San Diego, California, United States
Mammalz is an interactive live streaming platform dedicated to purpose-driven nature storytelling, presenter-led shows, and real life experiences. They are building a global community of nature lovers, naturalists, guides, scientists, birdwatchers, travelers, and educators where telling stories, sharing adventures, and interacting with each other in real time leads to a greater connection to nature and to each other. Mammalz wants to diversify the voices in nature communication by providing an economic opportunity for content creators from across the globe to be able to create and share their stories. Their Creator Partnership program provides storytelling equipment and network service packages to offset the expenses of live storytelling, particularly for creators whose perspectives on the natural world are underrepresented and who could not otherwise afford to create live content regularly. As the platform expands, they plan to use live, interactive events to showcase and mobilize support for local organizations working on human-wildlife conflict and environmental and wildlife conservation. Mammalz is registered as a Public Benefit Corporation.
Ciudad de México, Mexico
Mezcal Amores was started in 2010 as a project of love for Mexico, the sun, the earth, the sacred agave, and the people who make mezcal possible. They are committed to continuous innovation; evolving, growing, and adapting through the promotion of an artisanal mezcal supply chain; and striving towards a balanced relationship with the environment. Up to 20 percent of the net sale of each bottle goes towards social and environmental responsibility initiatives. Mezcal Amores collaborates with agave farmers and master distillers, Maestros Mezcaleros, to produce and buy artisanal and ancestral mezcal at fair trade rates with a focus on preserving traditional craftsmanship, creating jobs, and stimulating the economy in marginalized regions. They rescue and protect 12 species of wild agave, cultivate agave organically, build the soil through organic compost, and replant seven agave on average for every agave harvested. As the world’s first carbon neutral mezcal company, they calculate their carbon footprint, actively work to reduce it, and offset emissions by purchasing bonds that finance sustainable energy projects. Mezcal Amores partners with World Wildlife Fund to develop advocacy initiatives in support of forests, soil conservation, and water care. They have Soil Association organic certification, ISO 14000 environmental management certification, and Carbon Neutral certification.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
I was a Sari transforms pre-loved saris and sustainably sourced materials into one-of-a-kind apparel, accessories, and housewares. The majority of their women artisans moved to Mumbai from rural areas, dropped out of school before 15, and had no prior work experience. Now they are part of a team that is dressing global celebrities, working with top Gucci designers, and winning international fashion awards. I was a Sari provides training, fair wages, health insurance, support for children’s education, and scholarships. They monitor impact over time including the number of artisans engaged, the hours of work remunerated, and the meters of fabric upcycled. Profits are reinvested to uplift more women with new skills and reliable incomes. I was a Sari partners with Community Outreach Programme (CORP) and Animedh Charitable Trust in Mumbai and Gucci Equilibrium in Italy.
Shibuya City, Japan
weMORI aims to create a global grassroots movement that protects and restores forest ecosystems to mitigate the climate and extinction crisis. Mori means forest in Japanese, and the name weMORI is meant to convey the power of community. The weMORI app makes protecting, restoring, and learning about forests easy, transparent, and fun. It highlights forest-positive projects organized by local communities around the world, enables people to get involved through direct action, donations, or sharing, shows the amount of forest protected and regenerated, and supports connection with like-minded communities and regenerative businesses. weMORI has been developed by a network of supporters, advisors, and volunteers. They are registered as a not-for-profit organization in Norway with fiscal sponsors in the United States and Japan.
San Diego, California, United States
Mavis by Herrera was started to reduce plastic pollution, empower women entrepreneurs and artisans, and support children in need. They specialize in designer handbags that are crafted from recycled plastic filament or natural fiber. Each upcycled bag contains 57 plastic bottles. Packaging is minimal and made from recycled cartons to reduce waste. Through their Retire a Mavis by Herrera Bag program, customers can return a bag at least a year after purchase for a discount on a new bag. The returned bags are either cleaned and donated to low income groups or remade into new bags. Mavis by Herrera provides flexible livelihood opportunities for single mothers and other women that are unable to pursue traditional employment due to family responsibilities. They pay above market rates and offer training programs to help artisans thrive in life and business. Mavis by Herrera donates a portion of all profits to Shoes for Stars, Breast Cancer Angels, and nonprofit organizations in the San Diego area.
København, Denmark
Impactr provides a platform for a global community of changemakers to connect, collaborate, and engage in small everyday actions that add up to a big impact for sustainability, social justice, and the climate. The app makes it easy to discover, create, and share short sustainable action videos and directly track impact. It also includes a community of youth-led Impactr experts that are passionate about systemic issues and a directory of trusted products and brands that provide an environmentally responsible alternative to extractive companies. There are badges for trusted creators, experts, and brands, and their actions, posts, and comments are treated as endorsements for new content. Impactr team members are committed to low impact lifestyles. Their Australian office runs on renewable wind and solar power, and carbon offset subscriptions have been purchased to mitigate the emissions of team members working remotely. Impactr is part of multiple networks of young leaders including One Young World, Global Changemakers, and Global Youth Climate Database.
Asunción, Paraguay
KOGA accelerates development by supporting impactful startups and businesses. They are helping create an ecosystem for social entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development in Paraguay through hackathons, incubators, accelerators, coworking spaces, consultancy services, training, workshops, and Gramo talks. Koga works with enterprises to identify their needs, design customized solutions and action plans, and connect with networks of mentors, investors, and ambassadors across the country. They offer special prices and discounts for low-income groups and donate 10 percent of profits to organizations that are committed to social impact. KOGA was the first certified B Corp in Paraguay. They are part of local B Corps networks, entrepreneur networks, and impact networks.
Daijar, Rajasthan, India
Maruvan was started to bring back the native forests of the Marwar region and the Thar Desert by developing seed banks of native tree species, a functional nursery, and patches of forest using the Miyawaki method. They also work with local communities and village elders to create water harvesting structures and natural buildings using traditional techniques. Because the local land and ground water are saline, salt gets trapped in cement walls, which makes them weak and causes plaster and paint to peel off. Traditional mud and lime walls are porous, breathable, and long lasting. All of these processes are being documented and will be available on open source platforms and shared through hands-on workshops and training sessions. Maruvan was conceptualized and supported by Afforestt, an organisation dedicated to creating wild, native forest through the Miyawaki method.
Barking, England, United Kingdom
Cocoa Social Enterprise offers interactive family workshops and chocolate tastings in the United Kingdom that focus on the history, production, and nutritional benefits of chocolate. They also produce artisanal bean to bar dark chocolate and natural cacao teas under the name Oyin’s Chocolate using ethically sourced cacao beans from farmers in Nigeria, Peru, and Ecuador. The chocolates are handcrafted in small batches with dried fruit or minimal amounts of unrefined cane sugar. They are free from the palm oil, soy lecithin, vanillin, and other artificial additives found in most commercial chocolate and packed in compostable paper and cellophane. Cocoa Social Enterprise pays premium prices for beans, supports cacao farmers with their children’s education, and offers workshop discounts to charities. They are registered as a Community Interest Company.
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
NewGround is a specialty coffee company that focuses on second chances and new beginnings. They help ex-offenders overcome barriers to work by training and supporting them into lasting living wage employment. Prisoners that are able to access jobs after release have lower recidivism rates, which means they are far less likely to re-offend. NewGround maintains direct trade relationships with small-scale farms around the world. They source high grade coffee at fair trade prices and roast at their state-of-the-art facility in Oxford. Seasonal roasts are available wholesale, retail, at their roastery cafe, and through an online subscription service. NewGround uses recyclable packaging, renewable energy, and carbon neutral logistics. Their coffee grounds and chaff are provided free for collection by local gardeners. NewGround is part of the Impact Central community.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Wilder’s is committed to immersive farming practices for human health and ecological health. They cultivate 10 acres in Ella using traditional organic techniques with a focus on biodiversity, natural cycles, and living soil. Wilder’s Farm offers farm stays, workshops, and retreats. Wilder’s Market in Nawala features fresh fruits and vegetables and a wide range of natural and organic staples including rice, lentils, flours, coconut oil, tea, spices, free range eggs, and natural sweeteners like kithul syrup and bee honey. It is also home to Wilder’s Kitchen, a restaurant with authentic Sri Lankan and fusion dishes made with organic and natural ingredients. The farm has EU and USDA organic certification, and the market sources from organic certified suppliers and farmers under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
Singapore
Karana specializes in minimally processed, whole-plant vegan comfort foods that reduce reliance on destructive forms of agriculture and create value across the entire supply chain. For their initial product range, they used jackfruit to create minced meat and shredded meat alternatives for chefs and food service partners and dim sum dumplings and bao for retail customers. Jackfruit trees are pest and drought resistant and are normally grown intercropped as shade plants, which adds to local biodiversity. Karana sources jackfruit from smallholder farmers in Sri Lanka, where it’s estimated that 60 percent of the jackfruit crop goes to waste, and processes them in Singapore. They use recyclable packaging materials and are working to develop more sustainable packaging solutions.
Dinnington, England, United Kingdom
Bare Kind specializes in bamboo socks that save animals. Ten percent of profits for each sock design is donated to a conservation charity that supports the animal on the sock. For example, purchasing the amur leopard socks supports TIGRIS and purchasing the bumblebee socks supports The Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Bare Kind focuses on socks because they are an item of clothing that is rarely purchased secondhand. If people are going to purchase something new, they should have access to high quality products that are made to last and designed for impact. They use bamboo fiber because it is fast growing and high yielding with lower environmental impact than other fibers. The fabric is OEKO-TEX certified, and the socks are made in a third generation family-run factory in Istanbul that is BSCI certified and SEDEX audited. Products are packed and shipped in compostable or recyclable materials. Bare Kind prioritizes ground shipments and is working to become carbon neutral and offset past emissions.
Ciudad de México, Mexico
trashtalk*studio is a creative eco lab and podcast that aims to uplift, inspire, and empower change-makers and game-changers. The eco lab offers talks, workshops, consulting and storytelling services, and group journey programs for people looking to cultivate a deeper relationship to the earth. They use an interdisciplinary approach, design-thinking, systems-thinking, and mindfulness practices to co-create positive impact and drive cultural change. The trashtalk*studio podcast is an interview series that explores ecological empathy through the lens of different industries, disciplines, and perspectives. They speak to leaders in the fields of music, design, investment, entrepreneurship, spirituality, and beyond about how they apply environmentalism in their work.
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
SEWN aims to provide a brighter future for every individual affected by human trafficking in Northern Ireland. Their “Sew and Skill” program facilitates community engagement, confidence building, creative development, and upskilling and supports survivors with their ongoing journey of recovery, independence, and freedom. Participants create natural Irish linen tea towels, napkins, tablecloths, cushions, placemats, coasters, and custom housewares. Products are durable, made to last, and free from plastic packaging. SEWN is a business enterprise within Flourish NI, a registered charity. All profits are reinvested to provide additional services to human trafficking survivors. Flourish NI is part of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the Human Trafficking Foundation.
San Francisco, California, United states
Raaha is a women-founded consulting company that aims to strengthen and transform the artisan economy. They work with socially conscious businesses that have a shared commitment to improving artisans’ lives and livelihoods, increasing economic opportunities for women, preserving the soul of handmade crafts, textiles, and techniques, nurturing a tribe of conscious consumers, and scaling commerce for the artisanal and craft sector. Services include business planning, product development, communications and marketing, entrepreneurship and capacity building programs, and global market linkages. Raaha contributes to workshops and mental and physical health campaigns for women artisans and other community members.
Barcelona, Spain
Go Zero Waste aims to create a world without waste through education, collaboration, and sharing. Their free downloadable app enables people to find and recommend zero waste products and services in their local area, participate in challenges, and learn tricks and tips for a waste-free life. It includes listings for thousands of zero waste businesses across more than 30 countries. Go Zero Waste works with businesses and town councils to co-create Move Towards Zero waste reduction projects with customized challenges, multimedia resources, impact measurement, and gamification. They also assist with awareness and education campaigns, conferences, workshops, talks, and other events. Go Zero Waste uses renewable energy and is part of the Barcelona Plastic-Free Roundtable.
Dallas, Texas, United States
This Same Sky offers small batch collections of handcrafted clothing, accessories, and housewares that celebrate artisans, preserve traditional crafts, and support intentional living. Their Intuition and Dream series of handprinted scarves and robes were created in partnership with multi-generational block printers, dyers, and tailors in Jaipur and come with a visual design legend for different affirmations and intentions. This Same Sky is now expanding to work with artisan communities in other regions. They choose partners with shared values, pay artisans three times the standard rate, ensure men and women receive equal pay, and support healthy working conditions. Artisans are seen as experts in their craft and active collaborators. This Same Sky brings their perspectives and heritage into the design story and aims to demonstrate a new wave of fashion that values workers, consumers, and the earth.
Stroud, England, United Kingdom
Karakorum specializes in ethically sourced, fairly traded housewares from artisans around the world. They work with grassroots organizations and local companies to support fair wages and employment practices and keep traditional crafts alive. Products include handwoven natural fiber baskets and tableware from Rwanda, Kenya, and eSwatini, metalwork, woodwork, and woven textiles from India, upcycled tire and cement packaging bags from Cambodia, soapstone carvings from Kenya, scrafitto etched ceramics from Nicaragua, and reusable millifiore candles from eSwatini. They import by ship to reduce environmental impact and pack products in reused or compostable materials. Karakorum is a member of BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK and sources from World Fair Trade Organization and GoodWeave certified suppliers.
London, England, United Kingdom
AI for Good is a social enterprise that creates technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to help the most vulnerable and underserved. As part of their mission to serve 100 million people, they focus on ethical and scalable solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing humanity: social justice, education, sexual health, climate justice, and AI ethics and policy. Products include rAInbow, a tool to prevent domestic abuse and violence, FutureMakers, an AI and creativity course, and SnehAI, a digital companion for adolescents. AI for Good works with local communities, charities, non-governmental organizations, businesses, governments, and the United Nations to ensure that they have access to the best technologies to change the world for good.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
A Beautiful Story is a women-led social enterprise that specializes in handmade jewelry and cards. Each piece contains the story of its maker and the meaning of the gemstone and design for the wearer. A Beautiful Story started with a group of ten artisans in Nepal in 2006 and steadily expanded. Their goal is to produce and sell on all continents and create more than 1,000 sustainable and fair jobs that go beyond the basics of safe working conditions and a living wage to provide health services, paid maternity leave, child care, pensions, stable wages, interest free loans, training and coaching, quality education for artisans’ children and more. A Beautiful Story is committed to sustainable sourcing and developing traceable supply chains for semiprecious gemstones. They use Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, gold plating from Germany that meets European standards, and as much recycled silver as possible. A Beautiful Story partners with Beads for Life, a women’s empowerment project in Nepal, and is a member of Social Enterprise Netherlands.
Wakefield, England, United Kingdom
Crafting4Good supports mental health and creative wellbeing. They accept donations of unwanted or surplus art and craft supplies from companies and the public and offer them at low prices through their retail outlet and online store. This prevents usable resources from entering landfills, provides supplies and revenue for community programs, and helps ensure that budget isn’t a barrier to creativity. For new supplies, Crafting4Good prioritizes local, environmentally responsible, and ethically sourced materials. They also offer digital craft and card designs that can be downloaded and printed on demand, which reduces material waste and shipping costs. Crafting4Good gives surplus inventory for free to local community groups, offers workshops and subsidized group art therapy for people in need, and provides opportunities for volunteering and creative engagement. They choose environmentally responsible service providers and suppliers for their banking, phone service, utilities, office supplies, and cleaning products. Crafting4Good is registered as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and reinvests all profits towards their purpose. They are a member of Social Enterprise UK.
Sutton Coldfield, England, United Kingdom
CorkYogis specializes in environmentally responsible cork yoga mats and accessories. Their naturally non-slip and antibacterial yoga mats, blocks, and wheels are made from sustainably harvested Portuguese cork and thermobonded to a recycled rubber base. In addition to providing a natural surface for practice, harvesting the bark from a cork oak stimulates tree growth and carbon sequestration. CorkYogis yoga mat bags are made from recycled sari by Destiny Reflection Foundation, an Indian nonprofit that trains, employs, and empowers survivors of sex slavery and human trafficking. In addition to selling the bags, CorkYogis donates 10 percent of net profits to Destiny Reflection to support the expansion of their services to more women and girls.
Dankotuwa, Sri Lanka
Salruk designs, manufactures, and exports handmade terracotta and earthenware ceramic products for indoor and outdoor use. They were founded in 1987 in Dankotuwa village, a region of Sri Lanka known for its red clay and traditional pottery. Salruk works with a team of skilled artisans to create garden pots, lamps, wall tiles, water dispensers, cookware, tableware, and custom made-to-order designs. Their work can be seen in government buildings and leading resorts and is promoted locally as an alternative to imported plastic goods. Salruk is committed to environmentally responsible practices and contributes at least ten percent of profits to social and environmental initiatives in their local area.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
ARII Wellness offers herbal health and wellness products made from carefully sourced natural ingredients like gotukola, neem, henna, amla, Indian nettle, holy basil, nelli, aralu, sandalwood, kasturi, and hibiscus. Products include herbal hair oil, herbal hair and body masks, scrubs, aloe gel with tea tree oil, kasturi turmeric, asafoetida, black seed, virgin coconut oil, sustainably harvested bee honey, and an immunity boosting curry blend. ARII Wellness uses reusable glass jars and compostable packaging materials.
Gomara, Sri Lanka
Knuckles Farmers is a group of small-scale farmers in the Lakgala area that is committed to protecting biodiversity, maintaining healthy soil, and not using synthetic agrichemicals. This region is near the Knuckles mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is part of Zone F of the Mahaweli irrigation system. The government declared Zone F as an organic zone, but did not provide seeds, inputs, or technical support to help farmers transition to organic practices. The Knuckles Farmers came together to cultivate heirloom rice varieties like madathawalu, kuruluthuda, pachchaperumal, suwandel, and nadu organically. An initial group of 34 farmers is verified under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
Kaduwela, Sri Lanka
Tovi Foods imports and supplies canola oil because it has lower saturated fat levels than any other cooking oil. The average Sri Lankan consumes nine times the recommended level of saturated fat in their diet, and coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the country. Tovi canola oil is carefully sourced from non-GMO suppliers in the European Union and provides a high quality alternative to imported oils that are poorly refined, hydrogenated, grown from genetically modified plants, and contaminated with agrichemicals. As part of their commitment to triple bottom line operations, Tovi Foods has developed refill stations for bulk canola oil and incentivizes customers to reduce plastic waste. They charge less per liter to refill than to buy oil in a new plastic PET bottle, and they offer a 20 rupee cash rebate for every Tovi bottle that is returned. By taking responsibility for a circular supply chain, they aim to prevent the use of one million plastic bottles in Sri Lanka. Each month, Tovi Foods donates one percent of revenue (not profit) to social and environmental initiatives in Sri Lanka. They are committed to developing a transparent donation process that engages young people in decision making.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Kids’ Tinkering Corner offers woodworking workshops for children. They focus on supporting creativity, exploring where wood and other materials come from, using tools and developing kinesthetic skills, measuring and developing mathematics skills, and planning and completing projects. Children keep the toys and other items they create. Kids’ Tinkering Corner upcycles wooden pallets that are heat treated and safe for reuse.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association was founded in 1917 to help girls and young women develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world. They are part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women globally with more than 10 million members across 160 countries. The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association focuses on voluntary action, community development, environmental awareness, health education, and leadership and actively includes people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged communities. The Jennie Calverley Society (JCS) was started to improve the lives of elder guide leaders who served the Girl Guide Association for many years and now need support themselves. They mobilize volunteers and raise funds to care for the guide leader community.
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Blackpool Organics aims to turn Blackpool village into an organic farming community. They practice sustainable agriculture methods like mixed cropping, crop rotation, cover cropping, and seed saving to maintain biodiversity, minimize environmental impact, and produce high quality upcountry vegetables and herbs. Blackpool Organics purchases native seedlings from nurseries and plants them around the village. They are verified under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Rotaract Club of Colombo West started in 1973 and is one of the oldest Rotaract clubs in Sri Lanka. They are a youth-led service organization that specializes in grassroots organizing and voluntary action. Their Water for Life program raises funds to improve drinking water and sanitation facilities in disadvantaged rural schools. They have also renovated hospital wards, donated prosthetic limbs, supported homes for at-risk youth, and contributed to a wide range of other community based initiatives. Rotaract operates on a not-for-profit basis and invests all resources in club projects.
Kaduwela, Sri Lanka
Wisdom Market produces cold-pressed specialty oils for skincare and wellness including avocado oil, black seed oil, flax seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, carrot oil, papaya oil, soursop seed oil, watermelon seed oil, moringa seed oil, and peanut oil. The initiative was started by a young female entrepreneur to develop a healthier society through natural healing and sustainable agriculture. Ingredients are sourced locally from farming groups in marginalized rural areas. Wisdom Market sorts and grades raw materials, uses state-of-the-art processing, and works closely with national research institutes to maintain premium quality and global standards. They offer a 50 percent discount to customers with disabilities and donate to social and environmental initiatives near their factory in Kiriella, Ingiriya.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Dammy’s aims to reduce food waste and increase fruit consumption. They specialize in natural chutneys made from ambarella, mango, pineapple, spices, coconut vinegar, and other locally sourced ingredients. The chutneys can be used as dips, spreads, sandwich fillings, or served with rice and curries. Dammy’s aims to use their profits to sponsor a child at the SOS Children’s Village in Moneragala and support the Meth Sewa Foundation, Sooriyagolla Vidyalaya, and Sri Sangamitta Girls Child Development Center.
Malabe, Sri Lanka
Zero Plastic aims to eliminate the use of plastic in Sri Lanka by raising public awareness, encouraging local enterprises to manufacture environmentally responsible local substitutes, and providing a platform to promote and sell their products. They specialize in affordable housewares made from sustainably sourced palm leaves, coconut shell, recycled paper, wood, and other local materials. The initiative emerged from the technology incubator at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology. Zero Plastic provides free information to help businesses become zero plastic and supports people to transition to a plastic-free lifestyle. Ninety percent of their profits go towards providing services to workers, suppliers, or communities.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Simply Good was started to improve access to natural, nutritious meals and snacks, provide flexible income opportunities for stay-at-home mothers, and support local small businesses and importers. They offer granola, trail mix, salad toppings, and other nut and seed based snacks. Virgin coconut oil, peanut, cashew, dried fruit, and natural sweeteners are sourced directly from local producers. Simply Good is committed to environmentally responsible operations. They use plastic free packaging and encourage customers to return glass bottles for sterilization and reuse. Simply Good is part of Magical, an initiative that turns children’s drawings into printed cards to raise awareness and funds for environmental projects.
Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Kithula connects rural farmers and urban consumers so that traditional farmers have access to markets and livelihood opportunities and consumers have access to healthy local food. They focus on heirloom rice varieties like kahamala, heenati, and gonabaru and drinks like kithul flour porridge, belimal herbal tea, and ranawara herbal tea. Kithula is committed to environmental responsibility and produces cloth bags from recycled waste materials and cups from coconut shells.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Baking Samurais was created to break the bias about boys in the kitchen. Within Sri Lanka, there is an assumption that only girls should bake and cook. The Baking Samurais do cooking demonstrations and sell baked goods and sweets made from all natural ingredients. They aim to inspire other boys and young men to start baking and cooking for their families. Profits are donated to animal rescue organizations and animal shelters.
Hulandawa, Sri Lanka
Rande is a women-led social enterprise in rural Moneragala that focuses on improving access to nutritious local food, reducing post harvest losses, and providing livelihood opportunities to rural women who do not have access to other forms of employment. They collect surplus harvest from nearby farmers and produce value-added products like pumpkin powder, cassava flour, tamarind chutney, goraka churnaya, manioc mixes, and banana chips. Rande provides transport and support services for their women workers.
Galewela, Sri Lanka
Verdant Taprobane produces a range of natural mojito and piña colada mocktails from king coconut water, passion fruit, pineapple, coconut milk, and other locally sourced ingredients. Their drinks are full of antioxidants and electrolytes, low in sugar, and free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and other additives. Verdant Taprobane aims to reduce food waste, increase fruit consumption, and provide a substitute for imported drinks. They use plastic free packaging and support an environmental conservation program called Eyala.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Happiness Labs was founded to encourage a proactive approach to mental wellbeing by providing information, community and support. Their flagship publication, Cheat Sheets for Life, compiles actionable, data-driven research on wellbeing in a simple, easy-to-read format. It includes chapters on emotional resilience, happiness, health, sleep, food and eco-conscious living. Profits are used to fund free workshops on mental wellbeing. Happiness Labs donates to Kiva and the Fistula Foundation.
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Yanni’s specializes in fresh, all natural hummus. They source ingredients directly from small-scale local suppliers and raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of this Middle Eastern dip, particularly as a plant-based source of protein for vegans and vegetarians. Yanni’s Hummus is packaged in reusable glass jars and sold at low margins to ensure products are accessible and affordable. A portion of proceeds are used to support low income families in the surrounding community.
Dandugama, Sri Lanka
Ishta promotes holistic, preventative healthcare based on traditional Hela Wedakama practices. Their natural herbal tea blend was developed to detox the body, boost immunity, and improve digestion. Ishta Herbal Tea coordinates with local temples and institutions to distribute natural medicine for free in low income areas.
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Black Garlic ages raw garlic over two months under controlled heat and humidity to produce black garlic, a premium health food. By processing locally, they aim to make black garlic accessible and affordable to local consumers in Sri Lanka. They offer peeled cloves, paste, and black garlic in bee honey.
Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
Suboga specializes in natural, value-added food products including traditional heirloom rice, banana chips, dehydrated jackfruit, kohila, and other fruits and vegetables. They source directly from small-scale rural producers in Angunukolapalassa, Udawalawe, and Kiriella.
Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka
Green Leaves Products specializes in local health food products including herbal porridges, herbal osu drinks, kurakkan powder, olu kenda mix, and traditional suwandel and heenati rice. They source ingredients from local businesses and organic farmers and sell through local organic and natural food shops.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
HelaRaha promotes pure kithul palm products as a healthier local alternative to refined sugar and imported sweeteners. They supply kithul syrup, kithul jaggery, and kithul flour from small-scale producers in Elpitiya. HelaRaha is committed to sustainable harvesting and tree health.