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.

New community members for December 2020

Welcome to the 36 social enterprises, cooperatives, responsible businesses, and voluntary organizations that became Good Market approved in December 2020! This month’s roundup includes new community members from Canada, the United States, Bolivia, Ghana, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal. More than 1,643 enterprises across 57 countries are now part of the Good Market community. 

Green Growth

Green Growth

Tinkune, Nepal

Green Growth envisions a sustainable food ecosystem throughout Nepal that makes it easier for consumers to access nutritious farm-to-table food and experience the benefits of sustainable farming. Their retail outlets and delivery service in Kathmandu Valley feature a curated selection of agricultural products from responsible local producers including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, free-range eggs, spices, and honey. They also offer homemade pickles and marmalades, ayurvedic personal care products, gardening inputs, a select range of handicrafts. Green Growth uses its online platforms to educate consumers about sustainable farming and help them feel more connected to the producers. Their suppliers offer farmstay options, and Green Growth has organized ecotourism trips for more than 500 tourist groups to stay overnight at their partner organic farms since 2016. They verify that all their products are free from pesticides and other agrichemicals. Green Growth also provides consulting services to help urban gardeners and commercial businesses with landscape planning and garden design based on sustainable farming and climate-smart agricultural techniques.

www.goodmarket.global/greengrowth

LAM Bolivia

LAM Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia

LAM Bolivia specializes in fair trade alpaca yarn, sweaters, jackets, ponchos, shawls, scarves, hats, and other accessories. It began in 1985 as a family business and was named in honor of the Albis family’s abuelito Luis Albis Martinez (LAM). The first store opened in 1990 in La Paz. All LAM garments are handmade by Bolivian artisans from the finest alpaca wool, which is known for being lightweight, thermal, durable, and hypoallergenic. They offer worldwide shipping and undertake custom orders for both yarn and garments. LAM Bolivia is committed to providing opportunities for local artisans, caring for animals, and protecting the environment. They are a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

www.goodmarket.global/lam

Zero Waste Event Productions

Zero Waste Event Productions

The Plains, Ohio, United States

Zero Waste Event Productions is a leading recycling, composting, and waste management provider for indoor and outdoor live music events, sporting events, community gatherings and conferences. They serve more than 30 events across 10 states each year. Zero Waste Event Productions offers pre-event consultations, onsite waste management, materials sorting, volunteer management, grounds cleanup, and coordination with local recycling centers and compost facilities. The service includes bins, signage, supplies, and equipment including a custom designed portable conveyor belt to increase visibility, educate attendees, and speed up hand sorting of compost, recycling, and reusable items from the waste stream. Data is collected throughout each event and used to create infographic reports. Zero Waste Event Productions is part of the Precious Plastics community and saves HDPE plastics for their own recycled plastics manufacturing operation. Initial products include face shields, garden planters, and accessories. Five percent of gross sales revenue is donated to Rural Action, a local nonprofit, to support their Zero Waste Program with local schools and businesses.

www.goodmarket.global/zerowasteep

Positive

London, England, United Kingdom

Positive is a community of changemaker businesses committed to making a positive impact and catalyzing the transition to a regenerative economy. Members are guided by the Positive Compass which has Purpose at the center and Planet, People, Partners, and Places as the four directions. This provides a systemic approach to increasing impact in areas like transitioning to zero waste and zero carbon, wellbeing, participation, diversity, healthy supply chains, radical collaboration, localization, and community engagement. Positive membership includes access to webinars, networking events, workshops, Basecamp, and Alchemy Labs. Basecamp is a community platform where members can access and share resources and get support and inspiration from fellow pioneers. Alchemy Labs is a space to cocreate solutions and transform challenges into opportunities. Positive offers accessible membership and service fees and inclusive pricing to ensure that startups and enterprises from low income communities are able to participate.

www.goodmarket.global/positiveregen

The Arka Initiative

The Arka Initiative

Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Arka Initiative is working toward greater sexual and reproductive wellbeing in Sri Lanka. The organization was started by a group of young doctors, psychologists, lawyers, and researchers to address current gaps and provide both women and men with the information and practical support they need to navigate their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The Arka Initiative creates and disseminates accurate information on SRH through schools, universities, maternal health hospitals, women’s centers, centers for the differently-abled, and other institutions. They also organize Arka Circles, safe spaces for young people to have conversations on difficult and taboo topics such as sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and menstruation with access to young, approachable medical professionals. Arka’s Sustainable Sanitation Project aims to reduce “period poverty” by providing reusable sanitary pads to underserved women in all 25 districts of the country. Each program includes an interactive question and answer session on menstrual hygiene and daily issues related to reproductive and sexual health.

www.goodmarket.global/arkainitiative

Upasana

Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India

Upasana is a conscious fashion studio in Auroville that brings together creativity, design, Indian culture, sustainable business, social responsibility, and spiritual progress. They design and manufacture clothing and accessories from local organic cotton and silk handloom fabric, natural dyes, ayurvedic herbs, and upcycled materials. Upasana sees design as creative problem solving and develops new projects in response to problems they experience. Tsunamika dolls emerged from post-tsunami trauma. Kapas and Paruthi are organic cotton initiatives in areas with high farmer suicide rates. Small Steps produces compact reusable bags to reduce littering and plastic waste. Varanasi Weavers was started to revive a declining tradition. For Upasana’s founder, the business is yoga. It is a way to honor life, nature, inner growth, and the process of creation that connects farmers, spinners, weavers, printers, tailors, designers, and the person wearing the clothes.

www.goodmarket.global/upasana

Centre for No-Till Agriculture

Nkawie-Toase, Ghana

Centre for No-Till Agriculture (CNTA) demonstrates and promotes the positive impact of conservation agriculture practices. In conservation agriculture, cover crops and mulch conserve moisture, prevent erosion, and develop living soil systems that capture carbon and restore nutrients. Fields under these practices are naturally disease, pest, and weed resistant and more climate resilient. The Centre has shown that conservation agriculture reduces labor, increases production, improves food and nutrition security, raises incomes, and extends access to education beyond primary school. As the founder explains, “we create healthy soil, to produce healthy plants, for healthy people.” CNTA facilities include cover crop and food fields, a mechanized no-till plot, a training and demonstration forest, a secondary forest, training facilities, and accommodation. Their technical team travels across Ghana to visit farmers in their fields and provide hands-on support. CNTA is expanding their impact through new locations, local farmer networks, and global partnerships.

https://www.goodmarket.global/centrefornotillagriculture

Sasha

Sasha

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Sasha was started in 1978 to strengthen, support, and expand market opportunities for artisans and has grown to a decentralized network of organizations that includes more than 100 groups of disadvantaged women and marginalized producers and artisans from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and other areas of northeast India. Sasha Association for Craft Producers (SACP) supports artisans with design, product development, and marketing. Sarba Shanti Ayog (SSA) empowers marginalized artisan communities with capacity building, access to services, and infrastructure improvement. Sasha Textile Artisans Association (STAA) is a producer collective that includes groups along the entire supply chain: weaving, dyeing, printing, stitching, embroidery, tailoring, and finishing. Ruro Agro Services Association (RASA) trains women to make body and hair care products and gourmet spice blends from natural and organic materials. All of the network members are committed to fair trade principles and practices and environmental responsibility. They specialize in eco-friendly azo-free dyes and natural dyeing techniques, organic cotton, and upcycled materials. Products are available at Sasha shops in Kolkata and Delhi, at fairs, exhibitions, and popup events, and online. They also supply a global network of fair trade partners and provide fair trade manufacturing services for ethical fashion brands. Sasha is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and a founding member of Fair Trade Forum India and WFTO Asia.

www.goodmarket.global/sasha

Kahiniwalla

Canton, Ohio, United States

Kahiniwalla specializes in fair trade baby rattles, teethers, hats, and blankets and toys for imaginative play. Products are intentionally designed, ethically handcrafted, and made to last. Kahiniwalla, which means “traveling storyteller” in Bangla, emerged from a long-term partnership with Pebble, a fair trade children’s brand in Bangladesh that provides livelihood opportunities to more than 12,000 women in over 120 rural centers. Women in these areas no longer need to leave their children with relatives to migrate in search of employment. They are paid living wages in their own community. All products are hand knit and made from child safe and environmentally responsible materials including Oek-Tex 100 and organic certified cotton and low impact azo-free dyes. Pebble is a guaranteed member of the World Fair Trade Organization, and Kahiniwalla is a member of the Fair Trade Federation in the United States.

www.goodmarket.global/kahiniwalla

Kaarigar Clinic

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Kaarigar Clinic is a rural business hub in Gujarat that works with artisans to develop their own enterprises, create sustainable livelihoods, strengthen their social and economic status, and make their villages a better place to work and live, so they do not need to migrate to urban areas. They help artisan entrepreneurs access training, design support, business management skills, investment, and markets and develop their own brands. For example, Pabiben, a Rabari artisan from Kutch, provides employment for more than 60 women in her community producing unique Hari Jari embroidered bags and accessories, Rajiben specializes in handwoven products from upcycled plastic, Jyotsanaben creates hand painted textiles, and Jabbar Khatri uses hand block printing to create traditional Ajrakh designs. Kaarigar Clinic focuses on products that are affordable for middle and lower income groups. They are part of the Creative Dignity movement.

www.goodmarket.global/kaarigarclinic

Grower's Secret

Antioch, California, United States

Grower’s Secret specializes in innovative agricultural inputs that are approved for certified organic agriculture. Their story began in 1995 when two plant pathologists working with mushrooms found one that produces a compound that significantly stimulates root and plant growth. Field validation was conducted by third party researchers, and by 2003, the product was commercially available. Since then, the product line has been expanded to include other organic fertilizers and supplements made from beneficial microorganisms, natural rock phosphate, and plant based ingredients like seaweed, soy protein, corn steep liquor, and fermented molasses. All products are based on scientific research and third party tested, and most can be used with drip irrigation systems. Grower’s Secret reduces risk and makes it easier for farmers to repair their soil and grow sustainably. They are committed to operating in a way that benefits all stakeholders, preserves natural resources, and makes a healthier world for future generations. Grower’s Secret is listed by the Organic Material Research Institute (OMRI), registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Organic Input Materials program, and is part of the Organic Fertilizer Association of California (OFAC) and the Organic Produce Network (OPN). They support nonprofit community gardens through product donations and volunteering.

www.goodmarket.global/growerssecret

DreamSpace Academy

DreamSpace Academy

Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

DreamSpace Academy is a community innovation center in Batticaloa, an area of Sri Lanka that has been affected by natural disaster and 30 years of war. During this period, hundreds of international agencies came to the region with humanitarian aid and imported solutions. DreamSpace was started to catalyze creative mindsets and empower youth in the region to develop innovative local solutions to complex socioeconomic and environmental issues. They have labs for electronics, mechanics, software, biotechnology, business, art, and design and offer a wide range of MakerEducation workshops. Their personalized empowerment programs, called the DreamSpace Life Cycle, helps local innovators develop their ideas into self-sustaining social enterprises. They also host DreamSpace Terrace, a community cafe, Trash for Trade, a plastic upcycling business, OceanBiome, an ocean research collective, and J Matrix, a 3D modeling enterprise.

www.goodmarket.global/dreamspaceacademy

Trinjan by Kheti Virat Mission

Jaito, Punjab, India

Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) is a civil society action group that has been a pioneer in the organic and seed sovereignty movement in Punjab. Trinjan is an extension of KVM’s work to revive traditional skills and enhance rural livelihoods. The name refers to the place where women in rural Punjab would gather to spin cotton, weave, knit, share, and learn together. KVM supplies indigenous organic cotton grown by local farmers, which is then handspun, naturally dyed, handwoven, knit, crocheted, and embroidered by the Trinjan artisans. The platform also includes artisans that weave baskets and containers from local grasses. The Trinjan initiative supports rural women, adds value to local organic cotton, and helps ensure that traditional skills and knowledge are based to future generations. To support this revival, they organize festive gatherings known as Trinjan Melas, exhibitions, live demonstrations, food festivals, and cultural programs. Trinjan partners with many mission-aligned groups including Tula, Sutra, 11-11, India Handmade Collective (IHMC), and Creative Dignity.

www.goodmarket.global/khetivirasatmission


Vianova

San Diego, California, United States

Vianova, which means “new path,” helps purpose-driven leaders and their organizations make a meaningful difference and create greater value for their stakeholders, their communities, and the world. They specialize in strategic planning services, facilitation for meetings, workshops, and offsite retreats, and social impact consulting. Vianova assists companies with the B Corp certification process, social impact assessments and benchmarking, workplace volunteer programs, and ESG metrics.They are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economy and measure their own success based on the impact they have on their workers, clients, community, and the environment. Vianova is registered as a benefit corporation in California, has been B Corp certified since 2008, and is a member of Business for Good San Diego and the Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC).

www.goodmarket.global/vianova

Six Yards Plus

Six Yards Plus

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Six Yards Plus aims to make the saree a regular part of every Indian women’s wardrobe by breaking free from the idea that the saree should be limited to certain occasions, drapes, or ages. They feature handwoven natural cotton, linen, and silk sarees from across 20 states in India and help create new market opportunities for traditional artisans. Before starting Six Yards Plus, the founder spent 16 years in the development sector working with women’s self-help groups and helping them take their products online. Their online store and retail channels in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and New Delhi feature traditional weaves like Godavari, Ikkat, Gamcha, Shibori, Kalamkari, Kota, Maheshwari, Phulla, Ponduru, and Jamdani. Sarees directly support artisanal livelihoods and create zero textile waste. Six Yards Plus offers workshops, events, and bespoke services to help pass the heritage of India’s weaves and drapes to the next generation. They are working with industry leaders to source sustainable fibers and support a circular fashion economy. Six Yards Plus is part of Social Venture Partners and Creative Dignity.

www.goodmarket.global/sixyardsplus

Permaculture for Business Innovation

Permaculture for Business Innovation

Barcelona, Spain

Permaculture for Business Innovation uses permaculture principles to help businesses be regenerative and resilient by design and focus on thriving rather than simply surviving. Permaculture principles bring together the concepts of circular economy, biomimicry, and the doughnut economy and offer a tool for new perspective thinking and innovation. Examples include using the edges and identifying niche opportunities to create value, incorporating self regulation and feedback loops, transitioning to renewable resources and zero waste systems, valuing diversity, and creatively responding to change. Permaculture for Business Innovation offers reduced rate consultancy services to low-income organisations.

www.goodmarket.global/permacultureinnovation

Raah Foundation

Raah Foundation

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Raah Foundation is a not-for-profit organization working for holistic transformation and sustainable community development in the tribal belts of Jawhar and Mokhada in Maharashtra in India. Activities include building check dams and wells to improve water storage capacity, training farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, supporting women to start micro businesses, reviving local Warli art to sustain livelihoods, and improving access to healthcare for women and children in need. They have worked with over 2,000 tribal men and women through their livelihood programs. Raah Creative Design was started as a social business to support tribal artisans and women’s groups with training, design, raw material sourcing, and marketing. Products include stationery, clothing, bags, accessories, and housewares made with patchwork or hand painted with traditional Warli designs.

www.goodmarket.global/raahfoundation

Arugam Bay College

Arugam Bay College

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay College is an international English language kindergarten and primary school on Sri Lanka’s east coast that provides an innovative and creative learning program to meet children’s individual needs with a special focus on diversity, community, and the environment. They combine a traditional syllabus with a holistic approach that encourages a natural flow of learning. Children have the opportunity to play, explore, go on adventures, and learn hands-on practical life skills. Activities include swimming, surfing, skating, yoga, gardening, fishing, Sinhala and Tamil classes, music, and traditional dance. Parental involvement in both the children’s learning and the running of the school is encouraged. Arugam Bay College organizes yearly fundraisers to cover the costs of local children from low income families. They also help with beach cleanups and raise funds for local national parks.

www.goodmarket.global/arugambaycollege

Exit to Community

Exit to Community

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Exit to Community (E2C) is a group of organizers, researchers, founders, mentors, and allies working towards alternative exit strategies for startups committed to community ownership and economic justice. Typically, when a startup company takes early investment, the expectation is that investors will see a return through an “exit” event: a new investment round, a merger, an acquisition, or an initial public offering (IPO). In E2C, the company transitions from investor ownership to ownership by the people who rely on it most. Those people might be users, workers, customers, partner organizations, or a combination of stakeholder groups. Organizers from MEDLab and Zebras Unite have been developing E2C resources and strategies through webinars, participatory events, publications, a 10-week peer learning cohort, and an online community of practice. Anyone working on community ownership and alternative exit strategies is welcome to join.

www.goodmarket.global/exittocommunity

200 Million Artisans

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

200 Million Artisans aims to catalyze self-reliance and responsible innovation within India’s artisan economy by providing access to knowledge, resources, and networks that empower artisan-producers and entrepreneurs focused on sustainable production and consumption. Over the past 30 years, the number of Indian artisans has decreased by 30 percent, but there are still an estimated 200 million people that depend on craft for their livelihood. 200 Million Artisans aims to bridge the gap and help them connect with the growing global demand for handmade, sustainable, and unique products and experiences. The initiative started with a voluntary collective of entrepreneurs, strategists, designers, and researchers and has expanded through collaboration and an open platform approach. 200 Million Artisans is part of Catalyst 2030, Creative Dignity, and an Exit to Community cohort organized by Zebras Unite.

Sureeli: The Pahadi Doll

Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Sureeli dolls celebrate the fearless, strong, and hard working Pahadi women of Uttarakhand. The dolls are handmade by a community of local women from natural bhimal fiber and upcycled waste fabric. Sureeli was started to support alternative livelihoods, self expression, and cultural pride for non-traditional artisans. They pay fair wages and operate as a not-for-profit social enterprise. Sureeli is part of the Creative Dignity movement.

www.goodmarket.global/sureeli

Joint Agri Products Ceylon

Delgoda, Sri Lanka

Joint Agri Products Ceylon (JAPC) is one of the largest organic exporters in Sri Lanka. They specialize in fairtrade organic Ceylon cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, black, white, and green pepper, and other spices and also offer organic coconut products, tropical fruits, essential oils, and teas. They work with a network of more than 3,500 farming families that follow organic and biodynamic practices including biological pest control, soil development, and mixed cropping with perennial cash crops, fruit, shade trees, pest repellent plants, and medicinal herbs all grown on the same land. JAPC pays fairtrade premiums to farmers, which are used for agricultural equipment, seeds, planting materials, investment in livelihood activities, and construction of roads, bridges, and water projects. In the area around their factory, they distribute dry rations, organize health camps, and offer a scholarship scheme for families in need. JAPC segregates waste for composting and recycling and is in the process of installing panels for solar electricity. They have certifications from Fairtrade International, USDA Organic, EU Organic, JAS Organic, Demeter, Naturland, and Bio Suisse.

www.goodmarket.global/japc

PALM

Ahangama, Sri Lanka

PALM offers rooms, suites, food, drinks, yoga, and a Crossfit gym in Ahangama on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Their facilities were designed to protect the natural environment, maximize natural lighting and airflow, and reduce water and electricity use. PALM prioritizes local suppliers and materials. Furniture is made by nearby cane weavers, toiletries are from a natural local brand, and fresh produce is souced from village markets. They use refillable glass containers and water bottles and participate in a local network that aims to eliminate plastic waste and promote recycling.

www.goodmarket.global/palm

Free the Food

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Free the Food is catalyzing feminine leadership for the regenerative food revolution and supporting the transition to a world where clean, healthy and nutritious food is freely available to everyone, everywhere. They are a community of visionaries, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers, gardeners, investors, nutritionists, activists, coaches, and changemakers collaborating on projects that leverage technology, honor indigenous knowledge, and empower women around the world to heal the planet and transform their communities with regenerative food systems and thriving businesses. Free the Food provides coaching and advisory support to help smallholder farmers eliminate food waste, regenerate soils, sequester carbon, and develop leapfrogging technologies and innovative business models.

www.goodmarket.global/freethefood

Dahamli Natural Incense

Dahamli Natural Incense

Panadura, Sri Lanka

Dahamli Natural Incense specializes in incense sticks, natural fragrances and essential oils. They offer an alternative to products made with imported petrochemical ingredients like paraffin and synthetic fragrances that pollute the air. They use scrap bamboo collected from carpenters to make their petroleum-free incense sticks, and the natural fragrances are created from local plant derivatives. Dahmli preferentially employs disabled people from the local community, and more than forty percent of the items used during the manufacturing process are reused or recycled. They also support a rural school development project in Panadura, disabled students in Maharama, and other community welfare projects across Sri Lanka.

www.goodmarket.global/dahamliincense

Bad Tan Gals

Bad Tan Gals

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Bad Tan Gals specializes in crocheted bikinis, bralettes, and tops. They aim to debunk the idea that sustainable and ethical clothing is boring and not fashionable. Each piece is handmade to order to enable customization and prevent inventory waste. Bad Tan Gals sources materials from garment factory deadstock and discards that would have otherwise been burned or sent to landfills. Recycling pre-consumer waste reduces pollution and natural resource consumption. As they grow, Bad Tan Gals aims to expand flexible work-from-home livelihood opportunities for women from marginalized rural communities starting with Sri Lanka’s North Central Province.

www.goodmarket.global/badtangals

Message Designing

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Message Designing creates original artwork and graphic designs to tell stories that can be understood across language, age, race, and other divides. They specialize in custom designs for screen printing, clothing, stationery, calendars, coasters and more. Message Designing is committed to using environmentally responsible materials including bamboo handloom fabric, unbleached cotton, natural linen, and sustainably sourced cork. They maintain low margins to promote inclusivity and use their platform to raise awareness about mental health and other social issues.

www.goodmarket.global/messagedesigning

Kayamai

Kayamai

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Kayamai aims to use art as a catalyst for people to express and heal emotions connected to unspoken or taboo topics like mental health and gender inequality. In ancient Tamil literature, the word Kayamai means lowness  or vengeful and encompasses the plight of women and other marginalized communities. The brand Kayamai uses their platform to raise awareness about social issues and create safe spaces that are inclusive, creative and conscious. Services include art commissions, illustrations, and graphic designs for T-shirts, stationery, cloth bags, and other accessories. Priority is given to environmentally responsible materials and techniques. Kayamai donates a portion of profits to the Manipay Green Memorial Hospital in Jaffna, the Building Hope Children’s Resource Center in Kirulapone, and the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama.

www.goodmarket.global/kayamai

Earth Organics

Kaleliya, Sri Lanka

Earth Organics educates and empowers people to return to nature and become responsible stewards of the planet. They supply farming and gardening inputs and services that are inspired by regenerative, natural and organic principles and focus on restoring soil ecosystems, increasing carbon sequestration, growing in harmony with nature, producing healthy, nutritious crops, and increasing food security and food sovereignty. Earth Organics offers soil blends, soil conditioners, plant elixirs, enriched biochar, bio-active inputs, seeds, nursery plants, and DIY gardening and farming workshops with a focus on inclusive and affordable pricing. They use a portion of profits to organize free composting and farming workshops in low income communities, gift seeds, and supply food to families in need.

www.goodmarket.global/earthorganics

A Step Forward

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

A Step Forward provides training, consulting, and support services to community based organizations, rural youth, farmers, and small-scale businesses in Sri Lanka. They draw on years of community development experience to offer programs on leadership, goal setting, personal empowerment, creative thinking, organization and group development, savings and credit management, community finance, livelihood development, and entrepreneurship. Proceeds are used to provide discounted or free services to low income groups.

www.goodmarket.global/astepforward

MOCO

MoCo

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

MoCo works with a network of talented Sri Lankan women to offer do-it-yourself cross stitch and embroidery kits. The goal is to create livelihood opportunities and help people develop a creative outlet to relieve stress and depression. They prioritize environmentally responsible materials and provide an affordable, local alternative to imported embroidery kits. MoCo is expanding the project to foster homes and the female wards of Sri Lankan prisons. A portion of all profits are used to provide supplies and support for women prisoners.

www.goodmarket.global/moco

VCeylon

Gampaha, Sri Lanka

VCeylon focuses on healthy food, environmental sustainability, and uplifting agricultural communities. They started by developing a network of farmers in Wilachchiya, Nikaweratiya, Wariyapola, Bingiriya, Dambulla, and Gampaha that grow traditional heirloom rice varieties without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. They are now working with entrepreneurial young people from rural areas to develop their own collection and processing businesses that supply to the main brand. In the future, VCeylon plans to expand their product portfolio to include sesame, pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, and other healthy and environmentally responsible farm products. VCeylon allocates a portion of profits to environmental and social projects. This includes planting mee and kumbuk trees on the side of paddy fields and supporting farming communities to transition to environmentally responsible techniques. VCeylon uses their online platform to raise consumer awareness about the value of heirloom varieties.

www.goodmarket.global/vceylon

Aliya

Aliya

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Aliya promotes sustainable living by making it easier for people to access handmade, ethical, and environmentally responsible products through popups, retails shops, and marketplace events. Products include bamboo toothbrushes, reusable metal and bamboo straws, natural soap, and dreamcatchers, jewelry, clothing, accessories, and housewares made locally from natural and recycled materials. Aliya uses a portion of profits to support beach cleanups.

www.goodmarket.global/aliya

Ruwasampatha

Ruwasampatha

Weliweriya, Sri Lanka

Ruwasampatha by Wickramarachchi Laboratories offers more than 200 Ayurvedic products including traditional herbal oils, powders, tablets, capsules, syrups, arishta, tonics, balms, and creams. Since 1972, they have been committed to keeping traditional medicine and personal care products accessible and affordable. Ruwasampatha provides free insurance, meals, training programs, and annual trips for workers. They assist farmers with quality improvements and certification, and they provide regular donations and support to schools, temples, and villagers in the surrounding area. Ruwasampatha has ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management practices, and all products are approved and registered under the Sri Lankan Department of Ayurveda.

www.goodmarket.global/ruwasampatha

The Rooster_s Farm

Hatch Fresh by The Rooster's Farm

Hemmathagama, Sri Lanka

The Rooster’s Farm aims to feed their family and the community with healthy GMO-free food and protect the environment for future generations. They raise traditional varieties of village chickens (gam kukula) that are well-adapted to local conditions according to free range poultry standards. The animals are protected from predators but are able to move freely and practice natural behavior. The Rooster’s Farm coordinates with local authorities and follows best practices for health and the environment. They maintain an unusually high number of roosters in the flock in order to produce fertile eggs and increase the population of traditional heirloom varieties. The Rooster’s Farm welcomes visitors and shares experiences with anyone interested in natural farming.

www.goodmarket.global/theroostersfarm

Urban Rustics

Attidiya, Sri Lanka

Urban Rustics SL creates handmade, ecofriendly housewares and accessories from upcycled coconut shell and coconut husk. They offer reusable and biodegradable alternatives to single use plastic. Products include cutlery, food containers, serving dishes, bowls, cups and more. Urban Rustics SL is committed to making environmentally responsible products from local materials and providing rural employment opportunities.

www.goodmarket.global/urbanrusticssl

Know an initiative that’s good for people and good for the planet? The application is currently available in English, Sinhala, Tamil, Urdu, Spanish, and Japanese and started in Nepali: www.goodmarket.global/apply  Want to help make it available in another language? Learn more about the community translation project here.