Welcome to Good Market Info!
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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 April 2021! This month’s roundup includes new community members from Canada, the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, England, Scotland, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Ladakh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Japan. More than 1,840 enterprises across 62 countries are now part of the Good Market commons.
Tokyo, Japan
Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability (NELIS) is a global network that connects, inspires, and empowers a new generation of sustainability leaders across the world. There are 5 main projects: NELIS Summits, NELIS Chapters, Four Revolutions (4Revs), Next Leaders University (NLU), and One Million Leaders (OML). NELIS Summits are digital and physical events for members, volunteers, students, social entrepreneurs, intrepreneurs from ally organizations, and sustainability practitioners. NELIS Chapters are locally driven initiatives that help members strengthen their skills and come together around co-creative and transformative projects. Under 4Revs, a global research team finds young social innovators and entrepreneurs working on humanity’s four main survival challenges—food and agriculture, water, circular systems, and energy—and links them with corporate innovators and intrapreneurs. Next Leaders University (NLU) is a global sustainability learning platform that is designed, developed and delivered by local sustainability practitioners. One Million Leaders (OML) aims to connect, inspire, and empower one million leaders in sustainability on every continent by 2030. NELIS is a not-for-profit initiative and offers sliding scale pricing based on financial capability.
Adawso, Ghana
Growing Gold is a family farm in Ghana that is committed to creating sustainable agriculture and food experiences. They use agroecological techniques to maintain biodiversity, develop the soil, conserve water, and produce fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices without synthetic agrichemicals. Growing Green offers locally grown crops as an alternative to conventional imports. By directly connecting with consumers and avoiding intermediaries, they are able to maintain lower prices than supermarkets and make fresh, healthy produce more affordable and accessible in the local market. They use their platform to showcase workers and community partners, raise awareness about local sustainable agriculture, and promote healthy plant-based food. Growing Gold reinvests all profits towards their mission. During the next phase of development, they aim to develop seed saving networks and help neighboring farms transition to organic practices.
Benzonia, Michigan, United States
Grow Benzie fosters positive action to connect people in rural Benzie County with healthful foods, jobs, life skills, and each other. It was established in 2008 when a group of local residents organized to renovate an abandoned Benzonia farmstead into a community-centered garden space. The campus now includes an event center, commercial kitchen, shared office space, incubator farm, bee yard, makerspace, sewing studio, stuff library, community garden, and farmers market. Partner organizations offer year round programs and events for all ages. For young people, Grow Benzie facilitates classroom activities, sponsors learning stations at school and community events, hosts field trips, and provides after school activities and programs for students from pre-school to high school. Grow Benzie has supported the formation of guilds, mutual aid associations for beekeepers, fiber enthusiasts, seed savers, and soil builders. The Seed Guild maintains a seed library, organizes workshops and seed swaps, and offers seed kits. Grow Benzie is a not-for-profit organization supported through member fees and community donations.
Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu, India
Last Forest creates sustainable livelihood opportunities by connecting communities in the Nilgiri hills with fair trade markets for organic and wild forest products. They specialize in wild honey from indigenous honey hunters who have been collecting from the same areas for thousands of years. Over time, their product range has expanded to include soaps, body balms, lip balms, beeswax food wraps, coffee, tea, herbs, spices, essential oils, and more. Village level production centers are managed and operated by local women who no longer have to leave their communities to look for work. Last Forest supplies more than 100 outlets including their own retail shops in Kotagiri, Coonoor and Ooty. Their campus is solar powered and sells excess energy back to the grid. Last Forest was started as a market intermediary social enterprise by Keystone Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that has been supporting communities in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve since 1993. Sister organizations include the Nilgiri Natural History Society and Aadhimalai, a producer company with more than 1,600 indigenous owners. Last Forest is a member of Fair Trade Forum India, World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Participatory Guarantee System Organic Council, Non Timber Forest Products India, and Slow Food Nilgiris.
London, England, United Kingdom
GOOD Botanics draws on traditional herbal medicine to make environmentally and socially conscious skincare products that nourish and support the body. Recipes for their balms, soaps, hand sanitizers, and other skincare are kept simple with no colors, synthetic additives, or preservatives, no palm oil, and no animal testing. GOOD grows most of their herbs in the Phy.tol.o.gy medicine garden in Bethnal Green, East London and sources other ingredients from a network of small-scale ethical farmers committed to sustainable agriculture processes. They offer regular workshops to test products and teach participants how to make home medicines. GOOD invests profits into innovative projects that support environmental and social justice. They currently support the Mobile Apothecary project, which produces high quality herbal medicine for free distribution to individuals experiencing homelessness on the streets of London.
Lekki, Nigeria
Nourishing Africa is driving the profitable and sustainable growth of African food and agriculture landscapes by attracting, empowering, equipping, connecting and celebrating innovative young agri-food entrepreneurs. These African entrepreneurs are leveraging agtech and digital innovations to create a flourishing, sustainable, and just food ecosystem and ensure that the continent nourishes itself and becomes a net exporter of food by 2050. The Nourishing Africa platform celebrates the work of agri-food entrepreneurs and helps them connect with information, training, talent, funding, market opportunities, local chefs and food influencers. It includes food and agricultural data, podcasts, recorded webinars, and information on workshops and events. Nourishing Africa offers a series of online programs including First Thursdays for peer-to-peer exchange and Ask An Expert for technical support.
San Francisco, California, United States
SMBX is a helping democratize the financial system in the United States by enabling small businesses to issue bonds and raise capital directly from their customers and local community and by giving people the power to invest in the businesses they love and the world they want to see. In the past, only large corporations and governments were able to raise capital by issuing bonds, and only high net worth individuals and other accredited investors were eligible to invest. In 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission enacted Title III of the JOBS Act which made it possible for the public to directly support startups and small business through registered investment crowdfunding platforms like SMBX. Many of the new platforms focus on equity investments with unpredictable exits and returns. SMBX small business bonds are available in 10 dollar increments with transparent interest rates and are structured to provide equal monthly payments until the total principal and earned interest are paid. This makes it easier for businesses to engage their community. While anyone with a US credit card or bank account is eligible to invest, the service is explicitly design to support resilient local economies by connecting local investors with local businesses.
Vega de Valcarce, Spain
ReViEVAL facilitates the sustainable revitalization of rural communities that have been affected by depopulation by helping them implement innovative and sustainable initiatives and business models. Their multidisciplinary team is working with the community of Vega de Valcarce in Spain to develop and implement a “smart” rural strategy, which harnesses new technologies and regulations while respecting the environment, people, and culture of the area. Objectives include building a renewable energy community as a shared asset, attracting digital nomads, promoting natural and cultural heritage tourism, developing sustainable local food production, supporting affordable housing and land use, and improving access to recreation, quality education, and healthcare through digital technologies. The team is partnering with academic insitutions to develop robust and replicable methodologies based on a participatory action research approach. ReViEVAL is registered in Spain as a not-for-profit association.
Ithaca, New York, United States
AguaClara Reach promotes global access to safe drinking water through research and education, capacity building with local implementation partners, and design and innovation of community-scale water treatment technologies. AguaClara started in 2005 as a student-based research program at Cornell University to design affordable and sustainable drinking water treatment plants that would last for decades in resource-limited communities. They provide open-source access to their research and technological advancements. AguaClara technology is gravity-powered, locally constructed from readily accessible materials, operates without electricity, and is optimized for low cost, high performance, and easy inspection and maintenance. Partners like Agua Para el Pueblo in Honduras and Gram Vikas and Pradan in India work with funders to establish community owned and governed water treatment plants. AguaClara Reach is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that extends implementation of the technology.
Hemis, Ladakh
Naropa Fellowship is a residential, post-graduate academic program focused on creating and nurturing change agents and future leaders who will create meaningful impact in Ladakh and the Himalayan region. The Fellowship is designed to address local challenges of unemployment, lack of professional development opportunities, brain drain, and cultural erosion. Key topics include ecotourism, social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, education, and cultural and heritage preservation. The residential campus in Hemis, Ladakh is equipped with solar powered centralized heating. Organic waste from the kitchen goes to a nearby animal rescue shelter on a daily basis. Naropa Fellowship is a Break Free From Plastic grantee and is working towards making the whole campus free from plastic. Scholarships are provided by the Pel Drukpa Charitable Trust.
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Flourish aims to impact producer livelihoods at scale and make conscious consumption an accessible lifestyle choice. Their global platform features handmade clothing, accessories, toys, housewares, natural food, and personal care products from ethical brands and producer groups that are committed to responsible manufacturing, fair wages, transparency, empowering women, environmental responsibility, and paying it forward. Flourish shares artisans’ stories and raises consumers’ awareness about where their products come from, the amount of money that goes back to the creator, and the impact of their purchase on sustainable livelihoods. They have a collective ownership model to democratize wealth creation. As the Flourish ecosystem prospers, dividends will go to producers through the Producer Ownership & Welfare Trust and to ecosystem builders through the Professional Service Providers Trust.
Ghent, Belgium
Solid integrates fair trade social enterprise and not-for-profit projects to help people in remote and disadvantaged regions of Peru, Kenya, and India improve their living conditions and build a solid foundation for their own futures. Their handicraft workshops provide safe working conditions, fair wages, equal opportunity, child care, education, psychosocial and medical services, personal development support. At Manta in Ayacucho, Peru, more than 200 women hand knit and crochet clothing and housewares from alpaca yarn, merino wool, and other sustainably sourced fibers. They use the profits to fund Dia, a social organization in Ayacucho that shelters and supports teenage mothers and girls who have survived violence and abuse. At Paces in Ranchi, India, the focus is on handwoven organic cotton, cruelty-free silk, and recycled sari products. Profits are used to support vulnerable children and survivors of human trafficking and slavery. At Hadithi in Kenya, the artisans specialize in handwoven sisal fiber baskets, and all profits are reinvested in the Kasigau Corridor region. Manta by Solid Peru is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Oyugis, Kenya
SAKA is a community based organization that aims to empower poor and marginalized groups in rural areas of Homa Bay County in western Kenya. The work is done by volunteers from the local community. They provide food, clothing, shelter, and education support for orphans in the area, construct toilets, borewells, and houses for widows and people with disabilities, and coordinate family planning and health services. SAKA also organizes training on financial management, entrepreneurship, tailoring, brickmaking, organic horticulture, agribusiness, and other technical skills to increase household incomes. SAKA is registered as a not-for-profit organization with the Kenyan government and is part of the Green Belt Movement to increase forest cover in Africa.
Argenteuil, France
The Gaia Project sells high quality photographic art prints to support environmental protection. Through photography, they aim to show the beauty and diversity of the earth, raise public awareness on the importance of conservation, and connect with people dedicated to the protection of the planet and the preservation of its biodiversity. In order to minimize environmental impact, The Gaia Project works with a printer that recycles ink cartridges and other consumables and uses solvent free media. Proceeds are donated to Stand Up for Elephants (SU4E) in Nepal and other not-for-profit organizations that fight for nature conservation and animal welfare.
Reading, England, United Kingdom
The British Association for Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers (BAFTS) is a network of independent shops and suppliers dedicated to promoting fair trade retail in the United Kingdom. Through BAFTS, businesses that partner with disadvantaged producer groups are able to demonstrate their commitment to fair trade and partipate in the broader fair trade community and movement. Members must adhere to the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) 10 Principles of Fair Trade, ensure that at least 70 percent of their stock is from fair trade verified sources, and complete annual peer assessments. Membership fees are used to organize an annual conference, provide networking opportunities, and create content to help promote fair trade. BAFTS is a network member of WFTO, a supporting member of Social Enterprise UK, and a member of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum. They partner with Fairtrade Foundation, the Climate Coalition, Traidcraft Exchange, and other groups working to build a better world.
London, England, United Kingdom
Socko transforms yarn that is no longer serving a purpose into socks that can be worn for years. Their socks are designed and made in the United Kingdom from materials that would have otherwise gone to landfill, like repurposed merino wool, cotton offcuts, and plastic bottles, and are reinforced with Econyl, a regenerated nylon made from used fishing nets and other nylon waste, for added durability. Packaging is compostable, recycled, and recyclable. Socko works directly with British craftspeople and manufacturers and can ensure they are paid fairly for their skills. The socks are made by a fourth generation family business in Leicestershire. Each pair of socks comes with a free mending kit and darning instruction guide to encourage reinforcing or repairing to extend the active life of clothing. Socko also offers online content, courses, and books on how to transition to a sustainable wardrobe. They are part of East End Trades Guild, Make it British, and Fashion Revolution.
Selbitz, Germany
Our Market is a fair trade company connecting artisans in the global south with individual and wholesale buyers in Europe. They partner with Papillon Marketplace in Haiti, UPAVIM Crafts in Guatemala and MaTé Sai in Laos to supply ethical housewares, garden products, and accessories, share artisans’ stories, and educate the public about the benefits of fair trade. Our Market prioritizes products made from environmentally responsible upcycled materials like cereal boxes, oil drums, reclaimed wood, and fabric and natural materials like clay, cotton, indigo, and bamboo. Packaging is plastic free and made from recycled materials. As the company expands, Our Market is committed to providing employment opportunities for refugee women in Germany and contributing to the emergency medical funds their partners have established for artisans. Our Market is an associate member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Summit, New Jersey, United States
Beyond Main uses technology to strengthen and enable local economies and helps consumers understand the economic benefits and positive impact they have when shopping locally. Their platform not only makes it easier for people to discover, shop, and support local businesses and makers, it also helps local merchants bridge the online and offline experience through features like mobile checkout, curbside delivery, and pick up in store. Beyond Main minimizes the environmental impact of trade by reducing long distance shipping of items that are available nearby and elevating awareness around consumption and purchasing practices. Their partner municipalities and community organizations subsidize the service for small businesses and promote the platform to drive local spending. Beyond Main donates five percent of revenue to non-profit organizations in partner communities.
Delhi, India
Auspice specializes in naturally dried culinary herbs, spices, and seasoning blends that that are cleaned, sorted, packed, and labeled by adults with autism according to the highest hygiene and food safety standards. Their goal is to create skill development and employment opportunities for people with autism and inspire other socially conscious business to do the same. Work processes have been adapted to suit different types of motor skills, incorporate visual learning tools, and provide breakout periods according to individual needs. Experienced caregivers are onsite to provide support and family members are welcome in the workplace and included in planning. They have partnered with Action for Autism, National Center for Autism in New Delhi to develop an environment where the needs of people with autism are understood, they have space to voice their aspirations, and they are able earn a livelihood and fulfill their socioeconomic potential. Auspice is structured as a social enterprise. Their purpose is included in their incorporation documents and cannot be changed or diluted.
Tokyo, Japan
Next Leaders University is a curated local-to-global learning platform for sustainability and leadership. It is designed, developed and delivered by sustainability practitioners and social innovators in the global Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability (NELIS) network. Course instructors share their own practical experiences and innovative projects and offer new ways of understanding business, policymaking, entrepreneurship, education, production and consumption habits, and other critical topics. Subscribers have access to Next Leaders University micro trainings, interactive webinars, and customized courses.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Social Stories Club specializes in curated gift boxes, gift hampers, and co-branded corporate gifts that highlight and support social enterprises. The gifts come with story booklets so the recipient can learn more about the brands and their impact. Each product supports a cause, for example, empowering people with disabilities, reducing landfill waste, or providing an education to girls in need. Corporate partners have worked with Social Stories Club to create holiday, client and employee appreciation, team member onboarding, event invitee, and conference speaker gifts that build relationships and send a statement about their commitment to social impact and sustainability. The gifts are packed in biodegradable boxes or reusable hampers with filling sourced from sustainable timber forests. Social Stories Club is registered as a Community Interest Company and is a member of Social Enterprise Scotland and Social Enterprise UK.
Leh, Ladakh
Zero Waste Ladakh aims to change the way that waste is perceived and managed in Ladakh based on the 6 Rs of zero waste: rethink, refuse, reduce, repair and reuse, recover, and rot. They conduct awareness campaigns, conserve materials in the local community, and reduce waste by giving it social and economic value. As part of their Bring Your Own Bag campaign, Zero Waste Ladakh collects fabric scraps from local tailors and works with marginalized women in self help groups to produce affordable reusable shopping bags. Ninety percent of profits are reinvested back towards their mission.
Brighton, England, United Kingdom
RubyMoon transforms ocean waste into activewear and uses the profits to empower women worldwide. Their “Gym To Swim” clothing is durable, versatile, and designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom and Spain according to circular economy and slow fashion principles. RubyMoon selects suppliers and stakeholders with shared standards and a shared vision. They work with Healthy Seas, a nonprofit that collects ghost fishing nets from the ocean, and Econyl, which processes the nets and post consumer waste into durable regenerated nylon. Distribution is managed by a UK charity that employs working mothers. Packaging is minimized and products are shipped in recycled and biodegradable mailers. RubyMoon aims to close the loop for synthetic textiles by collecting used swimwear and lycra fabrics for recycling, investing in university research, and supporting the development of microfactories that utilize waste materials in the UK. RubyMoon is registered as a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee and is the first not-for-profit swim and activewear brand. They partner with Lendwithcare to invest 100 percent of their net profits in business training and loans for women entrepreneurs around the world. RubyMoon is part of Circular Brighton & Hove and Creative Conscience and has PETA Approved Vegan and Oeko-Tex certification.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Imaginal Ventures is a purpose-driven, women-led business advisory firm that has developed an innovative methodology for helping small and medium businesses with growth and impact. Their Conscious Business Operating System integrates revenue, infrastructure, strategic growth, and human dynamics. Focusing on human dynamics is about open and transparent communication, forming relationships, and ensuring teams play an integral role in the devising of the processes, systems, and structures from the very beginning. Their online Scale Up program includes six months of Imaginal School, access to the Imaginal platform, and participation in the Eco Space, a place to connect with other entrepreneurs. Imaginal Ventures is building an ecosystem of businesses committed to collective capability, trust, and responsibility that can help enable the shift to a sustainable, inclusive market economy. They reinvest profits into gender-based impact including training scholarships and pro bono advisory services for female leaders. One percent of revenue goes to their Prosperity Program for grassroots community development projects.
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Kitchen Cosmetics creates natural skin and hair care products and supports charitable causes. Their simple, unisex formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, and locally handcrafted from ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients. They offer a package recycling service in Bristol, which they are working to expand to other areas of the United Kingdom. Kitchen Cosmetics was founded by an ethnic minority woman from a working class background who has experienced homelessness and worked within the prison system. As the company expands, they are committed to inclusive “no box” hiring practices and providing opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Kitchen Cosmetics donates their profits to The KC Causes, a not-for-profit organization they created that collaborates with other local charities, funds and hosts community events, and supports young people and families in need. They are part of Bristol Market Place, a network for local community based brands.
Tavistock, England, United Kingdom
Hip Hip Hooray is a social enterprise that designs and creates cards, stationery, and printed goods and provides life changing employment opportunities to women overcoming hardship. Their local referral partners put forward women who have experienced addiction, homelessness, or criminal conviction. Hip Hip Hooray helps break the cycle by offering a 12 month program of living wage paid employment, life skills training, and mentoring. Each woman works towards a diploma in business administration or another form of accredited qualification, and upon completion of the program, she is supported to find long term employment or enroll in further education. Hip Hip Hooray uses Forest Stewardship Council paper and focuses on made-to-order products to minimize stock and environmental impact. They offset carbon through the Woodland Trust and Woodland Carbon scheme, which plants native woodland in the United Kingdom. At least 50 percent of profits are reinvested to expand employment oppportunities to women overcoming addiction and other challenges.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
BunkoJunko transforms textile waste into upcycled housewares, clothing, and accessories and creates work-from-home opportunities for women caregivers who are unable to access traditional employment. The founder has three decades of experience in the fashion industry and has provided tailoring and embroidery training for more than 5,000 women. After seeing all of the waste in the sector, she began researching sustainable and ethical fashion and using scraps from the cutting floor to create upcycled designs for exhibitions. Now, in addition to producing a range of products under their own name, BunkoJunko works with manufacturers and designers to recycle their waste streams into sellable goods. In 2020, BunkoJunko started Dezinelife Social Welfare Foundation to expand their social and environmental impact.
Matale, Sri Lanka
Kiyota specializes in Sri Lankan coffee sourced from Kandyan forest gardens. In 2006, Kazuyuki Kiyota, a representative of the Japan Fair Trade Committee, came to Sri Lanka to help develop specialty coffee for the Japanese market. This initiative has now expanded to 17 small-scale farmer groups with nearly 6,000 members in Kegalle, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla. Kiyota pays fair trade premiums, offers advance payments, and helps market farmers’ intercropped spices, kithul, and other products. They are the main supplier of roasted and raw specialty coffee to distributors in Sri Lanka, and they export Sri Lankan coffee to Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Their target is to grow 2.5 million coffee plants in Sri Lanka before 2025 in order to support rural livelihoods, increase foreign exchange, and benefit the environment. Kiyota contributes a percent of all profits to a fund for employees.
East Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
bide produces household cleaning products that are environmentally responsible, zero waste, and vegan to make the transition to sustainable lifestyles easier and to create employment opportunities for people in need. They have developed a home manufacturing system that enables people with barriers to employment to produce toxin free dishwasher powder, washing up liquid, toilet cleaner, and laundry powder and pack it in reycled, recyclable, or compostable materials from the comfort and safety of their own home. Referrals come from local employment charities like Working Chance, which supports women with convictions. bide is working to bring product production within 20 to 30 miles of consumption to reduce the environmental impact and strengthen local economies. They partner with Brunel University’s Environmental Science and Management Department for carbon studies and other environmental research and with Ecologi to plant trees for every purchase. bide is a member of Social Enterprise UK.
London, England, United Kingdom
End of More aims to create a better future for the next generation by designing practical, durable, and environmentally responsible textile products and encouraging people to repurpose, redesign, and reuse unwanted garments. Their GOTS certified organic cotton loungewear is gender neutral, designed for comfort and durability, and made from a single material for easier recycling. End of More uses their platform to inspire people to transition to sustainable lifestyles. They have organized a redesign competition, offered upcycling guides, and developed tutorials on making natural plant-based dyes from easily accessible local materials. At least 50 percent of their profits are reinvested towards their mission and an additional 10 percent are donated to the Royal Botanic Garden Kew to support environmental causes. End of More is a member of Social Enterprise UK.
Cuckfield, England, United Kingdom
Roots & Wings Organic partners with farmers, artisan producers, and manufacturers to create a range of food and personal care products from organic and ethically sourced ingredients. They offer organic jams, marmalade, lemon curd, and condiments that are made by hand in small batches and traditional old-fashioned sweets like mint humbugs, sherbet lemons, toffees, and barley sugar. Their chocolate leaves are made from single-origin fair trade and organic certified chocolate, and their cruelty free hair and body care is recommended by NatureWatch and made with plant based ingredients and organic essential oils. Ten percent of profits are donated to charities that support children like the Ickle Pickle Partnership. Roots & Wings is a member of the Organic Trade Board and is certified by Soil Association.
Cier-de-Rivière, France
Original’s is a global consulting firm that raises awareness on cultural sustainability, works with corporations to integrate cultural tools, processes, and methodologies, and helps local governments implement cultural strategies. They assist with cultural mapping, developing cultural indicators, conducting cultural impact assessments, and recognizing cultural costs and cultural returns on investment. They also organize innovative “walkshops” with key local actors. Original’s highlights responsible behavior through cultural sustainability labels and awards.
Ahangama, Sri Lanka
UNA is building Sri Lanka’s first hotel from locally sourced bamboo. The space is designed to challenge perspectives on our built environment, support meaningful connection to the natural world without compromising on comfort, and provide an example of slow, conscious living. The process has brought together a network of Sri Lankan architects, contractors, young hoteliers, and graduate engineers that are interested in using bamboo as an environmentally responsible construction material. While the facilities are under development, the team has been regenerating the land, creating a permaculture fruit orchard and spice garden, and developing relationships with the local community and a network of ethical food suppliers. The finished hotel will include naturally ventilated bamboo villas overlooking a paddy field, a large bamboo hall and restaurant, a multifunctional bamboo pavilion to host resident artists or long-term guests, a yoga shala, and a pool. UNA will host a range of workshops focused on nature-led design and sustainability including free events for the local community and surrounding schools.
Serendah, Malaysia
Bijisan, which means “Mountain Seed,” is a place to reconnect with nature and practice sustainable living. They produce fruits, vegetables, handmade soap, and other natural products and offer learning experiences, activities for families, workshops, and events. Bijisan was started by urban Malaysians seeking intentional community and a return to the earth. They are part of the Global Ecovillage Network Oceania and Asia (GENOA).
Kathmandu, Nepal
Samsara promotes a circular economy in Nepal by raising awareness about responsible consumption and repurposing solid waste into affordable consumer products. They collect denim, polythene bags, plastic bottles, and other waste and work with local women to upcycle these materials into clothing, bags, jewelry, and accessories. Samsara combines modern designs with traditional weaving, sewing, and crocheting techniques to ensure these skills are preserved. They also offer consulting, capacity building, and project management services to help local manufacturers develop recycling initiatives and transition to responsible practices. Samsara’s social and environmental mission is included in their incorporation documents and a portion of all sales is used to support community projects related to gender and recycling.
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Stay Golden offers beachside accommodation, food, yoga, surf lessons, and travel experiences in Arugam Bay with a focus on wellbeing and environmental responsibility. Their rooms and cabanas integrate local natural materials and include solar hot water. The restaurant has a vegetarian and vegan menu and prioritizes fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Seafood is caught using artisanal fishing practices and free range chicken is delivered by a family member. Stay Golden aims to reduce resource consumption and waste. They provide bicycles free of charge, reusable cloth napkins, metal straws, glass bottles, and a water refill system. Waste is separated, and organic materials are used in the garden. Guests are encouraged to visit Waste Less Arugam Bay, find refill stations islandwide through Getwater.lk, and help clean local beaches.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ash White is an ethical fashion and lifestyle brand that aims to support traditional artisan communities, inspire a deeper connection with what we wear, and create good design that is good for our planet. Their unique pieces are handmade in limited quantities. Fabric selection, sourcing, and other design decisions are based on sustainability. Ash White prioritizes GOTS organic textiles, GRS recycled materials, handwoven fabrics, and natural dyes. They use cardboard boxes and paper tape for internal operations and compostable bags for shipping. Ash White is committed to maintaining supportive long-term relationships with their artisan partners in India and Sri Lanka. They are working towards becoming Carbon Neutral.
South Croydon, England, United Kingdom
Loving Small Business is a subscription box service that was started to support small businesses, social enterprises, and charities in the United Kingdom. Each box contains a curated selection of five treats, like artisanal food, natural beauty products, and handcrafted wearables, and provides the opportunity to discover and support independent small businesses. Loving Small Business use compostable and recyclable packaging and prioritizes businesses that are committed to sustainability. They donate ten percent of profits to small UK charities based on votes from their social media followers.
Winkfield, England, United Kingdom
Faace specializes in natural skincare for “skin disrupted by life.” Their versatile masks and cleansers are vegan, free from animal testing, and made from natural and organic ingredients, and their packaging is recyclable and made from 60 percent post consumer recycled (PCR) material. For every Period Faace, Tired Faace, and Sweaty Faace mask sold, they donate a pack of sanitary products to someone in need through Hey Girls, a social enterprise that’s working to end period poverty, and for every Menopause Faace mask sold, they donate to The Menopause Charity to support and empower menopausal women.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Conscious Creatives is a creative media agency that builds mindful brands through authentic storytelling and thoughtful, original design. They offer a full portfolio of services including brand identity and strategy, graphic design, social media, web design, packaging, publication development, copywriting, photography, videography, and consulting services. Conscious Creatives maintains long-term working relationships with clients and is committed to great design for the greater good.
Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka
Professionals Without Borders (PWB) is a voluntary organization that works towards creating a resilient economy and ensuring a prosperous life for every Sri Lankan citizen. They bring together professionals from across the country who are interested in serving the nation. Their Redesign Sri Lanka initiative is focused on connecting small and medium entrepreneurs in primary industries with new designs, innovations, professional support services, and market opportunities. Examples include traditional ekel brooms, handloom and batik textiles, coconut shell products, and clay products. PWB assists with product development, production processes, labor and environmental standards, and assurance systems for quality and sustainability. They follow the Mingei concept of valuing affordable, practical handmade crafts. PWB is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization and reinvests all surplus towards their mission of creating a humane resilient society. They contribute to preschool and school programs, community upliftment programs, and security funds for partner enterprises.
Laggala, Sri Lanka
Gourmet Goodness is a natural and organic food brand that emerged from a partnership between Adamjee Lukmanjee, a fifth generation family business committed to transparency and social responsibility, and Foundation of Goodness, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to uplifting rural communities in Sri Lanka through vocational training, sports, and other services. Gourmet Goodness offers spice and seasoning blends, organic young jackfruit, and a range of organic coconut products including virgin coconut oils, naturally flavored coconut chips, coconut kithul spreads, desiccated coconut, coconut flour, coconut milk, and coconut cream. The parent company provides scholarships for youth from disadvantaged communities and has invested in classrooms, libraries, and other educational facilities near their factory in Pannala. Gourmet Goodness contributes five percent of all sales revenue to Foundation of Goodness.
Sinigama, Sri Lanka
Ralahami is a spice, herb, and fruit plantation in Matiwala that is committed to social responsibility, economic empowerment, environmental protection, and maintaining a sense of community. They cultivate cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, goraka, aloe vera, butterfly pea flower, banana, mango, papaya, lime, and jackfruit with homemade compost and organic practices. In order to protect workers, consumers, and the natural environment, no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or other agrichemicals are used. Food and agricultural waste are composted onsite, and the team is working to eliminate single use plastics from their supply chains. Reusable jute pouches and other compostable materials are used for packaging. Ralahami provides free recipes, cooking tutorials, and videos to encourage people to use natural, locally sourced ingredients. They share returns with workers and contribute to a welfare fund.
Godagama, Sri Lanka
Wheels of Hope offers affordable housewares, bags, and accessories that are made by three sisters with muscular dystrophy. They specialize in reusable cloth bags as an alternative to single use plastic and prioritize local handloom fabric and environmentally responsible materials. Wheels of Hope aims to expand their impact by sourcing from other enterprises that benefit disadvantaged groups.
Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Eco Pack is a community based initiative that aims to provide livelihood opportunities for local women, improve the lives of low income families, and supply environmentally responsible recycled paper products and packaging. The women use blank waste paper, banana fiber, spear grass, and invasive plants to create handmade recycled paper, notebooks, greeting cards, picture frames, wallets, and custom product packaging. Waste water from the production process is used to water a plant nursery next to the workshop. Eco Pack supplies free seedlings for tree planting programs, conducts classes for women in need, and provides educational materials for workers’ children. They are part of the National Craft Council, National Design Center, National Entrepreneurs Development Authority, and the Vidatha Society of the Science and Technology Department.
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Double Delish by Samantha produces natural jams, chutneys, and sauces with high fruit content and no artificial preservatives and provides fair wage employment to women who struggle to support their families. They source strawberries from a farmer in Nuwara Eliya, pineapple and woodapple from a farmer in Diwulapitiya, and papaya and mango from a farmer from Dambulla. Kitchen waste is composted and products are packaged in reusable glass jars to reduce environmental impact. Double Delish by Samantha donates a percent of sales to a rehabilitation hospital in Digana to provide medication, wheelchairs, and prosthetics to patients from low income families.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Coffea Ceylon hand sorts, roasts, distributes, and exports Arabica coffee from forest gardens in Sri Lanka’s hill country. By enhancing the quality of local coffee production, they aim to expand benefits to low income coffee growers and their families. Coffea Ceylon contributes a portion of all sales to support the education of children in coffee growing villages.
Delgahathenna, Sri Lanka
Yohan Ceramic promotes local handmade pottery as a safe, environmentally responsible alternative to plastic housewares and imported goods. They produce cups, mugs, bowls, plates, carafes, tea pots, and other products from earthenware clay.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Térapy Ceylon specializes in wellness tea blends that bring together Ayurvedic leaves, roots, herbs and flowers and pure Ceylon tea. They partner with Sri Lankan Ayurvedic practitioners and farmers and prioritize endemic, naturally grown herbs and responsible packaging. Térapy Ceylon is helping rural communities transition to sustainable farming practices and is working to develop organic certified supply chains for all of their ingredients. Products that are already have EU, USDA, or JAS organic certification are transparently labeled.
Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Shakya Herbal has been producing pads and mats that contain Sri Lankan herbs with aromatherapy and health benefits since 2000. They offer herbal yoga mats, meditation cushions, prayer mats, bed pads, pillows, rugs, slippers, and special cushions for lower back pain and hemorrhoid relief. Their unique herbal blends are selected for their calming, cooling, massaging, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Ingredients include neem, fenugreek, vetiver, jasmine, kollu, nikka, undupiyaliya, and ingini. Shakya Herbal prioritizes Sri Lankan handloom fabric and other sustainable local materials.
Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka
Virescent specializes in raw, unfiltered wild bee honey from indigenous communities in the North Central, Central, and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka. They aim to support indigenous livelihoods and provide a healthy and environmentally responsible alternative to imported adulterated honey and farmed honey that can be contaminated with agrichemicals. The honey is sustainably harvested using traditional techniques and is only collected during specific seasons based on environmental conditions and native bee populations.
Ilippugamuwa, Sri Lanka
Saru Organic specializes in affordable natural fertilizer for organic cultivation and urban gardening. They collect invasive water hyacinth plants from local waterways, dry them, and combine them with rice husk, cow dung, and other organic matter to produce high quality compost as an alternative to imported synthetic agrichemicals. Products are available in 5, 10, or 20 kilogram bags or pressed into blocks. Saru Organic also has a small organic garden with perennial and seasonal crops. They are verified under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS) and work closely with the Agrarian Services Department.
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