UncommonGoods | Sustainable Living

Manufacturing standardization in general has taken a step away from sustainability and fair trade initiatives, BUT a U.S. based brand has a surfaced with an UNCOMMON way of doing business.  UncommonGoods’ specializes in unique gifts and creative finds with an emphasis on sustainability, quality customer service, and online retailing innovation.

Recieving their B-Corporation certification in June of 2012 – you can see on paper that UncommonGoods is committed to doing good through their operations.  Their intuitive interface gives consumers the ability to interact with a quality online brand that offers a variety of products that are creatively designed, high quality, and affordable.

In the video above, The Stump Collection is reviewed.  From the ideas to how the product is manufactured – you’ll see and feel the inspiration that UncommonGoods strives to find in each of its manufacturers.  They’ve also launched a program called “Better to Give”, where customers can give UncommonGoods the opportunity to contribute to a non-profit organization each a customer shops with them.

UncommonGoods operates on standards that all businesses should follow, and that consumers should support.  UncommonGoods’ business functions around social and environmental responsibility and has become a change agent for the online retail world.  Check out their goods and various initiatives at www.uncommongoods.com , and be sure to review their B-Corporation Impact Report at www.bcorporation.net/uncommongoods.

The Vanity Project | clothing with a cause

What Do You Stand For?

The Vanity Project (TVP) uses this multi-layered question as the underpin for their clothing design. They directly collaborate with non-profit organizations to produce clothing based on the social and societal causes these organizations represent.  TVP provides the platform of support to elevate the awareness for the issue and 51% of each sale goes back to the organization featured.

TVP began in Chicago and has since morphed into a holistic outreach system encompassing several areas of focus: Education & Youth Development, Hunger and Poverty, Disease Support, Social Equality, and Environmental.  This is greater than just a clothing company, but a chance to choose and represent the causes you are truly passionate about.

Check out their stylish designs HERE and if you don’t see a cause you care about, contact them and a start a collaboration today.

People Water | Drop For Drop

People.  Need.  Clean Water.

Give H2O through your water consumption habits with People Water.  People Water isn’t a charity nor is it a non-profit organization but a cause based for-profit organization who is committed to alleviating the global water crisis.

Their Drop For Drop commitment looks to develop or restore sustainable water sources in areas of need.  In looking at the simple idea of making it easier to help people, People Water has developed a way for people to do good through each sip of water they consume.

For an alternative/eco-friendly way to consume water and give back to those in need check out People Water at www.peoplewater.com.

Giving made easy.  That’s People Water.  Enjoy.

Proof | Sustainable Wood Wear

Wood wear curator, Proof, brings you a collection of sustainable eye ware, clothing, and accessory products that are REAL schaweet and eco-friendly.

From their first pair of glasses to the more recently offered wood wallet, Proof has been continuously innovating to bring customers more eco-friendly products.  Their most recent wallet product was made possible by 768 Kickstartbackers raising over $30,000 to get the product off the ground. The simple design is crafted from 100% eco-friendly materials and follows the UNIQUE mantra that Proof has come to follow. Proof creates with a love for product design and a love for the environment. No project is too small for these innovators, they are just looking to get involved and aid a HELPing hand whenever possible.

Proof actively supports a number of “Do Good” initiatives including the support of eye clinics in India, the first recycling program for sunglasses, and planting trees in addition to their sustainably sourced materials.

Check out Proof’s Collection where you’ll find great products all curated in the most sustainable fashion.  ENJOY.

Proof | Sustainable Wood Wear

Wood wear curator, Proof, brings you a collection of sustainable eye ware, clothing, and accessory products that are REAL schaweet and eco-friendly.

From their first pair of glasses to the more recently offered wood wallet, Proof has been continuously innovating to bring customers more eco-friendly products.  Their most recent wallet product was made possible by 768 Kickstartbackers raising over $30,000 to get the product off the ground. The simple design is crafted from 100% eco-friendly materials and follows the UNIQUE mantra that Proof has come to follow. Proof creates with a love for product design and a love for the environment. No project is too small for these innovators, they are just looking to get involved and aid a HELPing hand whenever possible.

Proof actively supports a number of “Do Good” initiatives including the support of eye clinics in India, the first recycling program for sunglasses, and planting trees in addition to their sustainably sourced materials.

Check out Proof’s Collection where you’ll find great products all curated in the most sustainable fashion.  ENJOY.

Ecoware | Biodegradable Wooden Cutlery

Consumption plays a huge role in the impact we have on our ecosystem.  Each time we eat and throw something away those used materials eventually affect our ecosystem in a negative way.  Cutlery plays a huge role in this negative impact as tools we use to eat are typically made from plastic/metal materials that don’t easily break back down into our ecosystem.  Ecoware Biodegradables is curating biodegradable cutlery made from birch wood.

Ecoware specializes in cutlery that’s stylish, affordable, and eco-friendly.  Certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council – the industry benchmark for sustainably managed wood and wood products), Ecoware is providing a conscious way for people to consume their fancies.  Whether you’re planning a picnic, office party, wedding, or special event Ecoware can provide 100 piece packs, 1000 piece food service packs, 6000 piece wholesale packs, and pre-packaged Ecoware cutlery.

Take a look at Ecoware’s list of products for an environmentally conscious way to consume food.

Ecoware | Biodegradable Wooden Cutlery

Consumption plays a huge role in the impact we have on our ecosystem.  Each time we eat and throw something away those used materials eventually affect our ecosystem in a negative way.  Cutlery plays a huge role in this negative impact as tools we use to eat are typically made from plastic/metal materials that don’t easily break back down into our ecosystem.  Ecoware Biodegradables is curating biodegradable cutlery made from birch wood.

Ecoware specializes in cutlery that’s stylish, affordable, and eco-friendly.  Certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council – the industry benchmark for sustainably managed wood and wood products), Ecoware is providing a conscious way for people to consume their fancies.  Whether you’re planning a picnic, office party, wedding, or special event Ecoware can provide 100 piece packs, 1000 piece food service packs, 6000 piece wholesale packs, and pre-packaged Ecoware cutlery.

Take a look at Ecoware’s list of products for an environmentally conscious way to consume food.

BioLite | Energy Everywhere

Ever found yourself out in the wild wishing that you had a way to both build a fire and charge your electronic devices?  Well a remedy has come to your aid.  Introducing BioLite, the advanced energy product that’s creating safer, more efficient, and more sustainable stove products that can be used for both camping and home use applications.

Biolite’s advanced technology maximizes efficiency by managing airflow and converting heat into usable power via USB outlets on the stove that can charge phones, lights, and other gadgets.  They’ve developed this technology into their CampStove (compact camping stove) and HomeStove (larger scale home stove) products.

Did you know that nearly HALF of our PLANET cooks on smokey fires causing nearly 2 million premature deaths each year?  The Biolite HomeStove REDUCES carbon monoxide by 91%, smoke by 94%, and fuel use by 50% creating a safe/efficient energy source.  Sales of the CampStove helps support the one-time market establishments for these HomeStove projects around the world.

Having the ability to purchase a cutting edge camping product that reduces your carbon footprint, allows you to charge mobile devices, and gives back to aid energy development in less than fortunate countries is the holy grail of DO GOOD products.  Check out a different way to camp at www.biolitestove.com!

BioLite | Energy Everywhere

Ever found yourself out in the wild wishing that you had a way to both build a fire and charge your electronic devices?  Well a remedy has come to your aid.  Introducing BioLite, the advanced energy product that’s creating safer, more efficient, and more sustainable stove products that can be used for both camping and home use applications.

Biolite’s advanced technology maximizes efficiency by managing airflow and converting heat into usable power via USB outlets on the stove that can charge phones, lights, and other gadgets.  They’ve developed this technology into their CampStove (compact camping stove) and HomeStove (larger scale home stove) products.

Did you know that nearly HALF of our PLANET cooks on smokey fires causing nearly 2 million premature deaths each year?  The Biolite HomeStove REDUCES carbon monoxide by 91%, smoke by 94%, and fuel use by 50% creating a safe/efficient energy source.  Sales of the CampStove helps support the one-time market establishments for these HomeStove projects around the world.

Having the ability to purchase a cutting edge camping product that reduces your carbon footprint, allows you to charge mobile devices, and gives back to aid energy development in less than fortunate countries is the holy grail of DO GOOD products.  Check out a different way to camp at www.biolitestove.com!

The White Roof Project | Paint = Environmental Change

White is the new COOL color.  The White Roof Project is making it cool by using white paint to help make systematic and environmental change happen one roof at a time.

The White Roof Project paints the roofs of buildings using a reflective paint to help combat global energy issues.  The white paint reflects up to 85% of sunlight and helps people save money on electric bills, reduce smog, and relive stress on power grids.  They also partner with various nonprofits, community groups, and housing associations on a block-by-block mission in an effort to coat 5 percent of all roofs each year.

The originators of this project have done their research and by painting “5 percent of rooftops per year worldwide, we would be finished by 2030. This would save us 24 billion metric tons in CO2.”  This level of salvage of CO2 would be equivalent to all emitted in 2010, thus similar to “turning the world off for an entire year.”

Check out their Paint the Town White event held in New York City on October 19th.  Open bar from 7:00-10:00 (BAM) if you fancy.  Find out more about this event and all the initiatives the White Roof Project is apart of to help reduce CO2 emissions at www.whiteroofproject.org.

Conserve fossil fuel based resources.  Reduce your carbon footprint.  Help to save the ecosystem that we all play in.