Finding the perfect gifts. We don’t know about you guys, but we often find ourselves in a bit of a dilemma. We'll be out shopping - and 1 minute away from buying something - when the little voices in our heads ask ‘who made this? Were they paid a fair wage? Am I making the world better or worse by buying this?’ Often the answer is ‘I just don’t know’. So this year we're better organised than normal - we've made a list of things we can buy that will definitely make a positive impact on the world. Feel free to join us and steal these ideas!
1. Super stylish (RED) products to end HIV & AIDS
From technology to t-shirts -(RED) offers so many awesome products, all of which help fund projects to end AIDS once and for all. Every product tells you how many days of life-saving pills they will fund - pretty cool, right?
2. Cushions and tote-bags to help little girls recover from abuse
We so want this cushion in our homes- and the best part is that 100% of the profits go towardsRafiki Mwema. Rafiki Mwema is a therapeutic safe house for girls who have been sexually abused in Kenya. They do incredible work in helping these little girls make sense of the horrors that have happened to them. You really couldn’t find a better cause. And the tote bags? Totes awes.
3. One Difference bottled water
Is running around finding gifts making you thirsty? Make sure to grab one of these - bottled water from One Difference helps to fund water projects in some of the harshest regions of the world. Their bottles are also 100% recyclable and carbon neutral - who can ask for more?!
4. Vintage goodies to end extreme poverty
The Oxfam online store is a treasure trove of vintage delights - books, clothes, homeware and more await - with all profits helping to end extreme poverty around the world. Plus, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can buy a goat, sheep, or even a toilet for somebody in need. The goats are not vintage; they are modern, state of the art goats.
5. "One for One" - Toms shoes and glasses
Did you know that TOMSdoes glasses now too? This awesome brand promises that for every item you buy, they will help a person in need. So far they have given more than 35 million pairs of shoes to children in need, and restored eyesight to 250,000 people. Plus their products are super stylish!
6. Sevenly t-shirts: "Changing the world, one person at a time"
Sevenly exists to bring funding and awareness to the world’s greatest causes. Every week, Sevenly runs a 7 day campaign, donating $7 from the sale of each t-shirt to that week’s chosen cause. They commission the creation of ‘cause art’, celebrating the work of their charity partners, so all of their t-shirts are not only beautifully designed, but bear gorgeous messages. They’ve helped orphans find homes, brought clean water to communities, and protected women from abuse - changing more than 1.3 million lives so far.
7. Made With Love: Recycled rubber bracelets to support women and homeless children in West Africa
Made from recycled rubber in Mali, these colourful bracelets provide the women who make them with a fair income to support their families. Meanwhile, the money you pay helps to fund a center for homeless children in Senegal, providing kids with food, shelter and education. If that’s not an excuse to buy one, we don’t know what is!
8. “Who makes your stuff matters”: FashionABLE
We actually adore these scarves.FashionABLE creates opportunities for vulnerable women in Africa. Your purchase creates jobs, ensuring that women are a vital part of a developing economy, rather than dependent on charity. Currently the headquarters are in Ethiopia, where FashionABLE works to rehabilitate and counsel sex workers, giving them an alternative form of income to escape the sex trade. SO IMPRESSIVE.
9. The coolest charity bracelets you’ll ever buy (but equal with #7)
Pura Vida bracelets are all handmade in Costa Rica, providing local artisans with full-time jobs. They have a whole charity collection, with bracelets supporting everything from animal rights to cancer awareness causes. And every single bracelet is unique!
10. ‘Orphans for orphans’ - Gandys flip-flops
Image credit: Gandys Flip Flops
After their parents were killed in the 2004 tsunami, brothers Rob and Paul searched desperately for a way to honour them and turn their experience into something positive. They founded Gandys, selling beautiful flip flops and using a percentage of the profits to fund orphanages in Sri Lanka and India. Next time you’re off on your beach holiday, check them out!
11. Handmade beaded beauties from Market Colors
Image credit: Market Colors (via Facebook)
Jewellery, accessories, and even home decorations - We just can’t get over how beautiful it all is. Handmade in Africa, all Market Colorsproducts help provide craftsmen with a sustainable income.
12. For your friend the activist, buy them theGlobal Citizen IMPACK
A shameless plug? You got us. But the IMPACK truly is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.
When you buy an Impack, your friend will have everything needed to make an impact in the fight against poverty, as well as exclusive Global Citizen merchandise to help show off commitment to the cause.
13. If you’re looking for glasses, look no further than Warby Parker
In addition to selling beautiful glasses that won’t bankrupt you, Warby Parker is working overtime to ensure that people in need can wear glasses too.
Here’s how: when you buy pair of their super-stylish glasses, Warby Parker makes a donation to its nonprofit partner. The nonprofit then trains men and women living in developing countries to give basic eye exams and sell glasses at an affordable price. In this way, jobs are created, and those in need are able to purchase glasses at a price they can afford.
14. For your friend who likes to picnic, check out Cheeky
Cheeky is on a mission to create fun, paper and plastic tableware that makes a difference. For each item you buy, Cheeky donates a meal to the Feeding America network. And the best part is you can find their awesome products at Target.
So why not pick up a cute basket, throw in a bottle of wine and some snacks, add some Cheekyness and call it a day?
15. For the person who’s always lugging around a ton of stuff, buy them aFEED bag
FEED bags are great because for each product sold, a donation is made to organizations like the World Food Program or Feeding America. Already, 85 million meals have been provided to people in need.
Check out their backpacks and totes - perfect for the person who’s always on the go.
16. For your friend who has everything, make a donation on his or her behalf
If your friend seems to have everything, there are tons of amazing organizations that could use your support.
One of our favorites is Kiva, a nonprofit organization that allows individuals to make loans as little as $25 to a person in need. This holiday season Kiva is offering a special promotion called the “Kiva Card.”
In their own words, “Finding gifts can be difficult, but Kiva Cards are an easy choice. Kiva Cards introduce your friends and family to Kiva, giving them the opportunity to choose borrowers to support. When their loans are repaid, they can use those funds again and again to make even more loans on Kiva.
17. If you know someone who’s all about the jewels, buy them this limited edition Giving Tree Necklace
The Giving Keys is based out of Los Angeles and employs individuals transitioning out of homelessness. We love their Global Citizen necklace, but their website is full of other designs with beautiful messages like HOPE, STRENGTH, DREAM, or COURAGE.
And finally, some other tips for the ethical shopper:
1. Seek out reused items at consignment and second-hand stores
2. Look for products made with organic fabrics and natural dyes
3. Check out free2work to find out which companies are taking measures to prevent human trafficking and exploitation
4. When wrapping and opening gifts, reusing paper and bows is incredibly cost effective and an easy way to waste less
5. Check out this list for other ideas of how to use your money for good
Happy shopping!