Ethical Superstore

Today's post is about an online shop called Ethical Superstore. Whether you're new to the idea of ethically-conscious buying or you're very passionate about a whole range of ethical issues that affect what you buy, those values are personal to everyone at Ethical Superstore. They have a range of ethical suppliers that are grateful that you want to support all forms of ethical purchasing – their aim is to empower their customers to make the choices that are ethical and right for them and their family.

There is still a long way to go in order to make Ethical Consumerism a daily part of the retail mainstream and they encourage customers to help them to spread the message across to the rest of UK society by encouraging family and friends to try ethical products and to buy what they believe in.

Aligning your buying with your beliefs can be confusing, so they do their best to share product background information to help you make informed ethical buying choices. The background to the products they sell must be transparent and they are committed to researching their ethical credentials and researching questions that you may have about them.
•    Fair Trade
•    Organic
•    Eco Friendly
•    Health and Wellness promotion
•    Education and awareness building
•    Locally Produced
•    Charity
•    Fair Trade
•    Organic
•    Eco Friendly
•    Health and Wellness promotion
•    Education and awareness building
•    Locally Produced
•    Charity
They thoroughly evaluate each brand and manufacturer’s overall ethical credentials when deciding whether or not they should sell a particular product.

At Ethical Superstore, you can choose from the widest range of the finest quality fair trade ,organic and eco friendly products via their Ethicalsuperstore.com website that provides a simple and secure online shopping experience and a fast, flexible delivery service . They’re always looking for ways to minimize the impact their service has on the environment and they’re always working to make their packaging as eco-friendly as possible.  

This is s shop where you can truly Buy What You Believe.

Ethical Superstore only stocks high quality products that have a positive impact on people and/or the environment.  From Fairtrade and organic grocery shopping to energy efficient gadgets and unique ethical gifts that directly benefit the people who made them.  They sell products from leading ethical brands as well as supporting independent traders and producers across the world

In order for a product or brand to be sold by Ethicalsuperstore.com, it must have established ethical credentials in at least one of the following areas:

Visit the “shop by ethics” page for more details. »

So if you are concerned about the impact that you are having on people and the environment , this is a shop that will help you to reduce the negative effects! Go and have a look at what they have to offer- you will be pleasantly surprised!

Blessings!

Ronell x

Oxfam Unwrapped: Using Nectar Points to fund Oxfam initiatives

Over the course of my last serious relationship, I discovered how rewarding it is to own and use a Nectar card! I know, it sounds silly, but it is actually really worth it! Nectar is a loyalty point scheme, where you collect points every time you make a purchase and swipe your card, or make an online purchase at selected stores. You can then trade in your points either for discounts in store, or for experiences and other rewards.

Nectar have been really smart and teamed up with many online and physical shops to allow you to collect and spend Nectar loyalty points to maximise your point-earning potential. My favourite Nectar eShops include Sainsbury’s, BP, Amazon, asos, ebay and iTunes (to name a few). Search their directory to see which of your favourite stores are on there (you’ll be surprised how many there are!).

Well, up until recently, I have been spending these Nectar points on myself, but then I discovered a fantastic new joint initiative that they are doing with Oxfam and am now no longer spending the points on myself, but earning and saving them to spend on in the Oxfam Unwrapped section of the Nectar site, helping disadvantaged and impoverished people and families to change their lives. This means that you can significantly change the lives of others without spending any actual money!

Here are the current available choices:

·      Share in a Farmyard

·      Feed a family

·      School supplies

·      Chickens

·      Safe water for 10 people

·      Care for mums

·      Give girls a head start

·      Educate a child

·      Goat

·      Teach a teacher

Go on, change someone else’s life and help to give them a brighter future this Christmas!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” {Acts 20v35}

Green Apple: Ethical Shopping

Today’s post is about an online store call Green Apple, which specialises in ethically-sourced and eco-friendly shopping. They find companies who are as passionate as we are about people, animals and the planet to source their stock from.


As for Green Apple’s personal eco-credentials; everything is recycled that can be recycled or composted where applicable, and all packaging is re-used. Green Apple might be a business, but it was borne out of an existing lifestyle choice of owner and creator, Michelle. 

Green Apple also provides a handy eco-guide with tips about how to shop and live responsibly. It also provides a link to The Eco Friendly Directory, which is a comprehensive resource for eco-conscious consumers and those trying to lead a greener lifestyle. All the companies listed in the directory adhere to fair trade, sustainable and ethical principles. The directory provides useful information, news, articles, tips and advice on a wide range of green and environmental issues. Their aim is to make it easier for people to buy green products and live a more sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle.

So support ethically-sourced and eco-friendly companies like Green Apple by shopping online this Christmas!

Blessings!

Ronell x

P.S. remember The Big Give Christmas Challenge 6^th-8^th December!

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” {1 Peter 4:10}

Christmas Gifts that keep giving: The Autism Site Store

This year, I have a young boy in my class who has ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). He is absolutely gorgeous and has a completely hilarious sense of humour! He has adjusted to school beautifully and is making excellent progress. That is not by my doing- I have a fantastic team of people that I work with! I know I could not do it on my own. And I think that is the point that many people miss about working/living with a child that has some kind of special need: no matter how well they are doing, no matter how incredibly rewarding and successful some days are, and no matter the level of planning and organisation you put in, the fact stands that there will be days or times when things will not go according to plan and you will need a break!

This little boy’s mum is an absolute inspiration! And as wonderful, active and proactive she is, the sleepless nights, his siblings, and the pressures that come with  all of this do wear on her and sometimes she just needs a break. She is extremely fortunate that she has an involved and supportive husband, sister and parents that help out when that time comes. This is not the case for everyone…

On The Autism Site Store (Greater Good Network), every item you buy pays for therapy and research. This helps to fund research, therapy, or give much needed respite to families. You can buy items that particularly raise awareness about autism, or you could perhaps directly sponsor/fund the following things:

·      Help a Family Caring for a Child with Autism

·      Contribute to Autism Research

·      Better Medical Care for Children with Autism

·      Therapeutic Family Play Session For Children With Autism

·      Speech Therapy for Children with Autism

·      Help Find a Lost Child with Autism

All children are hard work at times, but children with autism can be extremely challenging in situations that we consider to be simple, every day situations. So support autistic children and their families who are caring for them buy buying from this site, or donating online!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” {Matthew 11v28}

Delicate Fortress: shop with a purpose

Delicate Fortress is a site where you can shop with a purpose! What is that purpose? To end human trafficking! Each item you find in this store provides dignity, livelihood and fair wages to female artisans all over the world.

At Delicate Fortress, they believe that women shouldn’t be forced to relinquish or sell their children or themselves in order to allow for their survival, which is why they support culturally appropriate opportunity, investment and advocacy.

Help Delicate Fortress to fight for women and their children by shopping at their online store, by connecting to their facebook page, do some fundraising or becoming an ambassador to help put an end to human trafficking!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” {Acts 20:35}

Christmas Gifts that keep giving: The Veterans Site Store

So today is 1^st December and the official countdown to Christmas has started!

We are headed back to the Greater Good Network’s range of online stores and today, we are looking at The Veterans Site Store. This store supports veterans who may be homeless or struggling to make ends meet. Each purchase on this site pays for at least one meal for a veteran.

I personally really love the jewellery with inspirational messages on it and have purchased many items for myself, or as gifts. You can go to their Shop Green section for organic and recycled products.

They also have a lovely section for Christmas decorations- have a little look!

If you know someone who is/was in the armed forces, and want to show your support and gratitude for what they are doing/have done so that we do not have to take up arms ourselves, support this cause!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” {John Bunyan}

Christmas Gifts that Keep Giving: Natural Collection

So today’s post is about the Natural Collection which has been going since 1999. On Natural Collection’s site you'll find the latest trends in organic and eco friendly fashion, handmade and locally produced gifts, and natural products for your home and garden.

The Natural Collection produces Fairtrade and Organic fashion collection, featuring the trends in men's and women's clothing made from natural and organic fabrics including Fairtrade and Organic cotton, sustainable bamboo, and hemp - many of their unique fashion accessories use recycled materials and are handmade in the UK or by Fairtrade producers in the developing world.

Whether your style is inspired by British seaside or country living or by ethnic style reflecting world cultures, you'll be sure to find the perfect gift for your friends or family or as a special treat for yourself. Check out their Good Guides where you can shop for green products according to their ethical credentials whether you're looking for Fairtrade t-shirts, Eco friendly cleaning products, or Organic coffee.

Make a difference this Christmas by buy an ethically sourced gift that keeps giving!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same - with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.” {Mother Teresa}

Buy Fairtrade this Christmas

For those of you wanting to buy ethically this Christmas (and at other times hopefully!), an organisation you should find out more about is Fairtrade. Look out for their logo on products online and in shops.

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

Fairtrade standards comprise both minimum social, economic and environmental requirements, which producers must meet to be certified, plus progress requirements that encourage continuous improvement to develop farmers’ organisations or the situation of estate workers.

Fairtrade’s vision is of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices so that everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.
To achieve this vision, Fairtrade seeks to transform trading structures and practices in favour of the poor and disadvantaged. By facilitating trading partnerships based on equity and transparency, Fairtrade contributes to sustainable development for marginalised producers, workers and their communities. Through demonstration of alternatives to conventional trade and other forms of advocacy, the Fairtrade movement empowers citizens to campaign for an international trade system based on justice and fairness. 



So in your Christmas shopping travels this month, look out for the Fairtrade logo!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” {Elizabeth Gilbert}

1 month to Christmas - tips for ethical shopping & gifts that keep giving

OK, so in my world, today is the earliest that the Christmas countdown should begin: 1 day and 1 month to go! (in my family, presents are opened on Christmas Eve) I can’t believe this year has gone so quickly!! But with Christmas once again just around the corner, the thing on my mind is Christmas shopping… what do I buy for who and from where?! And the more I read about forced labour and unethical practices by so many companies, the more confusing this issue gets!

So I thought I would try to help anyone who is trying to make a difference by giving you some daily options and information to help you buy gifts that are ethical and can both bring joy to the people you are giving them to, and make a difference to the lives of others!

To start with, I thought I would draw your attention to Not For Sale’s Apparel Report, which details how ethically organizations that make clothing, etc conduct themselves.

Next, the ethical holiday shopping guide which is guidance on how to make purchases that do not promote modern day slavery. This is supported by Shop to Stop Slavery, who also have a section on their site where you can make ethical purchases: http://www.shoptostopslavery.com/shop-now/shop-for-merchandise  

This series will continue well into December, so do continue to keep checking on suggestions of ethical online shops and companies on here. If you have information that suggests anything that I have posted is incorrect, please comment below or email me to ronell1984@gmail.com and I will research/update/correct. Please also contact me with ideas for ethical shopping, or any other general charities or causes that you would like me to blog about.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” {Mother Teresa}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (19/21): demand no demand- how many slaves work for you?

Today’s post is short, but to the point.

Human trafficking leaves a footprint. The shoes you buy, the chocolate you eat, the toys you play with might very well have been made by a modern-day slave. But if we don’t buy the products, there will be no demand.

Stop demand no demand! Take this test and see how many slaves work for you: http://slaveryfootprint.org You’ll be surprised!

On the 25^th November (a month before Christmas) I will be starting an ethical gifts series to give you some more options for Christmas shopping that doesn’t enable and empower the modern day slave trade!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“You have only always to do what is right. It will become easier by practice, and you enjoy in the midst of your trials the pleasure of an approving conscience.”{General Robert E. Lee}