Shop Social Good

Product: JewelryCause: Anti-Human TraffickingHow They Give Back: 100% of profits are reinvested into programs helping survivors. Price: $25-$75Website: starfishproject.com At first glance, Starfish Project sells pretty jewelry.  Look behind the scenes though, and you’ll see that Starfish Project is a social enterprise helping women survivors of human trafficking in Asia.  They use a holistic approach to helping survivors by providing emotional, physical, and economic support. Jewelry Leads to Freedom Each piece by Starfish Project is handmade by a survivor...Read More

The importance of shopping local never occurred to me until I started noticing something happening in my neighborhood.  Retail shops were going out of business, especially the small, mom-and-pop shops. Downtown, once sprinkled with quaint, locally-owned storefronts, was being taken over by globally recognized chains or simply left empty.  Such a shame, I thought. Then, one particular store closing hit really close to home...  Farewell to an Institution Talbots Toyland, San Mateo There’s a much...Read More

In part 1 of my series about creating a sustainable wardrobe for kids, I talked about buying second-hand clothing for the kids.  Today I’m covering what to look for when shopping for sustainable kids’ clothing and some of my favorite sustainable kids’ clothing brands. What does “sustainable” clothing even mean? I’m a huge fan of Hasan Minhaj’s Netflix series Patriot Act.  Yes, he’s very “millennial”, but I find him entertaining, informative, and hilarious.  The episode...Read More

Products: Sustainably made tote bags and pouches with whimsical designs and an amazing message.Cause: Empowering survivors of human traffickingHow They Give Back: 10% of profits go to a nonprofit working with survivors of human trafficking that provides education, mentorship, and coaching.Website: www.thetoteproject.com The Tote Project | Free to Grow Tote | thetoteproject.com I own at least 10 tote bags.  Most of them I got for free -- probably some promotional item I picked up at...Read More

Ahh.. the humble t-shirt. It's probably the one piece of clothing *nearly* every person on this planet has. Rich, poor, young, old, urban, rural. You can dress it up, dress it down, layer it, or wear it plain. It is one of those essential wardrobe items. But, have you ever stopped to ask yourself where this t-shirt came from and who made it? Yeah, I'll be honest, it's not always the first thing I ask...Read More

You might have seen it before.  A small B logo on some products.  I've been noticing the logo pop up more and more lately.  So, what exactly does it mean to be B Corp certified? I am constantly looking for brands that are giving back to the planet and those living on it. Quite honestly, I run into a lot of companies that say they are socially conscious, ethical, and give back. But how do...Read More

Over 800 million people around the world suffer from hunger. We often think that hunger only exists in underdeveloped countries. Remember those commercials with the starving kids in Africa? And what child of the 80s could forget "We are the World"? While the vast majority of people suffering from hunger do live in Africa and Asia, would it surprise you to know that 37 million people in the US suffer from hunger and food insecurity?...Read More

What could possibly be more fun than shopping for toys? I have a newfound love for perusing toy stores. There's something magical about watching my daughter's eyes light up when she spots something in a toy store. But then again, there's something not-so-magical about listening her whine for the next 10 minutes about why she MUST. HAVE. IT. In any case, I find that buying a toy that gives back is far less guilt-inducing. So,...Read More

I love my iPhone.  I would TOTALLY be lying if I said I could live without it.  Are you kidding me?  Google Maps changed my life, says the girl who perpetually gets lost.  Answering emails while waiting in line at the supermarket?  Yes please.  Getting my Candy Crush fix while in the school pickup line?  Divine.  Yes, I love my iPhone.  So, we take care of the things we love, riiiight?  But aren't all phone cases...Read More

I have a special love for bath and body care products. At any given time, I have several bottles of lotions, soaps, and scrubs floating around my bathroom. I'm trying to do better and just use one bottle at a time. But, I honestly just can't help myself. It's a bit of an obsession. Thankfully, I can indulge in my obsession guilt-free because there are so many bath & body care brands that give back!...Read More

Natural cleaners seem to be everywhere now.  Five years ago, I don't think I even thought about what ingredients go into the cleaning products I use.  In fact, I was probably like... the more bleach, the better!  However, I have changed my tune on this topic.  I hate pulling out the "mommy card", but I honestly think I started caring more about this when my daughter was born.  I've been poisoning myself for decades with...Read More

My daughter is starting kindergarten in 9 weeks.  *Cue the crying*  I can't really fathom how five years just flew by.  As we prepare for kindergarten, there is one thing I am absolutely not looking forward to: packing her lunch everyday. I don't know why I find this task so daunting. While my daughter isn't a picky eater, she is definitely a grazer. She would rather pick at her food than eat it in one...Read More

Looking for a Father's Day gift that gives back? I know... Dad is not the easiest person to shop for. I hear you. Thankfully, I have put some thought into it for you. But before diving into that, I want to share a story. When I was in elementary school, I remember giving my dad a sea green paisley tie for Father's Day. I thought it was the most fantastic looking tie ever. A couple...Read More

The whole reason I started Shop Social Good was to document all the brands I can find that give back to the planet and the people living on it. But let me just say... nothing makes me happier when I find a brand that sells really practical stuff that I need. Look, I WANT a beautifully handmade artisan-made handbag, but I NEED toilet paper. Enter Brandless, a brand that sells pantry staples, kitchen tools, cleaning...Read More

When I first started looking for social good companies, Hand in Hand Soap was one of the first brands I came across. They have been on my radar for awhile now. I can honestly say that I have tried every product and every scent in their product line. And I love everything which is why I consistently go back over and over again. Hand in Hand's Bar Soap Gift Set includes a bar of soap...Read More

ABLE is a Nashville-based fashion and lifestyle brand whose mission is to end generational poverty by providing economic opportunities for women. I first heard about ABLE a couple of years ago when I first started looking into social enterprises and companies that give back. ABLE, found at www.livefashionable.com online, consistently showed up in my searches. Like, EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I always admired their stuff, especially their handbags. At the time, my daughter was still pretty...Read More

Today I'm looking at SOKO. SOKO is a brand that designs modern jewelry and leverages mobile technology to enable and empower their artisans in Kenya. Now, I must confess that accessorizing has never really been my thing. The idea of accessorizing is actually quite appealing to me. Unfortunately, my lazy and practical self can't seem to do it on a regular basis. If I do wear jewelry, it is usually very simple and very classic....Read More

Soap is one of those products we tend to take for granted. At home, at work, at school, at restaurants, at the gym. Soap is usually just there. We wash our hands and we are on our way. It never occurred to me that a bar of soap could be a luxury in some parts of the world. Soapbox is a company that produces a line of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. For every product...Read More

We are all familiar with Black Friday (people are crazy for a good deal) and Cyber Monday (people are crazy for a good online deal).  There's also Small Business Saturday (don't forget the little guys!) and Giving Tuesday (nonprofits need a little love too). Smack in the middle of all this spending is Shop For Good Sunday, which will be on Sunday, November 25th.  This is a chance to specifically support companies that are socially...Read More

When I was a kid, I loved "back to school" shopping.  Specifically, I loved shopping for school supplies.  When August rolled around, I would get so excited about getting new pens, pencils, folders, notebooks.  It was pretty much the highlight of my school year.  When I came across Yoobi, a social good company that donates school supplies to classrooms in need, the 10 year old in me got super excited. I have several friends who...Read More