The Big Swap: Household Items
March 03, 2010 @ 12:53 PM
This entry continues our Big Swap series with household items. The Big Swap is a simple idea: for the next two weeks, swap out something you buy regularly for the Fair Trade alternative. Coffee, chocolate, cutting boards, bananas, and more. Learn more.
The Broken System
The earth is too often ignored, abused, and destroyed in order to produce the items we use, eat, and wear every day. This often happens without our knowledge or permission, but it happens nonetheless.
One aspect of this abuse is deforestation, which continues at an alarming rate despite growing awareness of the issue. Household items make up a sizeable amount of the problem, meaning that the things that we buy and use every day in our homes and kitchens are contributing to environmental destruction. Everyday items - like cutting boards, tables, chairs, and decorations - are often produced with little regard to their impact on people and planet.
Here’s a few stats on deforestation:
- More than half of the world’s rain forests have been cut down
- In countries like Nigeria and Brazil 80%+ of their rain forests are gone
- 1.5 acres of rainforest disappear every second
This affects our water cycle, climate, thousands upon thousands of plant and animal species, and the quality of millions of lives in the developing world. It’s a system very few of us are proud of, but most of us feel that there aren’t enough practical ways to make a real difference.
So what can we do about it? How can we make sure that the products we buy don’t bring destruction to lands that we’ll never see? It starts by continuing to recognize the enormous power of each purchasing decision.
Fair Trade means environmental sustainability. It’s as simple as that. Fair Trade certification ensures that both people and planet are being afforded the dignity and respect that they deserve. Each Big Swap thus far has focused on labor issues, and rightfully so, but today we’re focusing on the environmental impact your purchases can have. Here’s an example of an everyday home item, and the role that Fair Trade plays.
Our Cutting Board from Morocco
Not only is this Cutting Board beautiful, but it comes with a story of sustainability. Our partner in Morocco, Green Sahara Gifts, commits to limiting wood waste by using parts of the tree that are often unused, and to using offcuts and reclaimed materials whenever possible. They’re also partnering with the High Atlas Foundation to plant trees in the Atlas mountain regions of Morocco – looking forward to seeing more green in the Moroccan mountains and moving on into the Sahara.
It’s not rocket science, it’s just a product that tells a unique story. It is our hope that throughout the entire Big Swap, you’ll see that each Swap carries a common denominator: a purchasing decision that factors in more than just price. It’s a decision that incorporates people you’ll never meet and places you’ll never see, and comes with the knowledge that those people and places are better off because of your purchase.
Now What?
We want to hear what you’re Swapping, why you’re Swapping, where you’re Swapping, we want to know! So share your swapping story in the comments section of this post.
