Thursday 22nd April:
Save water
‘I will not spend the money on myself. I would rather spend it with a special business on a no-profit-no-loss policy.’ This quote from Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Prize laureate and the developer of the term ‘social business’, summarizes the process which guided the concept behind Acqua Incorp Salve (‘Save’ in Portuguese).
We’re living in an era in which philanthropy, eco-consciousness and well-being are increasingly present in each aspect of our daily lives. And the ‘Generation G’ – G for ‘generosity’, as pointed out by the Trendwatching website, is moved by this urge to do good for others as well as yourself. And this is precisely what ‘Salve’ water is inspired by, turning the simple act of buying a bottle of water into a collaborative movement that helps transform lives.
The identity follows this concept of collectiveness, and uses a mosaic of icons representing positive attitudes to form a greater picture; the importance of small acts that realise great things together. To kick off this project, Instituto Criar will be the first institution to benefit from Salve sales. Take action, take Salve.
Ref. http://packagingworld.blogspot.com/2010/04/salve-water.html
Tagged with: Design for good, Food and drink, Social Enterprise, Sustainability, Water
Friday 10th July:
How can you be more generous?
Take out a mortgage with ING. Through ING’s new Huis voor een huis (‘home for a home’) program, Dutch borrowers can now help families in Bangladesh and India to build homes of their own. ING’s clients can opt to donate €300 when they sign for their mortgage, which the bank then doubles to €600.
To maximize the impact of those donations, ING has partnered with Dutch non-profit Wereldfoundation. So instead of simply handing out the money, the foundation provides microfinancing: borrowers who have previously taken out a business loan and have shown that they’re financially responsible, are eligible for a home loan. As the microloans are paid back, the money can be made available to more borrowers, with the goal of helping entire villages build new homes.
At a time when banks are seen as greedy and incompetent, it’s a well-considered approach to being generous.
Ref. http://springwise.com/financial_services/huisvooreenhuis/
Thursday 9th July:
It’s good to fake it
There have been a myriad ‘faux’ trends for accessories and home furnishing: faux-wood, faux-leather, faux-fur, you name it. Now Dutch copywriter, Peggy van Neer, has created a faux-cardboard bed linen design, which you can buy online. Forty per cent of the sales proceeds of the ‘Le Clochard’ duvet cover goes to a Dutch foundation for the young homeless. The money helps fund housing projects, which also create jobs and education opportunities. The duvets are made of 100% soft combed cotton and available in three sizes.
http://www.le-clochard.com/index.php?pageid=101&language=EN
Ref. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-for-the-homeless-faux-cardboard-or-clochard-duvet-covers
Tagged with: Charity, Fashion, Social Enterprise, Sustainability
Wednesday 8th July:
Tired of the 4 Rs? (re-cycling, reduce, re-use, repair)
Ethical Superstore aren’t. They’ve teamed up with Vivid Arts to bring you stylish and original recycled rugs and eco plant pots as an alternative to the mass-produced ones we all use. Around 500 million plastic plant pots are used in the UK each year. This consumes fossil fuels, and if pots aren’t recycled, damages the environment further. So maybe the green-fingered among us need to start thinking a little greener?
The pots and urns are crafted from recycled tyres and inner tubes that would otherwise go to landfill. Ornamental as well an innovative, these strong, durable recycled pots are constructed using ancient leather working techniques, rot-proof Kevlar stitched seams and have excellent drainage.
It may be early days for Ethical Superstore’s vision ‘Creating Global Change Through An Ethical Consumer Revolution’, but their ability to source from fair trade suppliers in over 40 countries means this is a trend that’s set to grow. (Thanks to Elliot for this spot.)
