#fair-trade

Typically in my purchasing decisions for my business, I tend to stick to what I know works for my cake recipes.

Therefore I would say as much as I have concern for the environment and ethical considerations when it comes to my purchases, I am more focused on tried and tested products that I know work well and keep my cakes at a standard of quality that I'm happy with and that my customers expect from me.

An example of a specific cognitive decision is when it came to choosing which Vanilla extract to use for my cakes. I chose to go with an organic and fair-trade brand, that was not only ethically sourced but also had a superior flavour when compared to the supermarket's own-brand extract, which is neither organic or fair-trade, but is cheaper.

TI would class this as a cognitive decision as I am aware that my customers want great tasting cakes, and because I cater for vegan customers too I want to try and keep the quality and flavours consistent across dietary requirements.

Despite the extract being more expensive, in the long run it makes more sense as not only is the flavour more potent and less can be used and still achieve a high level of flavour, there fore meaning less package waste and by extension less impact on the environment.

"I (the writer) found a list of companies from whom you can buy candy that is fair-trade, non-gmo, gluten-free, etc. I have not tried any of these. I was looking for candy that can be given out for Halloween.

So, here's a list. I just ordered from Alter Eco because they claim to be able to get the candies to me by October 28 and they have individually wrapped truffles--easy to hand out. Also, the wrappings on biodegradable. The only thing fascists and their collaborators understand is their bottom line. We have to wreck those bottom lines.

These places will cost more than buying a bag from Hershey's. But then, you're buying a bag from Hershey's--that has been aggressively stealing nations' water.

"To provide ethically sourced candy options that aren't made by conglomerates, focus on smaller brands with third-party certifications like Fairtrade, B Corp, or those that have direct-trade relationships with farmers. "

Chocolate options

Alter Eco: A certified B Corp offering Fairtrade, organic, and non-GMO chocolate. Their individually wrapped truffles and chocolate minis are good for handing out.

Tony's Chocolonely: This B Corp certified company is dedicated to creating 100% slave-free chocolate. They offer "Tiny Tony's" in various flavors that are perfect for trick-or-treaters.

Equal Exchange: As a worker-owned cooperative, Equal Exchange offers Fairtrade and organic chocolate minis, which come in a variety of chocolate options, including vegan-friendly dark chocolate.

Divine Chocolate: Co-owned by the cocoa farmers in Ghana, Divine Chocolate is Fairtrade certified and focuses on gender equality and farmer empowerment. They offer mini bars that work well for Halloween.

Lake Champlain Chocolates: This certified B Corp offers individually wrapped chocolates like their Organic Halloween Squares made with crispy milk chocolate and quinoa.

Endangered Species Chocolate: A Fairtrade company that uses its proceeds to support conservation efforts. Many of their chocolate bars are sold in individually wrapped squares.

OCHO Candy: OCHO specializes in organic chocolate bars with handmade fillings. They are Fairtrade certified and use organic ingredients.

Theo Chocolate: This brand offers Fairtrade and organic chocolate. They produce seasonal and classic flavors that are available as mini treats.

Coracao Confections: For a vegan and plant-based option, Coracao offers individual-sized chocolates made from organic cacao and sweetened with coconut sugar.

Non-chocolate options

YumEarth: This brand specializes in organic, non-GMO, and allergy-friendly candies. They offer variety boxes with snack-size packets of gummies, lollipops, and hard candies that are perfect for Halloween.

The Ginger People: For a unique and spicy-sweet candy, Gin Gins are individually wrapped, organic, and traceable.

Cocomels: They offer vegan, non-GMO, and Fairtrade certified caramel chews in individual wrappers.

Lovely Organic: This brand makes sour fruity chews in small batches with organic, vegan, and non-GMO ingredients. The chews are individually wrapped, making them great for trick-or-treating.

Free2B: Their "buttercups" are an allergy-friendly alternative, free from many common allergens and wrapped individually.

Justin's: For peanut butter lovers, Justin's offers individually wrapped peanut butter cups with organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified ingredients"

Fair Trade Coffee: Making a Positive Impact Every morning, I enjoy a cup of coffee. It makes me think about the good it does. Fair trade coffee helps farmers and protects our planet. It’s amazing that my coffee choice helps 25 million farmers. More people now know about fair trade coffee. They see it helps farmers get fair prices and supports communities. In 2021, fair trade coffee helped…

Interview at BBC World Service - The Cultural Frontline

Invited to a discussion at The Cultural Frontline – a program by BBC World Service. The program is about the current scenario of fashion business and how personal views can make changes to this system.

Please visit the link to listen to the interesting program, you can find me from 6:25-12:20 min.

You are what you wear? We discuss whether we can tackle environmental and humanitarian crises…

Introducing XOXO, a chocolate company where we strive not only to make better chocolate but also a better world. Among the best available on the market, our chocolate is both made with real ingredients and sustainably sourced. With these factors in mind, we hope you let us introduce you to a classic treat with our modern twist.

Real Ingredients

With health in mind, our product is not only GMO-free but also free of sweet additives such as soy, gluten or corn. This means you can indulge knowing that good health can also include a healthy dose of good chocolate. You can also rest assured of our genuine guarantee – naturally good chocolate made solely of naturally made ingredients.

Sustainably Sourced

Each bar of chocolate is sourced from farmers earning fair wages located in the temperate Peruvian Valley. This is part our commitment to ensure every treat you give yourself also gives backs to local communities. You can purchase our product knowing that each bite supports ethical practices and fair-trade solutions.

If none of this has sold you yet, trust in the fact that the use of real and sustainably sourced ingredients has come at no additional cost to you. In short, our passion is helping you stay healthy while helping the world stay healthy as well. Each purchase of XOXO lets you enjoy some of the world’s finest chocolate without the need for calling it a guilty pleasure. Whether you’re looking to better yourself or better the world, we hope you look for us next time you crave a treat.

As I am currently working on a project for a fair-trade,organic native clothing start-up, I thought I would share my w.o.p for creating the logo of this company. As this brand is all about being environmentally and ethically conscious as well as handmade products I roughened the logo up by filling in a graphic style called scribble. By lowering the opacity of the shapes in the logo ( sheep & fair-trad symbol) I let the texture shine through and unite the piece. I also made a B/W version for letterheads and documents copies.