Child labour, deforestation, toxic work environments, extreme poverty—not exactly what you’d want associated with "the most wonderful time of the year.” Sadly, they’re the exact kinds of things that often go into the foods and gifts with which we celebrate. I know what you’re thinking: “Ho-ho-hoooold on a minute, that’s the last thing I want under my tree!” Ditto.
Wish you could buy with peace of mind, but don’t have the time to play investigatory journalist? Lucky for you, there are more and more ethically-made goodies on the shelves with the credentials to prove it, making it easier than ever before to shop confidently for what you put on your plate and under the tree. You just have to know what to look for.
Think E.L.F.:If the use of toxic pesticides, synthetic hormones, and genetically engineered food sounds like a better fit for a spooky Halloween than for your holiday feast, consider stocking up on ingredients that are certified organic and/or Fairtrade. You can find them in pretty much every supermarket, drugstore, or natural health food store across the country. Look for the Canada Organic or FAIRTRADE logo. When it comes to choosing gifts, think of a product’s entire lifecycle, and keep in mind the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). Reusable shopping bags, travel mugs, and water bottles are widely available, trendy, and sustainable gift options.
Try it: Add at least ONE organic certified or Fairtrade-certified ingredient to your holiday feast. Try this quick semi-DIY gift that’s bound to be a hit: fill a reusable travel mug with delectable edibles for happiness on-the-go.
Cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and support your local economy, by hitting up your farmers’ market, a local boutique, or one of the many craft sales filling church basements at this time of year. If you’re the creative type, consider making your own gifts—it doesn’t get much more local than that.
Try it: Make at least ONE gift yourself. You can’t go wrong with chocolate chip cookies (great use for Fairtrade organic chocolate and sugar), and giving handmade cards provides a meaningful touch (and a great project for kids). Plus, there’s a certain je-ne-sais-quoi about homemade goods that can’t be beat.
Some things just don’t grow in the Great White North. So, when that coffee, chocolate, banana, or cotton tee is a must-have, we depend on hardworking artisans, farmers, and workers miles and miles away. Fair trade is all about making sure they get a fair deal for their hard work, and that Mother Nature hasn’t taken a beating in the process.
The FAIRTRADE mark is the world’s most recognized and trusted ethical label, representing proof of certification by the international Fairtrade system—Fairtrade Canada is the only Canadian member. Between setting the standards, on-site auditing, and producer support, they do all the heavy-lifting so that you don’t have to, making sure that people are given fair pay, decent working conditions, and what they need to take care of the environment in countries where it’s not a given. For more unique artisanal products, it’s hard to apply a same set of rules, so you might need to ask a few more questions or stick to a veteran in the Fairtrade Game, like Ten Thousand Villages.
Try it: Buy at least ONE Fairtrade gift and one Fairtrade food or drink item to share with friends and family. Like organics, Fairtrade-certified products can be found in pretty much any supermarket across the country—from your Loblaws and Sobeys stores, to your local independent shop, and everywhere in between. Look for the FAIRTRADE mark on the classics, like coffee, tea, and chocolate, but also on wine, cosmetics, and sports balls, among others. Click here to find out what Freddy the Fair Trade Elf suggests for the Foodie, Athlete, Homebody, Kiddo, Style Maven, and Host on your list.
So there you have it! When Mama needs her Christmas chocolate and kiddo won’t settle for less than a brand new soccer ball, you have options. Options that are easier on people, the planet, and your conscience, so that you can sleep soundly while visions of sugar plums dance in your head. (Sleep? What is this sleep you speak of?) And it’s not just for the holidays—ethical shopping is in style all year round. Don’t wait for a new year’s resolution. Kick up your heels and hit the stores E.L.F. style!
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