On Products For Good

What are ‘products for good’? Well,‘Products for good’ are products that have the additional benefit of doing some sort of global good when purchased. Whether it be a one-for-one model (think TOMs), a percentage that goes back to charity (think Collaborative World), products hand-crafted by people in developing nations enabling them to rise out of poverty (think Krochet Kids), or products that do a tangible good with each purchase (think Project 7).

So without further adieu, here are my 3 Thoughts On…buying ‘products for good.’

Buying ‘products for good’ make me feel good.

Coco Chanel once said, “When accessorizing, always take one thing off before you leave the house.” These days instead of removing an accessory I find myself needing to remove a cause.

My TOMS wedges, my Krochet Kids Africa t-shirt (I so want to be able to pull off my hat in sunny and 70-degree SoCal but unfortunately I am definitely not that cool), my Hello Somebody hoodie, my 31 Bits necklace, together seem to be a bit much yet they are some of my favorite (and most comfortable) things to sport.

Over the last few years I find myself more and more purchasing ‘products for good.’ Because they make me feel good when I wear them, when I use them, and when I tell others about them.

Buying ‘products for good’ allow me to give back without stepping too far out of my comfort zone.

Too often giving is hard, giving is sacrificial, giving hurts. But products for good make giving easy, fun, and painless. ‘Products for good’ allow me to give while I am making everyday purchases while I am trying to find something to wear, shopping for groceries, or grabbing a bottle of water and a pack of gum before I board a flight.

Buying ‘products for good’ have a cumulative impact.

The US drinks 350,000,000 cups of coffee and chews over 1,000,000 pieces of gum each day. (I know, crazy. Right?) Imagine if every time we drank a cup of coffee, or chewed a piece of gum, we did something good.

Through a lot of seemingly small purchases, Project 7 planted over 500,000 fruit trees last year and provided over 500,000 meals. While you might not think buying that pack of Project 7 gum or another ‘product for good’ will have a significant impact, the cumulative purchases start to add up and we start seeing real world change.

What are some of your favorite ‘products for good’? What are your thoughts on buying ‘products for good’?