If you’re visiting WorldofGood.com, chances are you share a goal of promoting quality of life and livelihoods for artisans and manufacturers around the world. You might also recognize that to properly empower these people, it’s important to keep the environment around them safe and clean. But who has time to worry about waste disposal when they’re struggling to feed their family? While there are a growing number of ways to determine a product’s impact on either people or the planet – sometime’s it is hard to tell if one has become a trade off for another. Sure, a product that follows fair trade principles might mean the workers who made it are paid a fair and living wage, but what does that mean if they are then shipped in a way that leaves a serious carbon footprint in their wake? There are also many “green” products that fail to live up to people positive standards, thus it’s a great time to look into how products can combine both focuses.

On WorldofGood.com, the unique Goodprint of each product is highlighted. When looking for items that manage to combine environmental sustainability with Fair Trade production practices, I came across some fabulous finds that truly demonstrate what it means to create products that are both people and eco positive. Autonomie Project classic sneakers (whose wardrobe wouldn’t be better off with a pair of these!?) are made with 100% organic cotton, sustainable rubber and are 100% vegan. On top of the earth friendly materials, they pay fair trade wages to both the workers who harvest the rubber, and those who do the actual stitching and construction. Another great example are these earrings, which again use natural materials (they are careful to use non-endangered wood) and operate on fair trade principles for their workers. Further, they help their producers develop environmentally sustainable practices.  Thankfully, we know that many people and companies are starting to realize the importance of combining a focus on Fair Trade and the environment in light of their interconnectivity. As Paul Myers, President of the World Fair Trade Organization recently wrote, “If we truly believe that Fair Trade is both sustainable and effective, then it is the solution to the world's financial crisis. Not only that, it can also help us Beat Poverty and Beat Climate Change too.”  What do you think - could the intersection of Fair Trade and environmental sustainability be the solution to all our economic woes?