12 days of shopping liberally

12 days of shopping liberally

It that time of year again, your shopping list is long and your time is suddenly short. In the spirit of the season, why not support businesses that contribute to the greater good? Forget Wal Mart and Amazon there are plenty of companies out there with great products that are also doing positive things for workers, the community and the environment.

Here our list of 12 companies we love for their forward thinking business models. These companies are working hard to embrace the double bottom line: doing well and doing good.

Whether you looking for some new clothes to put under the tree, a big screen TV, or enough cranberry sauce to feed a small army, Costco will address all your shopping needs. behind Wal Mart but it shot to the top througha vastly different labor strategy. Instead of low wages and high turnover, Costco pays an average wage of more than $20 an hour. workers are represented by the Teamsters. Ten dollars from each pair purchased goes to a worthy charity associated with a special inlay in the glasses themselves. So the model with turquoise at the temple benefits the American Indian College Fund, the one with sustainability sourced mother of pearl benefits ocean conservation efforts you get the idea. Celebrities like Katy Perry, Natalie Portman, and Heidi Klum have all been spotted in these sassy shades. And as if that's not enough, they're also made in America! Santa, can I add just one more thing to my wish list?

3. Container Store: For the ethically organized

If you're a mom desperately trying to organize your chaos, in a tiny apartment, and Christmas freaks you out because what in the world are you going to do with the stuff that Grandma is sure to send your children even though you've already told her that they really don't need anything and another stuffed animal will only provide a brief fleeting moment of joy before being tossed in the toy bin with all fake oakley sunglasses the other hundreds of stuffed animals collecting dustthan you likely know and love and are psychologically dependent on The Container Store. But what you mightnotknow is that the Container Store is not only awesome because it helps me maintain my tenuous grip on sanity, they also pay their sales associates twice the industry averageandmakemany of their productsin America! Their gift cards make great presents! (Hint! Hint!)

4. Modavanti: Transforming the second dirtiest industry

WhenModavantifounder David Dietz learned that fashion is the second dirtiest industry in the world, right after oil and gas, he knew that he wanted to do something about it. And as a young New Yorker, he knew that the solution had to change the way companies do business, while still offering cutting edge fashion. So he founded the online retailer Modavanti to give fashionistas a one stop shopping for the goods they call consciously styled.

5. Patagonia: A different kind of corporation

Don fear the winter, conquer it! WithPatagonia product line, you can do everything from snow shoeing to ice skating without a shiver. Patagonia is one of more than 1,000 verified "B Corporations" which have met a rigorous set of standards in the areas of corporate governance, workforce, community, and environment. Here asnapshotof some of the things Patagonia is doing well: more than 40% of management are women or minorities; the company provides health care to part time, retail and warehouse staff; and 75% of materials used are environmentally frie