Every company should mark March 18th in their calendar – at the very least, as a reminder that we can all make a difference.
Today’s date is all about celebrating Companies That Care, and we at Ruff’s Kitchens would like to take the opportunity to highlight a handful of businesses which contribute to the betterment of the world. Whether raising funds for animals in shelters or working to empower disadvantaged communities (to name but a couple of examples), each of the organisations named below is worthy of everybody’s support – so take a look, check them out, and share this post so that more people can learn about the incredible work they do.
Bloomtown
First on our list is Bloomtown, the UK’s first independently-certified palm-oil free company. Since their launch in 2016, the brand has picked up a steady following of fans who can’t get enough of their gorgeous bath products and skincare – though if you don’t think you’ve heard of them before now, odds are you may have spotted them on an episode of Dragon’s Den!
The Bloomtown team are committed to a series of ethical policies, such as ensuring that all of their products are completely animal-friendly. That means that vegans can happily enjoy a soak in their Himalayan bath salts – in fact, animal-lovers can rest easy when using any of the products from their online store, as the brand are absolutely against animal testing and other unethical practices. One of the best things about Bloomtown, however, is their refusal to use palm oil in any of their products, which in turn helps to keep rainforest wildlife such as orangutans safe from the threat of deforestation.
Conscious Step
Next up, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the awesome folk at Conscious Step, a USA-based business which raises donations for a multitude of different causes. With their ethical workplaces and sustainably-sourced materials, there’s lots to love about Conscious Step, however, it is their wide selection of socks which sets them apart from the competition: just check out this page, as there’s a design to match whichever cause you’re most passionate about. For example, perhaps you want to support a dog shelter – you can do so in style by picking up an adorable pair of socks from Conscious Step’s pet-themed collection.
Crisis
Crisis is a charity determined to eradicate homelessness, and by running a number of initiatives (such as one-to-one support and job training), their efforts have helped thousands of people over the years. In 2020, the charity launched an online store called ‘Shop to Stop Homelessness’, with proceeds from each item being distributed in a way which supports as many people as possible. The items found in the store range from jewelry to consumables (such as coffee), but we particularly love their tote bag selection: not only is each design unique to Crisis (and drawn up by a group of artists), but tote bags offer a great way for us to spread awareness for the charity while going about our daily lives.
GoodBrush
Do good for the planet, yourself, and for society. GoodBrush’s ‘buy one, give one’ initiative ensures that, for every bamboo toothbrush purchased via their website, another one will be donated via a breakfast club or food bank based in the UK. As well as ensuring that oral care is available to as many people as possible, the company is committed to reducing plastic waste by using biodegradable materials in the bulk of their product – an excellent way to offset the damage caused by some 4 billion toothbrushes which make their way into landfill or the sea.
GoodBrush offer subscription services as well as one-off purchases, but however you choose to buy, you can rest assured that this one small action will contribute to a handful of big, positive changes.
OHNE
Last on our list (but by no means least), we’re taking a moment to salute the awesome women at OHNE. Destigmatizing sanitary care is in the brand’s DNA: their website is full of bold language, fantastic humour and illustrations which tackle ‘uncomfortable’ feelings around menstruation head-on. What’s really bloody fantastic about OHNE, though, is their dedication to improving the lives of underprivileged women and girls in Zambia.
Once upon a time, co-founder Nikki worked with an organisation called School Club Zambia. The club’s rural location meant that their access to safe, hygienic and affordable sanitary products was limited, which is why the team at OHNE made the choice to team up with the initiative. For every monthly OHNE subscription made, the company donate to School Club Zambia’s ‘girl’s project’, which:
- Provides health education to girls in rural Zambia
- Improves hygiene through the construction of new, clean toilet blocks
- Helps girls learn how to make re-usable pads, and also teaches them how to sew.
In short, it is OHNE’s mission to ensure that girls all around the world can ‘manage their menstruation comfortably, safely and with dignity’ – though since they’re 100% animal-friendly, vegan and certified by the Soil Association and GOTS, there’s plenty of reasons to feel great about supporting them.
Do you know of any companies or brands who work to make the world a better place? Show that you care by sharing this post and tagging them – and your friends! – in the comments. You can also help us in our mission to end hunger in Zimbabwe (and to improve education for the country’s underprivileged youth) by donating as little as £10 now.