How to be a conscious consumer this holiday season.

Nov 10

The holidays are fast approaching and a little conscious spending can go a long way. Corporate gifting is a great way to show your appreciation to clients and employees, but why not double down with a gift from a company that promotes a positive impact?

What is conscious consumerism?

Conscious spending or consumerism is a term that has been floating around the impact space. Essentially, it means buying products from businesses that align with your values. It’s about investing your money in companies that are getting their hands dirty and changing the world for the better.

Conscious consumers put more thought into the products they purchase. Instead of relying on a quick purchase from Amazon, or a Costco size bag of pre-wrapped gift boxes, these individuals actively think about what values are important to them and explore the companies that share these same values.

As the landscape of business evolves we are seeing consumers ask for more from companies.

Why is conscious consumerism important?

Well, if you’ve been following the impact movement, you know how important it is to reduce our carbon footprint and increase our positive impact. We may be sounding like a broken record, but the IPCC report was a megaphone screaming at the world “we can’t keep going at this pace, you need to change!”

Consumers are holding businesses more accountable than ever. They are calling on industry and political leaders to stand by the COP26 commitments of carbon neutrality by 2050.

But it doesn’t stop at the top. When we buy the products from a company, we’re telling them to keep making and selling their products. Customers are voting for the economic system they want to support and leaving behind the companies who aren’t picking up their knickers and doing good work!

We know where the wealth distribution lies. It’s up to us to challenge the status quo and create an inclusive community and just economy. It’s vital we support Black-owned and Indigenous-owned businesses.

The way to disassemble a broken economic system is to disrupt the way we distribute our investments.

Here are some Black-owned and Indigenous-owned businesses you can support this season:

Goodee - Montreal siblings Byron and Dexter Peart curated an online marketplace showcasing products from around the globe for the conscious consumer.
Anew- Brand created by Matt & Nat founder Inder Bedi, focuses on using local production and sustainable materials.
Three Sisters by Emma- creations inspired by traditional Metis crafting techniques.
Mini Tipi- beautiful small-batch goods designed, cut and sewn in Quebec.
SheNative- Indigenous brand specializing in leather goods and apparel.
Yukon Soaps- Yukon based business creating handcrafted essentials featuring beadwork and ingredients native to the north.

So how do we know if a company is putting in the work?

How do you tell the difference between a company doing good and one that merely looks good? You need to explore the company’s values. These are the companies that are layered with a passion to create change and make the world better instead of those just putting up a pretty billboard.)

Where do I find these companies?

Luckily, the People are evolving which means the world of business is too. We are starting to see more and more transparency around production and manufacturing processes. Keep a lookout for logos or tags like B Corp, 1% For The Planet and Benefit Corporations to find businesses that align with your values.

Or, you could just take a look at the list we’ve made for you! Here is a list of Canadian companies in-progress of getting B Corp certified or earned their certification for your support this season.

Food & Drink

Tality Kombucha- Located in North Vancouver, creating organically crafted kombucha for the environmentally conscious connoisseur.
Fatso- Victoria- all-natural nut butter enriched with plant-based fats
Saul Good Gift Co- Vancouver - Corporate gifts, gift baskets and promotional products.
Blue Heron- Cultured vegan cheese and dairy alternative products created in Squamish aimed at supporting their local community, and mindful of their supply chain and environmental impact.
Luv the Grub: Vancouver- Using “ugly” produce to create delicious spreads and chutneys.

Quebec

Naak Inc- Montreal based sports nutrition brand that combines high-performance and sustainability for endurance athletes.
Fody Foods- Food consisting of low FODMAP snacks, sauces and kitchen staples.
Maison Orphee- Family/ female-owned business creating incredible cold-pressed oils.

Alberta

VDG Salumi- Located in Calgary, this company creates artisanal cured meats in small batches.

Ontario

Ozery Family Bakery- Vaughan- They create various bread and snack items.
Rainbo- supplements and functional foods created with medicinal mushrooms.
Zengarry Fauxmagerie: Sustainable protein-rich gourmet dairy-free cashew cheese.

Nova Scotia

Made with Local- Located in Dartmouth. Real food bars loaded oats, real food bar mix.

Coffee & Tea

Ontario

Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. - Hunstville- Whole and Ground beans which 100% compostable pods.
Equator Coffee Roasters Inc- Almont- Fairtrade, organic coffee.
Tease- Ottawa based company creating plant-based teas and blends.

Salt Spring Coffee- Richmond. Organic and fair-trade coffee and roasting.

Alberta

Baby Gourmet- Wholesome organic baby food with the mission to support babies and moms.

Beer & Wine

Ontario

Ernest Cider Co LTD- Bond Head. Beautifully crafted cider with the passion to protect the environment and change the way business is done.
High Park Brewery- Toronto. Craft Brewery was born with the love of craft beer and giving back to their community.

PEI

Upstreet Craft Brewing- Charlottetown. Craft Brewery was created by a few buds sitting around trying to make beer, into a company aimed at supporting the community and leaving a positive impact.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery- Kelowna. Wine and restaurant with the vision for abundance and gratitude for people and the planet.
Persephone- Gibsons, BC brewery creating craft beer with the mission of supporting local community employment and food security programs.

Clothing & Apparel

Ontario

Encircled- Toronto. Women's clothing with the mission of outfit repeating to promote sustainability. They believe in quality over quantity in clothing.
Grey Rock Clothing Co.- Guelph boutique clothing stores for Men’s and Women’s fashion and accessories. They offer customers ethically made and sustainable clothing.
Diosa Designs- Women-led company creates bags for women to support women across the world.

TenTree International- Vancouver. Environmentally progressive apparel for men and women. 10 trees planted for every item sold.
Beaton- Powell River based business with the goal of creating functional, comfortable and sustainable linen clothing.
Jackson Rowe- Designed in Vancouver and created with sustainably sourced knit.
Sole- Vancouver based company creating sustainable footwear with less impact on the environment.
Ecologyst- Designed in Vancouver Island and created in North American with all-natural, 100% biodegradable fabrics.

Manitoba

Mondetta Canada LTD- Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sophisticated sportswear with the goal of reducing their carbon footprint through their production.

Quebec

Frank and Oak- Montreal. Men’s and women’s fashion brand with a passion for sustainability.

Jewelry

Pyrrha- Vancouver. Their goal is to make meaningful and sustainable jewelry that promotes connection through storytelling.
Malleable Jewellers- Toronto. Sustainable and ethical fine jewelry.

Health & Beauty

The Refinery House- Chilliwack. Health and beauty services and health services in a more approachable and affordable way.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Inc. - Vancouver. Skincare and body care wholesaler.
Myo Cosmetics- customizable all-inclusive refill reuse makeup system.

Ontario

Forever Natural Inc.- Toronto, Ontario. Hair Care and bath accessories.
Queen’s Hair Shop- Sustainable and inclusive beauty salon located in Toronto, Ontario.

Quebec

Oneka Elements- natural personal care products created with certified organic and wild-harvested herbal extracts.

New Brunswick

Upfront Cosmetics- Nackawic company creating soaps and shampoos from plant-based emollients and proteins.

What if you're looking for a non-physical gift?

A tree shouldn’t only be for Christmas! Why not show your appreciation with a beautiful pine tree that will live on long after the holidays are over? The perfect gift for the planet-saving entrepreneur, our friends at Wild + Pine has trees to sponsor for as little as $3.

Is your company looking for new inspirational ideas to show your crew how much you appreciate them? Unwrapit is a company focusing on reducing landfills by offering experiential, digital or charitable gifts. Check out their website for a list of ideas they offer for the forward-thinking person.

Are you thinking about a fun activity to do with your family and friends? Puzzles are a great idea to do together, check out Stumpcraft, this Canadian company that creates wooden puzzles from uncommon images that your guests are sure to love.

As the impact-driven person you are, we know that you want this holiday season to align with your values.

Buying gifts from impact-driven businesses gives you the opportunity to spend your money in a way that supports your local economy and the planet. We want you to feel great about showing your appreciation to your team and clients and to the planet by giving a gift that keeps on giving.

Want your impact to outlast the festive season? Let’s talk about how we can amplify your impact in 2022.

Michelle Austin