Packed with Purpose
Greyston Bakery’s (pictured above) mission is to create thriving communities through the practice and promotion of open hiring. The company doesn’t hire people to bake brownies; they bake brownies to hire people who face barriers to employment. “When people have the opportunity to participate fully in our economy, we all benefit,” says CEO Joseph Kenner. Every year, 6.5 million brownies are baked, and in 35 years, they’ve employed 176 individuals through their open hiring model. Profits from Greyston Bakery go to the Greyston Foundation, providing community gardens and workforce development programs to local communities. Greyston.org
Listen Up
More than 360 million people have disabling hearing loss, with the most prevalence in developing countries. Less than 3% of these individuals can afford hearing aids or have access to proper care. Every purchase of LSTN Sound Co.’s audio products help someone hear for the first time by giving them a hearing aid through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. The foundation has helped over 22,000 people in nine countries — Peru, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uganda, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and the USA. Many have experienced the sound of music, laughter, and their families’ voices for the very first time. lstnsound.com
Sustainably Yours
Newly makes beautiful home goods from 100% recycled or repurposed materials. The company began in 2016 with five friends, who identified what they believed to be a severe problem: not enough consumer goods made from recycled content. Each product is made from 100% recycled or repurposed materials to help conserve the Earth’s finite natural resources. In just a few years, Newly has diverted 6.12 tons of waste from landfills; recycled 7,200 plastic water bottles into blankets; and saved 1.35 million gallons of water by using recycled thread. Newly.com
Gear for Good
Fifty percent of the world’s population is at risk of malaria, and an infected child dies every two minutes. Providing bed nets treated with anti-malarial insecticide is one of the most cost-effective solutions to saving lives. Cotopaxi’s Nothing but Nets campaign has distributed more than 660,000 bed nets since 2000. The brand creates sustainably designed outdoor gear that fuels adventure and global change and dedicates a percentage of its revenues to nonprofits working to improve the human condition. Cotopaxi founder Davis Smith witnessed first-hand the glaring hardship of unequal access to economic opportunity while growing up across Latin America and decided to build a brand that offered a solution. Cotopaxi is a certified Climate Neutral Corporation, a certified B Corporation, and uses sustainable or recycled materials. Every purchase helps provide an antimalarial mosquito net to a refugee in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cotopaxi.com
Natural Sparkle
Jewelry designer Paula Mendoza grew up in Colombia surrounded by the reverence of Andean earth-mother figure Pachamama. When she decided to launch her jewelry brand, she spent months traveling around the southwestern region of Colombia, taking quality time to work with local artisans and learn about the symbols they use in their crafts. This hands-on experience sets her apart from many of her contemporaries. She immerses herself in every aspect of her creations, from the design process; to sourcing raw, conflict-free materials like emeralds and gold from ethical Colombian mines; to working with local artisans in her Bogotán-based workshop. This work ethic has enabled her to fully support and give back to marginalized communities and provide much-needed jobs. “To be sustainable, you first have to be sustainable with the people who work with you,” says Mendoza. PaulaMendoza.com
Making Electric Cool
The new Electric MOKE is a continuation of the 1964 Mini Moke, created by the father of the Austin Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis. It quickly became a global icon and an enduring symbol of the swinging 60s after being seen in the hands of celebrities including The Beatles and Bridget Bardot in glamorous locations like the French Riviera and the Caribbean. It replaces the combustion engine version of the MOKE which makes MOKE International the first heritage brand to go fully electric. By reinvigorating the MOKE as an electric vehicle, the company has brought the world-famous road and beach car into the era of e-mobility, ensuring generations to come will enjoy the sense of fun and freedom that made it such a hit with famous faces, travelers, and coastal resorts six decades ago. The Electric MOKE covers up to 80 miles of range on a single charge — enough for four round trips from Cap-Ferrat to Monaco — and a full charge takes just four hours via a Type 2 port. MokeAmerica.com
