Good Market Community Update for January 2019

1/31/2019

Welcome to the 35 social enterprises and responsible businesses that joined the Good Market community in January 2019! This month's roundup includes mobile apps, a green apartment building, a co-working space, surf camps, an organic certifier, and much more. See all 838 Good Market approved community members at www.goodmarket.global.

Eco Friends

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Eco Friends provides a mobile app to connect households and recycling centers and improve waste management in Sri Lanka. Users enter the recyclable waste they have by category, and Eco Friends organizes collection and delivery to recycling facilities. The app makes it possible to earn Eco Points and track recycled waste by kilo. In addition to addressing a critical environmental issue, Eco Friends creates livelihood opportunities by supporting small-scale recycling enterprises that are registered with the Central Environmental Authority.
https://ecofriends.goodmarket.global

Giki Social Enterprise

London, United Kingdom
Giki Social Enterprise encourages sustainable consumption and makes it easier for people to choose products and brands that align with their values and priorities. With the Giki mobile app, shoppers can scan barcodes on more than 280,000 UK supermarket products and easily see information related to health, fairness, and sustainability. Giki operates as a social enterprise. They are a member of Social Enterprise UK and have written their mission into their governing documents.
https://gikisocialenterprise.goodmarket.global

Excel Green Residencies

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
Excel Green Residencies is an apartment complex focused on "One Planet Living," a vision of the world where everyone, everywhere can live happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth's resources, leaving space for wildlife, wilderness and future generations to enjoy life the same. The development includes 15,0000 square feet of rooftop solar panels, ten free electric vehicles for car pooling, fresh produce from agrichemical-free vertical gardens, compost production, rainwater harvesting, gray water recycling, and shared community spaces. Lightweight concrete made from quarry dust and fly ash is used to reduce river sand mining and carbon emissions, lower temperatures, and make the internal walls of Excel Green Residencies heat, sound, and fire proof.
https://excelgreenresidencies.goodmarket.global

Hatch

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Hatch is an incubator, accelerator, and co-working space that nurtures startups in Sri Lanka. They focus on creating a collaborative culture and ecosystem to support entrepreneurial ventures. Hatch has restored a historic building in the heart of Colombo Fort and dedicated space for enterprises that focus on social or environmental impact. They minimize resource use and waste by prioritizing reclaimed and natural materials, avoiding single-use plastics, and offering shared facilities, including flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, auditoriums and event spaces, audio visual, reprographic, and IT services, and fabrication labs. There are mentorship opportunities, workshops, and community events.
https://hatch.goodmarket.global

Uva Wellassa Women Organization

Moneragala, Sri Lanka
Uva Wellassa Women Organization aims to "build an inclusive and just society where women are socially and economically empowered, free from all forms of discrimination, enjoy equal rights, and live in dignity and prosperity." Twenty of their members are actively involved in organic farming and sell fruits, vegetables, and peanuts under the name Seva Products. The organic farmers coordinate closely and support each other. They make their own organic inputs and follow many best practices: cover crops, mulching, intercropping with pest repellents plants, live fences and compost bins, and seed saving. Uva Wellassa Women Organization is verified under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
https://uwwo.goodmarket.global

Social Enterprise UK

London, United Kingdom
Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) is a national membership body for social enterprise that aims to create a favorable environment for social enterprises to thrive. SEUK conducts research, provides information and tools, shares knowledge, builds networks, raises awareness, and runs campaigns. Their Buy Social Corporate Challenge is the world's largest commitment to social procurement. They also organize expert speakers, host international delegations, and offer tailored consultancy packages. SEUK serves social enterprises of all sizes. Their first band of membership is free for organisations with turnovers below £100,000.
https://socialenterpriseuk.goodmarket.global

Ximple Skincare

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
ximple offers high quality, natural skincare products that are ideal for people with sensitive skin. Their skincare line is formulated in the Alps of Liechtenstein and produced in tropical Sri Lanka from high grade Bentonite clay and Ayurvedic ingredients. ximple is committed to environmental responsibility and is working towards a plastic-free production process. They collect back bottles or provide refills to minimize waste. All ximple products are vegan and cruelty-free.
https://ximple.goodmarket.global

Gung Ho

London, United Kingdom
Gung Ho is a British sustainable fashion brand offering design with a purpose. In addition to being locally made from responsible fabrics, the print of each garment highlights a particular environmental issue. Seasonal collections are centered on a cause. Each piece comes with a mini-zine to provide key facts and opportunities for action, and 10 percent of net profits is donated to a specific charity working on the cause. Gung Ho makes it possible to wear what you believe in. They also organize community projects, like monthly beach cleans, so that customers can connect with other passionate, like-minded people and help make a difference.
https://gungho.goodmarket.global

Mannankulam

Akkaraipattu, Sri Lanka
Mannankulam is a 40 acre farm on the east coast of Sri Lanka that focuses on conserving and sharing the agricultural and cultural heritage of the region and providing local employment opportunities. They cultivate heirloom rice varieties using organic methods and plan to offer farm stays and training programs in the future. Mannankulam is verified under a local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
https://mannankulam.goodmarket.global

Freedom Surf School

Weligama, Sri Lanka
Freedom Surf School offers affordable surf lessons, surf school courses, board rentals, and accommodation in Weligama, Sri Lanka. They organize weekly beach cleanups and recycling collection and encourage travelers to reduce waste through water refills and reusable and compostable products. Freedom Surf School partners with local businesses and employs all local staff. They promote cultural sensitivity, respect, and positive exchanges between tourists and locals to build local confidence and pride.
https://freedomsurfschool.goodmarket.global

Panda Packaging

London, United Kingdom
Panda Packaging is a London-based company that is on a mission to stop plastic waste by raising awareness and providing natural, reusable alternatives to single-use plastic. Their customizable straws, cups, bowls, and spoons are handmade in Bali from environmentally responsible bamboo and coconut. Panda Packaging partners with suppliers to help improve production facilities and working conditions.
https://pandapackaging.goodmarket.global

Sri Lanka Green

Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Green works with a network of local contacts to coordinate ethical and environmentally responsible travel experiences in Sri Lanka. They offer unique and personalized itineraries and coordinate bookings for accommodation, transport, and activities. Sri Lanka Green is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and encourages travelers to tread lightly by respecting the culture, wildlife and environment.
https://srilankagreen.goodmarket.global

Ethical Fashion Collective

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ethical Fashion Collective is an initiative by Sri Lankan fashion brands that are committed to socially and environmentally responsible practices. They work together to raise awareness on the impacts of "fast fashion" and support the Fashion Revolution movement in Sri Lanka. They have also partnered to improve sustainable sourcing, develop impact monitoring systems, create campaign materials, and organize events. In order to join the Ethical Fashion Collective, brands must sign the global Fashion Revolution Manifesto and be Good Market approved.
https://ethicalfashioncollective.goodmarket.global

RNR Naturals

Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
RNR Naturals was started by a new mother looking for products that were safe, all-natural, and planet friendly for her child. This journey led to the development of a handcrafted moisturizer that is safe enough to be used on children from birth but can also be used by adults to reduce acne, signs of aging, and scarring. RNR Naturals aims to raise awareness about the additives in conventional skincare and make it easier for people to access natural alternatives. They ensure all packaging is recyclable and offer incentives for customers that return empty containers.
https://rnrnaturals.goodmarket.global

Biocert

Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
Biocert International is an IFOAM and ISO accredited certification body that provides organic inspection and certification services. Their mission is to offer professional services at affordable rates to producers in developing countries. Biocert has certified clients in South Asia, East Asia, and Africa. They also offer fair trade certification for the Fairtrade Sustainability Alliance (FairTSA).
https://biocert.goodmarket.global

Bee Green

Karawitagara, Sri Lanka
Bee Green was started as a pedagogical farm to provide education on local organic agriculture. Their mission is offer organic products for better health, protect the environment, and provide nature experience for kids. Bee Green cultivates fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and medicinal plants and is developing a forest area. They have 11.5 acres verified under the local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS).
https://beegreen.goodmarket.global

#MeForYou Movement

Colombo, Sri Lanka
#MeForYou Movement is a collective of young professionals in Sri Lanka who come together to support their fellow citizens during natural and man-made disasters. Based on needs identified by local disaster response groups, they mobilize donations, resources, and volunteers for the affected areas.
https://meforyou.goodmarket.global

Ahankaara

Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Ahankaara creates one-of-a-kind ceramic products from natural clay. Their goal is to encourage people to transition from plastic gifts and housewares and instead choose durable, handcrafted products. They create planters, coasters, jewelry containers, soap dishes, tableware, and more. Ahankaara has solar panels for energy and contributes to community service initiatives.
https://ahankaara.goodmarket.global

Sustainablee

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sustainablee offers a curated collection of environmentally responsible upcycled, reusable, and natural products from local small-scale enterprises and rural producer groups. Their product range includes upcycled notebooks, stationery, saree bags, and table mats, beeswax paper, essential oils, and deodorant crystals. Sustainablee works with the Eco-Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) network to support environmental conservation and raise awareness regarding conscious consumption.
https://sustainablee.goodmarket.global

Sion Surf

Ahangama, Sri Lanka
Sion Surf caters to solo travelers, groups of friends, and families that want to experience Sri Lanka in a healthy and sustainable manner. Located on a reef break in Ahangama, they offer surf and yoga packages for all levels and abilities, accommodation, and a restaurant with vegan options. Sion Surf provides free filtered water and does not use plastic straws or bottles. They segregate and recycle their waste and sustainably source supplies from other Good Market community members.
https://sionsurf.goodmarket.global

Islandoor

Gonawala, Sri Lanka
Islandoor creates tropical footwear and clothing from upcycled textiles. They collect discarded denim jeans, handloom saree, and other post-consumer fabric waste and give the material a second life. Islandoor supports local tree planting every month.
https://islandoor.goodmarket.global

LiyaWela

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka
LiyaWela is a collective of young artists that wants to preserve traditional Sri Lankan temple art and painting techniques. They are focused on the 3Rs: reducing, reusing, and recycling. The LiyaWela artists collect or buy used housewares, scrap wood, and other waste materials from rural suppliers. They paint these items and give them a second life.
https://liyawela.goodmarket.global

Al-Anon in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Al-Anon is a worldwide fellowship that supports families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help. Al-Anon members believe that changed attitudes can aid recovery, but they stress that one person did not cause, cannot cure, and cannot control another person's alcohol-related choices and behaviors. Groups focus on problems common to family members and friends of alcoholics rather than the problems of the alcoholic. There are no dues or fees for membership. Al-Anon is not allied with any religion, political group, or institution. It is self-supporting through voluntary contributions by members and self-organizing through the 12 Traditions.
https://alanonsrilanka.goodmarket.global

Alcoholics Anonymous in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of men and women that helps its members stay sober and helps other alcoholics achieve sobriety. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. AA is not allied with any religion, political group, or institution. It is self-supporting through voluntary contributions by members and self-organizing through the 12 Traditions.
https://aasrilanka.goodmarket.global

Radha Lanka

Balalla, Sri Lanka
Radha Lanka makes traditional healthy foods more accessible. They offer heirloom white rice and red rice flour, noodles, and dehydrated string hoppers and herbal energy drinks and porridge mixes made with traditional grains. Radha Lanka provides a substitute for imported wheat flour and noodles.
https://radhalanka.goodmarket.global

Helanka

Hokandara, Sri Lanka
Helanka restores traditional Sri Lankan paintings and temple art. They also give new life to discarded wood, furniture, and housewares by painting them with traditional motifs. Helanka employs and trains young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with a focus on providing livelihood opportunities and preserving Sri Lankan painting techniques for the next generation.
https://helanka.goodmarket.global

Kavin Ceylon

Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka
Kavin Ceylon produces herbal hair oil, body oil, and massage oil with no artificial colors, fragrances, preservatives, or other synthetic additives. The oil is handmade under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor. Kavin Ceylon invests in safety, capacity building, and the well being of workers' families. They aim to make high quality natural products accessible and affordable.
https://kavinceylon.goodmarket.global

Jayadi

Matara, Sri Lanka
Jayadi makes healthy heirloom grains and legumes more accessible to urban consumers. They clean, mill, and pack kurakkan millet, meneri proso millet, thanahal foxtail millet, traditional red and rice varieties, kollu, green gram, black gram, and sesame. They also have habala pethi rice flakes and string hopper flour made from kurakkan.
https://jayadi.goodmarket.global

Menhandy School for the Exceptional Child

Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Menhandy is a school for children with special needs. It was started to provide educational opportunities for young people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and developmental disabilities in Sri Lanka. They help students develop the skills to lead more independent and fruitful lives, and they work with parents to provide a more enriching home environment. Menhandy School for the Exceptional Child does not discriminate based on religion, caste, ethnicity, or social background.
https://menhandy.goodmarket.global

Golden Cashew

Wanathavilluwa, Sri Lanka
Golden Cashew focuses on making the health benefits of cashew nuts more accessible and affordable for Sri Lankan consumers by shortening the supply chains. They source directly from small-scale producers and process locally in the Puttalam area. Products include cooking cashew, oven dried cashew, roasted cashew, and spicy deviled cashew. Golden Cashew is committed to responsible business practices and provides support services to workers and their children.
https://goldencashew.goodmarket.global

All About Pickles

Colombo, Sri Lanka
All About Pickles specializes in pickled foods made from locally sourced organic and natural ingredients. They source from farmers that are verified under the local organic participatory guarantee system (PGS). The initial range includes dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, Lombardi chili pickles, onion pickles, and mixed vegetable pickles.
https://allaboutpickles.goodmarket.global

Kithula

Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Kithula connects rural farmers and urban consumers so that traditional farmers have access to markets and livelihood opportunities and consumers have access to healthy local food. They focus on heirloom rice varieties like kahamala, heenati, and gonabaru and drinks like kithul flour porridge, belimal herbal tea, and ranawara herbal tea. Kithula is committed to environmental responsibility and produces cloth bags from recycled waste materials and cups from coconut shells.
https://kithula.goodmarket.global

Janolan Nature

Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Janolan Nature focuses on "healing through nature." They offer supplements, herbal teas, and aloe vera products made from all natural, vegan ingredients. Janolan sources directly from small-scale farmers to help create rural livelihood opportunities.
https://janolannature.goodmarket.global

NG Products

Deniyaya, Sri Lanka
NG Products is a rural enterprise that makes a healthy porridge blend from local heirloom grains. Their mission is make it easier for people to eat traditional foods and live a healthy lifestyle. They source thanahal, meneri, mung, kurakkan, sesame, maize, and red and white heirloom rice varieties from Embilipitiya and Uda Walawe.
https://ngproducts.goodmarket.global

Isiwara Ayurweda

Ganemulla, Sri Lanka
Isiwara Ayurweda was started by a family of ayurvedic doctors to share traditional natural beauty products with a new generation. Their Karshmee ayurvedic soap and Mayurakesha ayurvedic hair oil are registered with the Department of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka. Isiwara maintains fair trade relationships with their suppliers and works with local welfare organizations to support people in need.
https://isiwaraayurweda.goodmarket.global

Know an initiative that's good for people and good for the planet? Encourage them to get involved. The online application is available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil at https://www.goodmarket.global/application. Urdu translation is completed, and translation into other languages is now underway. Learn more about the community translation project here.