Earthlover is committed to preserving and protecting
our planet’s natural environment!

We choose to run our business in a way that supports this commitment. Earthlover adheres to the Green Checklist, in addition to our other choices for a more environmentally acceptable way of doing business.

• * Our place of business is a reclaimed factory building, which is currently being renovated to meet or exceed LEED Standards.
• * We walk to work, always.
• * We use bicycles for local errands whenever possible.
• * Maintain a vegan office, with no animal products or food, and only allow leather products in our inventory that are from verified cruelty free sources.
• * We have converted our parking spaces to grass parking areas, and continue to plant trees in every possible space.
• * Our exterior break area is a growing and evolving Bamboo Forest.
• * We print essential documents only, and recycle ink cartridges.
• * Printing double sided, and save all waste paper for shredding and packing use.
• * Recycle whatever possible- and whatever possible ( this sometimes leads to some strange Yard Art!).
• * Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste properly e.g. electronics, florescent light bulbs, batteries.
• * Use biodegradable cleaning products.
• * Purchase recycled or recyclable products e.g. 100% post consumer office paper.
• * Email correspondence whenever possible.
• * Reuse products such as silverware as opposed to disposable utensils and plates.
• * All lighting has been placed on motion detector switches, which turn off automatically when room is unoccupied.
• * Unplug all possible appliances after each use.
• * Set computers and monitors to sleep after ten minutes.
• * Turn computers off at the end of the work day.
• * Setting Energystar programmable thermostat to moderate temperatures to reduce heating and air conditioning system usage.
• * We do not print paper catalogs, and discourage others from sending them to us. We use internet and PDF format for all advertising and encourage our vendors to practice this policy by refusing paper catalogs and mailings whenever possible.
• * ALL packing materials are reused, or recycled. Vendors are requested to refrain from shipping to us in plastic bags, or non recyclable materials.
• * Make every effort to do business with others that share our values.

Earthlover chooses to support Fair Trade and Fair Labor

Fair Wage

Fair Wage standards mandate that wages and benefits for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. This higher standard is meant to cover the basic living needs of the employee and allow for some discretionary income. The products manufactured by Eco-Bags Products, Inc. are certified Fair Wage by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). You will find this certification printed on the caretag of all ECOBAGS® brand products.

Fair Labor

Fair Labor monitoring investigates social conditions of manufacturing sites including the safety and hygiene of facilities and prohibits excessive working hours, discriminatory practices and child labor. The products manufactured by Eco-Bags Products, Inc. are certified Fair Labor by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). You will find this certification printed on the caretag of all ECOBAGS® brand products.

Fair Trade

Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries and promote sustainability by advocating the payment of a "fair price" as well as adherence to social and environmental standards. Fair trade's strategic intent is to work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move towards economic self-sufficiency and stability.

Sourcing or Goods

For our sources and Vendors that are not members of a Fair Trade organization, Earthlover only sources from companies that verify their use of fair labor and trade practices, which includes maintaining social and environmental responsibility in their workplaces and factories. We use the following questions, along with many conversations and shared pictures and video, to determine if a company meets the standards that we adhere to. We consider both Fair Trade and Fair Labor in these decisions, and the impact on the environment that the production of the goods may have. Our screening process becomes a very personal relationship with each vendor, and we choose our vendors with great care based on the positive responses to these questions and many others, and the overall philosophy of their company. Our thought is that there are so many wonderful products being produces by so many great people who care about our planet and it’s inhabitants, that there is no need for us to do business with those that do not share our values. We also believe that our customers expect nothing less. Below is a list of just some of the questions that we discuss with our vendors in our decision making process:

• Are their workers paid a minimum wage that is equal to or exceeds the average wage in the community?
• Do they have health benefits?
• Are they provided with paid vacation time?
• How many hours per week are the workers at the factory or facility, and are they compensated for overtime work?
• Do the workers have any input in the conditions they work in, or other decisions that affect their every day life in the work place?
• Is the workplace a safe and healthy environment?
• Is the workplace managed in an environmentally responsible manner? In what ways?
• Are the materials used to produce the product obtained from a local renewable or recycled sources, and is there any involvement in the renewing of any resource that is being used?

Resources

Transfair USA

Fair Labor Association (FLA)

Green America

Organic Trade Association (OTA)