Specially For You

We, as consumers, have great power. Our purchases send a clear message to manufacturers about what we want ... and they, wishing to prosper, provide the products which we are willing to spend money on.

So if we support Eco-friendly products and companies, we encourage the market to provide more of the same ... and that's good for us and the earth!

Today I'd like to introduce you to the companies currently listed on our Special Offers Page. I don't receive any compensation for their listing, or this post ... I simply feel that it's important to support companies who are doing their best to protect the environment.

Of course, the most green option is not to buy. But when we need something, it's important to choose earth friendly items.

Even if you're not in the market for something new right now, I encourage you to visit these vendors and let them know that we appreciate their efforts.

ecolissa

La Francesca

Gina Jordan

ecolissa

Specializing in eco friendly and vegan woman’s clothing and accessories. Until December 31, 2015, you can get 20% off any purchase. Use code rf20 at checkout.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

La Francesca Eco-Resort

Specializing in Eco-friendly vacations in Italy. Get a 5-15% discount until December 31, 2015, with discount code FOOTPRINTS.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Gina Jordan's Soft Cloth Shop

Specializing in reusable paperless towels, baby wipes, and cloth napkins. Use code ReduceFootprints until December 31, 2015, to get 10% off any purchase.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

LustOrganic

Sow True Seed

Funnest

LustOrganic

Specializing in organic, natural bath and body products. Until January 1, 2015, use code ReduceFootPrints to enjoy 20% off any purchase.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Sow True Seed

Specializing in open-pollinated seeds. Use code REDUCE10, until December 31, 2015, to get 10% off all seed packets.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Funnest

Specializing in Eco-friendly wall decor. Until September 1, 2015, you can get an additional 20% off any order (can be combined with other sales to get a maximum of 40% off), and free shipping on orders over $35, by using code footprints20.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Violet's Buds

Nubila Services

Celadon Road

Violet's Buds

Specializing in handmade accessories for you and your little flower. Save 20% on any purchase in the shop by using code ECO20. This offer expires on June 20, 2015.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Nubila Services

Specializing in elegant, unique solutions for a mindful community - compostable dinnerware. Enjoy a storewide 10% discount until May 31, 2015, using code SAVE10%.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

Celadon Road by Amanda Arkans

Specializing in Eco-friendly body care and home products. Mention Small Footprints when enrolling in Amanda Arkans' team and get a personalized party-pack worth over $50. This business opportunity ends on June 30, 2015.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

StopLittering.com

EartH2O

StopLittering.com

Specializing in a litter-free society. Between now and August 31, 2015, use code KAB to get $5 off any T-shirt in the shop.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

EartH2O

Specializing in sustainability studies in Costa Rica. Save $100 off the program fee by using code REDUCE2015 through April, 2016.

Visit the Special Offers Page for more details.

I'd like to thank all of these vendors for their generosity and for their efforts to operate in an earth-friendly manner. We need more companies like them!

Do you consider your Eco-impact before buying?

This month, we asked a question about purchases.

Here are the results:

As always, our surveys aren't scientific and, quite frankly, most participants are already "greenies". That said, I believe that it's part of a trend ... people are thinking beyond the immediate and are considering their actions in terms of the bigger picture. Along with packaging, ingredients, and locality, we are adding another criteria to our shopping decisions ... the far reaching impact of a purchase.

I once read that the problem with green living is that people tend to only adopt the lifestyle if there's something in it for them. The article maintained that, until we protect the environment because it's the right thing to do, we'll never be successful.

Perhaps we are moving beyond the "what's in it for me" mentality and living green because we care about the earth and future generations.

Every time that we think before buying, we take one more step towards a healthy earth. It seems like such a small thing ... but it is powerful!

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Join us tomorrow for another interesting Change The World Wednesday challenge!

Do you consider the environment before buying?

Shopping impacts the
environment

There are certain things that I refuse to buy. For example, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils are banned from my shopping basket because I believe them to be unhealthy.

Other items, like bottled water and commercial cleansers, are off my list because they hurt the environment.

Over time, I have researched products and now go to the market armed with a list of things I consider safe ... for me and the environment.

So when I read a question about actively thinking about the impact of purchases, it "stopped me in my tracks".

Considering our environmental impact is more than just choosing safe products. It includes determining actual need (vs. want), thinking about the company who made the product and their Eco-policies, and considering the distance the product traveled from its manufacturing point to our market shelves. It includes thinking beyond the use of the product ... its life cycle and what happens to it once it is disposed of.

In other words, thinking about our shopping's impact is about the big picture.

That's the focus of this month's survey:

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Join us on May 27th when we'll reveal the results of this survey.


Sneak Peek: Were CTWW participants able to ban circling? Find out tomorrow!

Image courtesy of Teerapun / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What's your criteria for purchases?

Today's shopper has many options

When we've decided that we need to buy something, there are many considerations. We think about the ingredients and whether they are safe, the packaging, and how far a product has traveled. Perhaps we think about the laborers who helped in the production phase and look for fair-trade items. We might search for words like organic and non-GMO.

How do you choose?

This month's survey takes a look at the very first thing we consider when making a purchase.

Is it a product's "greeness", price, effectiveness, etc.?

How do you decide on a product?

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Sneak Peek: Does a vegan diet equal a healthy diet? Stay tuned on Monday for the next "My Vegan Life" article.

Eco-Friendly Shopping

Holiday shopping is a lot of work, especially when we focus on Eco-friendly gifts. We have to research companies to make sure that their products are actually "green", browse their sites & catalogs for items which will please the receiver, and then be willing to pay a bit more because high-quality, environmentally-safe products typically cost more.

Let me make it a bit easier for you!

The newly redesigned Reduce Footprints' Special Offers page, which has been relocated from Facebook to this blog, has some great gift ideas. Each one is earth-friendly and (the best part) each one includes a discount just for you.

How about baby clothing, soap & hair accessories, or a solar water kettle:


Maybe someone on your list prefers essential oils, wooden teething toys, or containers for do-it-yourself cleansers:


Perhaps you'd like a wreath, a pretty "Poinsettia" for your hair, or an organic T-shirt:


What about some lip balm for stuffing stockings, totes instead of wrapping paper, and cards to share your holiday messages:


Discounts on all of these items, and more, are available by clicking the Special Offers tab at the top of this blog or by clicking HERE.

Be sure to bookmark the page and visit often ... we'll be adding new items regularly.

Happy Stress-Free Shopping, Everyone!


I received no compensation for this post ... I simply wanted to introduce you to companies doing their best to offer Eco-friendly products.