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Meet an Ethical Blogger: Jessica

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I’m excited to introduce you to Jessica, author of the blog Notes From A Thoughtful Life! Jessica does an amazing job of providing practical tips that make ethical shopping a realistic pursuit, not just an idealistic dream.

Notes From A Thoughtful Life title image

Fair for All: Describe the focus of your blog.

Jessica: Notes From A Thoughtful Life is a blog about embracing our everyday normal life and making it count. I love that quote by mother Teresa that says “live simply so that others may simply live”. The idea that what we do, how we live, is important and that we can use it to bring life to others is something I love. So I write about fair trade, living thoughtfully and really, just grace, because I am still learning how to live what I write about!

Why do you choose to write about these topics? What motivates you to pursue an ethical lifestyle?

I first learned about sweatshops and unethical labor in the clothing industry years ago and slowly started changing some of my buying habits since then but honestly, I had a hard time knowing where to start. The more I learned the more I changed and the more I realized that if I was having a difficult time figuring out where to start, then maybe others were too. That inspired me to write the blog, especially The Ethical List, a list I keep of all the fair and ethical companies I have discovered. Knowing that the clothes and other things I buy, like coffee and such, is made by people who are paid fairly is really enough motivation in an of itself!

How we live is important and we can use it to bring life to others.

What makes a product or company ethical to you? When you’re making a purchase or deciding what to write about, what principles or criteria guide your decision?

When I shop online I almost always read the company’s about page and find out what I can about their sourcing policies. It’s important to me that companies are clear and honest about how they create and source their products. I also Google them with “sweatshop” or “labor violations” in the search terms to see if they actually do what they say they do. I buy secondhand and used whenever possible. Most importantly, I try not to be too hardcore and strict about ethical guidelines because in reality I know I won’t be able to always buy fair trade or thrift but I do want to make the best decision I can based on my options. If you can’t afford or find a fair and ethical product, second best is okay too. Target and a few other major companies, while not winning any awards, are at least attempting to maintain a more ethical supply chain.

What are your top 3 favorite ethical shopping brands or websites?

Oh my gosh, so many good ones!  Everlane, for their reasonably priced and super comfy tees. Ten Thousand Villages, because they are the first fair trade store I ever shopped at way back when I was a little girl. I still love that store. And  I have many things from that store, even from when I was a little girl. And Shea Moisture, for having some of the best smelling ethically-sourced bar soap ever.

Here are some recent posts from Notes From A Thoughtful Life:

For more ethical blog recommendations, check out the rest of our Meet an Ethical Blogger series or visit the Resources page.

Socially Responsible Investing

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Have you ever wondered where the money in your 401(k) or retirement plan is being invested? More and more investors are becoming concerned with this question, leading to a rise in socially responsible investing, or SRI.

SRI generally means investing in companies that benefit society or the environment. However, there is no broad, across-the-board definition of SRI. Different financial service providers use different filters to decide what companies qualify as “socially responsible.” Some common issues that are considered when screening companies are their impact on the environment, labor practices, and any involvement in weapons production.

According to US SIF, an organization that promotes and researches SRI, assets involved in SRI investments increased 13% from 2007 to 2009, even while the economy was struggling. Despite economic uncertainty, people are becoming more committed to investing their money in companies that meet certain standards or uphold certain values.

There is a clear parallel between SRI in the financial sector and ethical consumerism in the retail sector. Just as consumers are beginning to question the ethics of their purchases, individuals are questioning the ethics of their investments as well. When people begin to direct their money to companies that create positive change in the world, and away from those companies that hinder it, we will all reap the benefits.

Do you participate in socially responsible investing? Learn more about SRI and find out how you can get started at US SIF’s resource page for individual investors.