A small per cent can make a significant impact
April 22 is Earth Day in Canada.
One billion people in more than 193 countries participate in events to demonstrate support for environmental concerns. For over 50 years people have been finding ways to help the planet. We can all do things like compost, recycle, shop with reusable bags, drive less, eat more plant-based food and make good choices as consumers. There are companies that can help with those consumer choices.
One of them is OXO Good Grips, which is well known for the kitchen and household gadgets it produces.
The company prides itself on manufacturing items that perform as promised (and follow up on that promise with a satisfaction-guaranteed-ormoney-back policy). Their kitchen gadgets are well designed, comfortable and durable. From simple vegetable peelers to food storage, the company leads in the kitchen/ housewares industry. Recently, OXO Good Grips took their company’s environmental responsibility one step farther and became accredited as a member of the non-profit agency ‘1% For the Planet.’
That initiative is the result of a friendship between two men. The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and the founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, Craig Mathews, shared a love of the great outdoors. They were concerned about using the resources of the Earth without consistently protecting those same resources. In 2002, they created 1% For the Planet and pledged to give one per cent of sales to nonprofits whose goals aligned with their own. That’s one per cent of sales - not profits so funds could be counted on, even in tough years.
It’s a collaborative effort as members’ funds are matched with non’profits who share similar values and interests. Members can be businesses or individuals. Both agree to commit one per cent of annual sales or earnings. There are currently more than 5,000 members who have committed over $300 million dollars (USD) in the past 20 years. The funds flow directly from members to non-profits, thus eliminating the extra costs of administration.
1% For the Planet has six core environmental issue areas: water, land, food, climate, pollution and wildlife. Non-profits are carefully vetted to ensure their values and fiscal models are producing measurable environmental outcomes. There are currently more than 60 countries with 1% For the Planet partnerships between members and non-profits.
All of us are concerned about the environment and our impact on it. One per cent is a small figure when it stands alone. When you start adding up all the one per cents, something bigger begins to happen. That’s what a company such as OXO Good Grips wants to see happen. One per cent of sales means the 13 non-profits they support have consistent funds to plant gardens in inner cities, protect bees, build green spaces for kids and reduce food waste.
You can make every day Earth Day and add your one per cent to the effort when you shop with environmental consciousness.
DID YOU KNOW?
OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler, with a chunky grip on a swivelling blade, changed the way kitchen gadgets were made.
Introduced to the world in 1990, it’s still one of the top selling OXO items.
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