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30 Consumption-Aware Social Innovations

From Free Stuff Finders to Conscious Online Marketplaces

— May 14, 2014 — Social Good
It may seem like a contradiction that businesses advocate for consumption-aware social innovations, however, it's all in the name of not buying more but buying better and smarter. What does that mean? In many cases, buying better and smarter can mean something like collaborative consumption, that is, creating a sharing economy where ownership isn't the most valued quality. In other cases, it could mean reusing items. Interestingly enough, the big company Patagonia asks you to buy its stuff less often -- and good quality makes that possible.

From free stuff finders to conscious online marketplaces, these consumption-aware social innovations will allow you to rethink the now global ethos of "buy, buy, buy." That can only be a good thing.
5.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
30
Anti-Extortion Retailers
Anti-Extortion Retailers
Addioizzo Helps Italian Vendors Retaliate Against Mafia Racketeering
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29
Sustainable Style Non-Profits
Sustainable Style Non-Profits
Fashion Takes Action is a Canadian Social & Environment Organization
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28
Free Stuff Finders
Free Stuff Finders
Ditto is an Online Platform Fostering Collaborative Consumption in the UK
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27
Flying Pig Pitches
Flying Pig Pitches
Good Deals UK Brings Unconventional Voting to the 2011 Social Finance Forum
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26
Everlasting Electricity Suppliers
Everlasting Electricity Suppliers
Good Energy is One of Its Kind in the United Kingdom
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25
CO2 Reduction Rides
CO2 Reduction Rides
Carbon Voyage Fosters Collaborative Consumption Transportation in London, UK
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24
Changing Consumption Practices
Changing Consumption Practices
Goodsumption Highlights Ethical Products Around the Globe
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23
Money-Saving Eco Lights
Money-Saving Eco Lights
Clean Light Green Light Company Manufactures Eco-Friendly Light Solutions
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22
Charitable Vintage Sites
Charitable Vintage Sites
WebThriftStore Connects Buyers, Consumers and Non-Profits to Make Cash
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21
Water-Providing Clothing Lines
Water-Providing Clothing Lines
Blu Democracy Helps Supply Drinking Water To Those In Need
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20
Mission-Based Investing
Mission-Based Investing
'Renewal2 Investment Fund' Helps Foster Triple Bottom Line Success
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19
Stuff-Sharing Social Enterprises
Stuff-Sharing Social Enterprises
Unstash Fosters Collaborative Consumption for Sustainability
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18
Baby Subscription Services
Baby Subscription Services
Good Karma Clothing for Kids Encourages Collaborative Consumption
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17
Conscious Online Marketplaces
Conscious Online Marketplaces
'Ethical Community' Connects Businesses With Customers Who Care
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16
Ethical African-Inspired Gifts
Ethical African-Inspired Gifts
Bundu Works with a Support Group for HIV-Positive Women in Malawi
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15
Compelling Online Retailers
Compelling Online Retailers
Fashion ComPassion Sells Brands with a Socially Conscious Mind Frame
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14
Social Enterprise Beer
Social Enterprise Beer
SABMiller Commits to 'Farming Better Futures' with Impala Lager in Africa
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13
Revamped Castaway Accessories
Revamped Castaway Accessories
Project Repat Collaborates with Artisans in the Majority World
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12
Curated Ethical Boxes
Curated Ethical Boxes
Monthly Blissmoboxes are Packed With Social Goodness
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11
Ugly Food Catering
Ugly Food Catering
Culinary Misfits Use Disheveled Fruits and Veggies to Cater Events
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10
Charitable Animal Sculptures
Charitable Animal Sculptures
The Bundu Designs Rhinos are Made from Wire
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9
Collaborative Consumption Infographics
Collaborative Consumption Infographics
The Unstash Manifesto Mixes Altruism with Action
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8
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Cafedirect Builds Communities Through Social Business
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7
Discarded Designer Duds
Discarded Designer Duds
Rags2Riches is a Social Business That Creates Handbags Out of Scraps
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6
100% Organic Eco Jeans
100% Organic Eco Jeans
Nu Sells Raw Denim Made in Small, Ethical Factories in Turkey
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5
Community-Empowering Food Systems
Community-Empowering Food Systems
DC Central Kitchen is a Social Enterprise with a Long-Term Focus
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4
One-for-One Glasses
One-for-One Glasses
TOMS Eyewear is the Next Chapter in this Innovative Business Model
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3
Socially Sustainable Fashion
Socially Sustainable Fashion
'All of Us Revolution' Encourages Women to Rethink Consumption
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2
Utopic Eco Villages
Utopic Eco Villages
Costa Rica's Kopali Communities Adheres to the Triple Bottom Line
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1
Haitian Artist Wearables
Haitian Artist Wearables
Moral Fibers is a Socially Innovative Start-Up Building Human Capital
<