ABOUT US
I started my company, Purchases With a Purpose, in 2012, as I wanted to combine two of my long-standing concerns - the human carbon footprint on our environment and the plight of the poor. The ability to be able to offer products that are BOTH eco-friendly AND Fair Trade addresses both of these concerns. I chose "Real Earth Friendly" as the name for this website to represent both the caring for the environment and helping people to buy products that were produced in an ethical manner go hand-in-hand.
I helped start the first Earth Day on my college campus oh so many years ago. Ever since then I have tried to spread the word about the need for recycling and reusing as many items as possible.
I became aware of the Fair Trade movement through my volunteering at church where we sponsor Fair Trade sales. The Fair Trade movement has grown widely since it was first introduced in Europe after World War II. Today over 50,000 items, including the well-known coffees and chocolates, are available. I wanted to focus on Haitian artists, as Haiti has long been the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. And with the after effects of the devastating hurricanes, I felt it important to support these artisans in their work, knowing that they are getting fair wages for their efforts.
To summarize, the goal of this site is to bring you the Best of Both Worlds - beautiful handmade Fair Trade metal wall art made by Haitian artists who are making living wages for their work AND all of the items featured are environmetally-friendly, as they are made from recycled oil and steel drums. Not to mention that they add that extra color that everyone needs in their lives at one time or another!
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy the products as much as I enjoy bringing them to you. And please note that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Catholic Charities' Fair Trade Organizations and the Center for Biological Diversity.
Carol J. Bergmann
Owner, Purchases With a Purpose
I helped start the first Earth Day on my college campus oh so many years ago. Ever since then I have tried to spread the word about the need for recycling and reusing as many items as possible.
I became aware of the Fair Trade movement through my volunteering at church where we sponsor Fair Trade sales. The Fair Trade movement has grown widely since it was first introduced in Europe after World War II. Today over 50,000 items, including the well-known coffees and chocolates, are available. I wanted to focus on Haitian artists, as Haiti has long been the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. And with the after effects of the devastating hurricanes, I felt it important to support these artisans in their work, knowing that they are getting fair wages for their efforts.
To summarize, the goal of this site is to bring you the Best of Both Worlds - beautiful handmade Fair Trade metal wall art made by Haitian artists who are making living wages for their work AND all of the items featured are environmetally-friendly, as they are made from recycled oil and steel drums. Not to mention that they add that extra color that everyone needs in their lives at one time or another!
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy the products as much as I enjoy bringing them to you. And please note that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Catholic Charities' Fair Trade Organizations and the Center for Biological Diversity.
Carol J. Bergmann
Owner, Purchases With a Purpose