5 ethical ways to decorate your property

On October 13th we’re celebrating Social Saturday, a nationwide day promoting social enterprises – businesses that trade to bring about positive social change. We’ve put together a list of our favourite social enterprises that could help you add your own unique touch to your property, and also help you reduce your impact on the planet.

There are lots of ways to buy fair trade, sustainable and eco-friendly products and furnishings, without breaking the bank. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Secret Projects is a social enterprise that makes ‘secret’ items that fold from one use to another – e.g. colourful pillows that unfold into quilts. Through the manufacture and sale of these products, the organisation aims to help women facing social and economic challenges become financially independent.
2. The Big Issue Shop is perfect for guilt-free retail therapy with a range of incredible products and brands that put people and the planet first. They offer a platform for social-trading that makes ethical shopping accessible by giving you the opportunity to use your consumer power to make a positive difference in communities in the UK and around the world.
3. Greenstream Flooring was set-up in response to the number of carpet tiles being wasted and sent to landfill. They have an exclusive range of reused carpet tiles that are saved from landfill and have plenty of life left in them. These reused carpet tiles save carbon and offer low cost flooring to people who could otherwise not afford flooring. They also provide training and volunteering opportunities all supported through the sales of flooring.
4. Community RePaint is a UK wide paint reuse network that aims to collect leftover paint and redistribute it to benefit individuals, families, communities and charities in need at an affordable cost. There are currently 74 schemes that redistribute over 300,000 litres of paint each year. All the schemes vary but have the same vision to create communities where everyone has the opportunity to brighten their spaces and their lives.
5. Studio 360 are a community enterprise that specialises in high quality ceramics, jewellery, sewing craft and screen printed products. They empower disadvantaged local individuals by offering a creative space for those who are recovering from mental illness to help them rediscover forgotten skills, develop new ones and boost their confidence within a working environment.

Social enterprises are making a difference in communities by using business to create a more equal society. They create jobs where they’re needed most and are tackling some of the biggest challenges we face. Browse this online marketplace featuring some of the best ethical products out there, or find social enterprises and Social Saturday events near you this weekend, and get involved in the campaign showcasing the impact and strength of the UK’s social enterprise movement.