Our consumptions have caused a lot of environmental degradation. Air, water and food are not as good as they used to be.  For those of us who want to do something to reduce our damage to the environment, we need to shop conscientiously. Luckily for us who live in the Fort, there are three new places that give us the better options for our shopping, and the products are made locally!
Naturale Market, Forbestown Road
This newly opened market that sells sustainable daily items, clothing, cosmetics and food, is located at Forbestown Road across Robinson’s Select supermarket. It has two floors. Of the numerous items that they offer, we particularly like these:
Refills for detergents
Save plastic bottles. They maybe more expensive than regular detergents, but they are less harmful to the environment.
Bamboo clothing
They are light, stylish, inexpensive and stretchable. A stylish T-shirt can be have for P350.
Balance board
Balance boards are good for toning our muscles to balance well.Prolonged sitting and no exercise weakens the muscles of your midsection. Keeping the torso strong is important because it is the body’s center of power. These locally handcrafted boards come in three sizes.
Community Trade at 4/F., One Bonifacio High Street
Of the three upscale market places for sustainable local products, Community Trade has the biggest space. It has a couple of common areas that can be used for events, and a few rows of stall spaces for people to display their sustainable products.
Products range from food containers for children, air-purifying plants, to organic frozen meat.
Since the place is located on the 4th floor of a newly opened mall, it is quite quiet at the moment, and is a good place for meet-up with friends or colleagues, where you can really listen to each other. One stall offers organic coffee. You may wish to try it.
Frankie and Friends General Store
3/F., SM Aura Premier Mall
This establishment is small compared to the other two. Nonetheless, it still has its own unique products.
Their granola, at P250 a packet, is affordable.
Other products on offer are rattan baskets, essential oils, metal straws, and so on. Currently, they have over 40 local entrepreneurs on the roster.
The owners of these retail spaces certainly put their money into their desire to help the Earth as well as local entrepreneurs. We may not be able to open a shop like these, but we can certainly drop by and pick up something nice once a while, to support these worthy endeavors, can’t we?
