Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY
Others is part of The Salvation Army's international work. We have committed ourselves to working with all UN countries to create a fairer and more sustainable world. Others clearly see how simple measures can create less poverty and more opportunities for everyone through the work we do.
BY BEING A CUSTOMER OF OTHERS, YOU CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A FAIRER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD. BELOW YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT WHICH SUSTAINABILITY GOALS THE WORK CONTRIBUTES TO EITHER DIRECTLY, OR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF OUR WORK.
SOURCE: UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #1 ERADICATE POVERTY
Others' purpose is to create work opportunities for people who are currently without work, who are victims of modern slavery or various types of forced labour. Poverty is largely linked to economic opportunities. When you don't have a job, you also have no income. And without income, you quickly end up in a situation of poverty. Poverty can also be a consequence of climate change, war or conflict. But the result is the same. Lack of opportunity for work, or persistently underpaid work leads to poverty. Women are particularly affected. When we are going to establish workplaces through Others, we have a particular focus on women. Women have far fewer opportunities to go to school, get an education and get a job than men. Through the work with Others, it is made possible for women to work in production at home while at the same time looking after children and looking after the household. In a traditional family in developing countries, the man is the main source of income. By creating jobs also for women, the family gets two incomes and can go from not just surviving, but to living, saving, investing and improving life. It lifts people out of poverty. Some of our production groups have established micro-financing or loan-savings groups (sub-goals 1.4, 1.5)
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #2 ERADICATE HUNGER
It is a human right to get enough food to live a good life. Others offer their producers a fair wage for their work and the opportunity to have enough food on the table for themselves and their families. Many of our producers talk about the experience of being a resource for others, instead of a burden for the family or the local community. Through a fair wage, you get opportunities to grow your own vegetables, as well as sell or donate surplus food to people around you. Many of the Others producers set up their own small-scale businesses on the side of Others production as a consequence of a fair wage. They talk about surpluses to invest in seeds, or water tanks so that you can cultivate more land and become more self-sufficient (sub-goal 2.3). In 2021, 32 small-scale businesses were created by our producers.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #3 GOOD HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Good health, both physical and mental, is an important prerequisite for living a good life and reaching one's full potential. Our health affects our opportunities and must apply to all people regardless of age and place of residence. Good physical and mental health is an important prerequisite for being able to live a good and well-functioning life. Access to work helps to combat mental illness, but is also preventive against substance abuse. Substance abuse increases most among men, also in low-income countries, and hits the family hard if the man is the only source of income (sub-goal 3.5). A job to go to counteracts idleness and substance abuse. When women are given the opportunity to be a source of income for the family, we find that the salary from Others is prioritized sensibly and pays school fees for the children, invests in better living conditions for the family, improves diet, buys necessary medication, or finances their treatment needs. All our producers are recruited through local and social work. The Salvation Army runs many different health clinics with training in general health care, vaccination or teaching about family planning or sexually transmitted diseases.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #4 GOOD EDUCATION
Women in work generate income for the whole family, and especially children's education. When we ask what our producers spend their wages on, this is the first thing they say, how proud they are to be able to pay school fees for their children. The income is also used for school uniforms or for transport to your own place of education. An inclusive and good education is important for both children and adults. At the rehabilitation center of the Salvation Army in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, basic training in reading and writing skills is provided to people who have been exposed to forced labor and modern slavery. The Others production is one of several stages in this project, and helps to create opportunities for basic knowledge to manage oneself.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #5 EQUALITY BETWEEN THE SEXES
The UN's sustainability goals say: Equality is about a fair distribution of power, influence and resources. Living a free life without violence and discrimination is a fundamental human right and is crucial for the development of people and society. Others contributes to sub-goals 5.2, 5.5 and 5a by combating human trafficking and facilitating work in its own local community. This prevents people from seeking work in overpopulated urban communities. The road to modern slavery, sexual exploitation and forced labor is short. Others work to establish jobs in local communities, where you have networks and family around you and the income gives you the opportunity to own your own place to live and to buy your own property.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
According to UN reports, half of the world's population earns so poorly that they cannot live on their wages. By creating good and flexible workplaces, we achieve several of the sustainability goals. To eradicate poverty and fight inequalities in the world, everyone must have the opportunity for a job. Our job is to create work where there are few opportunities. People with functional limitations often find themselves at the back of the work queue. Through Others, we create such simple and flexible production techniques with a focus on craftsmanship and handwork that require little use of machines, electricity or water. People with disabilities can also participate in the work, as the production of Others products can be tailored to the individual. Others contribute to sub-goals 8.3, 8.5 and 8.7.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #10 LESS INEQUALITY
Others is part of the Salvation Army's aid work and is just one of many ways the world can be made fairer. In order to create a fairer and more sustainable world, it is important to reduce inequalities within and between countries. Others creates an equalization of inequalities and more people have equal opportunities. Inequalities and poverty are created to a greater extent in war, conflict through climate change, hunger and human rights violations. Salaries are regulated annually by the Salvation Army locally, who are familiar with the local salary level, rights and negotiations. Others contributes to self-sufficiency where it is not a matter of course, such as for climate-exposed coffee farmers in Kenya who experience drought and other challenges related to agriculture. We offer a fair wage for the crops and together with local agronomists we work for a healthy and clean soil.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Others production requires little or no use of electricity or use of drinking water. In the production of wood products, sustainable wood species such as Gamari and Saman Albizia are used, which emit a low climate footprint. When we buy wood for production, it is important to us that we utilize all of the wood's dimensions. The whole tree must be used. Large surfaces from the trunk are used for products such as felts and cushions, while smaller parts from offcuts or branches become stars for the Christmas tree, or elements on a key ring. Our production is always based on local access to raw materials and craft traditions, such as jute braiding in Bangladesh or sisal in Kenya. We mainly use manual power and base ourselves on craftsmanship and handwork both in the production of woodwork, weaving, embroidery or braiding techniques in baskets or mats. The sun dries the coffee berries, or the wood down to the correct moisture percentage. Hands work instead of machines. A fair wage for the producer regulates the retail price. In this way, we can influence the purchasing power of both current and future generations. We rarely jump on trends, but make products that last well over time and can be used in many different ways. We have little or infrequent sales on goods. Our philosophy is that goods should not be for sale because people are not for sale.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL #17 COLLABORATE TO ACHIEVE GOALS
To achieve understanding and opportunities across countries, we need safe and predictable partners. Through the resale of our products to chains and individual shops, we create even more opportunities for more manufacturers. Since 2017, Others has collaborated with the kitchen chain Kitchn, which today offers selected Others products in all the country's stores. Cooperation with Norwegian chains in the retail trade creates attention to the work and the world we deliver in. But just as important is the stability it creates for production and producers. High and steady orders create predictability for production and income. It is important for us to find good and natural products that fit into the assortment of our partners. For many years, the book chain ARK has selected its Others favorites for high seasons. We can also mention collaborations with Floriss, Enklere liv, Plantasjen, Home and Cottage. Other chains and several independent shops find their favorites for the local audience from Others. Others participates in the Oslo Design Fair twice a year to develop good collaborations with retailers all over Norway.
Service
EXPERIENCE EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Gifts with Meaning
FIGHT POVERTY & FORCED LABOR
Handmade
QUALITY PRODUCTS MADE BY HAND
Safe Trade
SAFE AND ETHICAL TRADING