ODS GREEN GIFTING

ODS GREEN GIFTING

The Plastic-Free and Compostable Gift Pack

December 2022

This year’s gift hamper has some of the best in plastic and cruelty-free products, including some world firsts!  

Your pack contains the world’s first completely plastic-free, organic and fairtrade instant coffee. Sitting alongside the amazing coffee there is the first completely plastic free gourmet popcorn. Ananda’s Biscuits – no other pack of biscuits on the market are plastic free. Commissioned by Ethstat – they are vegan, home-compostable, delicious shortbreads with zero waste.

We had the pleasure of hosting Stevie-Ann and Maria  for two impact days, who met and spent time with Daniella and her fabulous packing team.  Daniella’s team comes from complex backgrounds.  Some, like Muzzi, are street homeless, currently living at the entrance of St. Matthews Church Yard because the hostels are full.  Others are either still in prison and on day release, or in hostels.  
 
The packing line is a great equaliser as ODS staffers worked shoulder to shoulder with our Team Ethstat and learned about their situations and how they lift themselves back up.  Our stories are ones of triumph in the face of impossible odds.  For Matthew that means coping with uncertain housing and work while coping with complex learning disabilities.  At the same time, Chyna uses work to provide for her beautiful autistic children, and Duane is trying to put his life back together after the lockdown robbed him of his hospitality career and home. 
 
Our backgrounds don’t define us, but our ability to come together with laughter and friendship does.  We are incredibly proud to have put your hampers together and loved sharing our time with ODS.  

 

Whats in the pack?

This Procurement Was Social:

Hours Of Living Wage Employment
Disadvantaged People Accessed Work
%
Social Value, Vegan, and Plastic-free.
0
Dementia Pets and Dolls
%
Pairs of Socks for the Homeless
World Firsts

ODS Plant Kit

Help the bee's

Your plant kit was made by Matthew. Mathew is homeless and on benefits. By giving him extra work, he is able to earn the extra £600 he needs to pay off his debts and keep his heating on when he needs it. Matthew has multiple learning difficulties and this is his first employment with Ethstat. Your support at ODS means that we are creating a permanent role for Matthew so he is supported and can transform his life.

Matthew making up the planting kits

Your Plant kit contains a UK made compostable pot, ethical soil and sunflower seeds. The wrap is home compostable and even the sticker is plastic free, vegan and compostable too. As Matthew says ‘Sunflowers are very important and the oil is hugely beneficial to your health’.

So Good Soap

Hand Made and Vegan

So Good started when founders Zoe and Paul were looking for a soap to help their kid’s eczema. After months of trial and error they came up with their own brand of cruelty-free vegan soaps. 

These handmade soaps offer a range of benefits with the Lemongrass and Rosemary having particularly good astringent and antiseptic qualities.

 

Ananda's

nut-Free shortbread

The beautiful North Derbyshire village of Dronfield is home to Ananda’s and this artisan bakery produces a range of nut-free, gluten-free, and entirely vegan biscuits. To add to their credentials, through this commission for your hamper, they now come plastic free and, in a home, compostable wrap.

This is a first, as no other pack of biscuits on the market is completely plastic free.

It took our team a little over five months to find the perfect plastic-free, yet sturdy packaging to ensure your biscuits are fresh, and the worms are safe.

Popcorn Shed

LGBTQ+ supporting popcorn

I challenge anyone to do a better job of creating luxury popcorn than Laura and Sam. I truly don’t know how they make it vegan, and so buttery, but I’m glad they do. If you ever thought vegan food was bland, this WILL change your mind.

They had also told us that plastic-free was an impossible dream eight months ago, then we introduced them to Natureflex. Now it has become their norm.

Stand4Socks

Socks for the homeless

Stand4Socks already had a fabulous product and mission – to provide socks for homeless people in a buy one/give one model. But, when Josh, the founder of Stand4Socks, heard we were curating a plastic-free hamper, he leapt at the chance to join in.

Working with Yasmin, all plastic was removed in the packaging process, leading to more than more than 11,000 pieces of single-use plastic being removed from the environment.

ODS Tote Bag

Green and Social around the world

The ODS tote Bag is made in India by a cooperative that gives women highly paid work, in line with our own Higher Living Wage. It is almost the exact opposite of the stereotypes you would have of far eastern garment making. Instead, this factory is sustainable, ethical and compliant with the highest levels of certification. 

The factory is more than just a place of work; it is at the centre of a community. The wages allow the women that work there the opportunity to support their children throughout their schooling and live a decent life. This order gave 1,575 hours of fairly paid work and supported a local community.

While there is a burgeoning Fairtrade garment industry in India, this order allowed them to do something completely new. This bag is the first Fairtrade Organic Cotton to be made and printed under with same ethics. 

Precision Cutting The Organic Cotton
50% of the energy used in the factory comes from renewable sources

Jamila's Ethical Coffee

The Only plastic-free, organic, fairtrade coffee.

We spent more than two years developing our coffee and creating it has been a labour of love. The journey began when my Mum was still alive, and in her 11th year of Dementia. We were pulling together an offering for you that was sustainable, Fairtrade, and one that would give back. I’d sit with Mum with our spreadsheets, and share our vision for a better coffee, and ever the supportive parent, she’d smile and tell us that it would happen one day.

100,000 units later, we are providing dementia dolls, pets, and aids all over the UK. Our coffee started with Amey, and we are forever grateful for your support.

Real Lives - real impact

How valuable is your hamper?

One of the faces you might have expected to see is not here. Kia has been at every Wrap and Pack event we have ever done and has been featured in the last two impact reports.

We first met Kia as a street sleeper that would deliberately get arrested when the weather got too cold so he could spend a few weeks in prison.

“ Life on the streets is a grind; when it gets too much, and I need a break, I throw a brick through a shop window and get myself arrested.”

His first contact was accessing one of our projects that gives hot meals to rough sleepers. We have helped him through several short-scale interventions across the last three years. Each of these interventions helped build his esteem and his confidence.

Kai at the Centenary Hamper Wrap and Pack.

We helped him in other ways too. After last year’s wrap and pack, we helped him get his first flat and some counselling. In turn, that led to him becoming more ready to work. Today he is the manager of a Pret a Manger in Chelsea.

As Bruce, Ethstat’s Environment Director explains.

Kia and Nathan in October

These projects are not one-offs. Each intervention builds one on top of the other to help people in desperate situations get back on their feet and contribute to society.”

Amey has been instrumental in helping Kia, and many like him rebuild their lives; it has allowed us to give consistency and support. It’s not just us that think so either, recently The Department of Work and Pensions has recognised that our interventions are crucial to helping people back into mainstream society and have funded a joint project to explore how this can be expanded around the country. 

So, what’s your hamper worth?  

It’s life-changing. 

Real Lives - real impact

How valuable is your hamper?

One of the faces you might have expected to see is not here. Kia has been at every Wrap and Pack event we have ever done and has been featured in the last two impact reports.

We first met Kia as a street sleeper that would deliberately get arrested when the weather got too cold so he could spend a few weeks in prison.

“ Life on the streets is a grind; when it gets too much, and I need a break, I throw a brick through a shop window and get myself arrested.”

His first contact was accessing one of our projects that gives hot meals to rough sleepers. We have helped him through several short-scale interventions across the last three years. Each of these interventions helped build his esteem and his confidence.

Kai at the Centenary Hamper Wrap and Pack.

We helped him in other ways too. After last year’s wrap and pack, we helped him get his first flat and some counselling. In turn, that led to him becoming more ready to work. Today he is working in Pret a Manger in Gatwick.

 

As Bruce, Ethstat’s Environment Director explains.

Kia and Nathan in October

These projects are not one-offs. Each intervention builds one on top of the other to help people in desperate situations get back on their feet and contribute to society.”

Amey has been instrumental in helping Kia, and many like him rebuild their lives; it has allowed us to give consistency and support. It’s not just us that think so either, recently The Department of Work and Pensions has recognised that our interventions are crucial to helping people back into mainstream society and have funded a joint project to explore how this can be expanded around the country. 

So, what’s your hamper worth?  

It’s life-changing.

 

 

Recycled Travel Mugs

June 2022
group

Made in the UK from recycled waste, your recyclable travel mugs come wrapped in a compostable cover.

Transfer printed by hand, and checked individually by our team, these branded mugs are made to perfection.

Through your support of Ethstat, you are also supporting a wider community – one dedicated to ending homelessness and aiding dementia families.

This Procurement Was Social:

Hours Of Higher Living Wage Employment
Refugee Delivery Drive Employed
Homeless Employed
Reusable Compostable Covers

ODS Christmas Hampers

December 2021
When is a Christmas hamper not a Christmas Hamper? When it’s also an extraordinary project that brings together Social Enterprises and for-purpose companies from every corner of the UK.

We do hope you enjoy your bundle of Christmas love, delivered in recognition of your complete awesomeness by an employer that thinks the world of you. We hope you enjoy every bite of chocolatey goodness and sweet mince pie. But, as you sit down and enjoy your treats, please understand that your hamper has changed and even saved lives.

Your hamper has helped victims of human trafficking, funded foodbanks, given work to the homeless, given hope to families caring for relatives with dementia, supported single mum’s and removed plastic from the environment and supported people with failing mental health.

Your hamper is just like you, outstanding.  Best wishes for a fantastic festive season to you all at ODS, Thank you for joining us in our mission to change the world together. 

This Procurement Was Social:

Hours Of Living Wage Employment
Refugees Employed
Homeless Employed
Jobs Created

What's in your Hamper?

ODS Travel Mug 

Sourced and printed by Ethstat, your Travel Mug is BPA free and made and printed in the UK from recycled plastic. Reuse again and again to replace takeaway hot drinks and single-use cups on the go.

Zaytoun Caramelised Almonds

Luxurious caramelised almond nuts from Zaytoun are a mission CIC, and Social Enterprise founded to support Palestinian farmers through fair trade. 100% of their profits are reinvested into the farming communities that produce their opulent catalogue.

Your pack is made of speciality Om al-Fahem almonds that have been slowly roasted with Fairtrade sugar until they are perfectly caramelised. These are quite possibly the most delicious almonds in the world.

Two Farmers

Two Farmers are genuinely passionate about the Herefordshire countryside, enabling them to grow award-winning potatoes; founders Sean and Mark met one night for a pint of local beer and a packet of crisps. They hatched out a plan of honouring and celebrating these potatoes, and that night the Two Farmers brand was born.

Two Farmers grow, harvest, store, cook and pack their crisps. They maintain control throughout each process to ensure you receive the finest end product. Two Farmers are committed to giving back to the environment, which is why we keep our road miles low and use 100% compostable packaging. They aim to promote Herefordshire as a county of outstanding agricultural achievement.

Made entirely using natural flavours from their farm in Hereford, Two Farmers are the only plastic-free and home-compostable crisp manufacturer. They are powered entirely by renewable energy and support rural communities into work.

Divine Chocolate Taster Pack

Divine are a female-led social enterprise that supports predominantly female Coco farmers through fair trade, education, and environmental support.  Divine chocolate has been palm-oil free since 2013 and has taken a leadership role in conserving the rainforest areas of West Africa

In the early 1990s, changes in the cocoa market in Ghana prompted Nana Frimpong Abebrese (Divines founder) to begin creating a farmer-owned company to help farmers sell their cocoa. Nana was a visionary farmer representative and independent representative of COCOBOD (a Ghanaian government-controlled institution that fixes the buying price for cocoa in Ghana). 

Nana and a group of other farmers found ways to ensure the company’s net gains would belong to farmers.  Nana guaranteed that farmers would be paid in cash, and fair trade premiums could be invested in social programs

Lottie Shaw's Mince Pies

Lottie Shaws are a family run, female-owned West Yorkshire based company whose profits go back into local employment. 

Your mince pies were baked to order and are vegan. Mull some wine and warm the oven, Christmas is here!

%
Plastic Free Delivery
Ex Offenders Employed
%
Social Value by Spend
Mums Employed

Goupie Taste of Christmas Chocolate

An absolute favourite! We love this UK female-run family business giving work to mums and dads in school-friendly hours and promoting positive mental health. And they give their profits to the NHS. 

These are moreish, gluten free, vegan and packaged in entirely plastic-free, biodegradable food-safe packaging. This is our favourite Chrstmas treat. 

Ethstat Tree Pen

Enjoy your Orbit Ethstat Tree Pen and grow a Scots Pine tree. Once used, you can plant your pen, removing 1,000kgC02 from the atmosphere. If not planted, your pen will biodegrade responsibly, and you can still use the seeds!

Old Hamlet Mulled Wine 

Makers of your organic mulled wine sachet, these artisan family-owned producers have developed a delicious Fairtrade sachet for you to add to your wine for a beautiful winter warming drink.

 

Trussell Trust Plastic-Free Christmas Crackers

We hope you love your plastic-free Christmas cracker. 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Trussell Trust to pay for food and extra supplies for Foodbanks this Christmas.

 

Packing your hamper

The people that packed your hamper have all been struggling one way or another. They have been struggling with mental health, addiction, homelessness or as ex -offenders with finding work and keeping on the straight and narrow.  Between us we have stories of almost a lifetime in prison, violence at the hands of others, family rejection and abuse. But we are people of hope, we are not defined by that which has happened to us. We are defined by our love for each other and the world.  

We are defined by our passion to remake the world into a better, kinder place.