Business prospects emerge from green lifestyle growth

CEBU, Philippines - Although the green lifestyle is no longer considered a fad, yet it is tagged as today’s “mega-trend”, a green retail advocate said Filipinos could take advantage of finding entrepreneurial opportunities in the green lifestyle evolution and socially responsible retail trend.

Pacita U. Juan, co-owner of green concept store EchoStore in the country, said that the growing patronage among consumers in the world demanding for green products, or items that are produced through fair trade, has paved the way for Filipinos to start a business using raw materials that are found in the backyard, or even in the garbage.

As a marketing integrator, EchoStore Sustainable Lifestyle represents products from small marginalized, cultural communities, creative industry practitioners, women groups and foundations. 

“We work through, and network with, partner organizations and communities to represent products to help break the cycle of poverty through livelihood programs and fair trade practices. Echostore is for a profit venture with a social cause,” Juan said in her recent visit to Cebu.

She bared that EchoStore will open a branch in Cebu soon at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel. This is also an opportunity for Cebu-based manufacturers to introduce their products in the mainstream market, making EchoStore as the initial channel.

Aside from EchoStore, another non-profit organization the Advocate for Philippine Fair Trade, Inc. (APFTI) is also expanding its membership to allow more farmers and community residents to participate in the mainstream trading, eliminating the existing of middle-men.

APFTI is now working on expanding the market reach of fair trade products in the Philippines, through a strong partnership with supermarket association in the country.

In an earlier interview with APFTI Vicente Roaring, he said that this venture to link with the Philippine Association of Supermarket Inc. (PASI), and Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Associations (PAG-ASA) is part of the movement’s effort to drum up awareness to the 84 million Filipino in patronizing locally produced products through “fair trade” process.

Although, some fair-trade registered products are now made available in some supermarkets around the country, but visibility and accessibility of the products should be more strengthen, and that ultimate vision to provide a stall for fair-trade products in all supermarkets nationwide.

The existence of these social responsible retailers such as EchoStore and Fair Trade Centers provides a way for small farmers and rural folks to start their own business, be entrepreneurs and earn well, without being nailed as producers or farmers all their lives.