Partnership Highlight: BLK+GRN
February 23, 2021
This week, in honor of Black History Month, I am so excited to highlight one of our previous partnerships BLK + GRN! Black and Green is an online marketplace filled with non toxic, all-natural products provided by all black artisans. With their tag line, “Buy Black and Live Green, Without Compromise” they describe the option that they provide to support black owned businesses as well as consume sustainable and natural products. In our 12 Days of Duet we went live with BLK+GRN to talk about the similarities and highlights of each other’s socially conscious business models. Our co-founder Michael spoke with Dr. Kristian Edwards, the founder of BLK+GRN. Dr. Edwards spoke about her personal journey where she discovered that the products marketed towards the black community are often times more toxic than what is marketed towards other demographics. Her studies in public and global health made her passionate about the topic, and she came up with the core idea for a marketplace that provides non-toxic and all-natural products created by black owned businesses and black artisans. This model acknowledges the need for supporting social causes to be made easier for all.
Dr. Kristian Edwards is the founder and creator of BLK+GRN!
Based off of a simple thought of “I wish there was a place that told me what products and what artisans were best to shop from”, BLK+GRN has a process of not only screening for black artisans and natural products, but also products that work well and are affordably priced. When a customer is shopping for beauty products or health products, the health aspect is much less focused on than the price of that product. Companies behind the most toxic products focus on how they can make their highest profit and how they can keep their customers coming back with lower prices. Before the green movement gained traction and even still today, many chemicals and substances used in the beauty business are disguised behind complicated names and fine print. Not every consumer will be able to differentiate what substances may be harmful to them. BLK+GRN makes the information and resources available to make the informed and health-conscious decision.
On the other side of the brand is the emphasis on supporting black owned businesses. Dr. Edwards also mentions that the focus is on problem solvers. When hearing from black artisans who fit the criteria of all-natural products, many of them began with solving their own personal issues. Whether they could not find the product they were looking for or were searching for the right label to choose from, these owners decided to produce what they did not have. The brands range from small to large and BLK+GRN does an incredible job of deciding what their supply and demand should be based on their artisans and their consumers. With new artisans every month and new products on the website every two weeks, the site also does a monthly highlight on a specific brand that they are partnered with. This gives the consumer a chance to take the time and understand the integrity and the story behind every brand that they see when they shop. With a more recent increase in support for black-owned businesses, BLK+GRN combines those who want to support social causes that they care about and encourage others to do the same.
As we end Black History Month and roll into Women’s History Month, it is important to be making choices like shopping at BLK+GRN to support black, female-owned businesses for the products that you need. This marketplace has a recognition for the strength in community, and faith in informed consumers just as we do at Duet. Allowing people to continue their habits but make a larger and more positive impact whether its product consumption or giving aid!
To finish highlighting such an incredible marketplace, I want to quote their website in their poetic Ethos page:
“Oh, what strength one woman firmly rooted can behold, when she plants, waters, and cultivates her own!”
Feel free to check out the BLK+GRN website or their Instagram account to learn about what an amazing brand this is!
