As interest in value-based consumption grows, so does attention to products produced and sold by social economy enterprises . The choices we make in our daily lives can create far more impact than we often realize. In this post, we introduce a notable product and explore the social change that consumption can help bring about.   🍪🍩 WeCan Cookie Creating Jobs and Independence for People with Developmental Disabilities   As someone who enjoys pairing coffee with desserts, I’m always drawn to interesting treats. One that stands out is WeCan Cookie.   I first discovered WeCan Cookie a few years ago when a friend offered me one as a gift. The cookie had just the right amount of sweetness and a satisfying crunch, leaving a memorable impression. Recently, I bought them again, inspired by that fond memory.   WeCan Cookie is one of Korea’s leading social enterprises employing people with developmental disabilities . They produce and sell cookies and...

  Let me introduce a soap made by Donggubat, a company where people with and without disabilities work together.   Today, I want to share one of the products I’ve been using most frequently among those made by Korea’s social economy enterprises. Personally, I enjoy using products that carry social value. Even if a company is not officially certified as a “social economy enterprise,” I like to support products that make a positive impact. I want my consumption to have meaning whenever possible.   Donggubat’s “Perfume Soap.” I loved its cute tree shape so much that I decided to take the photo outdoors. It was such a hot day, but the soap made the photo look simply adorable.(Photo by Milly)  The product I’m introducing today is a soap from Donggubat, one of the most well-known social enterprises in Korea.   Donggubat is widely recognized as a Korean social enterprise. From what I learned while covering their story in the past, the founders wanted to cre...

Coffee beans I purchased and gifts I received at the Social Value Festa.(Photo by Milly)  Coffee Beans I Found at the Festa   On August 25 – 26, I attended the 2nd Korea Social Value Festa at COEX in Seoul, and there was one product I was determined to buy: coffee beans. I grind and brew coffee every morning, so I go through a lot of beans. The Festa was the perfect opportunity to try a variety of beans and buy them at reasonable prices.   The beans I purchased were from Beautiful Coffee, one of Korea’s leading fair-trade coffee brands. Their production involves women and young people who are often marginalized, and they follow environmentally conscious fair-trade practices. In Korea, coffee is often served in disposable plastic cups, but Beautiful Coffee runs a “Bring Your Own Cup” campaign to reduce unnecessary packaging.   Personally, I prefer coffee with low acidity, chocolatey notes, and a full body, and Beautiful Coffee’s beans met my expectations p...

  (Photo by Milly) On July 3rd, in celebration of Cooperative Week and the International Day of Cooperatives (July 5th), the "Cooperative Week Event" was held. This year (2025) held special significance as it marks the second UN-designated International Year of Cooperatives.   While the opening ceremony and policy-academic conferences were being held inside the venue, a small flea market was set up outside where cooperatives sold the products they manufacture or distribute. Many visitors were seen browsing and shopping at the market I, too, purchased a few items I needed. Here are some of the socially valuable products I’d like to share:   "SRT 300 Sand" – I bought two boxes that day. Perfect with coffee! I've already eaten most of them... only a few left.😅 (Photo by Milly) 🍪🍰🍬SRT 300 Sand Series The first booth I visited was selling the SRT 300 Sand cookies. These cookies are produced by the social enterprise Sobakhan Poongkyung Co., Ltd. and distri...