Why do public markets matter?

Public markets are as old as civilization. They were once a primary channel where people gathered to find the ingredients for their meals. Around the world, for centuries, the buying and selling and exchange of food and other essential products has been transacted in public marketplaces open to all. As urbanisation and industrialisation swept through, in the mid 90th century, public markets started to decline. By 1950s, supermarkets had eclipsed the old public markets in both convenience and sales volume.

Yet, public markets never wholly disappeared and they are making a comeback. In some countries, markets remained an immersive tradition and a cultural experience.  

This September, we saw the return of the original Eco Market, the summer edition at the beautiful Square in Mellieha, and it was great to see the community coming alive again, after three years! 

Eco Market in Mellieha, 2019

Eco Market in Mellieha, 2022

The Eco Market took place during EU Sustainability Mobility Week and on this occasion, we organised several mobility-related activities. For the young ones, we had free balance bikes trials, and there was also a fun obstacle course for kids on bicycle, scooter and skates. There were crafts where children had the opportunity to build their own 'futuristic' vehicle from upcycled materials. Kids also had fun learning new moves at the yoga session, and reflect during a mindfulness session.

For the adults there was an AI workshop, to better understand the role of artificial intelligence in the mobility sector and several info stalls about green jobs and cycling. 

The Eco Market's purpose goes beyong the buying and the selling. Our focus is on inspiring sustainability as a way of life and on public good. Our events create a safe active space for people with like-minded interests to learn, share and give birth to new ideas. We bring diverse people together, from retired tourists enjoying the experience and supporting local small business owners - to young children who ask their parents to take them to the Eco Market! 

As an ethical and sustainable business, we promote public health and well-being, through plant-based food, but also vegan wines, beers and ice-cream. Also all the beauty products are chemical-free and made from natural ingredients, mostly organic. Everything is packed in a sustainable way and there is a 100% ban on all types of single-use plastics. 

Buying with purpose

Supporting small local business owners at markets has several ripple effects. From the point of view of the vendors, it is a unique opportunity. For instance, those who have just started their business have the chance to explain face to face the work behind their product to their prospective customers, while getting confident in their new role and beating the fear and anxiety that inevitably comes with a new business. For seasoned business owners, markets are an additional stream of income, especially those who do not have a brick-and-mortar store.

Buyers, on the other hand, know that purchasing something from a local brand means that the product is made with love and care, as opposed to underpaid labor, and they get to appreciate the creativity rather than seeing mass-consumed objects. They get to meet the artist or creator behind the product and establish a mutually beneficial relationship.

Eco Market vendors and their products are approved according to our sustainability criteria which looks into how the product is made, what raw materials are used, where they came from, the life-shelf of the product, and several other aspects. It is important to mention that we do not look for perfection - for we do not believe such thing exists. We believe in effort, in progress, and in a passionate heart. Therefore brands who do not use any single-use plastic, and tick at least one of our criteria, are welcome to the Eco Market. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

We're looking forward to hold Eco Market's 'Marine Life Fair' next weekend at the Square in front of the Malta National Aquarium. This is a first-of-its-kind event in Malta - a family-friendly weekend jam packed with interesting and marine-themed activities and market stalls. Have a look above for a sneak peak of activities, which will be conducted by professional marine biologists from the Aquarium staff, social enterprises and NGOs. 

Saturday 1 October from 1200 to 1700

Sunday 2 October from 1000 to 1700

Free entrance to the Fair and all the activities.

Free entrance to the Aquarium for 3 kids with every paying adult.

On Sunday 9th October, we will once again be part of 'Genna ta' Gonna' (literally, Heaven of Gardens), the open day of the city of Floriana, with all its wondrous gardens which will be open to the public, along with many other attractions of the locality.

You can find the stalls of the Eco Market on the sidewalk near the main bus terminus between Floriana and Valletta from 1000 to 1700. We are planning an exciting and varied list of stalls which will include pre-loved thrifting and vintage clothing, vegan bakery and desserts, handmade luxury candles, jewellery, kids clothes, handsewn cushions, contemporary home decor, and a unique artisanal ice-cream. 

If you are looking for a unique and purposeful shopping experience, you know where we are! Looking forward to seeing you there 💚🌍🌱

Eco Market at Genna ta' Gonna 2019

A sustainable design studio in Gozo

Guest post by Aprille Zammit

I spent summer leaving vanishing footprints in the sand as I scanned the beach for washed-up sea glass. I was on a mission to do my bit to help the environment, utilizing my creativity as my device to do so. When the time came to present my idea to Dr. Jane Goodal at a Roots and Shoots camp in Switzerland that fall, I was extremely nervous. I explained to her, full of youthful enthusiasm, that I was determined to create hundreds of these sea glass ornaments to sell and donate the profit to her cause. Sixteen years later, I still strive to use my creativity for positive change. 

In the current climate, I need to constantly remind myself that every little bit helps in establishing positive change. After spending a couple of years working as a graphic designer in the consumer industry I became complacent and decided it was time for me to branch off and work with clients who share similar motives and the belief that we can all have a positive impact on this world. 

I founded my multidisciplinary studio, Swell Studio. At Swell Studio we take an idea out into the middle of the ocean. We spend time with it. Exist with it. Allow it to grow and form. Have fun riding it before letting it wash onto shore smoothly presenting itself, intentionally created in a unique way, and leaving an impression on whoever's shore it arrives. We believe every person has the power to take ownership of their actions to benefit others and the world as a whole. We strive to use eco-friendly material and produce work consciously. No two waves are the same. We believe making an impression is a must no matter how small the project may be. 

We have created an array of work including logo designs & branding, packaging designs, commissioned artwork, invitation designs, and a variety of printed matter. We also offer photography and screen printing services. We can screen print your design on shirts, different fabric, wood, and paper materials. We take a client's desires from ideation through to fabrication. We strive to work with clients who consider their impact on the environment and the people around them. 

Screen printing is a process I love practicing to output my work and clients' designs. I fell in love with screen printing back when I was attending Virginia Commonwealth University. The ability to physically output my designs and creations by hand felt very satisfying and refreshing in the increasingly digital world. I loved the slight unpredictability the medium presented and getting my hands messy with inks. It was a process I could get lost in for hours, mixing colours and pulling editions, the flow state of creating. The inks I work with are all water-based inks and eco-friendly. I create commissioned artwork using this process as well as editioned pieces. I'm happy to announce that from summer 2021, I will be holding screen printing workshops to share my knowledge and passion about this tactile process of creating. 

Visit Swell Studio's website page

Visit Swell Studio's Facebook page 

How to enjoy a sustainable Easter at home

The pandemic has been with us for over a year now, and as much as we can, we are learning to live with it and try to keep going on with our lives.

Even though we cannot celebrate with all family members, we need to find ways to enjoy and celebrate Easter at home. Let's not let Covid ruin our Easter fun. Here are 5 simple yet enjoyable ideas.

1. Prepare delicious vegan chocolate eggs

I found a great recipe for easy and delicious gluten free dark chocolate eggs from here, or you can always find your own favourite recipe online. Make sure you have a silicone mold to make your eggs in perfect shape! There are tons of yummy fillings to choose from and a limitless way to decorate them. Be creative and have fun with these!

2. The famous Easter-egg hunt

Once you finish making your eggs, wrap them in recycled paper and hide them around the house. If you don't have time or you just can't get yourself to make your own chocolate eggs, purchase them from a local brand. Or, if you are not so keen on all the chocolate your kids will be eating, turn your egg hunt into an organic one! Use pine cones, instead, or create eggs with papier mache, or use fabric, wood, or any other sustainable material.

3. Make beautiful and colourful Easter crafts

Let your imagination run wild or get some inspiration from the internet. There are loads of video tutorials for fun and easy Easter crafts. My personal favourite is this one. Make sure you buy the minimum possible of materials and try to re-use what you find in the house.... toilet paper rolls, food packaging, old paper cups, recycled paper, carton from boxes, re-used ribbons, and so and so forth.

4. Create your own basket 

Planning on giving out some gifts for Easter? Why not make your own unique basket too? You will love this post showing you different ways for creating up-cycled Easter baskets. Whether it is an old milk carton, a handful of plastic bags, recycled newspaper, fabric scraps, or even an old sweater, you can make this a cool and sustainable Easter activity to do with the family. 

5. Edu-tainment screentime

A healthy mix between education and entertainment - that is ideally what children (and adults) should get during screen time. Everybody loves cozying it on the sofa while watching a good movie. Here are some inspirational movies to watch with the family during Easter time. 

Happy Easter from us!

Vendor Feature Series #18

Welcome back and hope you all had a pleasant and blessed Easter! Today we are featuring a talented artisan, Amanda Attard from Dragonfly Dreams, who makes Eco-friendly productsi in Malta in the form of candles.

Amanda's work is all about the senses. Imagine arriving home after a busy day and all you wish to do is to slow down your mind and seek a relaxing way to wind up the day. That is when Dragonfly Dreams comes in. The best way to create the atmosphere you desire is by lighting up a beautiful scented candle, or two, with your favourite aromas calming body, mind and soul. 

Dragonfly Dream candles are great if you have a special event to celebrate with your loved ones, for instance, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Mother's Day or even a Baby Shower. They can design and create candles purposely for all type of occasions. Their candles are handcrafted with great care and zeal and aimed at bringing a smile to whoever recieves them.

The various unique and original creations are produced locally and can be tailor-made according to the customer's preferences, including design, colour, size and aromas. Depending on the geometry, there is also the possibility to replicate a specific item to make the gift even more meaningful. For more information and to take a glimpse on their previous work, visit Dragonfly Dreams on their Faceobok Page. 

Vendor Feature Series #16

Today we are featuring an exceptionally talented local artisan, Renata Dudaite, a Lithuanian-born Maltese resident, founder of RD Enchanting Handicrafts. She creates stylish and practical fashion and decor accessories with authentic quality and exquisite craftsmanship. Let's take a look at her beautiful Eco-friendly products in Malta.

Most of her products are for the home, which for her is a place to rest, relax, learn, spend quality time with family and just be, so it is important to have products that help us maintain a cozy and comfortable home surroundings. She has been creating and crocheting for quite a few years and loves the process of visualising something and then witnessing it turning into reality, practically out of nothing.

RD Enchanting Handicrafts started off by Renata's personal desires to add colours and style to her own house. The detail and attention she puts in her creations is something that can only be found in handmade artisan products. 

The list of items created by RD Enchanting Handicrafts is a long one, but the most popular are: crochet handbags, clothing accessories, rugs, cushions, storage baskets, phone covers, ipads and tablet covers, coasters and toys. You can see their magnificent photos on their Facebook Page. 

Vendor Feature Series #14

Today you are invited to travel back in time to a concoction of romance and industrial fantasy with Atelier Nineteen - Wearable Art.

Bring the past to the present with a pair of earrings made out of post-war clock parts. Take a piece of history with you as you venture through your own journey. Every creation is made with all the patience and attention to detail, a unique creation deserves - Wearable Art!

Each item is made up either recycled or from sustainably-sourced materials combined with vintage jewellery pieces - making this an extremely Eco-friendly business in Malta. Doing our bit to help the planet by breathing new life to damaged, unused or otherwise unworthy clock parts.

Custom orders are accepted as well. Contact Atelier 19 directly by email hello@atelier-nineteen.com or visit their online website shop.

Vendor Feature Series #12

Our feature for today is 'Beads for Babies', a unique business that specialises mostly in revamped, recycled, repaired, upcycled and vintage costume jewellery. For these reasons this small enterprise became an Eco-friendly business in Malta. Their raw material consists of any trinket that is re-purposed from something else, perhaps something broken as well as donated pieces and material. 

Beads for Babies operates as a voluntary association where all proceeds go to the Sliema Creche, a centre for orphaned or abandoned children run by the Ursuline Sisters. 

They also make their own brand new novelty pieces. They source beads from charity shops, and accept donations of broken jewellery, like the Wombles, and they make the most out of everything. Sometimes, they receive donations of unsold or damaged stock from retail shops or from individuals who are clearing up their jewellery boxes from old and previously loved pieces. 

Their packaging is made from the same jewellery-makers in the form of pull-string packaging that is also re-cycled from old clothing or fents that they are donated. They also make crochet products and 'Happy Bags' to offer comfort, or as gifts for specific occasions. Orders are posted in Malta for free but one can also make a collection. Find and support 'Beads for Babies' on their Facebook Page. 

Vendor Feature Series #11

What better way to keep a serene and harmonious ambience at home than by lighting a beautiful scented candle? Even better, let's make it 100% vegan and free of the all nasty chemical stuff! Welcome to our blog Black Cactus Candle Co. Happy to feature your super Eco-friendly products in Malta.

Black CactusCandle Co scented candles are reborn using upcycled wine bottles cut and hand-poured by Welsh hands in Malta. These soya wax candles are fully Eco-friendly and 100% Vegan with no animal products in their production or use. They are also GMO-Free, paraben-free, phthalate-free and no pesticides or herbicides are used at any stage in its cultivation.

The blend used is fragranced with natural essential oils that bring the candles to life. The wicks are wood and cotton threaded with paper which is completely non-toxic.  All Black Cactus packaging is recycled, biodegradable as well as recyclable. They even go further as to use vegan ink for the branding! Customers are encouraged to get creative and re-purpose the original candle vessel.

Black Cactus Candle Co debut is a collection of fragrances include Black Truffle, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot and Blackcurrant, Blueberry and Vanilla, Sage and Sea Salt and Mediterranean Fig. You can purchase the candles on Black Cactus Candle Co website - they offer free delivery all over Malta.  

Enter Code 'reborn20' for a 20% Discount on all candles.