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The Brooklyn-based owner of a small business Carmen Ladipo, her passion for baking began at an early age. "I've had a sweet tooth for as long as I can remember," Carmen tells . "In the middle of school, I attended classes that was similar to Home Economics, where we learnt how to bake cookies. Once I figured out the ability to sustain my cravings for sweet treats on my own and then it was over."

It wasn't until a few several years afterwards that Carmen was able to earn money from that enthusiasm by starting a small batch cookies-related e-commerce company on the side. "I'd been moving to New York City, and was trying to remember how to meet new people as an adult," Carmen says. "I was able to join the local climbing club and brought cookies to the staff and other climbers--indeed an effective friend-making strategy." After receiving "fervently motivated" repeatedly to market her cakes, Carmen took advantage of an extra hour between jobs to sign up her own food business in Brooklyn.

"It honestly started out as an excuse for me to earn money to bake cookies for friends in the area occasionally," Carmen jokes. "But during the past five years, Carmen's Cookies has grown into an online shop which has me shipping cookies throughout the United States for strangers as well as friends."

We talked with Carmen about the ways she prioritizes the ecological and social impact of her business, how she manages this single-woman operation alongside other work and duties, and about the tools that help Carmen's Cookies to run efficiently.

Local community development and impacts on society

People who visit the Carmen's Cookies site and on social media are immediately welcomed by the warm welcome of Carmen's brand. The tagline reads: "Providing happiness for your connection." The selection of Carmen's Cookies includes the latest seasonal flavor combinations like matcha lemon. They also have traditional favorites like the brown butter chocolate chip as well as orange clove. It takes only a quick glance through the cookies' product reviews to discover the joy her cookies are bringing to people across the globe.

Since the very beginning the company, Carmen's Cookies is more than simply selling cookies. "I feel like food business owners have a responsibility towards the planet and to their local communities to think about their impact," Carmen says.

"There are so many resources that go into making and selling food that bear recognition and scrutiny so that they do the least harm unto the planet. For this reason, I pay attention to where my ingredients are coming from, and what their producers consider their environmental and social impact." Carmen is transparent on her site about how she sources her ingredients. She even includes an interactive method to track where the baking chocolate she uses comes in.

Her commitment to the cause doesn't end at that point. "It's also been important for me to discover ways of supporting the continuing efforts for food justice within the larger Brooklyn neighborhood," Carmen says.

"Every each year, I choose an organization that works directly with its community members to empower economic development and sustainable food production. I give a small portion of my the profits each year to these groups as I believe that Carmen's Cookies to create an effect on the community it is based in." Customers are able to check the business's about page to find out where Carmen is donating part of the revenues.

"As for"the Carmen's Cookies community," Carmen adds, "it's an inspiring experience to watch customers come together in support of different causes over time. Helping facilitate the donation of hundreds of dollars for various local and national organizations to support marginalized and food justice communities through cookie sales was a great high point."