No Products in the Cart
FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL AUSTRALIAN ORDERS OVER $69
Shopping is an essential part of life and can’t be avoided. We all do some type of shopping at one point or another, but there are some things we should look to avoid when doing so. That is because we might be purchasing items that aren't necessarily ethical. This means that the items we are purchasing might impact more than just our wallets!
With all this in mind, this article provides information about some popular brands' attitudes toward their customers as well as what consumers should look out for when making ethical purchasing decisions themselves so they know exactly where each product fits into their own personal values set going forward.
Over the past few years, the ethical shopping movement has been growing steadily across the western world. More and more consumers are looking to buy from brands that operate in a way that aligns with their own ethical values.
In the simplest of terms, ethical shopping can be defined as the deliberate buying of products that have been manufactured without the exploitation of workers, animals or the environment. This practice ensures that your spending as a consumer is good for both people and the planet as a whole.
Read on below, for a comprehensive ethical shopping guide.
Ethical shopping has a variety of important benefits. For starters, it ensures that the workers involved in producing the products under consideration, including clothing, are paid a reasonable wage and also work under humane conditions.
On top of the above, shopping ethically helps push brands towards more environmentally friendly operations, from production right through to their chosen distribution and sales channels.
All in all, through ethical shopping, consumers can support brands that strive to implement operational practices that prevent the exploitation of workers and the environment during various production activities.
1). Buy What You Need
One of the best ways of ensuring that you are doing your part when it comes to protecting the environment is to only consume what you need. In this day and age, consumerism has led many to spend their money on a lot of stuff that they don’t need or never end up using. Before you buy that pair of shoes or jump on the latest fashion trend, you should stop and ask yourself whether you actually need it.
According to statistics published by Greenpeace, people buy up to 60 percent more clothing than they did 15 years ago – often keeping if for half as long. This trend can be reversed by simply choosing to consume less.
2). Do Some Research
Want to spend more of your money on brands that are devoted to safeguarding the environment and providing safe and humane working conditions for their staff? Do some research. Through regular and thorough research, you will be able to find a variety of trusted brands.
Look for ethical influencers who are regularly posting content on ethical brands. You can also find numerous trusted third party websites that post content on ethical online shopping in Australia – including detailed guides on companies in just about any industry in existence.
With the growing popularity of ethical shopping, some brands have also been engaging in what is referred to as greenwash. This simply means that they claim that their products are good for the environment in one way or another. Through research, you will be able to separate the sales talk from the real facts.
3). Natural Is Best
Another way of ensuring that you always buy sustainable clothing is by looking for products produced using natural fibres. When shopping around, in brick and mortar or online stores, remember to look for fabrics that are obtained from organically produced fibres. While regular cotton may sound like a natural alternative to synthetic materials, it is still very damaging to the environment as it may be produced using harmful pesticides and production methods. Organic cotton on the other hand is produced in a more eco-friendly manner, without the use of any harmful chemicals.
It is common for people to donate money to various charities each year. However, if you are truly looking to make a change in the world, you might be better off channelling your regular spending – which is usually many times over and above what you would normally donate – towards brands that treat their workers fairly and use eco-friendly operations and materials.
If you would like to make a difference and start shopping ethically, click on the button below and start shopping for sustainable products now from Goods That Give. You can rest assured our products are environmentally-friendly and are sourced from ethical and responsible manufacturers.
