this is mainly inspired by an article in the ecologist about big companies who own organic brands, and an article in new consumer magazine.
'should' we only buy from small, independent companies,
or
'should' we buy an organic/fairtrade product from an otherwise unenvironmentally friendly big company.
as more ethically aware consumers, 'we' often say that the reasons we dont buy from these big corporations is because they dont have organic/fairtade/ ethically sourced products. so if they do make one of these products, should we not buy it? show them that these products are the ones we want?
or are they damned if they do, damned if they dont?
I read an article in new consumer mag about small companies, and they interviewed one of the founders of the 'innocent' smoothies company.
whereas so many small eco companies are shunning the big businesses and saying they would NEVER supply supermarkets, innocent are now supplying mcdonalds! they say they want as many people as possible to consume more fruit, and this is a perfect way of reaching those people who would normally buy a fizzy drink!
i suppose what im wondering is whether we should support big businesses who are 'trying' to make an effort, in the hope of persuading them that these eco ways are worthwhile, or shun them, and possibly stop them making any effort whatsoever?
if you can make sense of this, i would love to hear some opinions
Ohh, this is an interesting one! I tend to support smaller independent companies where I can but I suppose we should also support big companies if we feel they are trying to change their ways. When these big companies set themselves up they were the small companies I suppose, and they have grown over a time when environmental and ethical issues weren't in quite so many peoples minds. I guess if we feel that they are trying to change their ways then we should support them, but if they are merely trying to make an ehtical product just to poach more customers over to them then we shouldn't fall for it. I suppose the question is how can we find out how/why they are doing it, and how ethical the product really is. An example that always annoys me is all these highstreet brands of shampoo etc that are called "organic", or claim they are natural because they have plant extracts. I'm sure some people are sucked in by them, but you only have to read the ingredients to see they are full of rubbish, but just have a squirt of an esential oil in them!! >:(
Difficult one, off the top of my head…..
Green and Blacks owned by Cadbury Schweppes. They spend millions on cocoa to make their Cadbury products and it (the non fair trade route) is be an horrific trade for both people/children and the land.
Toms of Maine 84% owned by Colgate Palmolive whoise norm is animal testing and harsh ingredients.
Body Shop/L'Oreal/Nestle links (yeah I know they say they are seperate)
Wales based Rachels Organic owned by American Dean Foods (which has come under fire in the US over its industrial-scale organic dairies and factory-farm milk production.) (I only found out recently about this one, I find it odd that they don't publicise it heavily when they are taken over…..)
I guess if the big companies import the 'green' effect over to their main business then it wouldn't be too bad but I don't see any signs of it yet :(
For me though it's like the not buying goods made in China, you have to take it one step further and write to people/companies etc to tell them that you are specifically avoiding their products and for what reasons otherwise they will never realise just how much money they are missing out on lol
but is it good if it gets the word 'organic' into the minds of people who will usually only buy branded goods? surely it would be a good starting point for them?
i dont know how many of us can honestly claim we never buy branded/high street products?? im sure there are a few on here, but i guess the vast majority of us buy some branded/high street items??
I think encouraging small local independent businesses is very important as it helps to break the strangehold that the very few very large businesses have over the lives and and livelihoods of many people. But, as a second option when you can't buy small and local, and if you need to buy from big nusinesses is to buy their greener ranges to at least encourage them in the right direction too. So, a bit of both, I think. Although in an ideal world, I would try to buy exclusively from small local places.
Agree with Julysea. My prefered option is small and local, my next large 'fair' companies then larger companies eco ranges. I seldom ever shop on the high street, I usually make clothes or buy handmade (try Etsy and put UK in the search terms) or second hand. But, despite veg boxes and a large local wholefood co-op, I still need a supermarket occasionally. I'm lucky in that Waitrose is walking distance and by far the most ethical. I'd NEVER shop in Asda for instance, they have so many class actions against them in the US, as well as their failure to recognise trade unions.
But it is just shopping, what about finances - who is spending your money and on what? The big banks? We specifically chose Nationwide for our mortgage as they were still a mutual society and customer owned. We use Co-op for our daily accounts and Triodos (a dutch ethical bank) for savings and investment.
annie
Annie, I know this is OT but I love Etsy, but haven't worked out how to buy things in dollars! I know its prob a very stupid question but what do I actually have to do to buy something in a diff currency? :-[
Alice
[quote author=sparky link=topic=866.msg9740#msg9740 date=1199318262]
Annie, I know this is OT but I love Etsy, but haven't worked out how to buy things in dollars! I know its prob a very stupid question but what do I actually have to do to buy something in a diff currency? :-[
Alice
Sorry for hijacking post too!
I pay by paypal on etsy. You pay automatically in dollars and paypal takes the equivalent sterling from the account. Even with UK sellers. So all transactions (as far as I'm aware) are in dollars. I suppose you could email the seller and ask if you can send an equivalent sterling cheque.
annie
[quote author=Jacqui link=topic=866.msg9736#msg9736 date=1199313523]
Agree Annie, and once you start thinking that way, every purchase or investment becomes a minefield. We have been trying to find green companies to invest DS2's child trust fund in, but there are not many. ( DH is keen to do this himself, rather than hand it over to a managed fund as they are not always as ethical as they seem)
[quote author=ecomum link=topic=866.msg9825#msg9825 date=1199553983]
[quote author=Jacqui link=topic=866.msg9736#msg9736 date=1199313523]
Agree Annie, and once you start thinking that way, every purchase or investment becomes a minefield. We have been trying to find green companies to invest DS2's child trust fund in, but there are not many. ( DH is keen to do this himself, rather than hand it over to a managed fund as they are not always as ethical as they seem)
We put ours in the CIS co-operative insurance services trust fund http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/cis/default.aspx?onid=ptncobg01 they are pretty good, and it was through them that i found the green parent magazine!
[quote author=Jacqui link=topic=866.msg9836#msg9836 date=1199576437]
Well - we originally asked the co-op, and the person on the phone was a bit unsure, then he arranged for a rep to come and visit. The rep phoned and seemed very unethusiastic said he would have to find out more, as he had never dealt with CTFs, and then we never heard from him again! So we decided to do it ourselves.
I have had a few issues with the co-op locally anyway - apart from their appalling customer service, I went in to the food store one Friday afternoon to find a couple of staff members diligently filling up the chilled drinks cabinet with bottles of Buckfast tonic wine - (Scottish based users will know about this) - obviously all ready for the young weekend clientelle. It kind of negated their fair trade chocolate biscuit policy. I complained to a member of the society, but it still happens.
The 2 co-ops are no longer the same business I believe.
annie
I saw a baby boy the other day with a big hoop in his ear :-X So horrible!
Only my oldest has her ears pierced (13) and that was done at a weekend at her dads without my permission, she knew I didn't want them done but told her dad it would be fine I wouldn't mind and he believed her. >:(
At swimming lessons the other day I saw a girl who was probably about 8 years old, and she had some awful dangly earrings. Not only looked bad, but a disaster waiting to happen!
