Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Visalia Crash Sends Car Into Marie Callender’s After Driver Runs Red Light

3 hours ago

Gifford Fire Expands to 89,933 Acres in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo Counties

3 hours ago

S&P 500 and Nasdaq Lifted by Earnings, Fed Hopes

5 hours ago

Israeli Military Chief Opposes Gaza War Expansion, Raising Pressure on Netanyahu

5 hours ago

Israel Considers Full Gaza Takeover as More Die of Hunger

1 day ago

US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says

1 day ago

Cruz Criticizes Hochul for Wearing Headscarf at Slain Officer’s Funeral

1 day ago

Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order

1 day ago
7 Tips for Becoming an Ethical Shopper
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
September 15, 2019

Share

Sustainability, labor conditions, politics and other issues prevalent in the news have left many consumers wondering how to be socially responsible. For some, this seems like an impossible task.
“Trying to create a perfect world or be a perfect consumer is not at all realistic,” says Dr. Ellis Jones, author of “The Better World Shopping Guide” and assistant professor of sociology at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. “We just have to try our best to practice and get better at navigating this so that collectively, our dollars start moving things in the right direction.”
Shopping ethically starts with educating yourself and supporting the products and companies that align with your values. Here’s what you can do to become a more ethical consumer.

1. Check Certifications and Ratings

Labels such as “Fair Trade Certified” or “USDA Organic ” signify that a product’s supply chain has gone through some level of vetting. However, standards can vary widely.
“It’s not that those labels are meaningless, it’s that their meaning has been watered down,” Jones says. “Most consumers don’t have enough information to know whether that particular fair trade certification, organic certification or sustainable seafood certification is a weak one or a strong one.”
Jones considers the B Corporation Certification , which companies such as Patagonia and Seventh Generation have earned, the current gold standard. It takes a comprehensive look not just at products, but at entire companies’ social and environmental impacts. This includes assessing factors like energy usage and workers’ wages. But the rigorous certification process makes this label harder to find.
In general, Jones says the more seals or certifications a product or company has, the better. When in doubt, turn to third-party organizations for guidance. For example, the Cornucopia Institute, a nonprofit watchdog group, rates farms and manufacturers of items like yogurt, eggs and toothpaste.

2. Shop Less Often

Overconsumption takes a toll on our wallets and the planet. Before buying something, think about whether you really need it. If you do, look for options that have a lesser impact, says Casey Taylor, a partner in Bain and Company’s retail practice. Investing in reusable, high-quality or easy-to-repair items can help minimize purchases.
“Instead of buying a new shirt from a fast-fashion retailer, you might think about buying used or buying pieces that’ll last longer,” Taylor says.

3. Seek Secondhand Goods

When you choose previously owned items, you aren’t contributing to the labor and materials needed to make new goods. Check thrift shops, garage sales and community groups like the Freecycle Network for inexpensive — or free — finds. Another sustainable solution? Rent clothes through services like Le Tote and Rent the Runway.

4. Choose Slower Online Deliveries

Retailers like Amazon have made selecting fast shipping a reflex, but it’s not always the most ethical option. When shopping online, choosing standard shipping over same-day or next-day delivery can ensure multiple items in an order ship together.
“For the environment, it reduces packaging and the number of drop-offs, and for customers, it’s just one less box that you need to recycle,” Taylor says.
Better yet, shop in person or buy online and pick up in store.

5. Shop Locally

Visit your neighborhood bakery or farmers market rather than a large chain. Supporting local businesses or buying locally grown produce is generally better for the environment because it decreases the distance that products have to travel, Taylor says. It also gives consumers the opportunity to ask merchants directly for details about how products are sourced and made.

6. Pick a Responsible Financial Institution

Financial institutions and products are part of the equation, too, Jones says. You can search for a bank or credit union that’s committed to social and environmental values. Community development financial institutions, for example, help underserved consumers build credit and acquire loans.
Some credit cards automatically donate to charitable causes like nature conservation and cancer research with every purchase. Consider applying for one that donates to causes important to you.

7. Be Prepared

Find small ways to make the ethical choice the easy choice. You can reduce waste by keeping reusable shopping bags or a coffee cup in the car or by the front door. That way, you’ll have them when you need them.
“Simple choices add up if you think about the number of times that you walk into a store or pop by a coffee shop,” Taylor says.
Developing positive habits takes practice. But with a little effort, shopping ethically can become second nature.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Spike in Summer Football Injuries

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Will Offer Evening Registration for New Students

DON'T MISS

Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Hit $80 Billion in First Half of 2025, Report Shows

DON'T MISS

Soria, Magsig Zoom to State Senate Fundraising Leads

DON'T MISS

The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away

DON'T MISS

New Fresno EOC Chief Has Lengthy Career with Head Start Programs

DON'T MISS

Five US Soldiers Shot at Georgia Base, Shooter in Custody

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Al’zillion Hamilton Ready to Lead Defense in 2025

DON'T MISS

Clovis Girls Soccer Team Wins National Title After Years of Grit, Heart, and Sacrifice

DON'T MISS

Visalia Crash Sends Car Into Marie Callender’s After Driver Runs Red Light

UP NEXT

VP Vance to Host Dinner to Discuss Jeffrey Epstein Fallout

UP NEXT

Trump Order Imposes Additional 25% Tariff on Goods From India

UP NEXT

Trump Suggests Vance Is His Likely Heir Apparent in 2028

UP NEXT

Trump to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders for Peace Talks on Friday, US Official Says

UP NEXT

Trump Declines to Say if He Supports or Opposes Potential Gaza Takeover by Israel

UP NEXT

Marjorie Taylor Greene Asks for George Santos’ Sentence to Be Commuted

UP NEXT

Moody’s Chief Economist: Trump Policies Pushing US Toward Recession

UP NEXT

US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says

UP NEXT

Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order

UP NEXT

House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood

Soria, Magsig Zoom to State Senate Fundraising Leads

1 hour ago

The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away

1 hour ago

New Fresno EOC Chief Has Lengthy Career with Head Start Programs

2 hours ago

Five US Soldiers Shot at Georgia Base, Shooter in Custody

2 hours ago

Fresno State’s Al’zillion Hamilton Ready to Lead Defense in 2025

3 hours ago

Clovis Girls Soccer Team Wins National Title After Years of Grit, Heart, and Sacrifice

3 hours ago

Visalia Crash Sends Car Into Marie Callender’s After Driver Runs Red Light

3 hours ago

Wildfire Burns Near Yosemite Lakes in Madera County, Containment at 20%

3 hours ago

VP Vance to Host Dinner to Discuss Jeffrey Epstein Fallout

3 hours ago

Fresno County Rides to the Rescue of Laton Schools as COVID Funds Run Out

3 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Spike in Summer Football Injuries

GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Karl Cooke about the increase of football-related injuries seen at Valley C...

2 minutes ago

2 minutes ago

Wired Wednesday: Spike in Summer Football Injuries

Fresno Unified registration
26 minutes ago

Fresno Unified Will Offer Evening Registration for New Students

A drone view shows a site with houses that burnt down in the Palisades Fire and some that survived, in Malibu, California, U.S., January 16, 2025. (Reuters File)
59 minutes ago

Global Insured Catastrophe Losses Hit $80 Billion in First Half of 2025, Report Shows

fundraising CA Assembly Senate
1 hour ago

Soria, Magsig Zoom to State Senate Fundraising Leads

President Trump Boards Air Force One
1 hour ago

The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission CEO, Steven Lewis
2 hours ago

New Fresno EOC Chief Has Lengthy Career with Head Start Programs

Breaking News from Reuters
2 hours ago

Five US Soldiers Shot at Georgia Base, Shooter in Custody

Al’Zillion Hamilton Fresno State Bulldog Football
3 hours ago

Fresno State’s Al’zillion Hamilton Ready to Lead Defense in 2025

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend