Speaker 1

Purchasing pre‑loved goods from flea markets or charity shops is an excellent approach to save money, protect the environment, and be an ethical consumer. Another thing you can do is to swap clothes with friends, or simply lend them for some time if you don’t want to get rid of them permanently. You may throw a clothes exchange party with your pals if you all live close to one another. It doesn't matter if you have a different sense of fashion, preferences, or body types since it could inspire someone to customise or upcycle an item to fit their needs. Of course, there are plenty of apps where you can buy or sell vintage stuff. I’ve found a lot of wonderful and cheap items thanks to them and of course, I’ve saved a lot of money. If I do have to buy a new T‑shirt or pair of jeans, I always check if they’re made from sustainable fabric, or if they have a fair trade label.

Speaker 2

When going through the food aisle as an ethical shopper, there are several crucial labels and ingredients to take into account. As more and more consumers are becoming aware of the dangerous effects of palm oil production, they try to stay away from that ingredient. However, given that more than 50% of supermarket goods contain palm oil, this may seem like a difficult task. So, you will need to be patient and probably spend more money in a supermarket if you want to shop ethically. If you try to find a vegan product, look for the vegan trademark logo which also ensures that it has not been subjected to animal testing. For people like me who are looking for greater levels of animal welfare in their goods, the labels “organic” and “free range” are also helpful. According to „organic” regulations, no hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs should be given to animals. However, each animal's free range labelling is unique. Pigs are born outside in fields and remain outside until they are slaughtered, but chickens must spend half of their lives inside. 

Speaker 3

I’m a big fan of handmade things and I love buying fair trade products like baskets, cards, bracelets, or cosmetics. I love the idea that the artisan gets paid fairly for his or her labour when the customer purchases the product. It’s also important for me that the products are crafted from local materials and with respect for the environment. The uniqueness of fair trade crafts is that they frequently focus on disadvantaged communities in their nations, for whom fair trade is their only source of income. That’s why all the parties involved in the trade make sure that the price for the products is fair. Some people say that they don’t want to buy such crafts because their price is much higher than the price of items found in a regular shop. For me, a fair trade label gives me the confidence that the people who produced this product got a fair deal for their work, and I’m happy to make this choice.

Speaker 4

Boycotting businesses that don't act ethically is a great method to purchase ethically. You can even get involved in a boycott movement. That was how I became a member of such a movement a few years ago. The main idea of such an activity is to stop buying products from companies which, for example, use animals to test their products, or manufacture goods using child labour or drastically harm the environment. Such boycotts usually involve big and well‑known companies in the world. That’s why I always shop for products in local and independent places. By doing this, more money stays in local communities rather than going to the shareholders of major brand retailers. So, next time you’re in a shop, think where your favourite cornflakes or pair of shoes come from. Maybe you can find similar products which are produced somewhere locally?

[Autor:  Dorota Giżyńska]