We speak with Julian Lee from social business Food Connect about the why and how to buy locally grown food, his favourite food and places, and the impact of Food Connect in Sydney.
I was fascinated from an early age about growing food. I then learnt about Permaculture and that got me even more excited about how good design can make what seems impossible from an industrial perspective, possible – and even beautiful!
Deborah Andrich talks to Craig Chester about Fairtrade’s role in sustainable development in PNG, what a chocolate supplier needs to do to gain the Fairtrade certification, and which brands are certified in Australia.
Farmers at Oro Verde Cooperative in Peru/ Fairtrade International
Forgive me, for I have sinned.
I am guilty of having eaten chocolate that wasn’t Fairtrade. To pay penance, I have delved into the depths of the meaning of Fairtrade with Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand, Operations Manager, Craig Chester.
It’s about allowing the world’s poorest farmers to run successful businesses. If we strip it back and simplify it, that is what our function is. Global trade as it stands now tends to work against the worlds’ poorest who are not skilled in running a business, are poorly educated and have little access to resources, legal systems and support that is readily available in the developed world. It’s about addressing those needs at the farm gate. These farmers are the most exposed to industries that utilise cheap labour, materials and commodities. Continue Reading →
Many consumers want to be sure that the beautiful rug they are about to buy wasn’t created at the cost of children.
Over 250,000 kids—some as young as six years old—are forced to give up their childhoods to make rugs for our homes and businesses. GoodWeave makes consumers aware of this tragedy and gives them a transformative alternative: certified child-labor-free rugs. GoodWeave also works to provide education and opportunities to rescued and at-risk children. Continue Reading →
The Behind the Barcode Ethical Fashion Guide for consumers rates 128 clothing labels sold in Australia. This guide is based on Baptist World Aid’s Australian Fashion Report on working conditions behind the garment industry. Use it to check out how well your favorite labels rate, or find alternatives if they don’t do so well.
Have you ever stood in the supermarket and wondered whether a particular brand lives up to your environmental and social expectations?
The Shop Ethical! app gives access to over 4,000 products with related company information. It can help you make an informed decision whenever you shop.
Oxfam’s 3 Things movement has pulled together this great infographic to help you make clothing consumption decisions that are fair and sustainable.
Infographic by Oxfam – 3things.
This infographic explains why FairTrade is important, how it works and what we can do to support it.
Tried, tested and loved by the Otter team, this free app helps you find certified fair trade products and outlets near you. The related website also lets you contribute listings, a feature missing from the app. Unfortunately, there is no Android version for this app yet.
In the wake of the Bangladesh factory collapse in April, Essential Kids offers practical advice on how to be mindful of workers’ safety when buying your kids’ clothes. It includes a simple buying guide and useful links to reputable organisations.
And you could – and probably should – take a look at the Behind the Barcode guide. It ranks the performance of 128 fashion brands on labour rights in the supply chain.
Folded jeans (Flickr/Maegan Tintari)
Some of the world’s largest “affordable” clothing brands have opened stores in Australia or are headed our way. What’s their record like on sustainable and ethical production?
Zara and Top Shop have opened stores in Sydney and Melbourne. But this is just the beginning of a deluge, with reports of 15-20 new stores to be opened by both brands, and 25 stores on the way from Japanese mega retailer Uniqlo. Swedish giant H&M also has plans for Sydney and Melbourne for 2014.
How do these mega brands stack up when it comes to fair working conditions and sustainable practices?
