Ethical consumerism

[kdm]

Do you consider yourself to be an ethical consumer? Do you buy Fairtrade? Do you 'Look behind the label' as Marks and Spencer encouraged, to check the items you wear use toxic-free clothes dyes and Fairtrade cotton? I would be interested to hear your thoughts and opinions on this matter, with regard to any purchases be it food,beauty or clothes related.
Any points are extremely valid.
Thanks

[RATTER15]

I don't, I know I should, and I do give myself a pat on the back when I do buy fair trade products.

I am becoming more aware of what we are doing to our planet, but I cant say I am that ethical yet, I'm still working on it though.

[whiffey]

I buy only Fairtrade tea and coffee, free-range eggs, free-range chicken, despite the cost. Also I check the constituents of everything and very rarely buy anything above 5% fat except the occasional haggis, and absolutely nothing containing MSG (E621 - gives me pounding headaches)

[kdm]

What do you think it is it that has influenced your purchasing decisions?

[whiffey]

If you mean me kdm, a friend described exactly the conditions indoor-reared chickens are kept in and also the disgusting means of automated slaughter (electrocution by drawing upside-down through an electrified waterbath - and they seem to know what's about to happen to them). It nearly turned me veggie, but I'm afraid I like meat just too much ! The fat thing is a health issue, even 5% fat is probably too high (classified as Medium). I see surprisingly few people reading food labels. The Fairtrade is just my way of trying a little to chip in, it's good stuff too.

I do however use Garnier face washes. There is no indication that they are *not* tested on animals, so I have to assume that they are. Garnier 'Pure' and Cucumber are heaven though.

[kdm]

Thank you Whiffey - its really interesting to hear the reasons why people shop in a certain way - thanks for your comments

[noxlumos]

Whiffey, it's happened , I completely agree with you.
any form of factory farming is disgusting.
I always buy ethically whenever I can, and some things we go without because they cannot be obtained ethically.

[filthiestfis]

I hear that free-range eggs is a misleading term and that the chickens are still kept in poor conditions and not given free space as you might think. The way to go is organic therefore.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, if it has a picture of a sexy woman i will buy it...

[kdm]

noxlumos - what type of things do you go without if you can not obtain them ethically?

[noxlumos]

hi, Primarily meat, toiletries and cosmetics. There's a local free range organic farm near to us where we get all of our meat from. As fis says certain supermarket terminology can be misleading, so I'm always very careful. The other thing is we don't deal with unethical companies ike Disney, Asda clothing, Nike, Nutrasweet etc. Some thing you can't avoid like all fuel companies are about as ethical as Satan, but I have to be able to get about and I've weighed up that I can do more good being mobile than being ethical about fuel production and stuck at home unable to make a noise about things, so I grin and bear it.