You're the VOICE!

Let your wallet do the talking when it comes to eco-conscious shopping

- ALICIA PYKE and AMBER BRAMBLE

Sustainable organic this, Fairtrade that… there’s little doubt that deciphering the labels on everything you buy, from apples to T-shirts, is more complicated than ever. But chances are you’re already doing more to help out than you realise. Yep, if you’ve ever bought recycled paper goods or ‘earth-friendly’ dishwashing liquid, you’re already part of the consumer movement towards more ethical shopping.

‘All you have to do,’ says Nick Ray from the Ethical Consumer Group, ‘is think before you spend. Every item we buy has an ethical dimension – its production, use and disposal has various impacts on people and the planet as a whole.’

THE BASICS