With non-essential shops closed during lockdown, business is booming for Amazon. But not all of the deliveries coming to doorsteps are from the online retailer. Some consumers are making a conscious effort to support small businesses and are buying direct or through websites which support independent sh ops.
“Now there are a lot more people in general looking for sustainable and green things,” says Sam Attard of Ethical Revolution, an online hub for alternative ways to buy books, films, food and electronics.
The site has seen spikes in interest from consumers throughout the last year as people have more time to think about their purchases, he says, and are more attuned to other options when shopping. “Most people would like to do the right thing, weighing up both the financial and time constraints. In normal life, convenience is key. Maybe the pandemic has made more time.”
For consumers who want to shop away from the online giants there are a lot of options.
Beauty and personal care
The beauty industry is under constant criticism for the negative impact it has on the environment but there are plenty of independent companies with ethical priorities which can provide an alternative. The Detox Market describes itself as a “green beauty marketplace” with cruelty-free standards and a list of banned ingredients that products it lists must not contain.
Online plastic-free shop Plastic Freedom sells skin, face and body products and accessories in a bid to give people options where plastic is not used.
Greenbeauty Market sells vegan, natural and organic products and says it only works with independent brands.
For those who find the cost of cosmetics excessive, one option is Beauty Pie, a “beauty buyers’ club”, where customers pay a monthly subscription and then get access to a range of own-label luxury make-up and skincare at factory prices (achieved through bulk buying and the removal of retailers). A £20 lipstick can cost members just £2.24.
Clothes
Social Supermarket says it works with businesses that “put more into the world than they take out” and has more than 1,000 products from 80 different sellers across the UK, from the London-based social enterprise Cafédirect, to the ethically made Stand4Socks. As well as food, drink and cosmetics, there are clothes, backpacks and jewellery illustrating each product’s social and environmental impact, such as if they are handmade or from a female-led business.
People Tree has been described as the defining Fairtrade fashion label since it was founded 30 years ago. It works with producers, garment workers and farmers to make environmentally and sustainable clothes. Natural materials are used where possible and dyes are free from harmful chemicals. Among the latest pieces are a lightweight denim skirt for £89 and a jumpsuit for £125.
Thought clothing uses sustainably sourced materials for its…
Read More: Alternatives to Amazon that deliver on value and ethics | Online shopping