Shop Ethical! News

Get the latest news and information on companies, products and issues related to everyday purchasing. Including reports, campaigns and internal updates. Exploring ethical and sustainable alternatives in our consumer culture.

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image March 2021 App Data Update  — 16th Mar 2021

A new data update has just been released for the Shop Ethical app. Simply open the app and the database will automatically update. You'll know it worked if the Electronics has been renamed Technology.

Other significant changes include:

* data from several major assessment sources updated
* Lion Dairy & Drinks now owned by Bega Cheese
* ratings for TOM Organic, Strongbow cider, Vegenaise and Freedom Foods drop after ownership changes
  [source]
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image July 2020 App Data Update  — 18th Jul 2020

A new data update has just been released for the Shop Ethical app. Simply open the app and the database will automatically update using our new update system. You'll know it worked if Appliances has moved to under Household.
Other significant changes include:

* Animal Ingredients Alerts have been removed
* New category: Smart Speakers
* data from several major assessment sources updated
* Carlon & United Breweries (CUB) now owned by Asahi (rated C)
* Lion Dairy & Drinks, and Bellamy's Organic now owned by China Mengniu Dairy (rated F)
  [source]
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image New Shop Ethical! print guide out now!  — 25th Nov 2018

We're pleased to announce that the 9th edition of the Shop Ethical! print guide is now available for pre-order.

This handy pocket-sized guide is designed to help you match your shopping habits with your values. Shop Ethical! gives you the low-down on the companies behind common brands and the social and environmental track record of these companies. It introduces the many issues connected with everyday purchases, giving practical tips for action in areas such as plastic waste, food miles, palm oil, overfishing, animal welfare, child labour, and multinational ownership.

"Ethical consumerism has come a long way since we started Shop Ethical! over 10 years ago. People are now more conscious about what they buy and which companies they support. Our guide helps makes that decision-making process easier," said Nick Ray, Co-founder of Shop Ethical!   [source]
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image Bayer-Monsanto mega-merger  — 11th Jun 2018

After two years of negotiations, Bayer has become the sole shareholder of Monsanto. The Monsanto company name will cease to exist. Over the past few years, Bayer has slowly distanced itself from the polymer business and concentrated on pharmaceutics and agriculture. The latter doubled in size after the Monsanto acquisition, becoming as large as the company’s pharma section. With the approval of the Bayer-Monsanto merger, only three companies will be in control of nearly 60 per cent of the world’s seeds and nearly 70 per cent of the agrochemicals and pesticides.   [source]
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image Victoria bans single-use plastic bags  — 18th Oct 2017

The Victorian government has committed to outlawing plastic bags following the lead of supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths who announced their own bans earlier this year.

The latest announcement comes after intense lobbying from environment groups who had been pressuring the Andrews government to adopt similar bans already introduced by other states.

No date has been set for the ban to take effect, but it is expected to be announced in early 2018.  [source]
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image Report exposes illegal logging in Victoria  — 7th Sep 2017

Friends of the Earth Melbourne has released a report documenting 27 unlawful native forest logging operations in protected threatened species habitat and rainforest.

Victoria's forests and threatened species are in crisis. Logging in critically important habitat is pushing endangered wildlife towards extinction. Legal protections for Victoria's wildlife are not being followed by VicForests and are not being enforced by the Victorian Environment Department.

Join with Friends of the Earth to call on Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio to enforce our environment laws and protect Victoria's threatened wildlife from native forest logging.   [source]
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