Issues
WHAT ARE YOU BUYING?
Animal Cruelty & Factory farming
Factory farming is the system of raising animals using 'intensive production'
line methods that maximise the amount of meat produced while minimising costs.
It is characterised by close confinement in barren and unnatural conditions
and involves massive environmental pollution and health risks for both animals
and humans. In Australia as in other countries this is our conventional means
of raising pigs, chickens and producing eggs.
- Look for eggs labeled 'free-range', next choose 'barn-laid' over regular
'cage' (battery) eggs.
- Look for small-goods labeled ‘Bred Free-Range’. KR Castlemaine
have such a product line.
- Look for “Organic” or “Free-Range” chicken and
pork. See www.freerangepork.com.au
(in order to achieve organic certification, chicken and pigs farmed organically
must be free-range)
- See more at www.themeatrix.comand
www.voiceless.org.au
Cleaning Products
Most cleaning products don't list ingredients. However, you can learn something
about a product's hazards by reading its label. 'Danger/ Poison' - most hazardous;
'Warning' - moderately hazardous; 'Caution' - slightly toxic. Ingredients vary
in the type of health hazard they pose. These include skin or respiratory irritation,
watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or
long-term, effects such as cancer.
Avoid:
- Chlorine or Ammonia, listed as active ingredients
- Formaldehyde, Terpenes, Phenols, Chlorine, Organic Mercurials, Balsams,
Aluminium Complexes – known to have carcinogenic effects.
- detergents containing Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs) - do not degrade completely
and are known hormone disruptors.
- detergents containing phosphates - cause algal blooms in water ways
Look for:
- biodegradable to AS4351, or better still , an international standard
- plant-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based
- concentrated form
- specific ingredient information (such as "solvent-free," "no
petroleum-based ingredients”) rather than unregulated "greenwash"
claims (such as "natural" and "eco-friendly")
Find out more at www.safersolutions.org.au
Fairtrade Coffee
Coffee is the most traded commodity in the world after oil and illegal drugs.
However during the past decade, prices paid to coffee farmers fell to a 30-year
low with as little as 3 cents from a $3 cup of coffee reaching the farmers who
grew the beans. Worldwide, 25 million small-scale farmers and their families
have been affected.
This is to be contrasted with continuing profits in the billions, for companies
such as Nestle, Altria (Kraft), & Sara Lee. In 2006 Nestle recorded an annual
profit increase of 14% to 9.2 billion swiss francs (US$7.4 billion).
- Look for products with the certified Fairtrade symbol. Buying Fairtrade
coffee ensures farmers get a fair deal – a minimum price of AUD $3.80
per kilo compared to the local price of about AUD 65 cents.
- Find local suppliers and cafes stocking fairtrade at www.oxfam.org.au/coffee
- Some Coles and Woolworths/ Safeway supermarkets stock Scarborough Fair,
Global Café Direct; & Republica fairtrade brands.
Genetic Engineering
Concerns over genetically engineered (GE) food include unknown health risks,
threats to biodiversity, contamination of conventional and organic crops, increase
in pesticide and herbicide use, and control over our food by multinational chemical
companies who legally own the patents on the technology.
GE crops pose a very real threat to our food because, as living organisms,
they can reproduce and spread and so once released they cannot be recalled.
Their effects are irreversible.
In Australia, the four main GE ingredients in our food are currently derived
from imported canola, corn (maize) and soy, and local and imported cottonseed
products.
- look for foods labeled ‘GMO free', 'GE-free', 'Not genetically modified',
certified 'Organic' & 'Bio-dynamic' or items that are 'Product of Australia'
(except food containing cottonseed oil).
- Check the 'Greenpeace True Food Guide' for all brands guaranteed GE-free
by their manufacturer (assurance they are not using GE ingredients anywhere
in the food chain, including animal feed) . See www.truefood.org.au
- Have your say and oppose GE food crops in Australia. See www.geneethics.org
Organics
Organic systems recognise that our health is directly connected to the health
of the food we eat and ultimately, to the health of the soil. Organic farmers
aim to produce good food from a balanced living soil.
They severely restrict the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers.
Animals are reared without the routine use of drugs including synthetic growth
hormones, antibiotics and wormers which are commonly used in intensive livestock
farming.
- Choose products that are certified organic or biodynamic under one of the
following labels: BFA, ACO, NAASA, Demeter. See www.organicchoice.com.au
- Find out which fruits and veggies expose you to the most and least pesticides
so you'll know which ones to buy organic, and which conventionally-grown ones
are okay when organic isn't available. See the Environmental Working Group's
“Pesticides in produce” guide. www.foodnews.org
Palm oil
Palm oil is found in 1 in 10 supermarket products including shampoos, baking
oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, cookies, margarine and soaps. It has recently
been deemed a potential saviour as a renewable resource for use as a biofuel.
Unfortunately, not only does palm oil promote heart disease, but the vast plantations
that grow oil palm trees have contributed to the destruction of the rainforest
of South east Asia and threaten the survival of animals such as the Orangutan
in Borneo, the Sumatran tiger, and Asian rhinoceros. Additionally, burning after
deforestation accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions.
- Learn about the issues, find sample letters to write to retailers and the
government, and sign the petition for compulsory labeling at the Palm Oil
Action Group site www.palmoilaction.org.au
- Check the ingredients - if there is palm oil, avoid it, send a letter to
the manufacturer telling them of your action. (note, it may be labeled as
simply “vegetable oil”).
- See the 'Helping you buy responsibly' section on the BOS Australia website
at www.orangutans.com.au
for a list of manufacturers who are committed to avoiding the use of palm
oil.
Use Recycled Paper - Don't wipe away our forests
Regular toilet and tissue paper uses wood fibre from native forests. Native
forests absorb carbon dioxide, act as water catchments and are home to animals
and much biodiversity. By using paper made from paper pulp with recycled content,
you reduce demand for native forest logging. Post-consumer-waste paper is even
more preferable as it is has been used once and then collected for recycling.
Each ton of post-consumer-waste recycled paper saves 17 trees, 26,000 litres
of water, and 4,100 kwh of energy - enough to power the average home for 6 months.
- Choose toilet paper with recycled content. Brands include SAFE, Treefree,
Eve, Naturale, Ecosoft, Envirosoft, Nature Soft, Forest free, Elite, Earthwise
& Softex. Choose those with paper wrapping where possible.
- Avoid paper products that have been bleached with chlorine (toxic). Look
for unbleached as first preference, or oxygen-bleached, total chlorine-free,
or elemental chlorine free, as a second preference.
HOW DID IT GET HERE?
Buying local – good food mileage
Food Miles are a measure of the distance food is transported between production
and consumption. The more miles, the more greenhouse gases produced. A typical
Melbourne shopping basket has traveled a staggering 70,000 kilometers - equivalent
to almost two trips around the world. Buy purchasing an orange grown in Mildura
rather than 'California', you reduce food miles from 12,879 km to 567 kms.
(CERES report–l www.ceres.org.au/projects/foodmiles.html)
- Buy Local. Purchase from local independent co-ops and grocers rather than
the big supermarket chains. In the market, ask your local grocer, where the
produce comes from. Check out local Farmers Markets at www.farmersmarkets.org.au
- Eat and buy in season. By eating seasonally you get the most flavor and
nutritional value and it is usually the most affordable. See what is in season
in Victoria at www.orangesandlemons.com.au
- In the supermarket, choose items labeled “Product of Australia”
- first preference, then “Made in Australia” - second preference.
Choose imported items as last preference. Order Australian made products online
at www.onlyoz.com.au
Why buy Australian Made &
Owned?
Where possible it's good to buy local. There is lots of reasons for this.
- Firstly you're more likely to know more about the goods and the conditions
in which they're produced.
- Transport and fuel use. It often takes much more energy to transport the
goods we use to us than it takes to produce the goods themselves. Fossil fuels
are cheap financially but the hidden cost on the earth via pollution and mining
them in the first place, means that we are subsidizing our lives with artificially
cheap energy. Smaller-scale organic agriculture and local production will
see a more healthy and more efficient system that meets our needs without
compromising the future.
- Local Jobs. Money that remains in the local economy helps in the creation
and maintaining of jobs. By supporting local workers and helping to develop
local industries Australian skills and potential is enhanced and we as a community
have more control over our future. This is especially necessary in essential
industries such as food and textiles.
- Less Middle men. With more people in the process from production of a raw
material to the goods the consumer receives, there are more people to receive
a part of the payment. This means that either the retail price rises or, as
is often the case, the primary producer receives less. Our cheap goods come
with little gain for the average worker and much profit for large multinational
companies. On average only 18 cents of every dollar, when buying at a large
supermarket, will go to the grower. 82 cents go to various unnecessary middlemen.
- Labour conditions. With industry in Australia, we Australians, have more
control over wage conditions and workers rights. Often the exploitation that
comes to be a way of life for many workers around the world is financed by
our dollars through imported products.
- It is important to remember that as a wealthy nation, in the interests of
equality, it makes sense to support well-managed international fair-trade
arrangements where the money goes directly to growers and producers. A discerning
and balanced approach is necessary if we are to be generous to and supportive
of our fellow human beings.
Note: Some people argue that foreign investment and international competition
are the way of the future.
For more information on both sides, see Choice article: Buy Australian? - should
you shop for the nation?
http://www.choice.com.au/articles/a102362p2.htm
More information:
http://www.localharvest.org/buylocal.jsp
Multinational Monopoly
Foreign-owned multinational companies control 70% of world trade, and their
brands make up 85% of the products in the average Australian grocery trolley.
Top selling milk brands, 'Rev' and 'Pura', are owned by Italian multinational
Parmalat and Kirin Holdings of Japan, respectively. Out of the top 100 brands
sold in Australian supermarkets, just 15 are Australian owned, and these are
owned by just 10 companies.
- Choose Australian-owned brands .
- Shop at locally-owned businesses. For every $100 spent with a locally-owned
firm, $68 remains within the local economy. The same $100 spent with a multinational
sees only $43 staying local. This supports local jobs and we have more guarantee
of fair wages and conditions for workers. See more at www.fightbacknews.com.au
Australia's
Supermarket Duopoly
Australia has one of the most concentrated grocery markets internationally.
The two top players, Coles and Woolworths/Safeway, account for approximately
75% of supermarket sales in Australia. In Britain, the top twelve supermarkets
have less than 60 per cent of the market.
In spite of increasing its revenue by 75% from 2001 to 2006, Woolworths cut
its workforce by 27% or 35,592 people over these 5 years. Similarly, in this
time period, Coles slashed its workforce, down from 160,000 to 94,000.
Generic “house brands” encourage us to trust that cheap is best
with no questions asked. Both supermarket chains have recently introduced a
three tiered private label structure. This is likely to mean less choice, with
fewer independent brands on the shelves and more produce sourced from overseas.
— Shop at independent grocers and small supermarkets.
— Choose local, independent Australian owned brands, over generic supermarket
homebrands.
— If you’re buying a home brand, read the label and look for “Product
of Australia’ and ‘Made in Australia’’ over imported.
Who Owns The Supermarkets?
Wesfarmers
Coles, Bi-Lo, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart, liquor retailers (1st Choice
Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars), fuel & convenience outlets
(Coles Express), online stores (Coles Online, Pharmacy Direct). Plus other divisions
in the areas of coal mining, energy, insurance, chemicals & fertilisers,
and industrial & safety products. Acquired Coles Group Ltd for $22 billion
in November 2007.
Woolworths
Safeway, Woolworths, Big W, liquor retailers (Woolworths/Safeway Liquor, BWS,
Dan Murphy’s), electronics retailers (Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith
Powerhouse, Tandy Electronics), online stores (Woolworths/Safeway Homestore),
Caltex Woolworths/ Safeway (an alliance with Caltex Australia – over 500
outlets), Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group. Plus interests in New Zealand,
India and Hong Kong.
IGA
IGA stands for ’Independent Grocers of Australia’. There are over
1000 stores in Australia, which are independently owned, and supplied by IGA
Distribution, a division of Metcash.
Metcash
Metcash is primarily a distribution company. They distribute food and other
consumer goods to Supa IGA, IGA, IGA X-Press, Friendly Grocer, FoodWorks, 7-eleven,
Lucky 7, and independent liquor retailers Cellarbrations, Cheers, IGA Plus Liquor,
Liquor Force and Liquor Wise.
Foodworks
Australia’s second largest independent supermarket retailing group, also
supplied by Metcash. They operate over 710 stores, 390 under the Foodworks banner.
ALDI
Over 150 stores now operating in Australia. 80% of ALDI’s suppliers are
local manufacturers. ALDI Australia’s parent company, ALDI Group, is based
in Germany. They operate over 7000 stores across Europe, USA and Australia.
WHERE DOES IT GO?
Packaging & Waste
Product packaging takes valuable resources to produce, involves processes which
pollute air and water, and is often thrown out at the end of its short life,
ending up in landfill. Australia consumes over 3.4 million tonnes of packaging
every year- that's about 165 kg per person - only 48% is recycled.
- Minimise Packaging. Remember the waste hierarchy – Avoid first, Reuse
where possible, then Recycle.
- Buy in bulk where possible. BYO bags, BYO containers, doing take-away?
BYO plate. Pack green groceries loose in a box or basket.
- Avoid double packaging and unlabeled plastic tubs.
- Recycle where possible – check out what your council curbside collection
takes at www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
- Choose plastics ‘1’ & ‘2’ (commonly recycled
within Australia) over 4, 5 & 6 where possible (often processed overseas).
Avoid ‘3’ - PVC produces hazardous by-products (dioxins) when
recycled.
The National Packaging Covenant
The National Packaging Covenant is the leading instrument for managing packaging
waste in Australia. It is a self-regulatory agreement between industries and
all spheres of government, and is based on the principles of shared responsibility
through product stewardship applied throughout the packaging chain.
The goals of the Covenant are to minimise the environmental impacts of consumer
packaging waste throughout the entire life-cycle of the packaging product, close
the recycling loop, develop economically viable and sustainable recycling systems
and ensure that the voluntary process continues.
The Covenant leaves it to individual companies to detail the measures they
have taken. In this way the Covenant gives companies maximum flexibility. The
Covenant itself does not specify which actions individual companies should take
but, rather, provides for a "menu" of options. A company might, for
example, decide to:
- Design packaging so that the use of material is minimized
- Undertake and promote research.
- Reduce production, printing, transport and waste disposal.
- Support kerbside/recovery programs.
- Support market development for secondary packaging materials.
- Promote education and community awareness.
- Support litter reduction.
From National Packaging Covenant website.
www.packcoun.com.au
Editors note: We are aware that this agreement is industry driven, voluntary
and does not guarrentee that signatories are enacting environmental stewardship
despite the intention of the Covenant. It is however our belief that such a
covenant is a large step towards a sustainable society, and so the signaturies
companies, showing a willingness to constructively deal with their packaging,
are preferable to those companies who have not signed the covenmant.
More on the National Packaging Covenant
www.deh.gov.au/industry/waste/covenant/
More on Packaging Ecorecycle Victoria
www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au
Ollie Recycles
www.ollierecycles.com/aus/html/recycle.html
