Run your own Supermarket Tours

A "how to" guide

We're keen to get the word out there - equipping all of you who are interested to make a difference.

Not everyone can make it along to one of our monthly supermarket tours in Melbourne. So, we are hoping that you might be one of the people who can be skilled up to pass on the message to your own group of friends, colleagues or interested individuals.

Basically the print guide has everything you need to run a simple 'shopping with a conscience' supermarket tour of your own. Outlined below is a step by step process on how you can run a the session.

Download PDF of this document 348kb.

>what you'll need >parts of the session >the tour details >issues table

Overview

The goal is to provide an introduction to ethical or sustainable shopping. Basically this is sharing the unseen story behind some of the 'stuff' in our everyday lives. It will be most effective if it connects with what people in your group presently buy - common items on their shopping list.

As the leader of the group, you will need:

a copy of the guide – preferably a copy for each member of the group. (You can order them here.)
a familiarity with the guide to help facilitate people's understanding (icon decoder, principles, boycott, etc)
three areas (issues) to focus on – preferably ones that you are passionate about. Part of telling the story is telling it from your perpective – make it personal – make it your own. How did you get involved in this? Why is this issue important and why is it important to you?
items to shop with (see 'before we shop' section below)
to look through the 'things you need to know' section
60 minutes time in total

Parts of the session:

Introduction (10 minutes) – convey what, why, principles, what to take before we shop
Exploring the aisles (30 minutes) – visit 3 parts of the supermarket using a particular product at each to -
1. explore the guide using the ratings for that particular product type (focus is on company record – the track record of the companies behind the brands)
2. introduce a second issue and possible criteria for purchasing (ie. food, miles, genetic engineering, etc - see table below
Own task (10 minutes) – divide people into pairs. Give each pair the task of choosing an item they buy regularly (ie. tinned tomatoes, toilet paper) and finding it. Then asking (i) what is it's story (ii) find a 'best buy' focussing on company record and (iii) introduce one other criteria and look for a 'best buy' according to that.
Wrap up (10 minutes) – gather as a whole group again. Ask how they found it, what did they learn, how would they include this in their own shopping practices.

The Tour

Part 1. Introduction

I always start with an introduction of 'why' it's important to start to think about ethical purchasing. Basically there's a story behind all of our stuff. A story that we often don't see and don't know about. This includes the conditions where something is made, how far it has traveled, where the packaging ends up at the end of its life. There are many hidden impacts. See more at Story of Stuff.

When we spend our money we are in fact giving validation to the many processes that go on behind the scenes. We are investing in all sorts of systems with our dollar - often things we wouldn't give money towards normally or endorse with our buying power. See more on page 1 of guide.

Ethical shopping is thinking about the impacts of our purchases and choosing products that minimise these impacts. It's using our choices to care for the planet, other people and ourselves too. It's being responsible for these choices, based on the information we have.

See further examples to explain the context here (1. impacts are unseen; 2. present systems are unsustainable; 3. we have become disconnected from the things that give us life). You might choose to use these, or use your own examples, or leave it out. Less is often more, simple often best.

>> principles

Then I usually turn to the middle spread (p. 38,39) in the guide and reflect on the many issues that we could consider when shopping in the supermarket, beyond the usual cost and convenience. This is not a comprehensive list - just some we're come across. How does it make people feel? Ask your group. The usual answer is "overwhelmed", "paralysed", "Where do i start?".

So in light of this, lets look at 5 principles to help guide our purchases. Page 4 of guide. They are:
1) Remember every purchase makes an impact, therefore each choice makes a difference.
2) Avoid unnecessary consumption. Ask "Do I need it?"
3) Learn about the issues, but don't be overwhelmed. Take on one issue at a time.
4) Look for the best buy. Based on what you value and whats available.
5) Make lasting change. Create new habits. Celebrate good choices.

These five principles can be remembered on one hand - using them is your 'vote'.

Now we'll be exploring the aisles and using specific products as an entry point to discuss three issues of your choosing (see table below). My favorites are Food Miles, Packaging, Genetic Engineering and Fairtrade. But best to choose ones that you are particularly interested in, or may be relevant to your group. Three issues are enough for people to get an idea without being overwhelmed. But before we shop, what do we need to remember to take with us?

>> before we shop
1) our reusable bag. why?
2) our list. Know what you're looking for. Avoid unnecessary purchases.
3) our money
4) our guides – Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping, Greenpeace True Food guide
5) our brain . Good to take it wherever you go.

Part 2. Exploring the aisles

I suggest a group with numbers up to 10 is suitable. I try to be discrete - yet mindful that we're just doing what most people do - that's to think about what they will choose as a best purchase. No crime in that! Also worth keeping in mind that mostly we're going to buy something in the store... and that's the bottom line. Mostly the retailer won't mind as long as you're spending money with them. Often good to discuss your plans with the supermarket prior to the event.

So choose your first issue (ie. food miles), go to the Aisle matched in the column below (ie. canned beans), and have people turn to the appropriate guide page (ie 41). Then ask your group to find a best buy according to company track record using the information in the guide. You may need to help them with following information - icon decoder (inside front page), boycotts & criticisms p10 & 11, assessment sources p72.

Next introduce your issue (ie. food miles), and turn to the appropriate blurb page (ie. p66). Read out the information yourself or have someone in the group do it. There is a brief overview of the issue, and a series of action points (with the arrows). After taking people through these, ask them to find a 'best buy' with this criteria in mind. Additional info is in Further Resources column below.

		2010 edition		2011 edition
Issue	Aisle	Guide Page	*Blurb Page*	Guide Page	*Blurb Page*	Further Resources
Ownership Aust vs foreign	Milk	24	18	28	62	Note Aust icon in guide tables. Note distinction between Aust Owned (relates to where company is based) and Aust made (relates to where product is made)
Genetic Engineering	Ice cream	23	56	26	70	Find a GE free icecream using the resources suggested. Have Greenpeace send you out some True Food Guides. Great video outlining issues: 'Future of Food' movie
Palm oil	Chips	60	60	68	27	Often really hard to find palm oil free alternatives. But also really important as Orangutans only have short time before their habitat is gone if current practice continues.
Organics	Health food or fresh veg	36		47	46	See if you can find a certified organic product?
Packaging	Biscuits	60	43	68	33	Hard to get biscuits that's aren't 'double' packaged. Can you find one?
Factory Farming	Eggs	12		16	44	What's the difference between regular (caged) eggs, Barn-laid, and Free-range? more
Recycled paper	Toilet paper	53	73	61	61
Food Miles	Canned beans	33	16	41	66	I use Heinz beans as an example, having travelled 3,131kms from New Zealand; or Lipton's tea travelling 8,259kms from India. More info at CERES report
Fairtrade	Chocolate	62	62	68	69
Fairtrade	Coffee	26	27	30	31
Company Record	Museli	18	6 &7 and rest	22	10&11 and rest	I usually make example of criticisms and Boycott Call with Nestle, sharing info from p.8. As the largest global food company Nestle have many brands - including Uncle Toby's (p.18). They made 7.6 billion dollars profit in 2007 which was 14% growth on the previous year. Imagine your own body growing 14% each year. Huge power = huge responsibility

I suggest as you shop emphasising the concept of 'best buy'. Know what you're looking for. Take on one issue at a time. Know that a 'Best buy” is about prioritising what we value. You may want to find a local organic option but in reality you may need to trade off one issue for another. See your positive choices as 'glass half full' rather than ' glass half empty'. Every change to your shopping list for the better is just that – a positive change.

Also allow time for people to tell you and others of their experiences, struggles and perspectives. Often solutions or alternatives come from someone else who's asked the same sorts of questions.

Part 3. Own task (10 minutes)

Once you have gone through your three issues, then divide people into pairs and have them do a similar process with an item of their own choosing – something that they buy regularly. Have them:
1) ask what is it's story – what do we know about this product?
2) choose a 'best buy' when looking at company record (use the ratings in the guide)
3) introduce one other criteria and look for a best buy according to that. Usually one of the issues you've already discussed.

So you're repeating what you've just done in Part 2, but with them choosing the product and issue.

Part 4. Wrap up (10 minutes)

Gather as a whole group again. Ask how they found it, what did they learn, how would they include this in their own shopping practices. Celebrate their good purchases. Restate the principles. Finish up with affirming that 'every good choice makes a difference' and that with todays purchases, they have just taken a huge step in reclaiming their shopping basket!

Good luck. Email or call me with questions or to let me know how you go. I'd love to know. Nick 0417 114 492