Take on an issue each month - find resources, take action! (... more at Be Inspired)
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January
BUY USED OR REPAIR
Give a second life, save money, reduce waste
This month, avoid buying new
Look for clothing at your local op shop. Explore online buying sites such as Gumtree & eBay.
Have items repaired to extend its life of what you already have.
Learn a new repair skill yourself.
February
BUY LOCAL
Reduce kms, save energy, lower carbon footprint
This month, buy local
Inventory your pantry and wardrobe. What items are imported? Ask your retailer where their produce comes from.
Choose local and seasonal. Visit a farmers’ market in your area.
March
REDUCE WASTE
Minimise, live lightly, save resources
This month, reduce waste
Minimising packaging. Recycle what you can’t avoid.
Buy in bulk. Bring your own reusable shopping bags and containers.
Visit a local food coop.
April
CLEAN WITHOUT CHEMICALS
Avoid toxics, go biodegradable, stay healthy
This month, clean without chemicals
Look for biodegradable, non -toxic household cleaning products.
Try home-mixed cleaners made from baking soda, or lemon & vinegar. Used with a little elbow grease.
May
CHOOSE SLAVE-FREE
Go certified, non-exploitative, coffee, chocolate, clothing
This month, choose slave-free
Look for chocolate and coffee products that are UTZ, Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certified.
Look for clothing that is Fairwear or ECA accredited.
June
CHOOSE AUSTRALIAN OWNED
Keep jobs, skills, dollars & decisions in Oz
This month, choose Australian-owned
Support Oz owned companies to help keep jobs, skills, profits and decisions in Australia.
Australian-owned companies are more likely to invest infrastructure dollars in local economies & support local communities.
July
CHOOSE FREE RANGE
For happy, roaming chickens & pigs
This month, choose real free-range
Look for free range eggs with a credible certification (RSPCA, ACO, Humane Choice, FREPA), and stocking density of less than 1500 hens per hectare.
Better still, support your local egg farmers directly.
August
EAT LESS MEAT
Compassion, pollution, habitat, health
This month, eat less meat
One of the most effective things you can do to reduce your environmental impact is to reduce your meat and dairy consumption or, even better, commit to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
September
GO ORGANIC
Soil care with less chemicals, pesticides & fertilisers
This month, go organic
Choose produce that is certified organic or biodynamic (ACO, NASSA, DEMETER).
Choose fruits and vegies that are low in pesticide use when organic isn’t available.
October
CHOOSE RECYCLED PAPER
Second life, save energy, water & trees
This month, choose recycled paper
Look for toilet paper & tissue made from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.
Choosing recycled paper products saves water, energy & trees, and creates a market for waste paper.
November
CHOOSE CRUELTY FREE
No animal testing for cosmetics & cleaning
This month, choose cruelty free
Look for body care & cosmetic products that have not been tested on animals.
Testing rests on the contradiction ‘because animals are like us’ testing is useful, yet ‘because they are not like us’ it is morally okay.
December
CHOOSE INDEPENDENT RETAIL
Support the local economy & community
This month, support independent retailers
Shop at supermarkets such as IGA and Foodworks over Coles and Woolworths.
Find out about the farmers’ markets, food co-ops and small grocers that operate in your area.
Adapted from the centrespread of the 2016 Shop Ethical! pocket guide. Uses responsive template by Creative Tim, made with for a better web. Works on Google Chrome and Firefox. May work on other browsers. Does some funny things on some tablets. See how you go! More at Shop Ethical! Issues.