Updated Shop Ethical! guide
“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". We're pleased to announce the newly updated Shop Ethical! pocket guide is hot off the press. A fantastic resource for helping your family and friends lighten their impact, and match their shopping habits with the things they care about. The pocket guide makes a thoughtful Christmas gift, stocking stuffer or Kris Kringle. > Available at ethical.org.au/shop > help spread the word with our Media kit. A big thanks to Etiko, Biome and Nuttvia for supporting this publication.
Break Free From Plastic
“By continuing to churn out problematic and unrecyclable throwaway plastic packaging for their products, these companies are guilty of trashing the planet on a massive scale". Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé were the most frequent companies identified in 239 cleanups and brand audits spanning 42 countries and six continents. Break Free From Plastic is calling on corporations to reduce their use of single-use plastic, and redesign delivery systems to minimise or eliminate packaging. > Find your own plastic-free and zero-waste alternatives for the home at Biome.
Call for a sweatshop tax
In a country like Bangladesh, the difference between a government sanctioned ‘minimum’ wage and a living wage, is nearly 200%. Nick Savadis from Etkio suggests it's time we started paying a sweatshop tax. "Fashion is cheaper today than it ever was before. Big businesses allow for workers to work in horrendously dangerous conditions for ridiculously low wages." Etiko is a family business selling fairtrade certified apparel, and sports balls. > Sign Oxfam's pledge to demand big brands pay a living wage. > Find out more about sweatshops and the real cost of clothing at Shop Ethical! Clothing.
Palm oil ad banned
UK supermarket Iceland Foods has had their Christmas advert, highlighting the devastation caused by palm oil products, banned. It contained the Greenpeace 'Rang-tan' animation and was deemed 'too political'. A petition to see it un-banned has gained over 670,000 signatures. Earlier this year Iceland Foods was the first supermarket to pledge to go plastic-free on own brand products. > Find out more about palm oil free products. > Choose products such as Nuttvia, a hazelnut spread that is free from palm oil and low in sugar.
Executive pay - out of control
Last month Telstra received a huge shareholder revolt over its CEO’s $4.5 million pay package. In July the Australian Council for Superannuation Investors' annual CEO survey - looking at the salaries of Australia’s top 100 CEOs - found CEO pay rising by 12.4 per cent in just one year. Australia's highest-paid CEO is earning 435 times the average wage. Understandably, the majority of people would like to see these salaries capped. > See the Australia Institute’s Executive Pay in Australia report. > See our Values Screen and filter under 'finance' for specific company criticism and praises.
Quick Bites
Choice's 13th annual Shonkys Awards. The three big winners (losers!) this year were CommBank’s Dollarmites, Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain ‘To Go’ range and portacots which failed key safety tests.
»
Choice
Personal care giant Procter & Gamble has announced it will cease sales of the badger-haired brushes sold via its The Art of Shaving brand due to a PETA exposé that highlighted the cruelty inflicted on the animals in Chinese badger farms.
»
Global Cosmetics
Yumi, maker of gluten-free, non-dairy dips and snacks, has been sold to George Weston Foods, whose brands include Tip Top and Don. George Weston is a subsidiary of the multinational Associated British Foods.
»
Ausfoodnews
Consolidation of international sugar comes with US agribusiness Bunge selling its sugar trading operations to Singapore-based Wilmar International. Wilmar purchased Sucrogen, now the largest sugar producer in Australia, in 2010.
»
Reuters
The National Sustainable Living Festival runs from 1st - 28th Feb 2019, and will be celebrating 20 years of positive action for change. Play a part in seeing the uptake of sustainable living. Applications to run an event or become a venue partner are open!
»
SLF
You are receiving this update because you signed
up through the Shop Ethical! app or website
previous updates
| unsubscribe | donate
Your dollar is your vote - Make it count!