Ethical shopping ideas for 2020

I’m a big champion of companies who are working hard to be eco-conscious. So I’m delighted to have a guest post from a new business owner who is all about sustainability. Amy from Aubrey Bay has shared her top ethical shopping ideas.

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In 2020, it’s becoming increasingly common to discuss everything from reusable water bottles to the benefits of a plant-based diet. The amount of information available on ethical living, and buying, is growing fast. We are much more aware of our impact on the world around us. However, adopting ethical purchasing can still be easier said than done.

Here are five ideas to make the move to ethical shopping.

Choose quality over quantity

I know I’ve been guilty of buying into the idea of fast fashion. Fast fashion is defined as cheap, trendy clothing. It takes ideas from celebrity culture or the catwalk and turns them into clothes in high street stores at breakneck speed.

There is another way of buying, one which is kinder to the environment.

By combining the expertise of our personal style and the assessment of fashion choices with a critical eye, we can buy for longevity. Will I be able to wear this next month? Next year?

If the piece is well designed and made, we can save time and money by buying curated go-to wardrobe items for the long term.

Check out the company’s website

A website can be a great place to assess whether a company commits to ethical and sustainable policies.

In the UK, there are several companies who promote ethical product policies. for instance, Lush has amazingly sweet-smelling products. They also commit to minimising packaging and supporting popular sustainability groups.

These companies will often publish this information in easily accessible areas on their website such as their ‘about page’.

Choose ethical fabrics

There are a few things to look out for when it comes to clothes and household fabrics. Choose those which easily broken down in landfills and have been created in a more environmentally thoughtful way.

Organic cotton is produced using fewer pesticides and less bleaching chemicals. Likewise, organic wool is made using sustainable farming practices such as removing toxic sheep dipping.

While choosing organic fabrics in the home can be a challenge, it’s a great start to know that these are available.

Recycle through donation

Us Brits send over 200 million tonnes of clothes every year to UK landfills.

It’s easy to collect clothes over time. Rather than having a burgeoning wardrobe full of clothes you may never wear again, have a clean out and give them to charity.

There are many charities in the UK with a high-street presence. Some will even come to your door making it super easy to donate.

Not only is such giving good for your wardrobe, it’s also great for your wellbeing by giving back to society through a kind, charitable act.

Invest in responsible beauty

Many of us buy fair-trade foods, but what about extending this to the beauty cabinet?

Sustainable beauty is a hot topic as brands move toward healthier ingredients and better, more sustainable packing.

You don’t even need to veto convenience as some of the changes can be simple. For example, biodegradable face wipes are gaining popularity due to the well-document adverse effects of wet wipes on the environment.

Ethical shopping ideas for 2020, wrapped up

And that’s my top tips for buying ethically in 2020. While not always easy, when we all make small steps then amazing changes can happen. I’d love to hear what you do when shopping ethically? Please leave your comments below.