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Ethical living

Discover eco friendly brands and sustainable fashion on our Ethical Living forum.

Can someone tell me where I can found out which shops/companies have good records for fairtrade/not using child labour etc

15 replies

DANCESwithHughJackman · 05/10/2007 14:04

I've heard matalan and Gap are bad for these things but I'd like to see a more comprehensive list. Thanks

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Moomin · 05/10/2007 14:10

Haven't got comprhehensive list - I'm sure someone else will... BUt my friend's sis-in-law used to be a buyer for Mothercare and she used to go to the far East to inspect factories and make sure there was no child labour and a fair wage for workers, etc. so M'care is ethical in that respect - but she said that the factories Primark use are well dodgy (I.H.Professional.O. of course before we get sued!)

motherinferior · 05/10/2007 14:12

Try looking both at Ethiscore (you'll need to sign up for it) and at Labour Behind the Label.

Interestingly, Gap has improved its performance considerably in response to consumer lobbying.

motherinferior · 05/10/2007 14:13

There are also the companies like Gossypium, Spirit of Nature, Hug, and People Tree which specifically aim for fair trade stuff; and M&S is doing fairly well on that score too.

DANCESwithHughJackman · 05/10/2007 14:13

find out, not found...just re-read my title thanks. Will have a quick look at the places you suggested. Interesting to know about mothercare too, thanks.

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DANCESwithHughJackman · 05/10/2007 14:14

Ah, I want high street companies rather than specialists really.

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Elizabetth · 05/10/2007 14:29

The Co-op does a lot with Fair Trade. Also it's owned by its customers not by shareholders so it's also an ethical business model in itself.

Callisto · 06/10/2007 21:13

Next and M&S have a small fairtrade range of clothes, all M&S chocolate is ethically sourced (despite not having fairtrade status). Traidcraft have a brilliant range of clothes, jewels, gifts etc: www.traidcraft.co.uk/

I think a good rule of thumb if you don't know is ask yourself why something is so cheap and have a look at where it was made.

bobsmum · 08/10/2007 13:21

Good Shopping Guide or "gooshing' is worth a google.

bobsmum · 08/10/2007 13:23

www.thegoodshoppingguide.co.uk/

www.gooshing.co.uk/ - type in what you're looking for and the more responsible companies will be shown.

Highlander · 09/10/2007 16:02

Crikey, Next do rather well, don't they?

I wouldn't have thought that any clothing company that sources stuff from China would have a good environmental score

Desiderata · 09/10/2007 16:10

The Co-op ethically sources all its products.

Skyler · 09/10/2007 16:16

Wow, I don't feel so bad for being a Next girl now. Glad to see H&M is up there too though human rights is a bit of a biggie go wrong on.
I do my big shop at Tesco, but use the Co-op for as much else as I can and get a veg box to try to cancel the Tesco bit out....Is is like offsetting my carbon footprint (wishful thinking)

Skyler · 09/10/2007 16:19

I iwsh I could afford to shop at Waitrose or M&S.....At least Tesco is a ? not a X.

Callisto · 10/10/2007 11:22

Mix and match Skyler - I can't afford M&S but I get fish from there, meat from the local butcher, veg from a very local box scheme etc. I am buying less and less from tesco.

Skyler · 10/10/2007 11:30

Yes I read something today about fish sources. I think M&S and Waitrose are the only ones to stock wholly MSC certified fish so that will be something for me to look at.

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