Ethical Supermarket Shopping List by Catherine- Sunday, 12 August 2012, 12:50 PM

Ok. So Becca and I were talking in class the other day about how we don't particularly like shopping in supermarkets. Mainly due to their market dominance driving out small, local stores/producers and the unsustainable/unethical range of products they sell. Unfortunately we don't always have the time to go from store to store getting all the shopping that we need and some products just aren't available any where else but supermarkets. In class we've spoken about making positive changes at an individual level, so I thought it would be a good idea to start a post where we can share information about different products supplied in supermarkets. This could include fair trade or environmentally friendly products, or even things to avoid like ingredients such as palm oil.

I eat a lot of fish and when I don't have any fresh stuff at home canned tuna is the next best thing. Here's a guide to ethically and sustainably caught tuna I found on the Greenpeace website:

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/what-we-do/oceans/Take-action/canned-tuna-guide/

I'm interested to see what else is available in supermarkets so if anyone has anything to share that would be great!

Great link, Catherine.

I will make sure to be conscious of ethics when I buy tuna.

Trying to buy products made locally is a good way to shop too. For example, I usually buy the Aussie Carman's brand for cereal and muesli bars: http://www.carmanskitchen.com.au/about-us

A small local business that grew due to their awesomeness! ;P

Thanks for you response Rebecca!

I agree buying local products is good too - supporting local businesses and usually from a more sustainable source in terms of transport, etc.

I love Carmen's museli! Have it for breakfast every morning.

There is an article in todays Age about the work culture at Carman's based on trust. http://theage.digitaleditions.com.au/mycareer/LandingPage/LandingPage.aspx?href=QUdFQ0FSRUVSLzIwMTIvMDgvMTg.&pageno=NA..&entity=QXIwMDQwNA..&view=ZW50aXR5 No wonder the muesli tastes so good!

Hi Guys,

Not sure if this fits into what you were thinking also. I attended a session on human trafficking at the Uni a couple of weeks back and the presenter was discussing corporate responsibility among larger corporations to review their chain of suppliers for violations that would contravene labor rights, etc...

She identified a number of groups that provide this type of information:

BEST - Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking:

http://www.bestalliance.org/tag/businesses-ending-slavery-and-trafficking/

Demand the Brand + slavefree

http://www.callandresponse.com/slavefree/

Fair Trade Certified:

http://www.fta.org.au/

Chain Store Reaction:

http://chainstorereaction.com.au/

It makes you wonder at times, just what happens to get us the products we want....

Thanks for the links Kerry! It just goes to show the disconnection between the consumer, the product and the worker that exists these days. Karl Marx called this process alienation, I think...

Upon the mention of Karl Marx, I just could not refrain from saying something. Sorry! Yes this encompasses several of the 4 forms of alienation (or enstrangement) that Marx has identified and written about. (1) Alienation from the product of one's labour (2) Alienation from one another (3) Alienation from one's self---see in the mirror and you don't see yourself (4) Alienation from nature (perhaps why we are facing ecological catstrophe).

Haha Alberto!

I was actually anticipating a reply from you upon the mention of Marx's name. We all know you're a big fan. Thanks for the clarification!

Just another brief note - one of the most interesting topics within this discussion and presentation was the analysis and trial of ethical practices in California - while only one state in the US it has the 8th largest economy in the world.

Corporations there with multibillion dollar annual turnovers are being invited to show the public the actions they take in relation to trafficking and labor violations among their chain of suppliers... The random selection of the businesses that was undertaken showed that each of the corporations had chosen this option...

A statement to say that simply they were doing nothing about it.....

This was a legitimate choice and indicated legitimate compliance with the concepts of this particular code of ethical conduct - not doing anything was a choice BUT it had to be publicly stated and made available on the company's websites and in consumer reports, etc.....

Clearly it is a work in progress.....

Thanks Kerry, I'd be interested in reading more about this - is there a report/website that I could check out?