Ethical shopping

November 12, 2007 | Filed Under Do your research!, Learn something 

For the past few years, I’ve been a big fan of Chuck Taylor’s.  As one of my favorite shoes, it’s become a quintessential character piece for me.  So imagine my shock when I found out that Nike owns the company.  Ghastly horror.  I’ve had this vow not to buy Nike because of their sweatshop labor.  Then someone pointed out that I don’t know who makes anything and that I may as well buy Nike because the other shoe companies are engaged in it too. 

In that case, what do I buy?  How do I know that my dollars are going towards products created with practices I believe in?  Thanks to Consumer Ethics, Inc., which also operates HybridCars.com, and their website EthicalShopping.com, those of us that care can be pointed in other directions.

It’s not Chuck Taylor that I share a connection with, but the style of the shoe.  Lucky for me, No Sweat Apparel makes their own version.

EthicalShopping lists companies you’ll feel comfortable supporting and companies that you won’t and should boycott.   Money is one of the three sources of power.  Where you spend yours does have an impact on what’s available in the market and what practices business comply with.  The site could use more frequent posts and collaborations with like-minded people and companies to expand itself into the source it could be.  Check it out.

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