The Green Directory - Australia's Green Business Directory

Most people think slavery ended centuries ago. The fact is however; there are more slaves today than all of those enslaved in the past - combined!!! Moselle Clothing and other ethical clothing companies are tackling this horror head on. Moselle is not just an ordinary company; their employees are all women who have been rescued from slavery. It exists to make a difference in women’s lives; they train women to sew, help them realize bigger dreams and let them have a job where they are not being abused. Behind every t-shirt is the story of a woman that has been given a chance at a life with dignity.Women rescued from the harsh and ugly conditions of forced labour now make the clothing and bags in Moselle’s range. By providing a market for these organic cotton t-shirts and bags, sustainable employment is now provided for a highly vulnerable and marginalized group of women

Eco-labels, Green ratings what to look for Many of us would prefer to buy products that have a lower overall environmental impact. Making thoughtful choices when purchasing goods can significantly reduce our environmental impacts. It may also shape the future of business if companies begin to see competitive advantages in producing more sustainable products then they are likely to work harder in this area. Many products are marketed as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’ or ‘biodegradable’ but how is this regulated and what should we be looking for? The listing on Green Beings provides details of recognisable eco-labels, what they mean and where to go to access further information http://www.greenbeings.com.au/tips/eco-labels.aspx

Making moves towards a less consumption-oriented lifestyle-There is an increasing interest in living more simply and more fairly. Many groups have formed around these ideals of a simpler more thoughtful lifestyle and they offer ideas and support to those who wish to take similar action. Here are a few sites that can serve as useful starting points. The Simpler Way, Aussies Living Simply The Self Sufficiency Pages.

Things You Can Do To Improve Your Ethical Footprint 1. Support Local Businesses Instead of grabbing that coffee or lunch from one of a large chain of stores consider making a stop at a nearby locally owned coffee shop or a family-owned business for that part of your daily routine. By supporting these local businesses, you are ensuring that they will able to stay afloat despite the larger chains 2 Boycott There are some obvious companies that are unethical in the way they make their products. If you simply stop shopping at these places you will be decreasing the demand for a product By making it a priority to shop at places that are ethical, you are actually encouraging those companies to stay that way and encouraging others to follow. This will make it easier for those that are doing the right thing to continue . You can also try shopping at op shops. Even though the clothes might have come from unethical companies originally, by buying from second-hand stores you are helping decrease the demand and reducing waste. 3. Educate Yourself Learn more!! by doing research on the many ethical shopping sites on the internet 4. Ask Ask retailers about where their clothing was made and what the conditions were like in those factories. Ask about what actions the manufacturers are taking to be environmentally responsible. Even if they don’t know the answer, if enough people question them it will apply some pressure and increase interest. 5. Recycle If something is no longer of use to you any more, try to find a new home for it before getting rid of it. Op-shops, Free Cycle, swapping with friends. Become more creative! 6. Only Buy What You Need Excessive purchases waste money and only damage your ethical footprint.

Australian shoppers are becoming more aware of the impact that their shopping has on the environment. Shoppers these days have greater social conscience about their habits. A survey conducted of Asian/Pacific region, including both Australia and Africa, shows that more buyers than ever before considered the social character of the company whose products they were purchasing. Around 60-70% of customers are now willing to do more research and pay a little more money to find products that are environmentally friendly. Buyers are not willing to be as socially conscious about all of their shopping however. They are more likely to care about environmentally friendly products than ones that help alleviate world poverty, The perception is that environmentally friendly products make a difference, whereas supporting others through purchasing choices doesnt help. The study found that men and women seem to be relatively equal in terms of their social conscience. It is important to note that the study was a survey asking customers if they considered factors like being socially responsible as a deciding factor of where to shop or what to purchase. Whether or not these numbers mirror actual shopping statistics is another matter. The study does show an important shift in the perceptions of Australian consumers. More and more individuals are developing an awareness of their impact on society and the environment. And they are willing to change their habits to make a difference in the world. Australia needs to do more to encourage the social and environmental awareness of Australian consumers. People need to become more aware of the impact of consumption on the environment . Not only is this needed to be taken into account but it needs to be supported with changes to consumption habits. There is still a major gap between awareness and action when it comes to making decisions. We are certainly taking a step in the right direction, but we are not there yet

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Where are the things we purchase made? Who are they made by? What types of conditions do these people work in? And how much are they paid? There is so little available information about how, where and under what conditions goods, sold in Australia, are produced. The Anti-Slavery Project is developing resources to help Australian consumers and companies to make more ethical choices about their purchasing habits. If you would like to be involved in developing this area -. http://www.antislavery.org.au

Encouraging Conscious Consumerism Now is a great time for any business that wants to make a difference to begin thinking about the message they convey. It is not only a matter of preaching to the converted, but also to a large part of the market who want to change but need educating. Before you look at your communication, you need to understand the motivations of your customer. Try sending out surveys, set up blogs, do some social networking and you’ll build up a wealth of knowledge giving you a better idea of how to deliver meaningful messages that they understand and care about. Before you can motivate this market, you need to make your product something they aspire to. You need to convince this audience that your product does something worthy. Make your message, simple, and tangible. Connect with your audience by relating the benefits to them on a personal level: it may be about their health, reducing their monthly energy and water costs, improving their environment, helping others or adding to their own quality of life. It is all about how the consumer to feels when they buy and use a product. When you connect with them on an emotional level they can feel the benefits that sustainable products deliver. Make your customers feel that they can truly make a change with their choices. People are generally discerning about their purchase decisions and they want to be informed. We all need to feel comfortable with our decisions, so be patient and find ways to educate your audience and create trust and awareness.

Clean living in a dirty world by Julian Lee A landmark investigation of Australia's ethical track record, this book also shows how you can make a difference. Climate change is wreaking havoc. Water shortages are a permanent fixture. The nuclear debate is getting nasty. Every few weeks a new story about the horrors of battery hens hits the papers. It's hard to buy a pair of sneakers without thinking about the 12 year old who made them and imagining the kind of conditions in which she is working. Sometimes so much seems to be going wrong with the world that it's hard to know how to do the right thing. In this lively, witty, and important book, Julian Lee takes the ethical temperature of Australia. Along the way he takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the main stakeholders in the drive for better living in this country, from organic farmers and fast-food franchises to ethical investors and fair-trade gurus. He explains how to separate the fraudsters from the ethical fire brands and along the way he establishes how every one of us can make a difference. Random House Australia, 2008 - 320 pages

Many of us are concerned about the environment and want to include our concerns into the way we shop but how do we make our shopping more ethical? Use Public Transport/ Ride a Bike If the shops aren’t within walking distance catching a train, tram or bus is a way of sharing resources. Not only are you doing your part for the environment, but you’ll save money on petrol too. Riding the bike when you can is free, healthy and does no harm to the environment. Reusable Shopping Bags Take your own reusable bags. Many people throw plastic bags away when they get home and the bags either don’t degrade or take a very long time to naturally degrade. Do your part and don’t use plastic bags. Buy local Buying locally grown produce means that you’re eradicating the need for the goods to be transported from other parts of the country. Buying local reduces our carbon footprint . Recycle There are plenty of eco-friendly products on the market which are made out of recycled materials. Awareness about energy use is on the increase, and as demand for recycled items grows, the price is falling. Op shops are a great way to recycle either items you no longer need or to acquire “ new” without extra resources and energy being wasted. Shop Fair-trade By looking for the fair-trade logo on products like coffee, chocolate, tea, crafts, bags and clothing, you are actively supporting fair treatment of workers across the globe. Fair-trade goods are no longer more expensive and are often organically grown. Demand for many items has grown so it has become possible for retailers to offer these products are a lower cost. When the cost is higher, you will be safe in the knowledge that the price is to ensure that the people who make the products earn a decent living. You will find the Fair-trade logo on many products so always keep an eye out for the Fair-Trade symbol