When it comes to adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle, there is no single place that you have more control than in your home, where you can decide what comes in and what goes out (not to mention where it comes from and where it goes to).

It is your choice whether or not to recycle, to purchase organic food and textiles, to conserve energy and water, to re-purpose old furnishing or donate them to charitable organizations (rather than throwing them away), and to shop for home goods from vendors that embrace eco-friendly practices and materials. So when it’s time to renovate your home, it is you who decides just how green you want to become.

And there are plenty of options for the homeowner looking to make the process a little less harmful to the environment. Depending on the scope of your renovations, your best option may be to hire a company or contractor that specializes in green building projects. These people are well acquainted with the latest advances in green building practices and materials (local, renewable, sustainable, and so on) and they can help you to find the options that work for your home and your budget.

On the other hand, hiring a contractor can be a fairly pricey proposition in and of itself. Although large or complex jobs may require the skills and experience that a contractor (and crew) bring to the job, there are also several things you can do on your own to spend less as you make your house more valuable and appealing in an eco-friendly way.
For example, you may need to bring in the pros to tackle major plumbing issues, but you can probably install low-flow toilets and aerated taps on your own with nothing more than a comprehensive home repair guide and a few tools. And if you ask demo crews to stay their hand when removing cabinetry, you won’t have to pay them for cleanup; you can haul intact cabinets to a vendor that specializes in refurbishing usable items for resale. You can even assemble your own solar panels (for about a fifth of what it costs to have them professionally installed), although you’ll have to do some research to learn how.

You can also use reclaimed hardwoods throughout your space for flooring, cabinets, furnishings, and so on, and even create an eco-friendly exterior by landscaping with drought-resistant native plants as well as growing trees that will provide shade in the summer, a wind-break in the winter, and extra oxygen all year-round.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Morrison Hershfield, the leader in innovative, eco-friendly and cost effective engineering projects.

Rubber Mulch

Rubber mulch is the newest in gardening and playground equipment and it’s being used everywhere, from the White House to backyard playgrounds. The flooring of old in playgrounds was a combination of blacktop, wood chips, and grass. Rubber mulch is the new and improved version, and is made by recycling old tires. This practice saves an enormous amount of space in landfills, and gives useless rubber tires new lives.

Rubber flooring for playgrounds and gardens comes in many colors that don’t fade or get children dirty, and is odor free. The mulch also comes in various forms, with Playsafer rubber chips, rubber mulch bond which forms a solid floor, and rubber wearmats for extra shock absorbency in areas of high impact. Rubber mulch is hailed as a safer playground flooring option for the extra absorbency it provides, preventing injuries.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is the new hardwood, or the new version of virtually any floor style. Most commonly used to imitate hardwood, laminate is a lot more affordable and eco-friendly because it is not composed of real wood, and causes no deforestation. Laminate tiles are made of four layers. The third layer is an image of the flooring to be depicted, while the fourth and topmost layer is a sealant that allows laminate floors to last for years. Laminate is known to look like an exact copy of the flooring it is imitating, at a fraction of the price. It is also easier to maintain.

Recycled Glass Tiles

Many companies offer glass tiles for use in bathrooms and other decorative purposes, with a twist. The tiles are made out of recycled glass. Recycled glass tiles are made using various methods based on the manufacturer. Basically, cracked glass is crushed and mixed with a solution of other substances that are then baked in kilns or ovens. The resulting tiles look exactly like those that are made without recyclable materials, smooth and glossy. Recycled glass tiles also come in an impressive variety of colors, textures, and designs to suit every need.

Decorating and renovations today can easily be cost effectively and eco-friendly. From the backyard or garden, where rubber mulch is used, to the laminate flooring in the master bedroom, every aspect can be environmentally responsible with little effort.

Bio:

Fay Rose is a mother and avid advocator of rubber mulch playground flooring and other eco-friendly flooring options that are practical in more ways than one.

Leading a “green” existence is not hard to do. In fact, we can make a difference by just being more informed and aware of the effects of our actions. Did you know, for instance, that stormwater that is improperly managed is a major source of water pollution?

When it rains in populated areas, most of the time the water has nowhere to go. Often, human activities in urban and rural areas alike cover the area in impervious surfaces — packed dirt, concrete, asphalt, or roofs — that don’t absorb much of anything.

The stormwater then turns to runoff, flowing across streets or gutters and eventually into a storm drain, or across fields into irrigation systems. But along the way, the water picks up a lot of chemicals and contaminants — like phosphorus (from fertilizers), heavy metals and pesticides. Eventually this water ends up in lakes, rivers, oceans or reservoirs, where it can be harmful to both wildlife and humans. In fact, in areas along the coast, polluted runoff is the number one contributor of water pollution.

But why is it so important to keep these dangerous pollutants and chemicals out of major bodies of water? Firstly, it will keep the plants and organisms healthy. Clean water is probably the single most important factor in keeping an ecosystem vibrant and healthy.

Polluted water is also dangerous for human populations. It’s estimated that polluted water is currently the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and accounts for over 14,000 deaths each day. In America, it is estimated that 32-47 percent of our bodies of water are contaminated. With so many costs to both ourselves and the environment, we can’t afford to ignore the dangers of polluted runoff.

This is why it is so important for individuals and communities to have a plan for dealing with runoff water. Luckily, there are small and simple changes that can make a big difference. There are some great stormwater filtration systems that make the process a no-brainer. A simple sand filter can greatly improve the quality of runoff water and decrease levels of contaminants.

A water filtration system is often installed at the mouth storm drains or other draining systems. Usually they have two chambers. The first is a settling chamber, where the water is separate from silt, trash or other debris. After settling, the water enters the filtration chamber, which usually utilizes vegetated filter strips, sand filters, or bioretention to remove pollutants, or a combination of these. Most harmful pollutants and contaminants are filtered out of the water.

A stormwater filtration system is an easy way to make sure that our water resources stay clean. You can help by reducing the amount of harmful products you use outside, whether it’s on your lawn, roof, driveway, or in your garden. Check out what kind of filtration systems you have in your community. Contact your representatives and suggest that they install a stormwater filtration system. See what local businesses are doing to cut down on pollutants and ensure that they are keeping the environment green and clean.

Sometimes it can feel like that many global issues are beyond our control but there are some simple ways that you can start to move yourself ‘off grid’ and feel more independent of the state and all it entails.

So come and explore that feeling of freedom – you remember freedom don’t you?

Make your own energy
Sounds hard but it’s becoming easier and easier to produce power on a micro scale. One of the big factors to consider is weather you want a system that’s based on the 110v-240v power that domestic homes use in the USA and Europe use or if you want to switch to a low voltage system as you find in camper vans and the like, which are usually based around appliances that use 12 volt direct current.

When we talk about direct current we should also mention batteries, these aren’t double AA batteries either, these are the big monster ones that need two people to carry. But these savings can be monumental when you start to think about what you use in the day to day running of a house.

Solar can help with water heating as well as electricity and cooking can be achieved with wood stoves depending on access to well managed sources.

Hydro electricity can also be achieved on a small scale to produce a continual source of energy if you have access to flowing water on your site. Alternatively you can build a small pump storage hydro electricity set up that let’s gravity do the hard work for you – but you will need a slope.

Using the resources that are available within your environment, be it central London or the Arizonian desert, can let you tap into power that’s always around us. After your initial outlay it will also help to keep your money in your pocket too, so think of it as an investment in your future.

Use less
If you’re an average household in the western hemisphere you are probably using far more energy than you really need. Are all your light bulbs low energy ones? Do you have ‘smart plugs’ that cut the power of appliances that are on stand by? Can you add more electric devices to a power strip, so you only have one switch to turn off when you’re not using them? Do you try and make the most of the public transport facilities that are around you? Could you sell the car? Honestly the car! That’s a big one, but it can be done, especially in urban communities.

Washing and drying clothes can be a huge drain on your resources so think about how you go about your laundry – do you really need to use the tumble dryer? Can you utilize the lower temperature washes that most machines now offer? Test and see what the lowest temperature you can wash your clothes is at.

Insulate more… much more
The more insulation you have in your home the less you will spend on heating and cooling it. How do people live in the far North of Scandinavia and other sub zero areas? They insulate, lots and lots. The more insulation you can stuff into your house especially in the roof area,the better. So if you can trap the hot air from escaping you can save big time. The same principal applies for cooling your home, keep the cool in and block the heat out.

Grow your own food
It can be a daunting task for the uninitiated but it’s do-able in even some of the most hostile environments and with limited resources. Many societies have stopped living with the seasons and are more reliant on large chain supermarkets for all their food.

Things don’t have to be so dominated by the few; you can grow potatoes in pots on patios and grow beans up the sides of buildings. Research what grows well in your area and get out and see if there are spare pieces of land that you can use to grown food on or simply buy a grow bag and store wherever you can.

Hopefully these few simple ideas will spark your interest in moving to a more sustainable way of living.

Do lots of research
Depending where you live, or want to live, you will no doubt have to jump through countless hoops of bureaucracy to live the simple life that you want. Unfortunately there is not much getting out of this, especially when it comes to planning permission, so make sure you do your research. Get online and follow your curiosity, contact others who are already living off grid and learn how they did it. If you can visit a house that is already off grid you can see how it’s done and learn from their mistakes. It isn’t easy but then the things that are really worth doing in life never are!

Ciaran Oliver is Guest Posting here on behalf of Yale composite doors who supply and manufacture back and front doors that adhere to strict governmental U-value legislation to lower the amount of energy that households and businesses use to cool or heat their property.

Cheap and inexpensive products directly affect and fuel consumerism. North Americans have become addicted to the chronic purchasing of new goods and services while paying little attention to the true need, value, durability, or environmental consequences of manufacture and disposal.

We are living in a throwaway society which can be bettered only if people put mindful consumption into practice. Only then will consumerism, and the wasteful use of energy, material, money, and human time and stress, diminish accordingly. Mindful consumption can be achieved easily if these three guidelines are followed:

1. Slow down
2. Concentrate on one task at a time
3. Get resourceful and learn how to fix or repair what you already have

When you focus on what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, other distractions and influences are reduced. Don’t buy something right away; take a day or two to think about if you really need it. If you conclude that it is something you need, make a long term purchase decision. With higher quality products you pay a bit more money up front but actually end up saving money in the long run.

High quality products last longer, and when they do get worn out they can be repaired, refinished, or re-upholstered. Also with the readily available resources on the internet, you can save more money by doing the repair yourself! There are tons of instructions all over the internet with easy step by step guides that only require you to have a bit of patience, and minimal skill.

In the U.S. 25.5 million tons of durable goods (appliances, furniture, clothing, and machinery) are discarded every year. Since appliances are major household costs and are frequently thrown away filling up landfills unnecessarily, let’s take a look at the top three problems that go wrong with them and see just how easy and inexpensive it really is to repair them yourself. If you think doing your own repairs would do more harm than good, think again!

Repair #1: Front Dryer Drum Slide
A common appliance to experience troubles is the dryer. One of the most common dryer problems is an ear deafening screeching or squealing sound. You may think that your dryer needs to be replaced but all you probably need is a new dryer drum slide, a Phillips screw driver and a #2 square head/ Robertson’s screw driver.

Part Cost: approx. $6
Difficulty: Easy

Take a look at this video; the entire repair will only take 10-30 minutes depending on your experience.


Repair #2: Defrost Heater Harness Kit
A common issue that can cause big problems for keeping our groceries cool is when fridges just stop cooling. And if the defrost doesn’t seem to be working or if the freezer is covered in ice, this could be a pre-symptom that your fridge is going to stop cooling sometime soon. But you guessed it – this doesn’t mean it’s time to buy a new fridge. Most likely you just need to replace the defrost heater harness and get your hands on a ¼ nut driver, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and possibly a wire stripper or a pair of crimpers.

Part Cost: approx. $35
Difficulty: Easy

Take a look at this video; the entire repair will only take 15-30 minutes depending on your experience.

Repair #3: Agitator Directional Cogs
A very common problem with washing machines is that they seem to stop spinning the clothes around while in the wash cycle. This might seem like a complicated repair, but you probably only need to replace the directional cogs. All you’ll need is a pair of needle-nose pliers and either ¼ or 3/8 socket set.

Part Cost: approx. $3
Difficulty: Easy

Take a look at this video; the entire repair will only take 5-15 minutes depending on your experience.

Although Americans account for only 5% of the world’s population, we actually produce 30% of the world’s garbage. Nearly a million pounds of garbage is created every year by each American citizen, and if waste water is factored in to the equation the number blows-up to 250 trillion pounds. Of the garbage Americans throw out, half can be recycled.

In our throwaway society we need to slow down and concentrate on one task at a time. That might mean asking ourselves if a product is actually needed, or taking into consideration the true value, durability, and environmental consequences of the manufacturing and disposal of it.

It is important that we become more resourceful and learn how to repair what we already have instead of buying more. If we can make these changes in our own lives, we will make a change in the world.

This content was brought to you by PartSelect, retailer of Maytag parts and a complete online do-it-yourself resource to help you at every stage of your appliance repair from diagnosing the problem to installing the part.

References:

http://www.thenewpursuit.com/2011/01/10/16-simple-ways-to-practice-mindful-consumption-in-a-hyper-consumer-world/

http://www.verdant.net/society.htm

http://www.partselect.com

Photo Credit:
Keeping up with the Joneses (illustration by Allan Sanders): http://www.sabistyle.com.au/blog/?p=597
Tree: http://amorefiori.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/amore-fiori-recycling/
Landfill: http://www.vortexrecycling.com/
Leaf: http://reviewfix.com/2010/05/review-fix-how-to-series-using-eco-friendly-clothing/

Read anything posted by cloth nappy fanatics on the internet, and statements like “truly, they’re easier than sposies” will be impossible to miss. In this day and age, the majority of parents who have access to them use disposable nappies for their babies. When they think of cloth nappies, they think of those cotton squares our grandmothers used, and it becomes hard to imagine cloth nappies can be a joy to use.

When I was pregnant with my first child, disposable nappies were on my obligatory “buy before the baby gets here” list, and we used them for two and a half years without ever giving it a second thought. Then, when we were contemplating how to get pregnant again, I came across modern cloth nappies on an internet forum.

They looked pretty cute. I read many wonderful reviews about all-in-ones, pocket nappies, and even prefolds, which are more like the stuff our grandmothers used. Because I was not sure cloth would really be easy to use, rather than being horrible to wash and requiring a lot of work, I asked a ton of questions to random cloth diapers on the internet. In the end, I decided to order 24 pocket nappies when I was expecting my son. They had snaps so that the nappies could be used from birth to potty training.

We still used sposies in the newborn stage, because the nappies were too big for my tiny son, even when snapped into their smallest setting. At about two months of age, we switched to cloth. Our pocket nappies were easy to clean, and quick to dry because you can take the inserts out. As long as babies are exclusively breastfed, the poo washes out easily.

And by the time my son started solids, I was so used to his beautiful, multi-colored cloth nappies that rinsing poo out of a nappy was an easy task – we’d have one poopy nappy a day, and do nappy laundry once every two days. And you know what? After having used disposable nappies with one child, and cloth with the next, I can actually say that cloth was easier to use.

For me, the biggest advantage of cloth is that you never run out of them, so there are no late-night strips to get nappies. I would change them frequently, which was easy because doing so costs no extra money, and my son never had a diaper rash. He potty trained a month before his second birthday!

And the disadvantages? The biggest one is having to rinse out poo. Having laundry all the time is another, but I only realized that when I was relived not to have nappy loads anymore after potty training. Carrying dirty nappies in plastic bags when you are out and about is slightly annoying, but at least you don’t have to take out trash constantly.

All in all, cloth nappies really were a joy to use for us. And early potty training, which I am sure is at least partially connected to our pocket nappies, was a nice bonus too!

Olivia stays at home with her two children, and blogs about female health, fertility and pregnancy at Trying To Conceive. With her personalized ovulation calendar, pinpointing your most fertile days becomes easy!

By Rob Plastow

Charlie Brooker said that you don’t really watch Mad Men, you just sit there and let it seep into you. I’m not the biggest TV fan, I put the TV on mute during the ad breaks and don’t watch many shows. Yet somehow I’m addicted to letting Mad Men seep into me and fascinated by the world in which the show plays out – advertising.

Recent reviews of the current series explain its popularity is due to its similarity to today – just how far have we really come? The anachronistic voyeurism we are allowed lets us maintain any distance we may need to not see it as a direct mirror of our own consumption habits and materialistic society.

The show is often filled with glitz and glamour, luxury products and decadent services but still populated by discontented, substance abusing middle classes who appear to want for nothing yet are modern men and women constantly in search of a soul.

In the current series, the agency has lost the contract with Lucky Strike and the creative director, Don Draper, openly dismisses tobacco companies in a full page ad in the New York Times. But back before he had even a single strand of moral fibre he was the man that had come up with the “It’s toasted” tag-line just as Lucky Strike were beginning to feel the scorn of medical researchers scrutinising the impacts of smoking.

Draper skimmed passed the health issues that were emerging in his 1960s America and went straight for the sensory cue, threw away the psychological research about death-wishes and clung on to the simple, shallow, highly effective call to indulgence. For Draper there was no point in entering the debate, just enjoy the taste of that smooth carcinogenic tobacco.

The same can be said of sustainability and climate change. We know the score and yet we keep on smoking. How do we make green living just plain living? How can behaviour change be beneficial to the individual and appeal to our self-interest?

These questions, in light of Mad Men, make me ask another: is news of anthropogenic climate change received today in the same way that news of smoking’s harmful affects were in the 1960s?

Back when that came out, some people quit. Many others didn’t. Today some people are trying to live greener and this want for sustainability has changed the political landscape, but many others remain resolutely unchanged.

Green living sometimes rubs people up the wrong way due its perceived want of altruistic behaviour which fuels a sense of self-importance that non-greens find sickening. Like a non-smoker with a smug grin telling a smoker cigarettes will kill them.

But what advocates of green lifestyles try to assert is that living green can improve your own feelings of self-importance through a qualitative change rather than a quantitative one and that altruistic outcomes can be a product of the process to living green – not always, but often.

Climate sceptics hold even firmer to their beliefs in the face of this and reason for their autonomy and independence from any ‘fads’ or unwanted changes.

This possible divide over morality, consumption and sense of self causes a lot of friction – both sides feeling wholly justified by their own beliefs, which more often than not are embedded or at least vitally attached to their own creation of self and what they perceive to be fair, right and important.

With such large implications for behaviour, stances on climate change and sustainability no doubt both inform and are created by identity of the self – how we see ourselves, each other and what we want to become.

Mad Men symbolises these aspirations for an entire ideology and culture based on modernity, consumption and progress; that are full of hope on the outside and despair within.

For all his elegant cool, Don Draper is also a philandering drunk who has no idea who he even is half the time. The story fluctuates between his efforts to change and his ignorance of his wrongs.

Making behavioural changes is different for everybody. Don Draper goes swimming and writes a journal, Transition groups try to live with less dependency on fossil fuels, and most people who want to do something about climate change make adjustments to their lives by shopping locally and reducing, re-using and recycling.

Consumption along with the desire it creates, frame our outlook (at least in the West) without us realising half the time. It is the lens through which we see the world most of the time; observing the world in terms of its potential to benefit ourselves, often through purchasing things.

It then becomes easy to understand how that desire is at the centre of consumer economies. All the credit crunch, recession, and climate change clatterings in the news media around the world all stem from a silent, invisible psychological origin that grows within us all.

Followers of Ayn Rand would even lift it up onto a pedestal and call it ‘enlightened self-interest’. But for many (especially outside of the Western world) there’s nothing enlightening about being deluded and at the whim of a silent, invisible ego that is goaded by people like Don Draper into consuming more and more in the faint hope of sating manipulated desire, or for a moment’s perceived happiness from having bought something.

And yet that is what our whole way of life, our economy and our socialisation rests upon. That psychological trick as it were, whereby PR companies, ad men and marketers have latched onto the mind and even the outskirts of the soul in order to get our money and make us work for more.

Spend, spend, spend to keep the machine working. Governments say they want to tackle climate change and social justice but at the same time they urge us to carry on consuming – the very thing that has caused our societies to be socially and environmentally unsustainable.

We are trapped, as Tim Jackson says, on a hedonic treadmill. Mad Men shows us getting on it to begin the run, and so far we are still on it.

We are encouraged by economies of consumption to take our problems and concerns and to ‘toast’ them with that good old ad man trick which has kept us smoking for so long.

With the hard economic times of today’s world, everyone is trying to do something to help save themselves more money, whilst treading more lightly on the earth in the process. One way that your family can save money and live with less impact on the natural world is by making your home more energy efficient. There are many ways to improve your home’s efficiency, on any budget.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

By simply replacing your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, also known as CFLs, you can save both money and electricity. The average CFL will last about ten times longer than your average light bulb and will waste about 75% less electricity. This is a great first step to improving your home’s energy efficiency. In the UK these bulbs are now the only bulbs available on the market, so if you live in a country where incandescent bulbs are still the norm, write a letter to your democratic representative and ask them why they haven’t followed suit.

Check for Air Leaks

Checking for and fixing air leaks within your home can save you up to 30% in energy costs. When you begin looking for air leaks in your home, go beyond the traditional drafts from the door and check everything. There are many places in your home where air can get in. You should pay special attention to these areas of your home electrical outlets, baseboards, plumbing fixtures, windows, fireplaces, and of course doors. There are many cost efficient ways to fix air leaks in your home.

Insulation for Home Efficiency

When a home is built, insulation is placed between the outer shell of the home and the interior walls. Having the correct amount of insulation will ensure that your home will stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are many different types of insulation available, including spray foam, fiberglass, rigid foam board, and reflective insulation. However, the best practice is to use natural materials such as sheep’s wool or even insulation blocks made from recycled newspaper. Many types of insulation will require a professional to come to your home and install the insulation. You may even be able to get a tax break for adding or replacing insulation within your home. There is currently funding available in the UK to help with retro-fitting your home to make it more energy efficient, so contact your local council to see how they may be able to help.

Update Appliances

In the typical home, appliances and electronics consume about 25% of your home’s energy. Updating your major appliances can not only save you money in the long run, but once again you may receive a tax credit for qualifying appliance upgrades. If buying new appliances is not in your near future, there are many ways that you can help reduce the amount of energy that is wasted. Turning your computer off when it will not be used for more than thirty minutes or turning off lights, televisions, and other electrical items when they are not being used will save you energy and money. Never leave electrical items on standby where they still suck up lots of electricity, instead always ensure that they are fully switched off.

Landscaping for Energy Efficiency

Are you aware that a little landscaping can save you money in energy costs while improving the overall appearance of your home? Planting trees that will protect your home from the wind can greatly reduce the amount of heat that will be needed in the winter and provide a coolness from the shade in the summer. Not only will you be helping to improve the overall look of your home, you will be saving energy and helping to maintain the environment by planting trees.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes about insurance quotes for InsuranceQuotes.org.

As consumers there are two ways it is possible to make a difference and vote through purchasing. The first is simple enough – “don’t”. Don’t buy the products that abstain from certain ethical criteria, boycott producers of goods who sidestep moral values and ignore those who do not fulfil decent ideals. By shying away from these products it is possible to show disdain and displeasure at their business malpractices and, as such, an important point has been made.

On the other hand there is the opposite idea – positive shopping. This means embracing items which do good, which keep within certain moral parameters and whose existence is generally more of a benefit to the world than not.

Positive shopping is a great way of voting for ideals you cherish and, in fact, in many ways is easier to see through than boycotting products. Whereas companies whose policies may border on malpractice are unlikely to openly advertise their deeds, companies who promote moral and just practices are; they will wear their actions like a badge of honour. In cartoons harmful products are quite oftentimes labelled with skull and crossbones as a short hand semiotic of their inherent badness; in real life, however, there are no such labels for goods which do not promote Fair Trade or other ethical values. However, for goods which do stick to these measures there are a whole host of labels which can be displayed proudly for a potential consumer to study.

The aforementioned Fair Trade label is probably the most famous and has even inspired its own annual event. The passion that Fair Trade arises in many comes from the values it promotes which ensure that no one is undercut, underpaid or in any way ripped off in the creation of goods and services. To purchase fair trade coffee, for example, means that everyone in the process of bringing those granules to the supermarket, from the farmers who initially cultivated the beans and onwards, will have received a just price for their contributions. When a product bears this label it is boasting that everyone involved in its creation was guaranteed reasonable working standards and practices too. Due to this it is much easier to positively purchase a good which brags Fair Trade principles rather than to boycott products completely which do not include such semiotic guides. Other labels that guarantee ethics in the production of goods include the stamp of approval from associations such as the Fair Labour Association, the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production or the Ethical Trading Initiative.

Finally there are brands who will not just go out of their way to ensure correct treatment of their workers but also donate in a philanthropic fashion. For example many companies will use consumer incentives to donate money to third world charities, will regularly give aid to those who need it or fund, through donation or sponsorship, local or national charities and organisations who may not otherwise be able to operate without this additional income. In this way positive shopping can not only make a difference by telling brands you dislike their bad practices, it also can provide a direct improvement in people’s standards of living.

Whilst oftentimes Fair Trade and ethical clothing may cost a fraction more than other products, the cost is worth paying. Whilst many prominent organisations currently engage in malpractice perhaps positive shopping should be embraced as an equal, or better, measure to boycotting. It is easy to be jaded, cynical and negative about the world but perhaps occasionally it may be worthwhile embracing products and values that can make a difference. Saying “yes” with your wallet to positive things is far more powerful than saying no to everything else.

By Rob Plastow