Shopping online is very convenient and it’s an accessible option for people who live outside large cities or without access to nearby sustainable stores. The behemoth Amazon, for example, has certainly made millions of lives easier over the years, because it’s fast and sometimes cheap but it’s unfortunately not the most ethical option when it comes to online marketplaces. However, something that is little known (and not advertised) is the smile link at Amazon smile.amazon.co.uk, they will then donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to your chosen charity.
We’ve put together a short list of online marketplaces that put sustainability at the forefront of their supply chain and the best part is, with most of them, you’ll be supporting more independent brands while shopping!
Stocking everything in home decor, from kitchen stoneware to bedding, Made Trade ensures that every single product fits into at least one of their core values: fair trade, handcrafted, made in the USA, BIPOC-owned, women-owned, sustainable, vegan, or recycled/upcycled. This curated platform ships worldwide and is not only Climate Neutral Certified but gives back to environmental initiatives as well, making shopping online a lot more sustainable.
Uncommon Goods is a certified B Corporation offering unique and thoughtful items for every occasion, including experiences such as masterclasses. Most items come from independent artisans, jewellery makers, potters, and painters. The platform only uses environmentally responsible packaging, donates money to a Better to Give program, has fair wages for employees and they stock just about everything as well as shipping worldwide.
Bookshop is also a certified B Corporation supporting independent booksellers by giving 10% of sales to an earnings pool that’s evenly divided between its partners and 80% of its profit margin to stores, vendors, and authors.
Package Free ships the products using paper tape or wrapping, and upcycled or recycled boxes, which are 100 percent recyclable and compostable. As a low-waste space, the company collaborates with eco-friendly brands to offer everything from mouthwash tablets and reusable ear swabs to stainless steel food trays and silicone sandwich bags. In other words, you can find anything you might need for your next sustainable swap and you can even bulk buy!
UK-based Greenbeauty Market takes the research of ingredient lists away for products focused on beauty, fragrance, and wellness. Instead, the team uses its combined decade-plus of experience to find indie brands bringing us the best in clean and green (and cruelty-free!)
The Little Market launched as a nonprofit fair trade shop, anchored in the fundamental belief that every person has the right to safe working environments and fair wages. Since 2013, the platform has worked and supported over 70 artisans in underserved communities. With every product having its own story, you can find everything from hand-poured candles to hand woven laundry baskets and it’s all customisable.
These online marketplace websites invest in small businesses, support independent artisans and makers, and showcase a commitment to ethical, sustainable business practices. Whatever you need and look for on platforms like Amazon, they probably already have it and if not, you can always get in touch with local businesses and thrift shops as they’ll have what you need, without the exploitation and the carbon emissions!
[information sourced on thegoodtrade.com, thelittlemarket.com, greenbeautymarket.com, packagefreeshop.com, bookshop.org, uncommongoods.com and madetrade.com
All images and featured image sourced on canva.com]