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Organic cotton and wool textile products, including bedding and clothing. Based in Maleny, QLD.

Clean Slate are an artisan skin care company based in Perth, WA. They have a focus on organic and local (Australian) ingredients where possible, and are accredited by Choose Cruelty Free.

This small Sydney based social enterprise makes 3 types of chutneys: (1) Rescued chutneys - wonky and wounded produce local farmers are unable to sell; (2) Fairtrade chutneys - uses fairtrade ingredients, first and only ones across AU & NZ; (3) Organic chutneys - use local organic produce. Available online.

Best choice meat - Grazed free range on Gippsland farms; Healthy, well fed livestock managed to minimise stress; Grown without artificial hormones or antibiotics; actively protecting biodiversity and water quality; management and protection of soil health and organic matter, EMS certified farm.

Small family-owned baking business from the Blue Mountains near Sydney. Their gingerbread is vegan and palm oil free, and packaged in compostable wrappers. They also support a number of charities.

South Australian made and owned and have been producing ice cream in Laura, South Australia for the past 90 years.

Healthybake is an Australian family owned Company that produces a range of organic healthy breads, both wheat alternative and gluten free. Free from chemical contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides and heavy metal residues. Based in Victoria.

Australian made (Brisbane), Australian owned company. Home delivery, franchising, online ordering, natural colours.

Koala Tea Company is a 100% Australian owned company that offers Certified Organic herbal tea and flavoured teas. Based in Lismore (NSW), their products can be ordered through their website.

T-shirts made from 100% fair trade and organic certified cotton. They're made in factories in India with fair working conditions, where workers are paid a 'living wage'.

SimplyClean launched in 2012. All their products are made in Northern NSW. Their range of environmentally friendly cleaning products are non-toxic, palm oil free, vegan, cruelty free (accredited by PETA) and grey water safe. Available from selected wholefood stores and independent supermarkets.

100% Australian owned company that has been making certified organic teas since 1998, using locally sourced fruits and herbs, and biodegradable, unbleached teabags. Based in Melbourne, VIC.

Social enterprise that source products from social projects all over the world. B Corporation. Online store.

Tielka is a 100% Australian owned company that offers fairtrade and organic loose leaf tea. They specialise in white, yellow, green, oolong, black, pu-erh and floral varietals that are ethically sourced and imported directly from tea farmers. Ph: 1300 843 552

Australian owned and made laundry detergent is 8 X concentrated to reduce packaging. Refill and return available. 50% of their profits are donated to The Ocean Cleanup. PETA certified vegan and cruelty free. All ingredients are 100% biodegradable.

While no disposable nappies are 100% compostable, these nappies are about as close as you can get. Features include key components made from plant-based materials, a compostable leak barrier, wood pulp from certified sustainable forests and the nappies are free from nasty chemicals. Australian owned.

ENJO's cleaning cloths and gloves are non-toxic and environmentally safe cleaning products, harnessing the combined natural cleaning power of microfibre technology and water. Available online and via direct selling methods.

Ethique is an ethical beauty business from New Zealand. They produce beauty products in concentrated bar form, rather than as a liquid in a plastic bottle.

Ethique is an ethical beauty business from New Zealand. They produce beauty products in concentrated bar form, rather than as a liquid in a plastic bottle.

Farm to Hanger make underwear and T-shirts from Australian grown cotton, with green-powered manufacturing, Greenfleet Carbon Offset Certified, Ethical Clothing Australia accredited production. Based in Daylesford, Victoria.

Produces dog food using only high welfare ingredients and materials that support ethical producers. No meat is sourced from factory farms, and their products contain free-range eggs and organic fruit & veg.

Who Gives A Crap launched their Good Time hair and body care bar in 2022. Who Gives A Crap is B-Corp certified and donates 50% of profits to support clean water initiatives.

A reusable alternative to plastic and paper produce bags. Australian owned and made, strong, light weight, durable, machine washable, holds at least 3kg, allows air circulation, prolonging produce life, straight from the shops into the fridge, a once off purchase - designed to last, secured by tying top edges together, be completely bag free in grocery shopping.

The Henry family runs an orchard and cidery nestled under Mount Alexander at Harcourt, just over an hour North of Melbourne, Specialising in making 'Real Ciders & Perry' utilising the best local fruit and traditional cidermaking methods.

HoMie is a streetwear clothing social enterprise that uses 100% of their profits to provide brand-new clothing, training and job opportunities to young people affected by homelessness or hardship.

Footwear company based in California, with manufacturing in Bali by skilled artisans. Footwear primarily made from recycled tires, with over 100,000 tyres saved from landfills.

Founded in 2017, Koala Eco products are Certified Toxic-Free, certified allergy safe, vegan, no new plastic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, not tested on animals, and Australian owned and made. The company donates to One Percent for the Planet. Available in health food stores and online.

Founded by two dads from Bondi Beach. Koh's Universal Cleaner is 100% Australian owned and made, certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), accredited cruelty free, grey water safe and free of palm oil and nasty chemicals. Available online.

Australia Social Enterprise that works with over 130 domestic plot farmers in Samoa to help the indigenous cultivation of cacao. They create bean to bar chocolate, drinking cacao, cacao husk tea and a skin care range called Koko Smooth. Available online.

Online market for handmade & independently created items. Based in NSW.

Designs read differently in the mirror to quite literally cause people to "Stop and Reflect". Designs spark conversation and promote positive values. $3 from every purchase is donated to development projects. Screenprinted in Brisbane with enviro friendly (water soluable) inks using 100% renewable energy. All clothing is W.R.A.P certified, and Made in Australia. 20-30% of the shirts we stock are Australian made Organic. Based in QLD.

Modimade connects consumers with Cambodian artisans that are creating ethical and fair employment.

Cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. Online store selling multiple brands. Based in the USA.

A small sustainable cow profit dairy model run by two Australian families in Victoria. Profits go towards their Cow Sanctuary where mother cow, daddy bull and calves are protected for their entire life. Slaughter free, cruelty free, free-range and grass fed cows. See their website to find a stockist near you.

Third generation family-owned Australian company based in Brisbane. All MyOrganics products are certified organic and available from health food stores and independent supermarkets.

Australian owned & made solid shampoo, conditioner, face wash and body bars. Vegan & cruelty-free (accreditation pending), palm oil free (certified by Orangutan Alliance), SLS-free, plastic-free packaging. 10% of profits donated to ocean cleanup organisation Tangaroa Blue.

This Tasmania-based company makes eco-friendly dog and cat collars & leads. The company's environmental claims include efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, packaging from recycled paper and being cruelty-free/vegan.

T-Shirts, clothing, bags; brands Certton, Earth Positive, Continental Clothing, Drover; all sweatshop free, 100% organic cotton. Based in Currumbin, QLD.

Find local egg farmers who 'pasture' their hens. Check out the directory. These hens are raised all or most of their lives on pasture and are moved every few days to enrich the soil; they are free to dust bathe, scratch and forage, eating worms and grubs.

Made in the US. Preserve food storage containers are made from recycled yogurt containers and other post-consumer #5 polypropylene plastic that is returned to them through their Gimme5 program. Easy in the USA - some travel miles here.

Made in the US. Preserve shavers are made from recycled yogurt containers and other post-consumer #5 polypropylene plastic that is returned to them through their Gimme5 program. Easy in the USA - some travel miles here.

Made in the US. Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled yogurt containers and other post-consumer #5 polypropylene plastic that is returned to them through their Gimme5 program. Easy in the USA - some travel miles here.

Online marketplace where users can find and purchase pre-loved clothing and accessories. The brainchild of Sydney-based couple Rogan and Kim Carroll, the ReHomed Clothing Marketplace aims to not only give second-hand clothes a new lease of life but also address the problem of waste generated by the fashion industry.

Reusable Produce Bags by Ethical Produce Solutions are lightweight, functional and strong. Use instead of disposable plastic bags for your fruit and vegetables in the supermarket or greengrocer. Machine washable, reusable, durable, environmentally friendly.

Fair trade and sweat-shop free, hand loomed organic cotton, thread is dyed using natural dyes, and loomed into fabric, no pesticides are used in the process of growing, dyeing and looming this fabric. Based in QLD.

Workwear. Based in Newcastle, NSW.

Brazilian bikinis & swimwear made from biodegradable fabric. Based in Australia.

Australian-owned and made meat alternative products, particularly smallgoods. All products are 100% vegan. Based in Sydney and available from health food stores around Australia.

Swedish Stockings are the world's first producer of recycled hosiery, produced in solar-powered and zero-waste factories with OTEK, EU Reach and various other certifications. Made in Italy. Their nylon stockings contain 76-97% recycled content, with the rest made up of elastane (for stretch).

Swimm is a sustainable swimwear label made in Australia. The wool for their swimwear is sourced from an RWS Responsible Wool Standards accredited farm and is knitted by an Ethical Clothing Australia accredited bespoke textile mill. Made in Melbourne.

Brings free range meat from farm directly to your family. Delivery available for Sydney and surrounding suburbs.

Founded in 1989, Tri Nature's award winning range of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products are Australian-owned and made, plant-based, accredited cruelty free, grey water safe and free of nasty chemicals.

This Australian family-owned company makes a range of fruit spreads, chutney, relishes and fruit pastes from fruit and vegetables that have been rejected by retailers. All of their preserves are vegan friendly and naturally gluten free.

Veganpet is a complete and balanced dry pet food that contains no animal products. It provides a real alternative to processed animal foods and is priced comparitively. Scientific studies confirm Veganpet is suitable for maintaining a healthy diet for both cats and dogs, young and old. Order online.

Woohoo deodorant is Australian owned and made, toxin-free and certified vegan and cruelty free by PETA. Family-owned company based in Newcastle, NSW. Products available in health food stores around Australia.

Cleaning products, unlike food or personal care products, are not required to display a complete list of ingredients. Many ingredients may cause skin, eyes and respiratory irritation, asthma, headaches and chemical burns. Others have been associated with more serious long term health concerns such as hormone disruption, neurological disorders and cancer. However, you can learn something about a product's hazards by reading its label. 'Danger/ Poison' - most hazardous; 'Warning' - moderately hazardous; 'Caution' - slightly toxic. Ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. These include skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer. Avoid: chlorine or ammonia, listed as active ingredients formaldehyde, terpenes, phenols, chlorine, organic mercurials, balsams and aluminium complexes are known to have carcinogenic effects detergents containing Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs) - do not degrade completely and are known hormone disruptors. detergents containing phosphates - cause algal blooms in waterways Look for: biodegradable to AS4351, or better still, an international standard plant-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based concentrated form specific ingredient information such as 'solvent-free', 'no petroleum-based ingredients' rather than unregulated 'greenwash' claims such as 'natural' and 'eco-friendly' See which cleaning products are most environmentally friendly.

The global leather industry slaughters more than one billion animals for their skins each year. Leather commonly comes from cattle and calves, and from other animals slaughtered for meat such as horses, sheep, lambs, goats, and pigs. Wild animals are also hunted for their skins. Kangaroos can also be commercially shot purely for their skins in Western Australia and Queensland (skin-only commercial hunting is banned in other Australian jurisdictions). Other species hunted worldwide for their skins include zebras, boars, elephants, crocodiles, and lizards. Additionally, the modern process of tanning, involves toxic substances and pollutants. There are many alternatives to leather, including cotton, linen, rubber, ramie, canvas, and synthetics. See Alternatives to Leather at the Animals Australia Unleashed Faux Shopping Guide Look for polyurethane-based materials rather than PVC. PVC is not degradable, involves production using toxic additives and emits carcinogenic dioxin when incinerated.

From our smartphones to our latest weaponry, the technology that underpins modern life would be impossible without rare earth minerals. Despite the name, the 17 metallic elements are common in the earth's crust, but the techniques used to extract and refine them is labor-intensive, environmentally hazardous and increasingly costly. China is now responsible for approximately 95% of the world's rare earth mineral production, and has at least half of the world's reserves. China imposed a limit to the export of rare earth minerals in 2009, citing the need to conserve a dwindling resource and limit environmental damage from mining. The United States and others challenged the quotas in 2012 in a WTO complaint, which was upheld in January 2015 with export restrictions dropped. Australia, the third largest producer of rare earth minerals, is responsible for 2.0% of world production and has 3.9% of the world's reserves. Further information on rare earth resources in Australia, including interactive map See 'Why We Need Rare Earth Elements' (a great introduction) See 'The Global Race for Rare Earths' See 'National Security, Rare Earth Elements'

There is little transparency as to which clothing items are made by workers who are paid fairly and which clothes are made in sweatshop conditions. Modern-day slavery, which currently affects more than 30 million people, is used throughout the production of many clothing products sold on Australian shelves. WORKING HOURS. Long working hours and forced overtime are a major concern among garment workers. Factory managers typically push employees to work between 10 and 12 hours, sometimes 16 to 18 hours a day. A seven-day working week is becoming the norm during the peak season, particularly in China, despite limits placed by the law. WAGES. The majority of workers in the global fashion industry, rarely earn more than two dollars a day. Many have to work excessive hours for this meagre amount and struggle to properly feed, clothe and educate their families. The problem is complicated further when the millions of piece- rate workers and homeworkers within the industry are considered. When workers are paid by the number of garments they produce, rather than the number of hours they work, it becomes near-impossible to earn a living wage during a working week. Women in El Salvador are paid just 29 cents for each $140 Nike NBA jersey they sew. To pay them a living wage, they would earn 58 cents per shirts, 4/10ths of one percent of the retail cost of the shirt. Buy second-hand clothes, or support local clothing brands which are accredited by See the Simple Plan and MTV EXIT video for 'This Song Saved My Life' See 'Behind the Swoosh' documentary and more about the fight against Nike's sweatshops at www.teamsweat.org See the Ethical Fashion Report, published by the Behind the Barcode project.

Australia's retail alcohol market is dominated by two players: Coles Group and Endeavour Group (who demerged from Woolworths in June 2021). This is a problem because it puts smaller independent liquor sellers out of business. It also gives these companies significant control over our alcohol industry, meaning they determine what products are available to the average Aussie. This results in less variety and choice for consumers. Additionally, these companies will sell their home brand and private label products under many different names, none of which are usually associated with the parent company. This makes it difficult to tell whether you are supporting an independent brand or one owned/in partnership with Coles or Endeavour. Endeavour owns the liquor stores Dan Murphy's and BWS, plus house brands that include Castaway Cider, John Boston, Mcallister Whisky, Nelson County Bourbon, Mishka Vodka, Buckeye Rum, and Houndstooth Gin. Coles Group owns the liquor stores 1st Choice, Liquorland, and Vintage Cellars, plus many liquor house brands including Tinnies, Maxx and Steamrail beer, Mr Finch cider, Volsk vodka, Kentucky Gold bourbon, Old Lion's gin, and John Samson scotch whisky. Another ethical issue with alcohol in Australia is the country's unhealthy drinking practices among minors, and the role companies have in perpetuating this behaviour. The use of sports sponsorships and advertising on social media, bus stops and TV means that children are frequently exposed to material promoting alcohol use. In addition, the advertising and packaging of some products, especially pre-mixed spirits, are particularly attractive to under 18s. Many have called on the government and alcohol companies to change the way children are exposed to these marketing materials. Check the labelling to find out if the product is a house brand. If the address is for Pinnacle Drinks, then it is an Endeavour house brand. If it is for James Busby or Australian Beer Connoisseurs, it is a Coles Group brand. Look for small independent Australian-owned brands, rather than Endeavour and Coles' house brands Follow the link for a list of wines brands owned by Coles, Endeavour and other major players.

This might include forced exposure to toxic chemicals or diseases, asphyxiation, extended physical restraint, food or water deprivation, genetic manipulation, forced feeding, and more. To make matters worse, most animals are killed at the end of the test. But is all this actually necessary? Despite putting millions of animals through this every year, it is unclear whether this approach is actually the most effective. Human biology often differs significantly from those of the animals used in testing. While animal studies can be useful as a first step, the conclusions don't carry over to humans in most cases. One study found this was true 64% of the time! This is not only a massive waste of life but needlessly expensive and time-consuming. Animal-free methods of testing product safety are being developed, including sophisticated tests using human cells and tissues (also known as in vitro methods), advanced computer-modeling techniques, and studies with human volunteers. Avoid products and companies that use animal testing. Search PETA's database of companies that do and that don't test on animals. Learn more about animal testing and find ways to take action.

Brazil's JBS, the world's largest meat company, now controls 25 per cent of Australia's beef industry after buying Australian Meat Holdings, Tasman Group, and Rockdale Beef between 2007 and 2010. Australia's second largest beef processor, Teys Bros, merged with Cargill Australia's beef division in 2011 creating a joint venture which controls another 21 per cent. Cargill, the world's largest grain trader, second largest meat packer, and USA's largest private corporation, also bought AWB (Australian Wheat Board) in 2011. JBS and Cargill have both been criticised for clearing Amazon rainforest to produce soy for animal feed. Find out about your meat and its story, support local meat suppliers, source farm-gate produce.

Around the world today, people are creating a fantastic future for healthier communities and a healthier planet, through sustainable food production. This includes fair trade, organic and community supported agriculture, farmers markets, local food co-ops, backyard food growing, and the slow food movement. It's a stark contrast to the modern agri-business system, which delivers the food to supermarket and fast food chains. A global system reliant on oil and hazardous chemicals, and controlled by large companies who abuse their power to maximise profit at the expense of farmers, factory workers and small retailers. With every meal, we have the opportunity to support a different food production system, one based on producing vibrant, healthy food with the wellbeing of people, animals and the land at heart. We encourage you to experiment in organic backyard food production, share healthy foods and the stories behind your food, and in doing this make a small, yet meaningful contribution to creating a food production system with a future. Check out Local Harvest, our sister resource for find good food close to you! Buy in bulk at a food co-op in your area, seek out free-range, organic products , or buy in bulk at a food co-op in your area. Share your excess produce and ideas at an urban harvest swap meet near you Grow a year's supply of vegetables in 40m square with a Diggers Club Mini Plot Transform your back yard into an edible food forest with the help of the community

We ingest it as we eat food stored in certain containers. It is even inhaled as we breathe in contaminated dust. Traces of the chemical are found in most people and have also been found in foetuses and newborns. But does any of this matter? The answer is not entirely clear, but there is cause for concern. The problem is what bisphenol A does when it gets into the body. BPA acts like the hormone oestrogen. Research shows that at high levels, this can have adverse effects on reproduction, the nervous system, immunity, metabolism, the cardiovascular system, and more. The results are particularly concerning for pregnant people and young children. However, these levels are well beyond what we are typically exposed to. Experts debate whether the same damage is done at lower amounts. Toxicology tests by officials suggest that the levels that most of us experience are within safe limits. However, many independent academic investigators have found adverse effects associated with the kind of exposure we currently experience, especially in the long term. In some cases, these health impacts occurred from doses significantly below the legal limits. The answer is not completely clear, but the number of researchers who have found negative effects is concerning. Many companies have introduced "BPA-free" products that substitute BPA for something else. While this seems great, the issue is that there is little evidence that these alternatives are any safer. This is simply because scientists have not had the time to study these yet. Because of this, we don't know for sure whether buying BPA-free products is an effective solution. BPA has also been found throughout our environment and is in various everyday items like receipts and electronics. This makes genuinely escaping exposure difficult, but we can still take action to protect ourselves. To reduce exposure to BPA: Avoid consuming food and drink stored in cans or plastic and move to fresh produce instead. Store your food in glass and ceramic containers rather than plastic or metal cans. You can buy BPA free products, however, be aware that it is not entirely clear whether they are any safer. Do not microwave plastics as this can cause further contamination of the food. Read more about BPA in this Choice article from 2014.

To produce milk continuously, dairy cows have to give birth every year. Of the calves produced, all males and about a quarter of the females are considered 'surplus' to the dairy industry as they cannot be turned into dairy cows. These calves will usually be removed within 12 hours of birth, causing significant distress for the mothers. Every year in Australia, around 500,000 of these 'bobby calves' are killed and processed as young veal for human consumption, hides for leather, and pharmaceutical byproducts. They are often slaughtered when only five days old! Because of their low value to the industry, bobby calves often suffer lower standards of housing, feeding, and cleanliness. Before being slaughtered, they can go up to 30 hours without being fed. Due to their young age and underdeveloped following instincts, there is often rough handling during transportation. The transportation process itself regularly has them exposed to the elements, despite being only days old. What you can do: Consider reducing or removing dairy from your diet. Check out Animals Australia for some tips on dairy alternatives. If you can't cut out dairy from your diet, choose products from companies with animal welfare on their agenda. Elgaar Farms or Barambah Organic are good examples. Learn more about the issue

Bottled water is often marketed as a healthy alternative to tap water, soft drinks, and sports drinks. But have you ever thought about how it is produced? Water is a natural resource necessary for life on our planet. Access to water is a fundamental human right, so water reserves should be used for the collective good. However, corporations like Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle take advantage of this communal property for profit. It makes even less sense when you realise that for the same price as a standard 600ml bottle you get over 1000 litres of tap water! Clean Up Australia says that of all the rubbish their volunteers collect, 1 in 10 is related to bottled water. Because the bottles are plastic, non-renewable fossil fuels go into making them. These same plastics frequently end up in landfill and the ocean, taking hundreds of years to break down. Licenses to use groundwater usually lack proper analysis, meaning companies can often drain more than is sustainable from the Australian people. Is an industry that takes water from local communities, places it in unsustainable packaging, and charges an extreme markup really one you want to support? Make it a habit to use a refillable bottle instead of buying bottled water If you are concerned about the quality of your tap water, it is better to install filters on your taps than waste money on bottled water. Talk to your council, work, or school about installing more water fountains so people have easy access to water.

In many cases these ingredients are harsh industrial chemicals, some of which have been linked to cancer, allergies, birth defects and other health issues. In Australia, cosmetics must comply with safety standards, but there is no international consensus. Some chemicals banned in Europe and the US are still considered safe by Australian authorities. These include DBP in nail polish, BHA in lipsticks, lead acetate in hair colour, and coal tar in anti-dandruff shampoos. Other chemicals, although safe in small amounts, do build up over time and this intensive long-term exposure does seem to present unnecessary health risks. These include mineral oil, DEA/TEA/MEA, D&C colours, aluminium, talc, and synthetic fragrances. Avoid known toxins. Decode the chemical nasties with the Chemical Maze app and book. Check out the Skin Deep cosmetics database with over 71,000 different products and a safety assessment of ingredients (US).

Over 75% percent of cocoa beans used to make chocolate come from West Africa, mainly Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Unfortunately, child labourers are used extensively in the cocoa industries of these countries. The U.S. Department of Labour estimates that 1.56 million children are working on cocoa farms, and that's just in Ghana and The Ivory Coast! The vast majority of these children have at some point undertaken hazardous work, including exposure to agrochemicals, lifting heavy loads, using sharp tools, or working at night. Unfortunately, the use of child labour is increasing as cocoa production in these countries grows. But what can you do as a consumer to help out? While far from a perfect solution, Fairtrade certified growers are independently audited to ensure they do not use child labour. Further, Fairtrade ensures a minimum price for farmer's crops and distributes money to farmer organisations to improve their infrastructure. This means that farmers have more income to spend on adult workers instead of employing children. Look for the Fairtrade symbol when shopping for chocolate. The issues with cocoa production also go beyond child exploitation. Adult farmers consistently earn below a living wage. Old-growth forests are often cut down to make way for cocoa plantations, and farmers will illegally grow on national parks to increase their yield in any way. Cocoa production is also known to involve slavery. What you can do: Buy Fairtrade chocolate Purchase chocolate from countries of origin where these issues are less prevalent. Educate yourself on the extent and impacts of child exploitation in Ghana and the Ivory Coast Learn more about the various issues with cocoa production

They are used in an array of products, particularly the electronic goods that make modern life so easy. This includes smartphones, computers, tablets, gaming devices, GPS, cameras, and whatever you are reading this from! Another common use for these materials is jewellery, with gold being the most obvious example. Unfortunately, conflict minerals contribute to a great deal of human suffering. That is because they fund violence, torture, and death in wars in the regions they are extracted from. There is also a lack of labour regulation, meaning hazardous work conditions, child labour, and subpar wages plague mines in these conflict zones. Most conflict minerals are mined from Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) being the most prevalent example. In countries like these, the government often has trouble regulating and monitoring the thousands of mines that litter the nation. This allows armed groups to control or extort the mines and their workers, with mining income directly funding the violence of many armed groups in the region. The situation also causes suffering as these groups fight each other for control over these mining sites. Beyond the violence perpetrated by militants, the working conditions in the mines are frequently deplorable. The workers, including children, are regularly coerced into work. Conditions are often dangerous, with the lack of government regulation and domination by armed groups preventing workers from fighting for sufficient labour rights. Choose to buy from companies that have taken steps to trace their supply chains and are attempting to avoid sourcing conflict minerals. As You Sow has ranked the largest electronic companies on their commitment to tracing their supply chains and using legitimately-sourced minerals What you can do: Avoid purchasing products made with conflict minerals and buy from companies committed to equitable and conflict-free supply chains. As You Sow's Mining the Disclosures' report offers comprehensive rankings in many industries. Buy jewellery and electronics second-hand. This avoids supporting conflict minerals while also being less wasteful. Contact your local member of parliament and express your desire for greater regulation of conflict minerals and further effort in addressing the underlying problems in these regions.

Choosing recycled paper products reduces the demand for virgin pulp, uses less water and energy, and creates a market for paper collected through recycling programs. Each ton of post-consumer-waste recycled paper saves 17 trees, 4,100kwh of energy and a whopping 26,000 litres of water. Presently there isn't a 100% post-consumer-waste recycled content white copy paper that is manufactured in Australia, so it's a trade off between paper imported from Europe, or buying a locally made product with a lower recycled content. Avoid imported, non-labelled, paper products. These are often from Asia and connected with illegal logging. See the Wilderness Society's Ethical Paper campaign, with a focus on protection of Victoria's native forests and encouraging Australian Paper (maker of Reflex copy paper) to use wood from forest friendly sources. Sign the Ethical Paper Pledge. Look for products with: a high percentage of post-consumer-waste recycled content; a high percentage of fibre sourced from sustainably managed plantations (eg. FSC 'Forest Stewardship Council' certification); alternative fibres such as hemp, kenaf and bagasse.

billion each year. This is more than 10 per cent of the world's pesticides and nearly 25 per cent of the world's insecticides. Many of these are the most hazardous pesticides on the market including aldicarb, phorate, methamidophos and endosulfan. These pesticides can poison farm workers, drift into neighboring communities, contaminate ground and surface water and kill beneficial insects and soil micro-organisms. See 'Pesticides Commonly Used on Cotton' Find out about the Better Cotton Initative Find organic cotton products from companies such as Certton, Blessed Earth, Organic Embrace and Gaia Organic.

In the gaming industry "crunch" is a term used to describe working overtime, particularly when there is a fast-approaching deadline. Game developers commonly work 60-80, even up to 100 hours a week, typically during the months leading up to a game's release. Developers forced to crunch end up sacrificing weekends, time with their families, and their personal health in the process. Speaking up or refusing to do overtime can jeopardise current or future job opportunities. Japanese companies like Nintendo and Sega have significantly reduced crunch, but in western countries it remains a huge problem. A former Rockstar Games employee explained, "If you're really passionate about the game and working there, and want to prioritise that over your life, it's a really great place to work. But if you want to prioritise your life, it's not." In some cases overtime isn't paid, which has led to lawsuits. In 2006 Electronics Arts paid out US$30 million to settle two class action lawsuits that claimed the company underpaid its graphic artists and programmers for overtime. Rockstar Games settled a similar lawsuit in 2009 for US$2.75 million. Learn more at Game Workers Unite is calling for the game industry to be unionized. Learn more at

Many of its materials are toxic and can leak into the surrounding ecosystem when disposed of in landfill. Further, rare earth metals are often used to make electronics in the first place, so disposing of them is a huge waste of limited resources. The usual response to this e-waste is recycling, but this has issues. These include the fact that some components cannot be recovered economically, a lack of understanding from the public of where and how to recycle electronics, and some recycling companies illegally abandoning recyclable material. One way to address this is to reuse and repair your products to maintain their life as long as possible. This means choosing durable, long-term items and learning to fix items yourself (or taking them to an independent repairer). Unfortunately, companies tend not to support this idea as it reduces their profits. Instead, many manufacturers intentionally design products with an artificially limited useful life, forcing customers to replace their products more often. Check out our entry on Right to Repair for more on how to repair electronics and other goods to extend their useful life. Purchase electronic goods from companies that are leading the industry in efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle e-waste Buy second-hand and sell or donate your unwanted goods. You can use websites like OzMobiles, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace or physical stores like op-shops and refurbished electronics stores. If your television or computer can't be reused or repaired, recycle it by taking it to an approved drop-off point.

The small size of cages means that birds are unable to turn around easily, stretch out, flap their wings or exercise. Cages do not satisfy the hen's behavioural need to perch, dust bathe, forage, and lay their eggs in a secluded nest. Beaks are trimmed to prevent cannibalism. In 2008, the European Union announced a ban on conventional battery cages to come into effect from 2012 (Directive 1999/74/EC). This will mean 'Enriched' cages must allow at least 750 cm2 per hen, and contain a nest, litter, perch and clawing-board. This is equal to 9 hens per square metre. BARN-LAID EGGS Hens are housed in a large barn or shed, which contains perching facilities, litter, nest boxes, feeders and drinkers. Most barns have around one-third of the floor space covered with litter that allows for scratching and dust bathing. Flocks may be small (500 birds) or large (5000 birds or more). Conventional barns house 12-15 hens per square metre. The RSPCA-accredited barn-housed hens ('Choose Wisely' branding) house up to 9 hens per square metre. FREE-RANGE EGGS In May 2016 a new national standard for free-range egg production was introduced, requiring the density of chickens outdoors must be no more than one hen per square metre (10,000 hens per hectare) and hens are to have "meaningful and regular" access to the outdoors. It also requires the disclosure of outdoor stocking densities. This legislation is significantly less strict than the 1,500 birds per hectare standard, recommended by the CSIRO and preferred by the RSPCA, a standard previously in place in the Australian Capital Territory. Consumer advocacy group CHOICE responded to the new standards by calling for a consumer boycott of eggs from companies with high stocking densities. Three voluntary certifications that have documented standards are: (1) FREPA (Free Range Egg & Poultry Australia). 7 hens per square metre. Farms are inspected annually, hens have access to pasture and water, do not lay under lights, and are not debeaked. (2) Organic certification. ACO (Australian Certified Organic) guarantee birds are fed organic grain, are free from pesticides, chemical fertilisers and antibiotics, with a maximum of 5 hens per square metre. (3) RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme includes standards for barn or free-range production where farms are assessed by the RSPCA at least twice per year. The standards are focussed on animal welfare where hens can perch, dust bathe, scratch and forage, and lay their eggs in a nest. (4) Australian Egg Corporation 'Egg Corp Assured', which represents 90% of producers, code of practice for animal welfare as part of their quality assurance scheme has 14 hens per square, and 'access' to outside. Allows beak trimming. Recipients of Choice's 2008 "Shonky Awards". If you want to buy free-range eggs with hen welfare in mind, look for independent certification such as FREPA, RSPCA or Certified Organic. Or use the Choice free-range eggs buying guide to see which brands meet the recommended model code of 1500 hens per hectare. Learn more

The past few decades have seen the creation of many technologies that significantly improve our lives. Social networks allow us to stay in contact with friends and family. Search engines let us access seemingly limitless information. Video games provide new and interesting forms of art. However, these technologies can also bring a great deal of harm to people and society. Social networks have caused many to substitute meaningful connections for superficiality. The internet provides as much misinformation as it does knowledge. And video games have become an addiction for numerous people. Unfortunately, technology companies are rarely held accountable, with little action being taken to reduce these risks. However, there is a lot you can do to minimise the harm for you and your family. Some of the biggest negative impacts of these technologies are on physical and mental health. In 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) added gaming addiction to the International Classification of Diseases. Too much screen use takes people away from work, education, socialising, exercise, and other activities necessary for their wellbeing. In addition, social media sites like Instagram and TikTok can often distort people's views on how their lives and bodies should look. This can lead to body image issues and shame over one's lifestyle. Particularly for young people, social media and online video games expose users to cyberbullying, which is highly damaging to mental health. Another issue with these technologies is how the algorithms on many social media sites have been shown to push people towards extremist and harmful content. Examples include neo-nazi groups, extreme sexism, or conspiracies that encourage violence. Many of these issues are not inherent to these devices and services but depend on how they are used. As difficult as it can be, you get to choose how often and in what ways you engage with these technologies. It can help to reflect on what you genuinely enjoy doing on these devices and then limit yourself to these activities in healthy doses. Generally, activities which connect you with others and require your active input will be more fulfilling than those which are passive and solitary. It can also help to reflect on what things trigger unhealthy technology use and take extra care in these moments. If you know you overuse your phone before bed, for example, place it in a different room and read a book instead. One of the best things you can do is train yourself to stop and consider "is this what I really want to do right now?", every time you engage with these devices. What you can do: Limit your engagement with these devices to a healthy level. Set reminders to keep you aware of how long you are spending with these technologies, create "device-free" times throughout the day, and even delete the app or sell the product if necessary. Use these devices in ways you know will improve your wellbeing rather than damage it. For example, replace solitary and passive activities (scrolling your Instagram feed) with active and social actions (messaging friends and family). Write to politicians, sign petitions, and use your vote, to encourage greater regulation for these tech companies. To learn more, watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix and check out the Center for Humane Technology

Factory farming is a system of animal agriculture that involves an extreme level of control over animals' lives to maximise meat production while minimising cost. Unfortunately, the approaches taken in factory farming significantly reduce the quality of life for the animals involved. It also causes a number of environmental, social, and health-related issues. Despite this, there has been little effort from governments or businesses to reduce its prevalence or negative impacts. Exactly what factory farming involves will vary for different kinds of animals. There are a few overarching themes, however. The biggest one is the treatment of animals as commodities rather than living beings. This leads to money being valued more highly than the animals' welfare and basic needs. Related to this is a focus on large-scale production and efficiency. This often leads to a large number of animals being confined to small living spaces, including indoor sheds, cages, crates, or pens. Hormones and breeding practices are often used to distort these animals' bodies in the name of greater meat production at the expense of their welfare. One example is selective breeding to make chickens reach slaughter weight three times faster, causing several skeletal and cardiovascular issues. Unfortunately, these cruel, overcrowded conditions create the perfect environment for diseases to cultivate. Because giving animals a more ethical environment would reduce profit, however, these farms pump the animals full of antibiotics instead of addressing the underlying issue. When these seep into the environment, they allow microbes to become resistant, making it harder for us to fight certain illnesses. Factory farming places a significant toll on the environment. The amount of water, fossil fuels, and land used in these farms is significant and unsustainable. Animal waste and the pesticides used in the animal feed contaminate waterways to the point that some become dead zones unable to support life! Due to long hours, exposure to disease, and simply the nature of the work itself, workers at factory farms are more likely to suffer from physical and psychological problems. Further, these environmental and health impacts more greatly affect the rural communities surrounding these farms compared to other populations. This list of problems is only scratching the surface. Still, I'm sure you are already wondering how to avoid contributing to this cruel practice. What you can do: Learn more at Voiceless You can stop the problem at its source by reducing or eliminating animal products from your diet. This isn't always easy, so try to remember it is a gradual process. Animals Australia is a great place to go for more tips. If you continue to eat animal products, look for those which are independently certified by organisations like the RSPCA. The ethical standards for these items are higher, although far from perfect. If buying meat, Sustainable Table's Ethical Meat Suppliers Directory will help you find butchers offering free range and organic meat. Find cafes and restaurants serving higher welfare food near you at RSPCA's Choose Wisely website.

But have you ever thought about the millions of people across the world whose livelihoods depend on coffee production? Unfortunately, many are unable to earn a reliable living wage. Volatile coffee bean prices, changing weather conditions, difficulties with disease, and a lack of bargaining power put significant pressure on farmers. This is compounded by a coffee bean price that has been declining for the last decade. In some cases, farmers earn less than one cent from a $3 cup of coffee! But if coffee is such a profitable product and growers live so poorly, where does all that money go? Well, most of the profits are pocketed by the roasters, which are overwhelmingly large multinational companies. The biggest of these in the Australian market include Nestle, JDE Peet's, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Many large Australian businesses, like Vittoria Coffee, also have a significant market share. While far from perfect, Fairtrade-certified coffee is a solid alternative. Farmers who are certified get a minimum price for their beans, protecting against unpredictability. They also receive a premium to invest in their business or local community. Another plus is the audits which aim to prevent child and forced labour, discrimination, and other poor work conditions. A more ideal solution is to buy from companies that both grow and roast the beans themselves. This cuts out the multinationals taking the profits and ensures equitable pay for growers. What you can do: Buy coffee that is sustainably grown and roasted here in Australia. Look for products with the certified Fairtrade symbol, preferable from from small, independent, Australian-owned roasters.

There are currently about 720,000 head of cattle in Australia's feedlots. Each animal has five to 10 square metres of space in a pen of 50 to 200 cattle. In these cramped conditions, cattle are forced to stand and sleep in their own manure and endure extremes of weather. Close confinement means a much higher risk of disease so antibiotic drugs are routinely used. Grain feed commonly causes their digestive systems to be acidic. Talk to your butcher and ask for grass-fed, chemical free meat from a local producer.

Food additives are substances added to food to affect the flavour, appearance, shelf life, nutritional content, etc. In Australia, food labels use numbers between 100 and 999 to classify them. Despite what most people assume, there are plenty of natural additives. For example, additive 300 is vitamin C, 100 is turmeric, and 948 is oxygen! Additives have been used throughout history, such as calcium sulphate (516), a firming agent used in tofu for thousands of years. Food additives are regulated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and all additives must get approval first. Many food additives approved for use in Australia are banned overseas. While the majority of food additives are considered safe, some have been associated with a range of food intolerance symptoms in some people. These include hyperactivity, headaches, gastric irritation, behavioural disorders, learning difficulty, cancer, skin rashes, and asthma symptoms. Another ethical issue relates to consumers' lack of agency over the additives they consume. While numbers are a practical way to classify them, almost no one will memorise every number. As a result, consumers have to go beyond the label to understand what is in their foods. Combined with the lack of education on the potential harms of some food additives, this makes it more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions about their dietary choices. What can you do? If you are worried about food additives, try eating less processed foods and more whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains. Read this article by CHOICE to learn more about specific kinds of food additives and their controversies. Identify dangerous food additives with the Chemical Maze book and app, or follow the link to see the Food Intolerance Network’s complete list of additives and their safety.

Think of all the greenhouse gases emitted just to get one meal to your plate! You can cut down on your food miles by buying products made in Australia with Australian ingredients. The best way to do this is to buy from local independent grocers, farmers' markets, or directly from the Australian producer. If that's not possible, you can use the country of origin label, which is on most foods you find at the supermarket. Most food made in Australia will have a kangaroo logo and let you know what percentage of the ingredients is Australian. Food saying "Product of Australia" or "Grown in Australia" are made here using 100% Australian ingredients. You should aim for these products as much as possible.  Don't forget that air pollution from transportation is not the only way agribusiness damages the environment. How foods are produced can also wreak havoc on the natural world. There is little point in choosing an Australian product to cut down food miles if the product itself causes significant environmental damage. Consider the impact of how your food is made as well as its transportation. Things you can do: Buy Local. Purchase from local independent co-ops and grocers rather than the big supermarket chains. In the market, ask your local grocer where the produce comes from. You should also check out Local Harvest, our resource for finding good local food close to you! The Australian Farmers' Markets Association has a tool for finding farmers' markets and even resources to help you start your own! In the supermarket, choose items labelled "Product of Australia" or "Grown in Australia". Otherwise, choose items made in Australia with a high percentage of Australian ingredients. You learn more on the ACCC's website.

The wearing of furs has long been practised by humans to protect themselves from their environment or enact cultural rituals and practices. However, in today's world, fur production has mostly devolved into cruelly exploiting animals for a fashion statement. For example, producers have to end up to 50 animal lives just to produce one mink fur coat! Luckily, consumers and designers are starting to wake up to the ethical issues. While many fashion labels have gone fur free, there is still work to be done. The majority of fur comes from animals raised on fur farms. On these farms, minks, foxes, rabbits, and many more are kept in tiny cages with little room for movement or normal functioning. The quality of life is very low in these cages. Animals often exhibit psychological distress and abnormal behaviours like self-mutilation, fur-chewing, and repetitive circling around the cage. The methods used to kill these animals are similarly cruel. They include gassing, anal electrocution, and suffocation. Can you really support an industry that puts millions of living beings through this every year? The other main way fur is collected is through trapping. Most of the time, this involves laying traps in the wild that immobilise the animal until hunters can come and collect them. Although practices and regulations vary, common traps include steel-jaw leg-hold traps, wire snare traps, and underwater traps. Traps that aren't intended to kill the animal will leave them in pain until they are killed by their injuries, environmental conditions, or a hunter. Even traps intended to kill are usually not instant and leave them in pain before dying, such as those which drown or suffocate the animal. Another problem is that traps risk injuring or killing animals other than the target, including domesticated dogs and cats. This causes needless suffering and death and can be traumatic for families if their animal companion is accidentally harmed. What you can do: Avoid buying products containing fur. Be careful, some clothing contains a fur trim or other feature despite looking fur-free. Learn how to spot the difference between real and fake fur. Boycott brands that use fur and support those that do not. Check Animals Australia's Fur Free Shopping List for retailers and designers with fur-free policies.

GE crops pose a very real threat to our food because, as living organisms, they can reproduce and spread and so once released they cannot be recalled. Their effects are irreversible. Concerns over genetically engineered (GE) food include unknown health risks, threats to biodiversity, contamination of conventional and organic crops, increase in pesticide and herbicide use, and control over our food by multinational chemical companies who legally own the patents on the technology. Look for foods labelled 'GMO free', 'GE-free', 'Not genetically modified', certified 'Organic' & 'Bio-dynamic' or items that are 'Product of Australia' (except food containing cottonseed & canola oil) Check the 'GM-Free Shopping List' for all brands guaranteed GM-free by their manufacturer (assurance they are not using GM ingredients anywhere in the food chain, including animal feed). Snapshot: What is genetically modified food, why is it controversial and how do I know if I’m eating it?

Globally, farm animal production accounts for nearly one-fifth of human-created greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than the entire transportation sector. As outlined in the United Nations report, Livestock's Long Shadow, livestock production is also a major contributor to the problems of land degradation, air pollution, loss of biodiversity, and water pollution. On average Australians eat over 70 kilograms of meat per person each year. Cut out beef from your diet and you'll save 1.45 tonnes of greenhouse gas a year. Switching from a normal sedan car to a hybrid car would reduce your annual emissions by only just over one tonne. Almost 50 per cent of all the grains grown in the world go towards cattle feed - enough food to feed 8.7 billion people. Presently 1.02 billion people, one sixth of humanity, are undernourished. Production of dairy and beef products is particularly water-intensive. The dairy sector alone accounts for one out of every 10 litres of total household water use. It takes 1,000 litres of water to produce one litre of milk. Reducing your meat and dairy consumption or, even better, committing to a vegetarian or vegan diet, is one of the most effective things you can do to reduce your environmental impact.

At Coles supermarkets they account for 32 per cent of sales, with a target of 40 per cent within the next few years. Woolworths is also looking to increase its private label sales. House brands mean big profits for supermarkets. As major supermarket chains give more shelf space to their own brand items, name brand products are squeezed off the shelves. This means less choice, both for customers, with the disappearance of familiar brands, and for Australian farmers and manufacturers, who often find that they must sell through the supermarkets' own brands. They are forced to compete with cheaper, often heavily subsidised, foreign imports. House brands encourage us to trust that 'cheap is best'. Their labels don't disclose the manufacturer, so consumers don't know whom their money is supporting. Best choice - choose Australian-owned brands with a positive or 'No Information' rating as preference over house brands. If buying a house brand, choose Product of Australia first, Made in Australia second. Avoid imports.

Microplastics (often labelled as 'polyethylene' on product labels) are used in some personal care products such as facial scrubs, cleansers and toothpaste. These particles are not retained by wastewater treatment so end up in the ocean. While microplastics aren't thought to be a health hazard to consumers, they are a threat to the marine environment. As microplastics (plastic pieces of less than one millimetre diameter) are indistinguishable from plankton, the potential for ingestion by tiny crustaceans is wide. If these creatures ingest them and are eaten by other larger creatures and so on, microplastics can travel up the food chain. And because polyethylene is well known for absorbing toxins, these toxins could also end up in the seafood we eat like shellfish, white fish and tuna. The three main sources of microplastic in marine environments are: 1) consumer products such as cosmetics, 2) breakdown of larger plastic material, and 3) the shedding of synthetic fibres from textiles by domestic clothes washing. To reduce the amount of microplastic getting into our waterways: Avoid personal care products containing polyethylene microbeads Avoid clothing made from synthetic fibres Keep plastics, such as plastic bags and bottles, out of waterways

Studies suggest nanotechnology ingredients in cosmetics pose serious health risks to the women wearing them. Nanoparticles are incredibly small, measured in nanometres (nm), or one-billionth of a meter. They are found in cosmetics, moisturisers, and some sunscreens, and are used to increase products' penetration into the skin. Concerns have been raised that if nanoparticles are absorbed into living skin cells, they could increase the risk of skin cancer. Testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth, found nanoparticles in foundations and concealers sold by 10 top name brands, including Christian Dior, Revlon, and Yves Saint Laurent. Only one of these, Christian Dior, labelled its use of nano ingredients. Companies are not legally required to test the safety of nanoparticles before using them in products, or to label their products as containing nano ingredients. More on nanotechnology in sunscreens Emerging Nanotechnologies - concerns overview

Organic products are produced through various measures that enhance the wellbeing of the land, animals, and humans involved. Organic farms must not use synthetic fertilisers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics, irradiation, and human-made nanoparticles. They also need to put in place practices that: maintain or improve soil health, equitably manage water, are appropriate for the local ecosystem, minimise water and ground pollution, preserve native species, prioritise animal welfare, and more. Organic products have many benefits for the environment, health, and animal welfare. Organic farms result in greater biodiversity, better soil and water quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and an overall more sustainable agricultural system. A certain level of animal welfare is also required for certified organic products. Studies show that those who eat organic have significantly lower exposure to pesticides. Organic produce also tends to have more vitamins, antioxidants, and good fats. While the evidence is still developing on whether these lead to a significant health difference, they are certainly a solid indicator. However, it is important to take care when buying organic products. Just because something is labelled as organic does not necessarily mean it is. Australian products sold locally do not need to be certified or meet the national standard to be labelled organic. Instead, companies simply need to be able to "substantiate their claims". To ensure your product is organic, you should look for certification. Examples are Australian Certified Organic, Biological Farmers of Australia, and NAASA. It should also be noted that organic foods tend to have a lower yield. This means that more land needs to be cleared to meet the same demand, bringing its own environmental issues.  Buy directly from farmers who use organic methods, or subscribe to an organic box service that delivers organic food to your door at regular intervals. You can find farmers' markets and other organic retailers in your area with Local Harvest. Choose products that are certified organic or biodynamic under one of the following labels: ACO, BFA, NAASA, Demeter. Find out which fruits and vegetables expose you to the most and least pesticides so you'll know which ones to buy organic, and which conventionally grown ones are okay when organic isn't available.

The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia estimate that 50-70% of clothing made in Australia is outsourced, usually to migrant women working at home or in backyard sweatshops. Long supply chains mean designers and clothing labels contract work out to factories, who subcontract work out to other factories, backyard sweatshops or outworkers. Often outworkers receive payment and conditions significantly below their award and statutory entitlements. Outworkers are almost always paid in piece rates, usually equating to $5-8 an hour, but sometimes as little as $3 an hour. The low rates of pay that outworkers receive, combined with routinely short deadlines, results in many outworkers having to work extremely long hours, sometimes around the clock, or 7 days a week. Support Ethical Clothing Australia accredited businesses who have taken practical steps to keep their Australian-based supply chains transparent and ensure that they and any sub-contractors are compliant with the relevant Australian laws. Learn more about Homeworkers/outworkers in Australia

Seafood is a key part of many cultures, economies, and communities worldwide, Australia included. But have you ever stopped to think about the impacts of what you're eating? For decades now, the global demand for fish and seafood has increased. It has had a significant impact on our ocean ecosystems. 90 per cent of global fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished. Pacific bluefin tuna populations are estimated at under 4 per cent of their pre-fishing levels. Oceanic shark and ray populations have declined by 71 per cent since 1970, and around a third are threatened with extinction. The primary cause of all of this? Overfishing. There are many ways in which the fishing industry adversely impacts aquatic life. The most straightforward is fishing a population beyond a sustainable level. This means that animals are being fished faster than they're replenishing, resulting in a population decline. Aquatic life is often thrown back after being fished, usually because they are too small or not the correct species. However, even this often causes injury or death because of rapid decompression, air exposure, and the stress of being captured. The plastic from fishing equipment is another issue. 45 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in weight is discarded fishing nets. This can be combated in a few ways. The most obvious is limiting how much fishing is done in the first place, particularly for species that are at risk. Government-mandated fishing quotas help, and we can do our bit by cutting or reducing our seafood intake. If you continue eating seafood, you should ensure that what you eat is sustainably sourced. Unfortunately, this isn't always easy. Manufacturers often name their products to obscure the underlying animal, such as using "flake" to describe shark. Aggregate products like fish sticks or patties also tend to include unsustainable seafood without the consumer realising. It's important to check the label and learn what products and species are sustainable choices. What can you do? Eliminate or reduce your seafood consumption. Tofu is a great protein-rich alternative. If you are concerned about omega-3, flaxseed, walnuts and algae oil are great substitutes. When buying seafood, use GoodFish: Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide to help you find the most sustainable options. Avoid species most at risk, such as shark products, rays, bigeye tuna, and southern bluefin tuna. Choose fish lower down the food chain, such as sardines and anchovies. Look for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logos. These certify that the seafood production occurred in a reasonably sustainable manner.

million tonnes of packaging every year- that's about 165kg per person - only 48 per cent is recycled. Minimise packaging. Remember the waste hierarchy: avoid first, reuse where possible, then recycle. Check out what your council kerbside collection takes for recycling. Avoid double packaging and unlabelled plastic tubs. Buy in bulk where possible. BYO bags, BYO containers. Doing take-away? BYO plate. Pack green groceries loose in a box or basket. BYO take-away coffee mug Choose plastics '1' & '2' (commonly recycled within Australia) over 4, 5 & 6 where possible (often processed overseas). Avoid '3' - PVC produces hazardous by-products (dioxins) when recycled Take on the 'Plastic Free July' challenge

But did you know that this simple ingredient actually contributes to a great deal of environmental degradation? The vast majority of palm oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia from oil palm plantations. The problem is, creating these plantations requires destruction of a significant amount of rainforest. This process takes away the habitat of countless animal species, such as orangutans, tigers, and rhinos. This is especially troubling given the biodiversity of these forests. The indigenous peoples of those lands frequently lose their homes and whole way of life. Unfortunately, palm oil production is increasing year on year. It can be difficult for consumers to know which products contain palm oil as it is usually just listed as "vegetable oils". Luckily, many companies are removing palm oil from their products or producing palm-oil-free versions. These are often clearly labelled as such. While palm oil production currently causes a great deal of damage, there are some advantages to the crop. Its yield per unit of land can be up to ten times higher than other vegetable oils. It is also plays a significant role in the Indonesian and Malaysian economies, helping the countries to develop. Given that a boycott is likely to just result in palm oil being replaced with less efficient vegetable oil crops, many suggest sustainable palm oil production as a more reasonable solution. Leading this initiative is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) who provide certifications to growers and retailers involved in the palm oil industry. The RSPO aims to allow growers to earn a living wage while respecting human rights, conserving the natural environment, and maintaining transparency. However, many are concerned that the certification process is not strict enough. For example, land clearing and new plantings are still permissible, although there are protections for indigenous peoples and forests with high conservation values. Further, some of their certification options provide little environmental or social benefit while still allowing use of a varied form of their logo. One example is the 'mass balance' certification which still allows sustainable palm oil to be mixed with conventional palm oils. Another involves merely buying 'credits' to support growers without any assessment of the actual palm oil used in the products! Because of this confusing system, it is important to understand the different certifications (follow the link below) and check carefully when purchasing products containing RSPO certified palm oil. What you can do: Download Waza's Palm Oil Scan app to help you make an informed choice when purchasing products. See if your favourite products contain palm oil derived ingredients by checking against this list of names for palm oil. Check out WWF's Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard to see which companies are sourcing palm oil responsibly. Search our assessments database to see which companies are sourcing sustainable palm oil.

This means that we elect various representatives to make decisions about the laws and policies that run our country. The fact that we can vote them out of power every four years motivates them to act with our interests in mind. Political donations can interfere with this, however. This is because the politicians might be concerned they won't receive a handout next year if they do not serve the donor's personal interests. Political donations also provide donors with direct access to ministers. An example is getting plenty of time to speak to them over a fundraiser dinner. This lets donors influence the government in ways not available to regular Australians. The vast majority of donation money comes from large companies, and in the case of the Labor Party, unions too. Aside from Clive Palmer, who donated $84 million to his own party, top donors for the 2019 election include Sugolena Pty Ltd, who donated $4 million to the Liberal Party; Pratt Holdings, who gave around $1.5 million across both major parties; and the Australian Hotel Association, who have previously lobbied against poker machine reform and gave $500,000 to the Coalition and $800,000 to Labor. With so many large donations, many experts are concerned about the influence these companies hold over our politicians. Donations under a specific monetary value do not need to be publicly disclosed. In 2021-22 this value was $14,500. However, this is per branch of the party, not the overall amount donated. Suppose one were to donate $14,500 to the national and eight state/territory branches of a political party. In that case, contributions of up to $130,500 could be given without it needing to be disclosed. The high threshold and potential for loopholes mean that around half of the private funding for the major political parties remains a secret. There have been calls to change the system, including a 2020 bill introduced by Senator Jacqui Lambie, however reform is yet to embaced by the major parties.  What you can do: Avoid buying from companies that take advantage of the system with large political donations. You can check this by searching the Australian Greens website Democracy For Sale. Check out Open Secrets to learn about political donations in the USA Support minor parties and independents trying to make the system more transparent and place a cap on political donations.

Each ton of post-consumer-waste recycled paper saves 17 trees, 26,000 litres of water, and 4,100 kwh of energy - enough to power the average home for 6 months. Choose toilet paper with FSC Recycled certification. Brands include SAFE, icare, Naturale, Earthcare, Earthwise & Caprice Green. Choose those with paper wrapping where possible. Avoid paper products that have been bleached with chlorine (toxic). Look for unbleached as first preference, or oxygen-bleached, total chlorine-free, or elemental chlorine free, as a second preference.

These are community meeting places where people learn how to repair everyday items from clothing to bicycles to electronics. You can also buy and sell second-hand to extend a products life, rather than giving in to planned obsolescence. Apple, previously one of the worst offenders, has committed to providing customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to assist with self-service repair. Finally, minimise the need for repairs in the first place by spending your money on goods which have long lives and can more easily be repaired. Find your closest repair cafe, where volunteers show you how to fix your own stuff. Australian Repair Network has a helpful map of repair cafes around Australia (at the bottom of the linked webpage). Find repair guides for everything from electronics and appliances to clothing and cars at iFixit. If you can't repair something yourself, hire an independent repairer. Support companies that are committed to making long lasting durable products which facilitate self-service repairs or repairs from independent repairers. You can use repairability ratings provided by websites like iFixit to help.

Sandblasting is what gives your jeans the worn-out look. Under the sandblasting process the denim is smoothed, shaped and cleaned by forcing abrasive particles across it at high speeds. This fashion however comes at a price: the health and even the lives of sandblasting workers. Sandblasting causes silicosis which the World Health Organization states leads to lung fibrosis and emphysema. In later stages the critical condition can become disabling and is often fatal. The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation launched its campaign to eliminate the use of sandblasting in the garment industry in 2009. In 2010 both Levi's and H&M jointly decided to eliminate the process from their supply chains representing a major breakthrough in the campaign. Introduction to sandblasting Killer Jeans report (2016) Deadly Denim report - Sandblasting in the Bangladesh Garment Industry (2012)

Silk begins as a liquid secreted from two glands in the silkworm's head. While they are still in their pupal stage, the cocoons are placed in boiling water, which kills the silkworms and begins the process of unraveling the cocoons to produce silk thread. Approximately 15 silkworms are killed to make a gram of silk thread, and 10,000 are killed to make a silk sari. India is the second largest silk producer, after China. Choose 'Eri silk' or 'Peace silk', which has been harvested after the moths have left the cocoons. Because the silkworm makes a hole in the cocoon in order to emerge, the strand is no longer unbroken, resulting in shorter fibers, so the silk is spun rather than reeled. More on alternatives

The more market share they have, the more influence they have over suppliers, and the easier it is to stamp out smaller independent retailers. Criticisms of the Woolworths/Coles duopoly include market dominance, squeezing suppliers, creeping acquisitions, predatory pricing, restrictive covenants, and building supermarkets in small towns despite local protests. Woolworths is Australia's largest supermarket operator, and NZ's second largest. After years of criticism for being Australia's largest owner of poker machines, Woolworths spun off its liquor retail and hotels businesses in 2021, leaving the poker machines business. Woolworths also operates over 150 Big W stores around Australia. Wesfarmers bought Coles Group in 2007 for $22 billion, but spun off the supermarket and liquor business in 2018. Wesfarmers kept Officeworks, Kmart and Target, which were part of Coles Group when it was acquired by Wesfarmers. Coles Group now owns Coles supermarkets; 1st Choice, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars liquor stores; Coles Express (with Shell) fuel & convenience stores. German-owned ALDI operates over 570 stores in Australia, accounting for 11% of supermarket sales. Most brands in store are ALDI owned. Over 80% of products are Australian made. Metcash accounts for 7% of supermarket sales in Australia and distributes primarily to independently owned stores including IGA and Foodland supermarkets; IGA Liquor, Bottle-O and Cellarbrations liquor stores; Mitre 10, Home Timber & Hardware and Total Tools hardware stores. Take action: Shop at independent supermarkets See article: Tactics used to maintain power over the grocery market in Australia See program: Super Power - The cost of living with Coles and Woolworths Take action: Shop at farmers markets and food co-ops

Baptist World Aid and Not For Sale's 2013 document, The Australian Fashion Report, identified that out of 128 clothing brands, 61% of companies do not know where their garments are manufactured; 76% not know where their garments are weaved, knitted and dyed; and 93% do not know where their cotton is sourced from. We recommend choosing garments that have specific sustainability features. See accredited businesses whose garments are made by local workers whose rights and working entitlements are being upheld and protected. Download the Australian Fashion Report See Travelling textiles: A sustainability roadmap of natural fibre garments report (2009)

Tin is contained within the crust of the earth and extracting it involves clearing and ploughing land, or dredging the seabed. About one-third of the global tin supply comes from the Indonesian islands of Bangka and Belitung. Large-scale deforestation to make way for the mining threatens to leave up to half of Bangka's forests arid, and previously fertile ground and water aquifers have acidified. Purchase electronics goods from companies that are open about where they source tin from, acknowledge the damage tin extraction has caused in Indonesia, and support the introduction of sustainable mining practices. Friends of the Earth Netherlands has assessed major electronics companies based on their transparency and support for sustainable mining See Friends of the Earth's three part documentary: Mining for Smartphones

PVC, a type of plastic used to coat and insulate cables, contains carcinogenic and environmentally unfriendly substances and can leach toxics into landfill when disposed. BFRs, used to prevent circuit boards from igniting, are resistant to degradation and build up in animals and humans over time as it moves up the food chain. Lead, used in older CRT monitors, cadmium, used in laptop batteries and computer contacts, and mercury, used in lighting devices for flat screen displays, are also of particular concern. These chemicals can damage the brain and cause intellectual impairment, and can also harm kidneys, bones, and reproductive systems. See Green Gadgets: Designing the Future See Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics See HealthyStuff.org's 2012 study on toxic chemicals in mobile phones

Many toys are produced in factories operating under sweatshop-like conditions. Despite protests, the industry continues to source toys from factories with documented labour and human rights violations. Three-quarters of the world's toys are made in China. Working conditions have been improving, but serious labour violations continue. Toy workers have to work long days in the peak season without appropriate pay, often for more than 80 hours a week' well above China's legal limit. Many factories impose fines for refusing and other 'misdemeanours', such as missing a day's work or spending too long on a toilet break. The ICTI CARE Process is the toy industry's ethical manufacturing program aimed at ensuring safe and humane workplace environments for toy factory workers worldwide. However, this process has been criticised by labour rights organisations. What you can do: Choose 'China-free' toys from companies such as Playmobil and Lego who manufacture most of their products in Europe; or Fair-trade accredited products. Toys last a lot longer than kids' interest in them so keep them moving around. Pass them on to family and friends (and tell everyone you're happy to get hand-me-downs as presents), join your local Freecycle, seek out used toy fairs, buy and sell used toys online or join a local toy library. See report: The Dark Side of the Glittering World - Exploitation in Toy Factories in China

The Cotton Campaign has now shifted its focus to Turkmenistan, where state-imposed forced labor in cotton production remains widespread and systematic, with tens of thousands of public sector workers and farmers coerced into harvesting cotton under threat of penalties like job loss or land confiscation. Watch 'White Gold - the true cost of cotton' (8min video - 2008) Read about the campaign against forced labor in the cotton fields of Turkmenistan. See the open letter and call to boycott Uzbek cotton (2009). See the list of 331 companies who signed the Pledge against using products that have cotton from Uzbekistan.

Many of our ancient forests in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales are presently being logged, clearfelled, burnt, and turned into millions of tonnes of woodchips for paper and cardboard every year. Say 'no' to Reflex and other Australian Paper products (including Post Office brand), which use Australian native forest fibre and are chlorine bleached. Choose copy paper with recycled content Find out more about protecting our forests

Blowflys lay eggs in the skin of the sheep which hatch into larvae and feed on the sheep's tissue - resulting in the painful death of around 3 million sheep each year. Mulesing is a controversial practice, as it is done without anesthetic. After international campaigns by animal activist groups and the threatened boycott of Australian wool by European retailers, the Australian Wool Industry stated it would phase out mulesing but has since scrapped this earlier promise. If you choose to buy wool products, ask the retailer whether the wool is ethically sourced from sheep that are not mulesed. Find brands and retailers specialising in supplying wool certified as non-mulesed, such as NewMerino, Plevna Downs, Woolerina and The Merino Company. See alternatives to wool at the Animals Australia Unleashed Faux Shopping Guide Find out more about this difficult issue