Resources

If you don’t have enough time to read up on all the many ethical issues there are to think about, why not just focus on some of the basics – like these:

• Local vs Seasonal vs Organic: How to compare apples with apples, whether local or seasonal or organic.
• The 5 commandments: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rot: Getting to grips with the importance of this sequence of the 5 R’s.
• How to spot greenwashing: A guide to discerning false claims or insinuations that brands and products often make about being green.

 

Links

There are so many great resources available on the internet; here are some of my favourite blogs and information portals:

• crueltyfreekitty.com (how to find cruelty-free products for home and make-up)
• ethicalconsumer.org (exploring the ethical dilemmas that face consumers, with solid research and facts to help you decide what are your best options)
• ethicalliving.co.za (Ethical Living magazine provided a comprehensive rating system for consumers wanting to buy the more ethical product from among a few product options  – sadly the magazine no longer is, but luckily it’s buyers guides are still available on this website)
• ethicalwriters.co (a collective of journalists, writers and bloggers whose agenda is to promote ethical and sustainable lifestyle practices… kinda like what I’m doing here)
• eventgreening.co.za (an association promoting event greening practices – besides industry news it also have some great free resources)
• faithful-to-nature.co.za (an organic online shop with a broad range of products from food to beauty, household items and more)
• freshearth.co.za (a cafe and store in Johannesburg, serving and stocking delicious vegan and organic foods, as well as ethical toiletries and household products – they have an online store too)
• into-mind.com (lots of advice on minimalism and building a functional capsule wardrobe)
• moralfibres.co.uk (a green lifestyle blog with lots of practical advice)
• mybeautybunny.com (cruelty-free lifestyle, fashion & beauty blog)
• selvabeat.com (an environmental lifestyle magazine,  with a special focus on vegan and palm oil-free products)
• shoporganic.co.za (a platform where you can buy green from local SA businesses)
• steadfastgreening.co.za (a really great sustainability consultancy, the site has resources, news, and more)
• thenotepasser.com (a beautiful blog about sustainable living)
• tortoiseandladygrey.com (sustainable fashion info and advice – I really recommend the 20 day sustainable fashion challenge!)
• trashisfortossers.com (the name says it all – love it!)
• urbansprout.co.za (another SA blog with a huge array of green content)
• mywaste.co.za/mywaste-widgets/ (find local recyclers, with an easy-to-use search by waste and where you are)
• wellnessmama.com (great tips and recipes for natural beauty and home care products)
• wensleydale.co.za (an organic certified farm in Gauteng, offering direct sales through their online store – including a veggie box scheme)
• winterthorne.org (a slow living blog)
• zenplicity.co.za (this beautiful website is by a fellow South African, and explores topics around living simply, with natural home and wellness tips)
• zerowastehome.com (tips and advice on how to cut down on your waste – all given by someone who has walked this path and knows what is do-able)