Evaluating products that contain palm oil is tricky. This first case study looks at Nutiva shortening, certified by Palm Done Right.
Case study in palm oil ethics: Nutiva
Category: Ethical shopping guide
These posts take examples of everyday items and examine social and environmental factors to consider in each case. The goal is not for this site to become the authoritative ethical shopping guide. That’s too much responsibility for one person or organization. The goal is for us to collectively decide on the most ethical choices, as consumers.
We increasingly rely on user-generated content, whether looking up reviews of a restaurant or trying to purchase a new laptop. User-generated content can make use of our various perspectives and backgrounds to come to a consensus on ethics – see this post for more on the topic of why we need user-generated ethical ratings.
So, the Green Stars Project is all about applying user-generated content to integrate an ethical shopping guide into our daily lives. The vision is that Green Stars reviews will soon be visible on the sites we use (Yelp, Amazon, etc.) so that they are visible to everyone. Many don’t have the time or energy to consult dedicated ethical shopping guides so the goal is to bring ethical consumerism to a wider audience and also to make it a democratic process.
The posts in this category aim to provide guidance that will help you to make your own ethical decisions, wherever you live. Importantly, please consider incorporating a Green Stars rating next time you review something! Contact me if you do, as there’s a recurring competition to encourage readers to write ethical reviews – you can win an ethical prize and be featured on this site!
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Palm oil certifications
There are some companies that do genuinely source sustainable palm and they are worth supporting. It’s therefore important to correctly identify the companies that are sourcing sustainable palm oil – and those that fall short.
Peet’s Coffee – sustainability and social responsibility
Peet’s coffee was founded in Berkeley, California, by Dutch immigrant, Alfred Peet, all the way back in 1966. Peet’s changed the landscape of coffee in America, taking things up a few notches in terms of quality and experience. You can imagine what Berkeley culture was like in 1966, when Peet’s arrived on the scene, fueling … Continue reading Peet’s Coffee – sustainability and social responsibility
Amazon ethics and social responsibility
This is part 2 of my ethical review of Amazon, and it will broadly examine the topic of Amazon’s ethics and social responsibility. (Part 1 focused on the Amazon Dash program.) I think the best way to start is by looking at what Amazon has to say about itself in its latest sustainability report. Amazon’s … Continue reading Amazon ethics and social responsibility
Amazon Dash program & ethical poll results
It’s already three months since I asked you to vote in the poll: How Ethical is Amazon? In this post I’m going to show the poll results and also ask myself that same question. I came to realize that Amazon simply doesn’t value sustainability. I had a growing feeling of unhappiness with Amazon that spanned various topics but the last straw was the introduction of Amazon Dash buttons.
How Ethical is Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s is a popular store, viewed with fondness, like a quirky friend that brings us interesting things to eat. But how ethical is Trader Joe’s?
How to help the Uyghurs
Canada and the US have recognized China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide. Up to 1.8 million Uyghurs have been detained in camps for “re-education” under brutal conditions. At least two investigations have found that Uyghurs are subjected to forced labor in companies that supply and manufacture electronics and textiles for major multinational companies. Three of them, Apple, Nike, and Coca-Cola, have been lobbying to water down the proposed Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Impossible Burger – how would you rate it?
I bought Impossible Burgers at the Grocery Outlet and compared to them to Beyond Meat burgers. I rated the Impossible Burger 3/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact but want to know what you think.
Can you trust Amazon?
My previous post on Amazon.com, Inc. included a poll asking: How Ethical is Amazon? Please vote in the poll if you didn’t get a chance yet – I’ll discuss the results in a future post, and maybe dig a bit more into the social and environmental impact of Amazon. This post is going to focus … Continue reading Can you trust Amazon?
Califia Protein Oat Milk
The previous post looked at the carbon footprint of plant-based milk, focusing on a recent paper from researchers at the University of California. The main conclusion of that post was that plant-based milks tend to have similar carbon footprints, and that they are all a lot lower than the footprint of cow's milk. The research … Continue reading Califia Protein Oat Milk