These posts take examples of everyday items and examine a few social and environmental factors to consider in each case. The goal is not to be the authoritative guide to ethical consumerism. Rather, the Green Stars Project is all about user-generated ethical consumerism: I eventually want to see Green Stars reviews on the sites we all use (Yelp, Amazon, etc.) so that they are visible to everyone. So, these posts aim to help you to make your own decisions, wherever you live. And please consider incorporating a Green Stars rating next time you review something!
I recently discovered that you can filter search results on eBay to show only items that benefit charities. Buying used items reduces your impact (carbon and material footprints, social impact) massively over buying new items. Buying used items from a charitable organization is even better. I’ll describe two ways to search eBay for items that benefit charities. Continue reading Supporting charities on eBay
Conagra Brands is one of the largest food companies in the world. Conagra’s greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation have increased from 2019 to 2020. The introduction of compostable bowls for frozen dinners is a bright spot in a corporation that’s firmly in the avoid category for me. 1/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. Continue reading Conagra – sustainability and ethical rating
This is the second of two posts featuring products made from palm oil. The goal of these posts is to provide examples of how to ethically evaluate palm oil products. This post features Earth Balance vegan butter, which is now owned by Conagra Brands. 1/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. Continue reading Case study in palm oil ethics: Earth Balance
Evaluating products that contain palm oil is tricky. This first case study looks at Nutiva shortening, certified by Palm Done Right. Continue reading Case study in palm oil ethics: Nutiva
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. Continue reading Palm oil certifications
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 conversations on free speech, civil rights, and the Vietnam war. … Continue reading Peet’s Coffee – sustainability 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 2020 Sustainability Report Amazon published its 124-page 2020 sustainability report … Continue reading Amazon ethics and social responsibility
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. Continue reading Amazon’s Dash program tells you all you need to know about the company
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? Continue reading How Ethical is Trader Joe’s?
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. Continue reading How to help the Uyghurs
The Green Stars Project 