Ethical Purchasing Guide for Groups

Plastics

vIt’s important for us to have an active role in minimising our plastic use to protect the environment As students, you can reduce your plastic waste is through adapting to more sustainable purchasing habits.

Choose products with minimal or no plastic packaging Look for products in alternative packaging options such as glass, cardboard, or biodegradable materials; these are better for the environment and can be recycled or reused.

By utilising reusable water bottles and coffee cups, single-use plastic can be avoided whilst additionally receiving a discount on hot drinks in university catering outlets Alternatives to plastic may not always be available. When plastic is unavoidable in your purchases, try to ensure packaging is disposed of properly, recycling where possible. By choosing alternatives to single-use plastic and approaching waste responsibly, you can make a positive impact on the environment and help reduce plastic pollution

Amazon

Amazon is the world’s biggest online retailer, shipping approximately 1 6 million packages per day, resulting in a promotion of unnecessary consumerism, excessive emissions, and wasted packaging and products.

Where possible, choose local businesses to help support the high street and local economy Whilst Amazon may be a convenient option for personal and club/society/project purchases, it is important as a community to be mindful of our consumer choices and their influence on the wider environment and local businesses.

By sourcing products at a local and more sustainable level, we can combat climate change and aid in reducing unnecessary waste and vehicle emissions Planning ahead can aid in reducing reliance on Amazon and cut down on the need for last-minute next-day deliveries.

Understandably, alternatives to Amazon may not always be possible due to time constraints, cost, or stock levels However, through making a conscious decision to choose more sustainable sources, when possible, we prioritise community values, support local businesses and protect the environment. Bangor high street has been suffering as with many high streets across the UK. Whilst this often leads people to online shopping, this continues the cycle and contributes further to the overall issue There are several charity shops throughout Bangor high street, which often stock items such as fancy dress and craft products Additionally, the Bangor market takes place on Friday mornings, with stalls containing handmade goods, clothing, food, and jewellery. By choosing to utilise these shops as an alternative to Amazon, you are supporting charities and local people, whilst reducing reliance on fast fashion and excessive consumption

Local Alternatives to Amazon

Product Alternative ideas Location

Costumes/Fancy Dress Sparx 208a High Street

Craft items The Works 241 High street

Cards Card Factory Deiniol Centre

Phones and Tech Qanovi Mobile Deiniol Centre

Décor, Jewellery, and Gifts The Dead Faeries Deiniol Centre

Food and Eco Skincare/Products (Vegan, Fairtrade etc)

Dimensions 15 Holyhead Road

Clothing Soulful Living Deiniol Centre

Artwork Studio 9 Deiniol Centre

Refill Beauty/Cleaning Products Wild Origins Deiniol Centre

Books Awen Menai 17 A545, Menai Bridge

Homeware Enchantment Deiniol Centre

Antiques, books and Jewellery Pete the Hats Deiniol Centre

Fairtrade

By choosing Fairtrade Certified products, we support sustainability, fair wages for workers and farmers, and improved working conditions

Whilst it’s preferable to choose Fairtrade Certified, this is not always a feasible option. In some cases, fair trade options are unavailable due to stock levels or costs Alongside this, fairtrade tea and coffee are rarely available in bulk Therefore, considerations were made for packaging and waste associated with buying in smaller quantities

Where possible, please consider choosing Fairtrade Certified tea and coffee for personal use and club/society/project events.

The Rainforest Alliance focuses on promoting environmental sustainability in agriculture and improving conservation

Where providing Fairtrade Certified is unavailable, or unfeasible, consider choosing brands with Rainforest Alliance Certifications

There are some examples for brands below with Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certifications.

Rainforest Alliance Tea

Pg Tips

Tetley’s Yorkshire Tea

Typhoo

Fuze

Lipton

Rainforest Alliance Instant Coffee

Tesco Gold

ASDA Extra Special Italian Style Instant Coffee

ASDA Extra Special Colombian Instant Coffee

Costa Instant Coffee Smooth Medium Roast

Extras

Asda Instant Hot Chocolate

Just Essentials by ASDA instant hot chocolate

Purchasing Tips

Use a sustainability comparison site

LeafScore provides recommendations and guidance for choosing sustainable products. When making a purchase, check sustainability guides, research the product, read reviews and ensure that it will meet your requirements to prevent unnecessary or unfitting purchases

Look for products with certifications from recognised and reputable sustainability awarding bodies These help to show when companies are making the effort to improve their production line, ingredients, packaging, and transportation.

Be aware of companies using terms such as ‘ eco ’ , and ‘ green ’ without substantial information supporting the claims Companies can legally use these buzzwords in advertising without having to make any changes to their products This is a form of greenwashing and encourages people to buy products under the false impression they’re buying a sustainable item Research companies and try to look past the initial marketing efforts to identify if a product is truly sustainable.

Consider if buying a reusable version of the product is an appropriate option. Whilst reusable products may have a higher outright cost, they usually have a lower overall cost than continually repurchasing single-use items

Make use of what you already have. Check if you own something that could be reused or repurposed. This not only saves money but prevents unnecessary consumption.