We all like to think of ourselves as pretty savvy when we hit the high street or when we head online to spend a bit of cash. Finding a bargain and getting a good deal is important to us. While sourcing sound financial deals is important, you also want to ensure that the companies that you do business with are ethically sound. Millennials are savvier than ever and take a keen interest in how a business acts, how much they pay their employees, and how much recycling they do. Take a look at how you can measure the sustainability of the businesses you buy from.
By Team Savant
Image: Morning Brew
Shops
Image: Cherie Birkner
Depending on the item you are buying, different sectors and shops will need to show their sustainable credentials in different ways. Clothing shops need to source materials from ethical environments. Individuals working on garments should be paid a fair wage, work reasonable hours, and be treated fairly and justly. Their stores should be well lit, but they should use backup lighting in the evenings when closed to conserve energy. Fast fashion should not be their prime focus. Instead, new materials such as bamboo fibers should be used for tee shirts, socks, and other pieces of clothing. Be prepared to pay a premium for knowing that your garments are sustainably produced and sold.
Your Car
Image: Morning Brew
Most people need a car if they are commuting to work or traveling long distances. While you can utilize public transport, sometimes only a car will do. When servicing your vehicle, head to a mechanic that is ethically sound. They should utilize oil water separators to ensure that non-hazardous water is entering into drainage systems. This is also the case if the waste is being pumped into an ocean directly.
Ensure that you purchase a car from a reputable dealer who has greener sets of wheels on their forecourt. Battery-powered electric cars and hybrid vehicles used to be substandard with poor acceleration, woeful handling, and the need for recharging too often. Now, electric vehicles are seen as the premier vehicles of the day with awesome features and stunning driveability.
Restaurant
Image: Simona Todorova
When eating out, you want to head to an establishment that looks after its employees. Ensure that the eatery you choose pays a fair wage and gives all tips to its waiting staff and kitchen employees. Check out their food waste policies. Many eateries now elect to donate their uneaten yet perfectly edible food to local charities and food banks. Others put this food straight into landfill. This unethical stance can be protested against by taking your hungry self elsewhere. Ensure that the fish restaurant you head to selects the catch of the day based on sustainability rather than opting for a tasty fish on the endangered list.
It is challenging to find out how sustainable a business is. However, by following this guide you can make ethically sound decisions when considering who you do business with.