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It’s no secret that next-day shipping for every product under the sun makes Amazon insanely convenient. But let’s face it, while those cheap products, cheaper sales and free shipping are appealing they are also detrimental to the environment. In 2019, Oceana calculated a reported stating that all those deliveries generated almost 500 million pounds of plastic packaging. And, not all of that waste is consciously disposed of. An estimated 22 million pounds of that packaging waste polluted our water sources in 2019.
Everyday Ways To Prevent & Reduce Microplastics & Ocean Pollution
Plastics aren’t the only problem plaguing Amazon. Controversial stories surrounding workers’ rights to unionize, living wages and transparency across the supply chain have also tarnished Amazon’s reputation with conscious consumers. But, in the age of convenience how does one break up with Amazon like you break up with fast fashion? The answer lies in sustainable and ethical marketplaces as alternatives to Amazon.
There are a growing number of marketplaces to shop ethical, eco-friendly, zero waste, plastic-free goods all in one place. From home wares to everyday products like dish soaps or even your basic organic clothes, these products are carefully sourced for their ingredient list / materials and dedication to making out environment better. Best of all, these alternatives to Amazon offer convenient shipping without the excessive plastic packaging.
When You Want Good Food… Without The Plastic
Thrive Market
This ethical and sustainable alternative to Amazon makes it easy to shop groceries and personal care products all and one place and have them shipped to your door. Choose a membership ( as low as $5) and you’ll be able to shop your favorite clean brands like Seventh Generation, Justine’s and Annie’s for prices lower than what you’ll find in your standard grocery stores.
What You’ll Love: Thrive takes the guesswork out of ethical shopping by sourcing products from brands that are organic, non-GMO and from regenerative farms. There’s a low price guarantee. So, if you see a price lower somewhere else, Thrive will beat their price.
Environmental Impact: Since 2014 Thrive Market has collaborated with CarbonFund to calculate and monitor their carbon footprint. In 2019, the hard work paid off with the retailer announcing that they’re carbon neutral through their carbon offset programs. Some of these programs have involved a forest conservation project in the Amazon.
In 2020, Thrive officially became a Zero Waste Certified business. They not only ship items in recyclable packaging (right down to the tape), but they also ensure that 90% of waste that they make is composted, recycled or reused.
Natural Collection
The British retailer offers a large selection of handpicked organic, Fair Trade and eco-friendly products for the conscious consumer. Each section is highlighted on their website allowing you to choose how you’ll shop.
We work closely with The People’s Kitchen, donating anything we can to the charitable organisation, and anything they can’t use will be passed on to The West End Food Bank in Newcastle.
What You’ll Love: From the home to the kitchen and even gifts, Natural Collection is one of England’s largest marketplaces for ethical and eco-friendly goods.
Environmental Impact: Not only are items eco-friendly and ethical, but the retailer ships items in paper packaging and paper tape that allows for easy recycling. Gift wrapping can be requested using recycled paper.
Azure Standard
This natural food retailer and home goods retailer specializes in quality natural food sourced from one of the best organic and independently owned farms in the mid-west. With a small dedicated team, the farm has a wide selection of natural produce and handmade food products for your various household needs.
What You’ll Love: There’s a bulk section! Not only does Azure offer a premium selection of organic produce sourced from their small farms, creameries and food artisans, but there’s is also a bulk section where you can buy nuts, grains and legumes by the pound…or pounds.
Ethical Impact: Azure holds high standards for products that make it into their selection. They only work with vendors that do not use artificial additives, preservatives, GMOs, MSG or other artificial ingredients. Most food items are made with organic ingredients and certified.
Misfit Market
New to the grocery food scene is Misfits Market. The food delivery service partners with local organic farms to find the less-than-visually-appealing produce and food products that might otherwise be thrown out to be delivered to your door. Ugly food is perfectly safe to eat and delicious too.
What You’ll Love: Organic produce. Good prices. Being part of a solution to reduce food waste.
Environmental Impact: Not only are you being shipped organic produce, but you’re also helping to fight food waste by using food items that might not make it into the perfect selection of modern grocery stores. Also, each box that is shipped to your home is made from recycled cardboard and recyclable. And, those plastic-looking green bags that you might notice are actually made with resin compound and can be composted.
When You Want Eco-Friendly Clothing Basics
Organic Basics
Think of Organic Basics as one of the best organic alternatives to Amazon. When you need to grab your regular pack of tees, briefs or everyday bras, this is the one-stop-shop for his and hers basics. And, being made with quality materials means that your shop trips will be limited as these will be the basics that you’ll hold onto forever.
What You’ll Love: You’ll find the softest yoga pants and bralettes made from recycled materials, organic cotton and tencel.
Environmental Impact: With a dedication to organic fabrics, Organic Basics is already doing the planet good. But, the brand decided to go one step further by using recycled materials to reduce waste and prevent further CO2 emissions from the processing of virgin materials. Each product comes with an Impact Index where you can see how their sustainable initiatives save CO2, water waste and chemical use.
Girlfriend Collective
This is the cool brand of workout clothes, swimwear and lounging basics. With body-inclusive ads, Girlfriend Collective has quickly built a cult following. Not to mention that brand focuses on only using fabrics made from recycled plastic waste.
What You’ll Love: All your cool, sleek, workout basics in neons and basic blacks found in one place.
Trash looks better on you than it does polluting the planet. That’s why we turn old plastic bottles, fishing nets and other waste into bras, leggings and shorts you’ll never want to throw away.
Environmental Impact: Thanks to a model that relies on turning plastic trash into new clothing, Girlfriend Collective is one of the alternatives to Amazon minimizing waste in a big way. To date, the brand has been able to recycle 9 million+ plastic water bottles, prevent 8 million+ CO2 emissions and save 21 million+ gallons of water.
When You Want Ethical Home Goods
Made Trade
Made Trade Recycled Copper Iced Cup is handcrafted from 100% recycled materials $45
With barely 3 years under their belt, Made Trade has rapidly grown by servicing a gap in the sustainable homewares market. Pater and Andy Ives launched the site to help conscious consumers find items for their homes that promote the health our our planet and of others by sourcing products from small, Fair Trade, Heritage, Women-Owned and POC businesses.
What You’ll Love: The small curated selection of ethical and eco-friendly home basics like duvet covers, TV stands and rugs. Oh, and there’s a few great clothing staples thrown in there too.
Ethical Impact: Made Trade is one of the ethical alternatives to Amazon that take the guess work out of shopping Fair Trade or artisan crafted products for you. The items in the shop are products that have been sourced for their eco-friendly use of materials such as using reclaimed or recycled fabrics and wood, their commitment to animal welfare and their community at large through living wages and fair business practices.
Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods Custom Typewritten Note Candle is made from soy wax, glass jar, essential oil, all natural fragrance oil, cotton core wick $36
In 1999, Uncommon Goods launched with the mission to source unique gifts. Since then it’s grown to a large selection of products sourced from around the world. The team hand selects each product based on a series of requirements such as being handmade (exceptionally), cruelty-free, made with recycled materials, or serves a purpose.
What You’ll Love: There are hundreds of products to choose from for every room in your house. From the office to the bedroom, you’ll be impressed by the unique items that feel like they’re one-of-a-kind.
Ethical Impact: When you purchase a product, you’re supporting a brand that does good for their workers and community at large. Initiatives like hourly wages are double the federal minimum wage and paid family leave have helped this company achieve it’s B Corp status.
You’ll also feel good knowing that with every order, Uncommon Goods will donate $1 through their Better to Give program. And, they’ll be shipped to your home with eco-friendly packaging.
When You Want Essentials To Clean Your Body & Your Home
Shampoos are also made up of 80% or more water, meaning it’s been diluted so that you’ll use more, and buy more frequently. Don’t forget it’s usually in single-use plastic packaging. That’s why switching to natural hair care products in sustainable packaging can prevent harmful ingredients from our waterways, save us money, and reduce plastic pollution.
Grove Collaborative
Grove is a great way to order products that you use like bathroom cleaners and deodorant regularly without having to worry about toxic ingredients and plastic packaging. You’ll find your favorite brands like Meyers and new reffillable brands to love too.
What You’ll Love: Essentials can regularly be delivered to be your home without the excess packaging of plastic waste. Shipping is free and for every box there is a carbon offset, so you can feel good about your order.
Environmental Impact: Refillable cleaning kits are shipped in recyclable glass bottles. Sponges are made from plant and recycled materials. Grove looks for everyday products that offer solutions that don’t create single-use plastic waste. The retailer is 100% plastic neutral, is on a mission to plant 1 million tress by 2022 and is carbon neutral.
When You Want Makeup That Isn’t Toxic… And Sometimes Refillable Too
Credo Beauty
With countries banning 1,000+ potentially harmful ingredients from their cosmetics and the U.S only restricts 11, a lot of what we put onto our skin can be harmful. That’s where Credo steps in. This clean-beauty retailer only promotes and stocks clean products that don’t use items on The Dirty List.
What You’ll Love: All-natural face oils in glass containers. Clean beauty products that don’t have 2700+ harmful ingredients.
Environmental Impact: Ingredients that are harmful to our bodies are bad for the environment too. Credo puts an emphasis on collaborating with brands that only use ingredients that are clean and sustainably sourced. A lot of the brand also focus on using recyclable and recycled packaging materials too like Osea, Ilia, and Weleda.
The Detox Market
As another leader in the clean beauty market, Detox offers a wide selection of clean beauty, skin and hair care products.
What You’ll Love: A large selection of clean brands that don’t use ingredients that can cause reproductive, environmental or cell damage. Some you’ll recognize like Kora or RMS. Others will be new and you can be introduce through monthly subscription boxes.
Environmental Impact: Since 2010, Detox Market stores have been stocking brands that make a quality products with quality safe ingredients.
