Why Buy Ethical Products ?
Money makes the world go round, and deciding how we spend our money might just save it.
Awareness of global poverty, animal welfare and green issues are at an all time high. If we can carry this awareness into our shopping basket, we can all work together to help make the world a better place.
Just like religion, ethics aren't universal, and what may be important to one person, may not be as important to another. To the ethical consumer, their money is a vote which they use every time they go shopping.
There are a number of ways to shop ethically, positive buying in the form of eco-friendly goods such as energy saving lightbulbs from ethical shops or from charities, negative purchasing such as avoiding battery farmed eggs or gas-guzzling cars.
Our Ethical Stores
We have a range of reputable ethical stores and are always looking to add more. Buying ethical gifts donating to good causes is a great way to help other less fortunate than ourselves.
Green and Ethical Stores
Nigels Eco Store
Nigel's Eco Store Say...
"Hi, I'm Nigel, welcome to my eco store, here you'll find environmentally
friendly products for sustainable living, including recycled products, organic
products, green products, and eco friendly products and gifts.
If you're looking for environmentally friendly products and eco friendly
gifts you'll love our practical, functional, and desirable range, chosen from
the best recycled, organic, green and eco friendly products around."
We Say...
A fantastic site with hundreds of fun and friendly ecological gift ideas, winner of the
Yahoo Finds of the Year Award 2007.
Click Here > to visit Nigel's Eco Store
Gift Examples from Nigel's Eco Store
Ethical Travel Guide
The Ethical Travel Guide lists over 300 amazing places in 60 countries that benefit local
people - directly.
£12.99 inc VAT
Herbal Bath Bags
These herbal bath bags from Hedgerow Herbals contain romantic organic rose
and hibiscus petals.
£4.50 inc VAT
Cardboard Rocket Play House
Stimulates a child's imagination, folds away when done!
£29.99 inc VAT
Herbal Massage and Bath Oil
This gorgeous bath and body oil contains rose absolute, rose geranium and ylang ylang essential
oils.
£10.00 inc VAT
Ethical Superstore
Ethical Superstore Say...
"With more than 3000 products just a mouse click away, you've found
the perfect place for your ethical shopping. From organic wine to Fairtrade coffee, from
vegetarian food to cosmetics free from animal cruelty, we have an amazing range that
helps you to buy what you believe."
We Say...
If you're looking for wholefoods, fairtrade goods and organic products, the Ethical Superstore is the
place to buy online.
Click Here > to visit the Ethical Superstore
Gift Examples from Ethical Superstore
Freeplay Summit Radio
This wind up compact multi-band radio, combines unparalled sound quality with
the reliability of multiple power sources.
£39.99 inc VAT
Multicolour Wrapper Bag
Funky handbag made from factory second crisp packets.
£35.00 inc VAT
Centipede Rubberwood Jigsaw
This colourful creepy crawly is a wonderful 3D jigsaw from the Lanka Kade range.
£10.00 inc
VAT
Celebration Gift Hamper
Hamper includes: Belgian Finest Chocolates, gift card with your requested handwritten message,
and a bottle of wine of your choice;
£25.00 inc VAT
Natural Collection
Natural Collection Say...
"Natural Collection, the UK's award-winning online green shop. We carefully research
products to bring you only those we consider to be the best of eco retail, all chosen with
a brighter vision in mind. Browse our regularly updated special offers page, our gorgeous
organic and fair trade fashions, energy-saving gadgets, homewares, cosmetics and more."
We Say...
A great range of eco friendly gadgets, books, CDs and fashion. A good all round ethical store.
Click Here > to visit Natural Collection
Gift Examples from Natural Collection
5 Cutest Felt Finger Puppets
Put on a show with these adorable finger puppets! Made in felt by a women's group in Mumbai
£5.95 inc VAT
Green Seasons Cookbook
This cookbook from Demuths Restaurant in Bath is packed with 120 delicious vegetarian recipes
to put some pizzazz in your cooking.
£18.00 inc VAT
Florame Men's Shaving Oil
Allows for the closest, smoothest shave without razor rash, contains a soothing blend of
organic oils including cedarwood, hazelnut and lavender.
£13.95 inc VAT
Fair Trade Organic Cotton Turtlenecks
A cuddly, huggable, do-anything fleecey organic cotton turtleneck to keep them warm.
With long sleeves and flower detail to front.
£8.95 inc VAT
Charity Stores
Oxfam Unwrapped
Oxfam Say...
"Oxfam GB is a leading international NGO with a worldwide reputation for excellence in
the delivery of aid and development work. Our purpose is to work with others to overcome
poverty and suffering. Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International.
We have perfect pressies for every occasion - and they help to fight poverty at the same
time. Brilliant!"
We Say...
With some really funny and unusual gift ideas, Oxfam Unwrapped is a great place to buy unique gifts that
really do make a difference.
Click Here > to visit Oxfam Unwrapped
UNICEF
UNICEF Say...
"UNICEF helps children receive the support, health care and education they need to survive
the threats of childhood poverty - such as preventable disease or malnutrition - and grow up
to become healthy adults.
We encourage families to educate girls as well as boys, so both men and women can play a
full role in family life and broader society. We strive to protect children from violence and abuse,
and from exploitation through child labour or trafficking."
We Say...
From vaccines to water pumps, the gift ideas at the UNICEF store really do go to directly help those in need.
Click Here >
to visit the UNICEF Store
Charity Gift Donations
Greenpeace
Greenpeace Say...
"Greenpeace stands for positive change through action. We defend the natural world and
promote peace. We investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and
corporations around the world.
We champion environmentally responsible and socially just solutions,including scientific
and technical innovation.
Our goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity."
We Say...
Greenpeace do great work in highlighting global issues from whaling in the southern ocean to increases
in carbon emissions. Greenpeace relys on donations from individuals to be able to continue this work.
Click Here > to visit the Greenpeace store
Great Ormond
Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Say...
"Great Ormond Street Hospital is a world-class children's hospital, with the broadest
range of paediatric specialists under one roof anywhere in the UK. We welcome around
150,000 patient visits each year, treating patients with the most complex, life-threatening
or life-limiting conditions. We are totally committed to find treatments and cures for
some of the rarest and most difficult illnesses.
We rank with the small handful of truly word-class children's hospitals but delivering
this standard of treatment, care and research is not cheap."
We Say...
Donations to Great Ormond Street fund the most up-to-date equipment, support the research and development
of new and better treatments and contribute to providing accomadation and support services for families.
Click Here > to visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital store.
Child Line
Child Line Say...
Please help us by making a single donation. £5 could provide materials needed for an art therapy session to help a child express feelings they may find difficult to talk about. The funds raised will make a significant difference to our work in protecting vulnerable children and young people and will help us move closer to ending child cruelty.
Click Here > to visit Child Line.
Child Line
Child Line Say...
Please help us by making a regular donation.
£2 a month could help pay for the time of a Child Protection Officer on the NSPCC Helpline to deal with a call from someone worried about a child's welfare.
£5 a month could help fund the work of a schools counsellor. It could give a child who is bullied or abused someone to turn to right now.
The funds raised will make a significant difference to our work in protecting vulnerable children and young people and will help us move closer to ending child cruelty.
Click Here > to visit Child Line.
NSPCC
NSPCC Says...
We have supported children since 1881, when Sunday school teacher Edward Rudolf found two of his pupils begging for food on London's streets, and subsequently established the Church of England Central Home for Waifs and Strays. It was as a model home, offering vulnerable children a smaller, more caring alternative.
While the nature of our work has evolved as society and children's needs have changed, our founder's belief that every child deserves a good childhood remains at the heart of everything we do.
Today, we provide vital help and support for those children who face the greatest danger, discrimination or disadvantage in their daily lives; children who are unable to find the help and support they need anywhere else.
Click Here > to visit NSPCC.
The Children's society Says...
The Children's Society is a leading national charity, driven by the belief that every child deserves a good childhood. They actively seek and tackle the issues which many organisations avoid, so that they may provide vital help to those children who face the greatest danger, discrimination or disadvantage in their daily lives.
The Children's Society's work is based on a substantial practice base, a robust research programme, dedicated social policy work and nationwide campaigning.
The Children's Society is able to continue its work through the generous donations of their supporters and volunteers. This allows the charity to concentrate their work where the need is greatest and not just in areas where government funding is available. It makes them a truly independent organisation.
Click Here > to visit The Children's Society.
The Aspinall Foundation
The Aspinall Foundation Says...
It is a sad fact that humans are likely to cause the extinction of a quarter of all known species in the next 20 years, unless we work together to protect them now.br/>The Aspinall Foundation works in conjunction with Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks to protect rare and endangered animals, and return them to protected areas in the wild.br/>By adopting an animal today you will be giving endangered species a chance of survival for the future. From just £3 per month you will be helping to protect, feed, keep healthy and enriched through play, the animals in our care in Kent and around the world.
Click Here > to visit The Aspinall Foundation.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Says...
We need your help please! In return you will recieve monthly updates, pictures and much more:
You'll receive a fantastic pack including a fluffy dolphin with name badge, a great interactive DVD with games and screensavers, a personalised certificate, information about the dolphins of the Moray Firth and lots more.
Plus every month you'll receive an e-mail newsletter with updates about your dolphin and fantastic photos. Every three months you'll be sent a copy of WDCS magazine or POD news (for under 14's).
Click Here > to visit The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
About Gift Aid
What is gift aid ?
UK charities are entitled to 28% tax reclaim from the Inland Revenue on every £1.00 donated by UK taxpayers. When shopping at sites eligible to claim gift aid, just tick the gift aid box to enable the charity and yourself to benefit from this tax relief.
What do I have to do ?
When you donate, you will be asked to confirm whether or not you are a UK taxpayer. Please note that tax can only be reclaimed on donations made by individuals who pay UK income or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount reclaimed on their donations in the current tax year. If in doubt, please contact us.
Benefits to higher-rate taxpayers
If you pay tax at the higher rate, you can reclaim tax relief on your gross donation at 18% (eg the difference between the higher rate of tax at 40% and the basic rate at 22%).
For example, if you give £100.00 the charity can reclaim an extra £28.21 for the charity and you can reclaim another £23.08. As a result, a £100.00 gift is worth £128.21 to your favourite charity only costs you £76.92.
What if I am not a UK taxpayer?
The Gift Aid scheme is unique to the UK. If you are not a UK taxpayer, you can still make a donation through Justgiving.com, but your donation will not attract the 28% tax 'bonus'.