ETHICAL PURCHASING POLICY
21 August 2020
These guidelines are intended to help us ensure that the products sold through the MRSG shop are environmentally and socially ethical. Doing so means we are acting in a way that is consistent with the purpose of MRSG, for example by reducing our collective ecological footprint and supporting sustainable, locally-based businesses.
These guidelines should be used by Committee members, Action Group leaders and other MRSG members who are wanting to sell a product via the MRSG shop on our website. The onus is on those wanting to sell a particular product to demonstrate that they have tried to source the most environmentally and socially ethical product they can.
Determining what is environmentally and socially ethical is not always easy, and the criteria for determining this varies, depending on the product type. The following questions are designed as a starting point to help us consider what is relevant to the product we are interested in, and to help us assess the best option available for that particular product:
Is the product produced locally?
Are greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transportation of the product low or offset?
Is the product durable and can it be used for multiple purposes?
Does the product come in packaging that is made from recyclable materials and can the packaging be recycled?
Is the product made from recyclable materials and can it be recycled?
Is the product made from non-toxic content?
Are the people who made the product paid fairly and are workers rights protected?
Do people who might otherwise be excluded from economic opportunities make the product (eg social enterprises supporting marginalised people)?
Is the product safe to use? Will use of the product not cause harm when used in a reasonable manner, including reasonable misuse?
The following websites provide further information that might assist in determining what is relevant to consider when assessing the best option available for a particular product. Some of these websites also provide details of businesses and/or products that are environmentally and socially ethical.
Ethical Clothing Australia https://ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au
Fair Wear https://www.fairwear.org
Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand https://fairtradeanz.org
Certified B Corporation www.bcorporation.net
Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) www.geca.eco
Ecospecifier www.ecospecifier.com.au
Sustainable Choice www.lgp.org.au/sustainable-choice
Forest Stewardship Council www.fsc.org
ACCC Consumer Product Safety Online https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/consumer-product-safety-online