ETHICAL SHOPPING
Choose these eco-friendly products
Posted Mon, 05 Mar 2007

With the mass production of genetically modified food and diseases such as bird flu, mad cow disease and e.coli taking their toll these days, people are turning to more ethical products.

Individuals are realising the importance of making a difference to the preservation of our planet through their shopping choices and manufacturers are heeding the eco-friendly consumer.

In South Africa this trend is just taking off. The Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics was launched in February and a host of eco-friendly products are becoming available to us. Here are the ones we like…

Green & Black's Organic Chocolate

The UK luxury chocolate brand has arrived in South Africa. 'Green' represents the brand's organic principles and 'Black' signifies the darker, richer chocolate. Every ingredient has been grown in a biodiverse, sustainable manner, and every final product is certified as such by the UK Soil Association.

What we think: The intense cocoa flavour of the 70 percent dark chocolate version is very decadent and the texture is as smooth as it gets. We’re hooked.

Steaz

Certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), every bottle of Steaz contains one cup of micro-brewed green tea, infused with natural juices such as lime and raspberry. No preservatives and colourants are added, allowing the green tea's health properties to work at their full capacity.

What we think: With its slight fizz and light, juicy flavour, it’s by far the best tasting tea-in-a-bottle (or a can) around.

Dilmah tea

Dilmah is an ethical tea company from Sri Lanka. By cutting out the middleman, all the earnings from the tea stays in Sri Lanka and is shared with the workers and the community. Dilmah tea was awarded by the Medinge Group of Sweden as one of the ‘Top brands with a conscience’.

What we think: Leave it to brew for the required six minutes and you’ll discover a delicate flavour that is missing in most other brands.

Ecoco

Ecoco (Ecological Cosmetic Company) was established about 30 years ago. Cosmetic expert Dicky Poorter pioneered the natural herbal beauty revolution back in the late 1960s when she developed Ecoco’s first range called ‘Fameux’. This range was ahead of its time using natural herbal extracts as active ingredients. Dicky works carefully with her chemists and cosmetologists to create ethical products that are of the highest quality, hypo-allergenic and ecologically friendly.

What we think: The new store in Long Street, Cape Town is an irresistible sensual experience. We love the hibiscus bronzer and the insect repelling sunscreen.

Fundudzi fashion

What separates Fundudzi from other labels is Craig Jacobs' aim to empower other younger designers by giving them a platform to explore their creativity. The label is socially and environmentally responsible, and has introduced Fundudzi: Free — a collection created from organic fabrics including bamboo, soy and corn — which are produced by a local textile mill.

What we think: Full marks for supporting local textiles and consciously making choices that will preserve the environment — especially in an industry as fickle as fashion.