The Green Superstores Taking On Amazon
Check out these one-stop eco shops
Imagine if everything we bought from Amazon was kind to the planet. Zero plastic, zero waste, cruelty-free, biodegradable, compostable, ethical, sustainable and every other certification that does not amount to greenwashing.
Sadly, that isn't the case. It never will be. While Amazon continues to develop its sustainable policies, and while many eco brands also choose to sell through the retail behemoth, if you want to truly shop greener, you have to buy via carefully selected eco-driven companies to reduce the environmental impact.
But there are also a number of mini Amazons that specialise in selling what can generally be called green products - from sustainable fashion to cruelty-free beauty, from vegan food to eco cleaning products, from ethical gifts to garden furniture - all of it much kinder to the planet than most of the alternatives you'll find on Amazon.
While these green superstores are not on the scale of Amazon, they are certainly taking the company on - they want you to buy from them, instead of from Bezos. Because they've got the nature and climate emergencies front and centre in their retail vision.
And they offer crucial support to all the smaller eco brands, which are battling increasing costs while struggling to allocate enough resources for their own marketing.
So let's look at some of these one-stop green shops....
VEO
The VEO team experienced the same problems many of us do - difficulty finding brands and products that ticked all the boxes for ethics and sustainability.
So they searched the world to find the best sustainable, ethical and independent brands, and brought them together on one platform..
Today VEO shares products from more than 350 independent brands, spanning fashion, beauty, food and drink, wellness and home.
They are all kind, healthy, sustainable and 100% vegan.
Delivery worldwide.
BIG GREEN SMILE
Big Green Smile has grown to become one of Europe’s leading retailers of natural and organic personal care and household products.
You can find them in the UK, the Netherlands, France and Germany - as well as online.
Big Green Smile showcases the best sustainable, natural brands from around the planet. They promise to be very strict about who they work with, and judging from their Supplier Code of Conduct and a very long list of banned ingredients, this appears to be true.
Here, too, you can find an impressive list of Special Offers (more than 1200 products the last time I looked).
Delivery to the UK and Europe.
Visit the Big Green Smile website here.
DONE GOOD
Every brand and service on DoneGood is pre-vetted for its sustainable values and ethical business practices.
It walks the walk on these by being B Corp Certified and members of 1% For the Planet.
The DoneGood Marketplace connects you with brands that are truly making a difference, and you can shop by values or certifications.
From sustainable fashion to toxin-free home goods, every product on the platform meets high ethical standards.
Delivery within the United States.
ETHICAL SUPERSTORE
Ethical Superstore offers fair trade and green consumer products from many of the world’s leading ethical brands, but notably it introduces consumers to a great many smaller green businesses, as well.
Most of the products sold on the site hold a certification from bodies such as The Soil Association, Fairtrade Labelling Organisation, Energy Savings Trust and more - but as it can be difficult for smaller brands to receive these accreditations, Ethical Superstore promises to ensure that all products meet strict ethical standards.
A major criticism by many people - justifiably or not - is that eco-friendly products are often too expensive. Not to worry - Ethical Superstore has a vibrant Special Offers section, which on last look contained more than 1100 products, offering up to 50% discount.
Delivery to the UK and Republic of Ireland.
See the Ethical Superstore website here.
GREEN TULIP
Green Tulip categorises every product it sells according to 19 ethical and eco values, from being vegan or handmade, to being founded by women, or cruelty-free.
If it's sold on Green Tulip, it will meets at least one - and usually many more - of these values.
You will also find lots of information here about each product, and a bit about the brand itself.
Delivery within mainland UK.
Visit the Green Tulip website here.
&KEEP
A wide range of products curated by a company devoted to help reduce the impact everyday living has on our planet.
Most of the &Keep products are plastic-free. Where there is a little plastic, it’s BPA-free.
All products are cruelty-free and not tested on animals, and the packaging is always composed of plastic-free, recycled materials.
So passionate are they, that the founders are public speakers on the subject of plastic pollution.
Delivery to the UK.
Some of the above links are affiliate links. Be assured, I only partner with genuinely ethical businesses which deserve as much support as possible.