Not Guilty

Did you know that in Brisbane, we throw out about 500kg of household waste per person per year? When we include industry figures, this amount doubles to around 1000kg per person per year.

What can you do about it? You can shop ethically. And don’t roll your eyes when images of ugly green bags and strange organic teas come to mind (although you really should try the ‘raspberry dream’ flavour). Ethical shopping means reusing and recycling, buying organic products, supporting companies that pay their workers properly, considering the environment, shopping at local businesses and markets and much more.

So why not vote with your dollar? Maybe you’ll even pick up some bargains and top up your karma along the way.

For the book fiend
For those looking for a good range of quality secondhand books, you can’t go past Ahimsa House in West End. This jungle of books is a treasure trove of jewels, with great finds ranging from Homer’s Odyssey to The Gospel according to Ali G. On Saturdays, Ahimsa House discounts every book on sale, and they also play host to community markets featuring organic fruit and veg, craft, music, and a café from 7am till noon. Ahimsa House is located at 26 Horan Street, West End, Brisbane.

Ph: (07) 3846 5077
www.ahimsahouse.com.au

Another great second hand book shop is The Book Bank. If you donate your old books, you’ll receive a discount of half the value of your donated book off your next secondhand book purchase. With classics such as A Clockwork Orange and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on offer, it’s definitely worth spending a bit more time hunting around. Under those 10 Tom Clancy books, and to the left of that shelf brimming with Mills and Boon, there is that one book you always wanted, but never got around to buying. The Book Bank is located in Toowong Shopping Village.

Ph: 3870 0050

Cafés and food
Brisbane plays host to a number of organic food outlets and cafés. The Green gets bonus points for stocking everything from organic plant fertiliser to spring roll wrappers, in addition to shelves and shelves of vitamins, minerals and supplements for all the body’s ailments.

Sol Breads has a food outlet on Vulture Street in West End, and a café on Given Terrace in Paddington. There is also The Fundamental Food Store in Paddington – from pet products to organic tampons, you can bet this place has what you need, and their online shopping site is fantastic. Sign up to become a member and come along on the first Tuesday of every month (Friends Day) to save 15% on your total purchases. While in Paddington, you can also drop into Biome (which recently opened a second location in the CBD) and pick up some environmentally-friendly skin care and household products.

Keen to buy your vegies from a local farmers’ market? Try the West End Green Flea Community Markets. Held every Saturday from 6am til 2pm at Davies Park, you can find organic fruit and vegies, secondhand clothes, gourmet food and much more. And if you get the itch to visit a market on Sunday, try the organic markets in Windsor. From 6am til 10.30am, the corner of Northey and Victoria Streets comes alive with workshops and music. In addition to the abundance of organic produce (including dairy products) on offer, there is also a nursery and a coffee shop.

If you are looking for a market in your area, check out www.ourbrisbane.com

Moving House, Renovating
Any DIY home or art project would definitely benefit from a trip to Reverse Garbage. Reverse Garbage collects materials from over 300 businesses in Brisbane, and this shop has an amazing array of home items: from secondhand doors to metal coathangers. They also donate their profits to Friends of the Earth Brisbane, an international organisation that campaigns for environmental and social justice. Reverse Garbage is located on Montague Road, West End.

Ph: 3844 9744
www.reversegarbage.com.au

Numerous secondhand shops (such as Lifeline, Vinnies and Red Cross) are dotted throughout Brisbane, stocking clothes, furniture, odds and ends and sometimes, on a good day, a really good pair of shoes.

Avoid the secondhand shops in the Valley and the City unless otherwise advised - these are the ones that have the highest foot traffic and the odds of finding that gem under all those dusty size 80 woollen pants is that much slimmer.

The Lifeline store in Lutwyche has quite a good collection of furniture and bric-a-brac, which can make any house a home. There is also a good secondhand book shop next door. Patty’s secondhand furniture store in Red Hill has a quirky range of goodies for those missing essential furniture. The Vinnies store in Alderley is also worth checking out - with a good range and great finds, it’s perfect for all die-hard secondhand shoppers.

Got money to burn and a passion for antiques, retro and art deco? Look no further than Relic. The Relic store caters to those who have a bit more money than your average student, and would like to invest in a genuine 1950s table priced at over $100. This place is pretty exclusive, but a lot of fun to visit. Relic is located in West End.

Ph: 3255 2744
www.relic.com.au

Odds and Ends
If you are looking for a new seat for that old bike, look no further than Bicycle Revolution. Located next door to Reverse Garbage in West End, Bicycle Revolution is a non-profit organisation that repairs and recycles bikes. You can also pick up (as well as donate) second hand bike parts and accessories. For a cheap, ethical fix for all your biking problems, call Bicycle Revolution on 3342 7829 or check out their website www.bicyclerevolution.org.au.

Dinosaur Designs is a carbon-neutral company that handmake a range of homewares and jewellery using resin and silver. Mod Cons in Fortitude Valley stock Dinosaur Designs, and many other quirky goods.

'Green' Tips From the Ethical Consumer Group for Ethical Shopping

Shop at local shops:

They discourage car use, offer a more personal service and support the local community.

Visit whole-food shops:

They stock fair trade, vegetarian and organic products, as well as vitamins and herbal remedies.

Products not tested on animals:

Look out for labels that have the 'not tested on animals' seal of approval.

Vegan and vegetarian products:

The Vegan society publishes the 'Animal Free Shopper', a comprehensive guide to vegan and vegetarian products. Also watch out for the Vegetarian Society symbol on food products.

Buy organic products:

Organic food is free of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which benefits the workforce, the consumer and the environment.

Eat non-genetically altered food:

Genetically manipulated (GM) food has the potential to be the next big food crisis. Look out for GM-free labels or the Vegetarian Society symbol which is also a guarantee of GM-free food.

Recycle

Recycled and second-hand products save precious resources and reduce pressure on landfill sites. Anything from paper to printer cartridges and TV's can be recycled.

Buy Australian products:

Buying products made in Australia means less travel time, and therefore less petrol consumed to get the product to your shelf.