Ethical & eco-friendly alternatives to Amazon
This ethical shopping guide will help you find all your essentials in one place so you can avoid unsustainable corporations, like Amazon.
Hands up if you want a future where convenience doesn’t mean using jets for super quick next-day delivery.
Yeah, me too.
If you’re fed up with Amazon and their shady antics you’ve come to the right place.
For the last five years, I’ve been trying my best to boycott Amazon (with the odd slip-up - nobody is perfect). I wrote this blog post to help those of you in the same boat.
I want to make it easier to find sustainable alternatives to Amazon so you can get all (or at least most) of your ethically made essentials in one go and reduce annoying postage costs.
Coming up
Shortcuts: Sustainable alternatives to Amazon:
- In the United Kingdom
- In the United States
- In Canada
- In AustraliaWhy are people avoiding Amazon?
Ethical and eco-friendly alternatives to Amazon
Disclaimer - This website uses affiliate links to sustainable retailers (at no cost to you) which goes towards website fees - all advertising on this site is ethically screened.
Ethical alternatives to Amazon in the UK
Here are shortcuts to sustainable businesses in the UK for those of you short on time. You’ll find more information about each brand further down this post.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my discount code page for special offers at some of these shops.
Sustainable alternatives to Amazon in America:
Here are quick links to sustainable businesses in the United States. Scroll further down this post for more information about each brand and what they sell.
*10% off code: SUSTAINABLYLAZY
Ethical Alternatives to Amazon in Canada:
Sustainable Alternatives to Amazon in Australia:
If you don’t fancy scrolling down this post, here are some alternatives to Amazon that sell natural, non-toxic products and are based in Australia:
Why are people avoiding Amazon?
You might be wondering why it isn’t ethical to buy from Amazon. It is no secret that Amazon avoids paying billions in taxes, has a shocking carbon footprint, and treats its workers poorly.
Lots of people are boycotting Amazon because of its damaging environmental impact and the unfair monopoly they have over various industries.
Big companies, like Amazon, have disconnected us from the products we buy, the food we eat, and the clothes we wear. Their supply chains are secretive and complex with no information about who made their products or the sustainability of the raw materials.
When a product or a service is cheap for customers, it usually means someone else is paying the price.
Financially supporting big corporations that are responsible for numerous human rights violations and the destruction of the environment allows them to keep going.
Amazon’s dominance over the market allows it to control prices and drive small companies out of business.
It has recently been announced that Amazon has avoided paying £75 billion (or $100 billion USD) in taxes in the last 10 years.
Amazon is a drain on society - the time has come to invest in local communities instead.
You can do that by shopping with small businesses instead. Keep reading for my list of sustainable alternatives to Amazon.
If you’re trying to shop ethically you might also like my Guide To Sustainable Underwear or 50 Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas In The UK.
4. Ethical & eco-friendly alternatives to Amazon
The retailers I’ve included in this list of sustainable alternatives to Amazon sell a large variety of different products and are ideal if you want to buy all your consumables in one place to reduce postage costs.
Each brand is conscious of its impact on the environment and while they aren’t all perfect, they are working to improve. They care about the people in their supply chain and source their ingredients responsibly.
Many of them focus on reusable or natural products, are B corporations, or donate part of their profits to charity.
Bower Collective
Location: Somerset, U.K.
Shipping: The U.K. only
Meet the brand:
Bower is an online refill store and B Corporation helps you reduce single-use plastic waste by delivering reusable (non-food) products and refills to your door. Bower wants to make a sustainable lifestyle as convenient as possible so you have the choice between a one-off purchase or a subscription service.
Bower has their own range of refillable cleaning and personal care products alongside lots of other eco brands.
How does Bower Collective’s delivery service work?
Bower Collective offers a reuse and refill service which can save you 20% on your orders. You also get a free reusable product dispenser when you buy 4 refills.
Bower produces a wide range of eco-friendly cleaning, hair, and body products. You simply buy the refill pouches you need and return them to Bower for free so they can be reused. Your subscription is flexible and can be amended or cancelled at any time.
Bower Collective also stock other sustainable brands, such as Bio-D, Upcircle, Ben and Anna, Bambaw, and Natracare.
What products can you find at Bower Collective?
Sustainable cleaning products
Reusable toiletries + menstrual products
Kitchen and bathroom products
Eco-friendly skincare and SPF
Discount codes for Bower Collective:
10% off at Bower Collective with code: AFF10
5% off for existing customers: AFF5
Discounts only work on full price items
Zero Waste Store
Location: U.S.A
Shipping: U.S.A and Canada (contact for international shipping)
Meet the brand
Zero Waste Store was founded by a couple of nature lovers, Sarah and JJ, who wanted to make a positive impact. Their goal was to create a business that helped reconnect humanity to nature and preserve our environment. At Zero Waste Store, you can shop for all your household items knowing that your purchase (and packaging) is plastic-free and sustainable.
“At Zero Waste Store we strive to provide the world its most trusted online platform where a thriving community of eco-centric individuals can openly share & access environmental knowledge and green resources; where all people can confidently shop carefully vetted brands & low waste swaps with absolute ease.”
What products do Zero Waste Store sell?
Zero Waste Store is making it easy to avoid Amazon because it stocks so many essential products - the difference is they are sustainable. Products include household items, cleaning products, toiletries, beauty, oral hygiene, and natural baby products.
Biome
Location - Australia
Shipping - International
Meet the brand
Biome is an Australian B corporation that sells a huge range of eco-friendly products made by small, ethical businesses. They are conscious of greenwashing so you won’t find petrochemicals or hidden palm oil in any of their products (still a problem in the plastic-free industry).
“Our vision is to preserve a safe, healthy environment on this wonderous planet for now, and for those who come after us.”
What products do Biome sell?
Biome is an excellent alternative to Amazon because it sells such a huge range of different products.
They cover all your skin, hair and body needs, as well as all your household products, food, cleaning and reusables. If you need ethical fashion or children’s products, they have that covered too.
The best bit? Everything is non-toxic, kind to the planet, and free from palm oil.
Ethical Superstore
Location - Tyne and Wear, U.K.
Shipping - the U.K. only
Meet the brand
Ethical Superstore sells thousands of products that can be filtered by ethics or green certification, for example, vegan, Fairtrade or organic. They are a great alternative to Amazon because you can get all your consumables in one place.
“We’ve made it our mission to enable you to make feel good choices when it comes to your shopping. To help you make the choices you feel are right we bring together products sourced from all over the world and that hold the ethical credentials we know are important to our customers.”
What does Ethical Superstore sell
Ethical Superstore is one of the best alternatives to Amazon in the UK because it sells products in so many different categories. Whether you need organic food, reusable toiletries, sustainable cleaning products, or ethical fashion, Ethical Superstore has you covered.
These even have a huge range of gift ideas for the whole family.
Each of Ethical Superstore products can be put into the following categories:
Discount codes for Ethical Superstore
Get £10 off and free P&P when you spend £70* with the code: X10AES
Offer ends 23:59 4th November 2024
Zero Waste MVMT
Location: Canada
Shipping: Canada and the U.S.A
Meet the brand
Zero Waste MVMT is a small business selling plastic-free products with sustainable ingredients.
They believe that the products we use shouldn't have negative effects on the planet so they responsibly manufacture eco-friendy products using minimal packaging.
“Zero Waste MVMT is an earth-first brand on a mission to create a waste-free future and help you live more sustainably with plastic-free reusables and natural, earth-friendly products.”
What does Zero Waste MVMT sell?
Zero Waste MVMT sells its own range of sustainable skincare, hair products, and cleaning accessories to help you reduce single-use plastic in your bathroom and kitchen.
Regn
Location: Leeds, U.K.
Shipping: U.K
Meet the brand
Regn is a small business trying to make sustainable living more accessible. They offer a range of eco-friendly products that are kind to the planet and your health. The best bit? Their products are affordable. They also offer free delivery when you spend £20!
“Regn’s mission is to help people reduce their environmental impact and live a more sustainable lifestyle.”
What products do regn sell?
Regn is the perfect eco friendly shop to turn to if you want to avoid using polluting corporations like Amazon. It sells a wide range of sustainable products for your home, especially the bathroom and kitchen where plastic can easily find its way in.
One of the key products Regn sells is reusable menstrual products. These are all made from natural materials and help people who menstruate move away from disposable plastic products.
They also sell personal care products, including makeup and skincare.
EarthHero
Location - Colorado, U.S.A
Shipping - the U.S.A. only (contact them for Canadian shipping)
Meet the brand
EarthHero is another great alternative to Amazon because you can get all your zero-waste essentials in one place. Not only are they a certified B Corporation and a member of 1% for the planet, but they also offset all their shipping and daily activities with reforestation projects. EarthHero is conscious of the brands they stock, ensuring ingredients are responsibly sourced.
“Our Mission: Provide tools and ideas to empower all who want to reduce emissions and care for our shared planet to improve lives.”
What products do EarthHero sell?
When it comes to shopping for all your sustainable products, EarthHero has got you covered. They stock zero waste cleaning, laundry, beauty, dental, and personal hygiene products. Along with eco-friendly items for the home, pets, and non-toxic children’s products.
EarthHero discount codes
Get 10% off with code: SUSTAINABLYLAZY
Nourished Life
Location: Australia
Shipping: International
Meet the brand
If you live in Australia and want to switch shopping at Amazon for an online store full of non-toxic products, you’re going to love Nourished Life. They sell over 7000 products to help you create a more sustainable, natural home and lifestyle.
“Since 2011, we’ve been on a mission to make your journey towards a cleaner, healthier lifestyle simple”
What does Nourished Life sell?
If what’s inside your product is important to you, the Nourished Life is your ideal store. They sell a huge range of clean beauty (including makeup and baby products), organic clothing, green cleaning, sustainable homewares, and wellness products.
Veo.World
Location: Manchester, U.K.
Shipping: International
Meet the brand
Veo is an award-winning sustainable lifestyle shopping platform. They stock over 350 independent brands so you can find unique, ethically made products in one place. They are a certified B Corporation and all their products are vegan-friendly. It’s the perfect place for buying thoughtful gifts.
“Our mission is to champion sustainable independent brands, and make it easy for shoppers to make conscious choices that benefit both themselves and the planet.”
What products do Veo sell?
Veo sell a wide range of stylish, luxury products for your home from independent brands, including ethical fashion, clean beauty, cleaning, vegan food & drink, and wellness.
They all stock ethical gifts to make avoiding Amazon easier than ever.
Ecoroots
Location: U.S.A
Shipping: International
Meet the brand
If you want to reduce your single-use plastic (as well as ditching Amazon), then EcoRoots is worth knowing about. Founded in 2009 by a nature-loving couple, Ecoroots offers eco-friendly and zero-waste alternatives to everyday products. They are a proud member of 1% for the Planet donating part of its profit to ocean conservation.
“Here at EcoRoots, we’re on an endless mission to provide you with the best eco-friendly and low-waste products out there. Our products are kindly made for every person, every body, every identity.”
What products do EcoRoots sell?
EcoRoots sells zero waste products for your home, bathroom, and kitchen. This includes solid hair, lotion, and dishwashing bars, laundry sheets, and reusable products. EcoRoots also offers starter kits to save you money.
Oxfam Online Store
Location: UK
Shipping: the UK only
Meet the brand
Shop in Oxfam’s online store and help fight global poverty at the same time. Part of their shop is preloved and some products are ethically sourced and Fairtrade. As this is an online charity shop, you have access to thousands more products than you would on the high street making it easier to shop secondhand.
“We fight inequality to end poverty and injustice.”
What products does Oxfam sell?
In Oxfam’s online store, they sell a variety of preloved clothes and accessories, books, music and homewares. They also sell a wide range of greeting cards.
Oxfam also has a range of products called “sourced by Oxfam” which are not second-hand. This section consists of Fairtrade and ethically-made products that support their fight against poverty. It includes Christmas gifts, tree decorations, wrapping paper, food and drink, and garden products.
Grove Collaborative
Location: US
Shipping: contiguous US only
Meet the brand
Grove Collaborative eliminates the need for Amazon because it delivers all your sustainable home essentials straight to your door every month (or at a frequency of your choice). Grove specialises in non-toxic, ethically made, cruelty-free products.
The site has a subscription delivery option that sends you your supplies at the same time every month, or at another frequency of your choice.
“Grove Collaborative’s mission is to help you create a healthy, beautiful environment in your home”
What products does Grove Collaborative sell?
Grove Collaborative stocks over 200 natural and sustainable brands including household cleaning, personal care, children, and pet products.
Zero Waste Outlet
Location - Idaho, U.S.A
Shipping - does not offer international shipping
Meet the brand:
Zero Waste Outlet is a family-owned business selling affordable and sustainable household products. As their name suggests, they use minimal packaging in order to help customers reduce their plastic waste.
Each product is hand-selected to help you reduce your single-use plastic without compromising on convenience.
“Zero Waste Outlet’s mission is to make high-quality, zero-waste, and environmentally-friendly products available to all American households at a reasonable cost.”
What does Zero Waste outlet sell?
Zero Waste Outlet sells a wide range of sustainable household products. You’ll be able to shop for all your plastic-free toiletries, such as dental products and shampoo bars.
They stock sustainable cleaning and kitchen products, such as reusable bowl covers and washing-up brushes.
They also have a useful selection of zero waste gift ideas.
Life Without Plastic
Location: Canada (with an EU branch)
Shipping: the US, CA and EU
Meet the brand
Life Without Plastic is an eco-conscious family business that sells a range of zero-waste products for the kitchen and on the go. They have been helping people reduce their single-use plastic since 2006 when reusable products were much harder to find.
“Our mission is to raise awareness on the health and environmental problems posed by plastics while making the solutions more accessible, and empowering people to be part of the change.”
What products does life without plastic sell?
At Life Without Plastic, you can find all your zero waste kitchen essentials, such as food storage and washing up products. They also have some cleaning products and all the reusable products you need when you’re on the go.
Green Tulip
Location: Wiltshire, U.K.
Shipping: U.K. only
Meet the brand
Green Tulip is a women-owned business that has a beautiful collection of ethical products. Green Tulip focuses on sustainable gifting and has over 2000 products available for any special occasion. They also sell a good range of eco-friendly products for your home, too.
“Our mission is to offer a great selection of eco friendly everyday items and beautiful sustainable gifts that don’t harm the environment, people, or animals. ”
What products does Green Tulip sell?
If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift, Green Tulip is a wonderful alternative to Amazon. You can choose from individual products, or opt for one of their carefully curated gift sets. They also offer a sustainable gift-wrapping service for an extra £2.50
At Green Tulip, you can find eco-cleaning and laundry products, jewellery and clothing accessories, homeware and fragrance and plenty more.
Made Trade
Location: U.S.A
Shipping: International
Meet the brand
Made Trade was founded by husband and wife after they struggled to find beautiful, ethically-made items to fill their home and wardrobes. Made Trade partners with over 150 artisan cooperatives and small businesses meaning each item has a story behind it.
“We pledge to provide true transparency about the ethically made goods we offer, so you can shop freely, knowing each piece has been responsibly sourced, and expertly crafted with sustainable materials.”
What products does Made Trade sell?
Made Trade makes a great alternative to Amazon for all your fashion, accessories, and homeware needs. They sell a variety of sustainable goods such as bedding, furniture, clothing, shoes, and gifts. To ensure products are ethically made, they have a strict vetting process that is based on Fair Trade principles.
The Well Store
Location: Australia
Shipping: International
Meet the brand
Mariana founded The Well Store as she wanted source the most natural and organic body products for her family that did not harm their health. She checks the ingredients personally, and has a strict list of ingredients checklist to ensure all products her business sells are non-toxic.
“Our mission is to source and inform you of the best, most natural and organic products that make you look and feel well without compromising your health”
What products does the Well Store sell?
The Well Store sells a variety of products. Their collection of skincare and body products is vast and includes makeup, children’s products, personal hygiene. The Well Store has an eco-home section that covers everything from food storage to cleaning. They also stock food, drink, and wellness products.
&Keep
Location: Dorset, U.K.
Shipping: U.K. only
Meet the brand
&Keep was founded by Natasha Ray who is passionate about the environment. She is a Keep Britain Ambassador and an Eco Schools Green Flag Assessor. She believes the stuff we buy makes an impact so stocks a huge range of reusable and eco-friendly products at affordable prices, including their own line of products.
“We are a company devoted to helping you to reduce the impact everyday living has on our formidable blue planet, and to leaving it a better place for future generations.”
What products does &Keep sell?
&Keep is one of my favourite ethical alternatives to Amazon because it sells a great range of products which allows you to save on postage. It’s own range of reusable and eco-friendly products, such as bamboo toothbrushes, and washing up products are very affordable compared to other places. The products they sell include kitchen, cleaning, bathroom, beauty, personal care, gifts, and ‘on the go’ products.
What is a discount code for &Keep?
Get 15% off &Keep’s own range of products with the code ANDKEEP15
Ten Thousand Villages
Location: U.S.A.
Shipping: U.S.A. only
Meet the brand
Ten Thousand Villages are much more than a store - they are breaking the cycle of generational poverty by creating opportunities for skilled artisans in developing countries. It does this by giving them access to a thriving marketplace so they can sell their beautiful handmade products and earn a fair wage for it. Can’t get much better than that, can you?
“As a pioneer of fair trade, we do business differently, putting people and planet first. That means you can trust that every purchase and donation you make directly impacts the life and community of its maker in an under-resourced community.”
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I hope you found somewhere to shop. If you found this useful then I’d love it if you gave it a share.
Sophie xx