by Michelle Martini

Created on: January 10, 2008

As our actions contribute to global warming like never before in history, more and more people are considering the ethics of what they buy and use. Is it green? Is it fair-trade? Is it sustainable? Is it recyclable? These are the questions consumers are beginning to ask when shopping.

Industry worldwide seems to be facing these questions and changing everything from ingredients to packaging to shipping schedules. Suppliers are starting to hear the requests of the consumers for ethical and green products. There are many websites that offer green, fair-trade, or environmentally-friendly products and services.

GREEN PRODUCTS
The best website for shopping and buying green is http://www.greenhome.com. GreenHome shows you room by room how to green your home and sells great products by which to do it. Appliances, fabrics, decorations, toys, plants, and gifts can all be found here. The website is interactive and fun; it always keeps ethics in mind.

For gifts, the Ethical Superstore (http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com) is the best in green shopping (and organic foods shopping too). They have the largest selection of products and as a bonus, they frequently have sales on great green and eco-friendly items.

SUSTAINABLE/NATURAL PRODUCTS
Bean Products (http://www.beanproducts.com) offers many typical products but uses sustainable and recyclable materials to produce them. Their everyday, home, furniture, and clothing products boast ethical materials such as Organic Cottons, Hemp, Kapok, Buckwheat hulls, Natural Latex and Recycled Poly fiber.

With so many toy recalls recently, more and more parents are looking into natural, green, and recyclable toys and games for their children. Challenge And Fun (http://www.challengeandfun.com) offers children's toys and furniture that are all-natural. Their toys are active and engaging, and of course, an ethical and safe choice!

ORGANIC PRODUCTS
Better For Babies (http://www.betterforbabies.com ) sells products that are "uncompromising" for babies. They sell fair-trade and organic diapers and other green baby products for the safety and health of your baby! If you are pregnant, or know anyone who is, this website has adorable gifts for online purchase.

Cozy Pure (http://www.cozypure.com) sells organic bedding. These bedroom products are gorgeous as well as organic, clean, and proudly sweat-shop free!

All Natural Cosmetics (http://www.allnaturalcosmetics.com) sells make-up and beauty products, and avoids animal testing. They use simple ingredients that are safe for the face and body. Their website is classy and they offer all common bath and everyday products, from natural deodorant to shampoo to body scrubs to make-up.

FAIR-TRADE PRODUCTS
Fair-trade products promote fair wages for artisans and manufacturers who produce each part of a product. It has become a pivotal social movement to encourage commerce in third-world countries. Global Exchange is a leader in fair-trade products (http://store.gxonlinestore.org).

For more, Lucuma has a good list of free-trade products sold online (http://www.lucuma.com/content/links/links_ft.asp).

G REEN DIRECTORIES
Finally, Google has a rapidly growing list of green living products in a quick and easy directory (http://www.google.com/Top/Shopping/Niche/Green_Livi ng/). Guide Me Green (http://www.guidemegreen.com) also frequently updates its list of green and socially responsible shopping products made and sold all over the world.

Green living, sustainability, fair-trade, organic and recycled products are quickly becoming very popular online. They are an ethical choice for the products we need and consume regularly. Initiators of the movement still caution against worldly consumerism and buying beyond what you need.

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