Ethical life as it's lived

It is virtually impossible to live completely ethically in the developed world, especially if you live in a city. I live in a flat in Amsterdam, so some things I would love to do, such as growing my own vegetables, are non-starters. If you don't live as a hermit on a mountainside, ethical living is about deciding what is most important to you. Do you want to reduce the impact of your life on the environment? Or ensure some of your money is spent on fair-trade products? Or do you want to support local traders over corporate retailers?

I tend to do a little of all three, while accepting that you always need to make some compromises and some things are not worth the worry. Here's my checklist for treading a little lighter on the Earth.


I eat very little meat or fish - only occasionally when I know where it came from and how it ended up on my plate. Locally produced meat and fish are the best choices. Certain former favourites like shrimp (almost entirely) and tiger prawns (totally) are gone because of the huge by-catch from conventional shrimp trawling and the habitat loss and pollution caused by farmed prawns.

I do buy some organic produce but believe that, for some items, the prices are inflated and the products aren't worth the extra cost. I always buy fairly traded organic bananas to support small farmers in the Caribbean and Africa rather than the American multinationals Dole and Chiquita, who farm chemically intensive, mono-crop plantations in Latin America. I buy fair trade coffee and chocolate to ensure more of the money goes to the farmer rather than big food multinationals such as Nestle and Kraft. I avoid Nestle products because of their aggressive marketing in developing countries and their exploitation of coffee and cocoa growers, despite their huge profits.

Products like lettuce, carrots and fruit sustain the heaviest use of chemicals so I try to buy these organic when available, as well as organic pasta, onions and flour for bread making.


I buy everyday products such as washing-up liquid from the Ecover range. I use conventional cleaners sparingly and avoid those containing chlorine bleach because it is non-biodegradable and the most polluting chemical in home cleaners.


Most of my bathroom products are community traded products with more natural ingredients than artificial chemicals. I shower more often than I bathe to save energy and water. The toilet paper is recycled and unbleached. The advert says 'soft, strong and long' but doesn't mention that the product was made out of 100-year-old trees.

Household appliances

We have a new energy-efficient fridge and washing machine. The Netherlands has A-E energy consumption labels now on consumer goods from fridges to cars.


I use water-based paints when there's a choice. Less polluting, healthier and less smelly!

I avoid tropical hardwood in furniture and construction or spend extra on sustainable Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) hardwood products. FSC stuff is more expensive so if you can choose between hardwood and softwood such as pine, choose softwood because it is more likely to have come from an abundant European pine forest than an illegally and destructively logged rainforest.

PVC (vinyl) products in flooring, pipes and shower curtains etc are best avoided because the material is polluting to produce and dispose of: it is made of chlorine and leaches nasty chemicals into your home during use. Ikea (a multinational, but Scandinavian so more progressive than most!) excludes ancient forest products and PVC from its stores.

Wooden floors are healthier for your house - easier to clean and contain fewer chemicals than modern carpets.

Investing in good insulation cuts the energy bill and helps keep us warm!


Most presents come from the Fair Trade shop - even if they're unwanted the money goes to a good cause.

I try to avoid the major clothes and shoe brands because of their poor labour policies. Unwanted clothes and shoes go in the Amnesty clothes bank.


Dutch recycling figures are much better than the UK's, but there are variations between locations. Amsterdam has one of the few incinerators in Holland so recycling isn't as good as in other areas.

Paper and glass go in the recycling bins, beer bottles back to the supermarket. Organic waste goes into the bio-bin down the street. This organic waste is about half the weight of our waste each week and means if we miss the bin collection one week the bin doesn't smell so much with mainly plastic waste only. Old batteries are collected at electronic stores.


I cycle to work everyday and cycle to the shops a few times a week. We recently brought out first car after being car-free for five years. To ease our guilt we brought the smallest and most efficient car we could afford. We try to use it only when it is essential.


I have yet to move to an ethical bank account but it's on the 'to do' list. I'm a member of Oxfam and occasionally buy a homeless paper.

Entertainment/eating out

I avoid chain pubs and restaurants because in smaller places you can see who is benefiting from your custom. Having worked in a poorly-paid catering job I like to leave a tip for good service where ever I am. For good street musicians and performers I try to have some small change handy. I haven't eaten in a fast food chain for eight years.


I like to travel and it's part of my job. So lots of flying (big minus points) but I always travel independently and avoid western chain hotels and restaurants. Hopefully the money I spend benefits the local economy more than spending that money at home or on package deals. The house is full of art and bits and bobs from far flung places. As none of it is made of tropical hard wood or wild animals, buying it from local traders did more good than harm. When possible I buy my air ticket through travel agents that give the profits to developing world projects such as North-South Travel in the UK.

In the days when I had more time and less money I had a few wonderful working holidays as a volunteer on a forestry project in the US, clearing footpaths in Wales, spending weekends with the National Trust and British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). I also spent two months in India working in local communities. You discover more than you ever would as a normal tourist, and put something into the local area - for less than the cost of a package.

So: by no means a perfect, impact-free lifestyle (I own a pair of Nike trainers and there is PVC flooring in the kitchen because it was the cheapest option when we moved in and were broke). However, I like to think the choices I make do make a difference to what is important to me and the world. Of course there is always more you could do, but money and practicalities intrude. I'm not even close to being an ethical angel yet but I do spend all week working for a environmental group so it is good to take a break from work sometimes.

Good luck,