Let’s be honest, no one wants to work in a job where they leave feeling unfulfilled. No one can find contentment in a company that exploits its employees or has been exploited itself. Neither can anyone truly feel proud of deceiving their colleagues or clients, simply because the job demands it.

Yet, we hear countless stories that portray these scenarios. It’s clear that the problem isn’t just a specific job, company, or boss; it’s a pervasive culture that seems to be all too common.

This isn’t acceptable for us.

Saving whales, and avocado dreams?

We can idealize about a company that becomes a haven for exhausted and under appreciated talent. We can envision becoming an award-winning company that goes viral on social media for our progressive stance on social issues. We can dream of having thousands of followers on LinkedIn, constantly receiving high-fives for our mindful, innovative, and avocado-fueled work culture.

Or, we can simply get down to work. Because that’s what we’re here for.

Now, just because we’re not in a position to make press releases about saving whales, planting trees, or even installing solar panels at our offices, it doesn’t mean we’re not conducting business ethically, in a dignified and honorable manner.

It may not be as newsworthy, but just not telling lies at work is a powerful way to establish a strong work ethic. And what about telling a little white lie to a customer about a minor mistake? Come on, you wouldn’t want to raise your child telling fibs, as it would shape their character as an adult. So why would we want to set that tone in our growing company?

Being good human beings is a solid foundation for writing our employee handbook.

Slave labour and environmental destruction. Should we outsource them?

So now we have a nice warm, fuzzy feeling from having written our ethics statements, but we need to crack on and make money. Before we sell, we need to purchase.

When making purchasing decisions, we conduct thorough audits of our suppliers to ensure that they operate ethically in terms of environmental compliance, considering the environmental impact of their operations and the treatment of their workforce. This seems reasonable, right?

However, it’s undeniable that no UK-based company would pay a mere pound per hour for their products to be manufactured in sweatshop conditions. This practice has been largely phased out since the industrial revolution. Yet, UK-based companies continue to outsource their manufacturing to sweatshops in the Far East.

As a retailer, we receive daily contacts from ‘Eastern manufacturing companies,’ often accompanied by links to their Alibaba and Ali Express profiles that offer high-quality products. How can we seriously audit these companies and verify that their products aren’t produced in prison workshops or that the medical-grade silicone or food-safe plastics they claim to use are genuine?

For instance, we once received an offer to purchase menstrual cups made in China and were sent a “genuine copy” of the CE certification for the product. However, CE certification is not even applicable to menstrual cups!

The solution to this conundrum lies in supporting our local economy.

Local businesses can opt for suppliers based in the UK or the EU, such as buying milk from a local corner shop instead of a national supermarket chain, stocking UK-manufactured goods, or choosing European products over Chinese ones.

One crucial advantage is that auditing is easier when suppliers are based in these regions, as environmental and employment issues are legally enshrined and enforced through inspections. Unless there’s evidence of criminality or serious deception, compliance can be assumed with minimal checks. However, asking an Ali Express supplier about the risk of toxic chemicals in their product manufacturing is a challenging task.

Ethics permeate many aspects of business, commerce, the workplace, and society. Every decision we make can be examined through an ethical lens, and we strive to make choices that align with these principles. We don’t seek Insta-likes for this; we do it to feel proud of the work we do and to contribute positively to our communities.

Follow us as we share more examples of our ethical decision-making. We hope these examples inspire others to reconsider their business practices and purchasing habits.