BE A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER!
BUYING GUIDE
BUY LESS
BUY LOCAL
BUY FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
B CORPORATIONS
OTHER BUSINESSES THAT MEET SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
BUSINESSES THAT MEET AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD
BUSINESSES THAT MEET A SOCIAL STANDARD
BUY LESS
Instead of buying: reuse, repair, borrow or barter things.
Shop at thrift stores (e.g. Goodwill, Woods and Waters Gear Exchange), consignment shops, yard sales, Facebook Marketplace for used items and clothes. In Brunswick see the Brunswick Resale Trail
The Buy Nothing Project - Join a local Buy Nothing group to freely give and get things from people in your local community. Use the app, or click on “find your community” under “community” and scroll down to the U.S., Maine to find a local group.
Freecycle - Topsham Group: Give and get stuff for free. Find a local group HERE
GoGo Refill – Home and body products in refillable containers, plastic-free and reusable products. At stores in Brunswick and South Portland, and online.
Support companies that promote buying less, repairing, recycling. For example, Patagonia. Buy used from Patagonia at Worn Wear
Repair cafes - Worldwide movement to reduce waste by repairing things. Brunswick and Bath, ME public libraries host local repair cafes. Look for one in your area.
Brunswick, ME Public Library - Library of Things: Borrow things at the library! Check to see if your library offers this.
Exchange services with others – either informally or through formal timebanks. See Hourworld Timebank Directory. In Maine, Hour Exchange in Portland.
Instead of buying: give gifts:
Of your time (e.g., coupons for babysitting, chores, other assistance)
Of experiences (e.g., tickets to a concert, show, meals out, trips)
Of things you’ve made (food, drinks, crafts, handwork)
Of donations to, or purchases from, organizations or causes
BUY LOCAL
Buy from locally owned businesses and local producers
Buy local food:
Find farmer’s markets by day or location in Maine: Maine Federation of Farmers Markets
Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory, from University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Real Maine - Ways to purchase local food and products that include farmers’ markets, farm stands, farm stores, community supported agriculture (CSAs), and much more
Maine Made - Products made in Maine
Look for fairs (craft, community, holiday) featuring local producers
Shop at downtown businesses. Downtown gift cards available for
BUY FROM OTHER BUSINESSES THAT MEET SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
Fair Trade
Fair Trade America - find and learn about fair trade products sold in America
Shop online - includes Ten Thousand Villages and Serrv International
Green Pages -“Certified Green” Businesses in the Green Business Network from Green America. Healthy, ethical, green products and services from socially responsible businesses.
Earth Hero – an alternative to Amazon - offers sustainable products assessed by a 5-Pillar Sourcing Methodology.
Done Good – Sells brands that pay good wages and use eco friendly practices
BUY FROM BUSINESSES THAT MEET AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD
Organic food – agricultural products produced according to USDA organic standards
1% for the Planet – businesses and individuals that donate 1% of annual sales or salary to environmental causes: Search for participating businesses here
Maine Businesses On the Pathway to 100% Clean Energy
Green Seal certified directory
Overview of green certifications for buildings (e.g. LEED), businesses (e.g. ISO14001), products (e.g. Energy Star), and food (e.g. organic) - from the Green Business Bureau
Life Without Plastic - Find alternatives to plastic products
BUY FROM BUSINESSES THAT MEET A SOCIAL STANDARD
Union made products and services:
Fair Hotel - Hotels that meet union standards
Union Made Holiday Gift Guide, from the AFL-CIO (Dec., 2024)
Do Buy Lists and Database of Union Products and Services – from the AFL-CIO
Union Made in America Thanksgiving Brands – from the AFL-CIO
Labor411 – search for brands that employ union workers
Teamsters Local 322- union made products
Employee owned companies:
In Maine -Maine ESOPS - Businesses with employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
Find certified employee owned companies by state or sector here
Coops –Jointly owned, democratically controlled enterprises –
Find Maine Coops HERE
Coop Celebration Shopping Guide: Maine coops and ESOPs to get gifts from
Find worker cooperatives by state or industry in this directory from the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Best Places to Work (primarily based on surveys of employees)
In Maine
Nationally:
Great Places to Work: best workplace lists
Black-owned business directories
Nationally: Official Black Wall Street; We Buy Black
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KNOW ANOTHER RESOURCE YOU FIND USEFUL? LET US KNOW!