Ethical E-tail

Do-Good Virtual Marketplaces for Conscientious Online Shoppers

Implications - When it comes to shopping, making an eco-friendly or socially beneficial decision isn't always easy. Many physical retailers have introduced new product categories and sections in their shops that focus on environmental or social good, but for the busy individual, getting to these specific products (when life pulls them in different directions) can be difficult. Making the consumption of ethical goods easier is the rise of online marketplaces dedicated to social causes ranging from the planet to Third World poverty. Now, conscientious consumers can shop easily and conveniently from the comfort of their own homes or mobile devices, with the assurance that their purchases are for the betterment of society.

Trend Themes

  1. Socially-conscious Shopping — The rise of online marketplaces and retailers dedicated to social causes has made it easier for consumers to find and purchase ethical and eco-friendly products from the comfort of their own homes or mobile devices.
  2. Members-only and Personalized Platforms — Members-only and personalized platforms are reinventing the way in which we shop for sustainable goods, creating a social network with purpose.
  3. Benevolent Online Shopping — The concept of shoptivism promotes socially conscious shopping, allowing customers to make informed decisions and support pressing causes while exploring a variety of high-quality items.

Industry Implications

  1. E-commerce — The rise of socially responsible online marketplaces and retailers is disrupting traditional e-commerce models.
  2. Sustainability — Socially-conscious shopping is disrupting traditional notions of consumption and transforming sustainability into a key consideration for consumers and businesses alike.
  3. Charitable Giving — Benevolent online shopping and shoptivism are disrupting traditional charitable giving models and allowing consumers to make a difference through their purchases.
5.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
7 Featured, 44 Examples:
630,399 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jul 11 — May 12
Trending:
Warm

Featured Examples

Altruistic Online Marketplaces
Altruistic Online Marketplaces
'Shop With Meaning' Sells Socially-Responsible Items with a Story
Every day, ShopWithMeaning.org highlights an online store that sells products that give a donation for each item purchased. They also have an online marketplace for socially responsible merchandise, where… MORE
Online Ethical Retailers
Online Ethical Retailers
SERRV Alleviates Poverty by Supporting Artisans from Around the World
SERRV is an shopping site that carves out a convenient way to shop for fair trade handicrafts from around the world. Its mission is poverty alleviation through supporting small-scale artisans and farmers.… MORE
Planet-Loving Marketplaces
Planet-Loving Marketplaces
Eartheasy is an Online Shop to Support Sustainable Lifestyles
Eartheasy is an online marketplace for socially-conscious, environmentally-friendly products that range from the LifeStraw personal water filter to grow-your-own mushroom kits, to terrariums. The family-run… MORE
Ethical Shopping Sites
Ethical Shopping Sites
Magnifeco is an Eco-Fashion Source Featuring All Things Socially Good
Magnifeco Shopping is the newest addition to the online shopping world. Billed as "a daily blog where ethics meets aesthetics," Magnifeco Shopping is the brainchild of fashion blogger Kate Black, who founded… MORE
Social Good Shopping Sites
Social Good Shopping Sites
'Histoire' Boutique is an Online Store Devoted to Creating a Just World
Histoire Boutique is an online shopping site devoted to providing products to its clients that facilitate change and hope for people, different communities and the earth. By researching a wide range of… MORE
play_circle_filledBenevolent Online Shopping
Benevolent Online Shopping
The Do Good Buy Us Website Allows Consumers to Buy Charitable Products
The Do Good Buy Us website promotes the concept of socially conscious shopping, or rather, “shoptivism.” The founders follow the “S.H.O.P” philosophy, an acronym that stands... MORE
Members-Only Social Boutiques
Members-Only Social Boutiques
The New Ethical Ocean Website Presents a Revamped E-Commerce Company
The new Ethical Ocean website revamps its already-cool platform that offers sustainable, environmentally friendly, fair trade, cruelty-free and organic products at the click of a button. That hasn't changed… MORE

Related Examples

Socially Responsible Watches
Socially Responsible Watches
Epic Timepieces Strives to Have Haitians Live with Clean Water
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Microloans Through T-Shirts
Ethical Cocoa Gadget Helpers
Ethical Cocoa Gadget Helpers
The Divine Chocolate App Shares the Story of the Farmer-Owned Company
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Sanyork Promotes Artisans in a Poor Community of Lima
play_circle_filledSocially Sustainable Fashion
Socially Sustainable Fashion
'All of Us Revolution' Encourages Women to Rethink Consumption
play_circle_filledTraceable Empowerment Fashion
Traceable Empowerment Fashion
The IOU Project Employs Artisans in India and Shares their Stories
Fair Trade Sports Gear
Fair Trade Sports Gear
Handmade DOSTI Soccer Balls Employ Afghan Women
Apparel Against Slavery
Apparel Against Slavery
'Stop Traffick Fashion' Supports Artisans Through Income and Resources
Zulugrass Jewelry
Zulugrass Jewelry
The Leakey Collection Employs Women in the The Rift Valley, Kenya
play_circle_filledTraveling Fashion Boutiques
Traveling Fashion Boutiques
The StyleLiner is a Pop-Up Shop on Wheels
play_circle_filledOutdoor Gear for Good
Outdoor Gear for Good
Patagonia Pays Employees to Volunteer for Eco Nonprofits
Non-Profit-Supporting Consumerists
Non-Profit-Supporting Consumerists
'No One Without' is a For-Purpose Fashion Brand
10 Shoe Brands with Soul
10 Shoe Brands with Soul
TOMS, Twins for Peace, Oliberte, Sseko, GROOBS and More
Charitable Shopping Websites
Charitable Shopping Websites
'WorldWix' Donates Portions of Profit to Donation of Your Choice
play_circle_filledSustainable, Empowering Rugs
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan
10 Social Businesses for Babies
10 Social Businesses for Babies
From Incubator Substitutes to Maternal Health Marketplaces
Socially Responsible Textiles
Socially Responsible Textiles
Proud Mary Provides Artisan Materials in Developing Nations
12 Ethical Coffee Brands
12 Ethical Coffee Brands
Social Businesses Using Beverage and Bean Sales to Give Back
Empowering Crochet
Empowering Crochet
Fair Trade 'Pebble' Baby Line Employs Women in Bangladesh
Vibrant Fair Trade Products
Vibrant Fair Trade Products
Global Mamas Helps Ghana-Based Artisan Reach New Markets
Jenn Viane Riese, Founder of Modern Humanity (INTERVIEW)
Jenn Viane Riese, Founder of Modern Humanity (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable Hipster Fashion
Sustainable Hipster Fashion
'Threads for Thought' is Eco and Donates Proceeds for Good
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Lemonaid Beverages and ChariTea Look Cool, Pay Farmers Fairly
play_circle_filledCause-Oriented Deals
Cause-Oriented Deals
Roozt Lets You Support Social Enterprise Brands and Products
play_circle_filledOnline Marketplaces for Good
Online Marketplaces for Good
KarmaGoat is Like Craigslist But Proceeds Go to Charity
Scented Afghan Oils
Scented Afghan Oils
The 7 Virtues Offers Organic Fragrances Harvested from Legal Crops
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
One Mango Tree's Clothing and Accessories Have a Beautiful Story
Rockin' Relief Tees
Rockin' Relief Tees
Rock Your Cause Supports Important Issues Through Threads
Crowdfunded Social Innovator Sites
Crowdfunded Social Innovator Sites
‘StartSomeGood’ Grows Purpose-Driven Initiatives
Upcycled Fair Trade Fashion
Upcycled Fair Trade Fashion
Liz Alig Links Consumers & Producers to Support Ethical Practices
Hip Handwoven Attire
Hip Handwoven Attire
Bhalo Employs Rural Bangladeshi Women to Produce Fair Trade Fashion
100 Ethical Fashion Choices
100 Ethical Fashion Choices
From Worn Leather Loafers to Charitable Eco Labels
play_circle_filledBeauty Product Narratives
Beauty Product Narratives
The Ethical Ocean Social Business Guest Post on the Story of Cosmetics
Social Good Smartphone Apps
Social Good Smartphone Apps
The One App Helps Raise Awareness and Support for Developing Nations
Chad Hamre, CEO of Ethical Ocean -
Chad Hamre, CEO of Ethical Ocean -
Stylish Social Good Sacks
Stylish Social Good Sacks
The Wayuu Taya Bags are Handmade and for a Good Cause
Conscious E-Commerce
Conscious E-Commerce
Ethical Ocean is an Online Marketplace for Eco, Organic & Fair Trade Products
Charity Designer Apparel
Charity Designer Apparel
Sales from the Stussy x Fragment Design Shirt Go to Red Cross for Japan
Ethical Designer Satchels
Ethical Designer Satchels
These Vivienne Westwood Bags Support Over 7,000 African Women
play_circle_filledEthical Eco Retailers
Ethical Eco Retailers
The Offset Warehouse Online Store Makes a Cost-Effective Statement
Fair Trade Underwear
Fair Trade Underwear
Pants to Poverty is a Hip Social Enterprise That Raises “Underwearness"
Social Business Marketplaces
Social Business Marketplaces
ClearlySo is a Website Connecting Investors and Enterprises
Earthy Ethical Fashion
Earthy Ethical Fashion
Emma Watson Launches Green-Chic Clothing Line With People Tree
Website for Ethical Fashion
Website for Ethical Fashion
The BBC's 'Thread: Fashion Without Victims'