Ethical Shopping in NYC

July 22, 2013 2:59 PM

I'm in NYC and would like to shop at establishments that give their retail and service workers a living wage and benefits. I'd also like to avoid the most egregious workers' rights offenders. Can you help me compile a list?

I'm looking for stores for everything that one would shop for - groceries, clothing, toiletries, beauty supplies, health products, cleaning supplies, home items, etc.

I'm willing to pay a bit more for this privilege but assume a middle middle-class budget.

Thank you!

posted by unannihilated to Shopping (7 answers total)

The Park Slope Food Coop is a really good place to start. They spend a lot of time and energy worrying about this.
posted by overhauser at 3:01 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Costco! There's one in Harlem.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:06 PM on July 22, 2013

Trader Joe's
posted by the jam at 5:33 PM on July 22, 2013

There is also a Costco in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, within easy walking distance of the D, N and R trains, as well as the B70 and B35. We actually just walk there from our apartment most of the time.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:26 PM on July 22, 2013

Workers at H&M clothing stores in New York have union representation.
posted by bbq_ribs at 8:17 AM on July 23, 2013

For restaurants, I recommend consulting the ROC Diners Guide, which compiles lists of chains and individual restaurants that have humane employment standards (e.g., paying above minimum wage to non-tipped positions, giving paid sick leave, etc.). You can scan the overall list or go right to the top picks for a particular city. They even give you some template cards to leave with management letting them know that their high rating was part of why you went there.
posted by acm at 8:33 AM on July 23, 2013

H&M also rolled out some good environmental policies like recycling fabric etc.
posted by rmless at 9:48 AM on July 23, 2013