About Us
We started the EPO to make it easier for consumers to shop ethically be it for Fairtrade clothes, eco-friendly toys or responsible holidays. We also wanted to start a Directory that would be open and unfluenced by profit and advertisers.
And so the Ethical Products Organisation Directory was born.
Here you’ll find a screened directory of shops and services who have received ethical accreditation from us. And you’ll be able to see their accreditation when you visit their sites too with our EPO Shield of Authenticity.
We hope you like our Directory and appreciate why we’re doing this. The EPO isn’t for businesses it’s for you to help you make informed choices about the products and services you’re paying for.
If you have any questions for us or would like to give us feedback please complete the form on our CONTACT US page.
Consumer Information
The Ethical Products Organisation is committed to delivering consumers an honest and open directory of online shops offering ethical products.
We do not take paid for advertising for our listings because we want to create an organic directory consumers can trust. A directory that is not driven or influenced by advertisers and/or profit.
Every site that asks to be listed in the EPO Directory will be manually screened by EPO staff to check their website meets the EPO Directory criteria. Only after they have proven their ethical authenticity will they be listed.
Businesses can register their interest in the EPO safe in the knowledge that we will not pass on any contact details to third party companies for advertising or marketing purposes or indeed any purpose. Any details that you supply to us will remain private. We may use your contact details to contact you with information about the EPO when we launch our Awards or Forum or other announcements we feel you’d like to know about.
Shield of Ethical Authenticity
Another aid to consumers is our EPO Directory Shield of Ethical Authenticity. Every site listed in our Directory will be issued with our Shield of Ethical Authenticity to be displayed on their site. Consumers can then shop at sites displaying our Shields knowing they are shopping at a truly ethical online shop.
Awards
In mid-2008 we plan to launch the Ethical Products Awards. These will cover all the categories featured in the Directory and will allow consumers to see just who is the best. Our Award winners will be featured on the site along with details of what made them the best in their fields. Award winners will also be issued with a digital Award to display on their sites to let all their customers know they won a top ethical award.
Information for Ethical Business
EPO Directory is totally free to be listed, however, you must meet our criteria as an ethical shop. When you ask to be listed in the Directory, we will personally visit your site to ensure that your shop meets our ethical authenticity criteria. We may email you with some questions we need answered.
The EPO Directory will always be a free directory. We do not accept paid-for-listings as we feel this adversely affects the worth of the Directory in the eyes of the consumer.
Shield of Ethical Authenticity
As soon as your site has been listed on our trusted Directory you will be issued with a digital Shield to display on your site. This will show your customers that you are a trustworthy, authentic ethical retailer.
Awards
In mid-2008 we will be launching our Ethical Products Awards. These will cover all the categories featured in the Directory and will allow consumers to see just who is the best ethical retailer and who has the best ethical products.
Our Award winners will be featured on the site along with details of what made them the best in their fields. Award winners will also be issued with a digital Award to display on your site to let all your customers know you won a top ethical award.
Although we cannot guarantee it, we do anticipate some press interest in our Awards and will be issuing press release updates on the site and on our shortlisted Awardees together with the Award winners. Please do not enter if you do not wish to be featured in the press.