It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of only supporting large corporations. Chain stores are convenient, reliable and typically more affordable. However, shopping only at big box stores has hidden costs. Ultimately, corporations like Amazon, Target and Starbucks prioritize profit above all, which is reflected in their unethical practices.
Amazon, for example, is notorious for consistently violating human, animal and environmental rights. Findings from UC Berkeley’s Labor Center, published in 2022, concluded that Amazon does not comply with international labor standards. Amazon has historically opposed unionization and faced thousands of lawsuits over the years, including one from Oct. 2021, in which 1,400 delivery drivers from the UK sought minimum wage and holiday pay. Additionally, in 2024 Amazon reported to have emitted 68.25 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, a 6% increase from 2023. However, this amount may be higher as Amazon often under estimates its emissions to improve their company image. Amazon also has no policies on animal testing, pesticides or agricultural runoff. They also have no limitation on palm oil in their products, which is responsible for extensive deforestation.
In January of this year, Target was one of the many corporations that dropped its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives after pressure from the Trump administration. The action induced widespread boycotts. Target has also been criticized for its intense customer profiling practices. In one case, the company was able to detect the pregnancy of a teenager before her father knew…