Ethical Consumer

Ethical Consumer Magazine
FrequencyBi-monthly
FounderRob Harrison and Jane Turner
Founded1989
CompanyEthical Consumer Research Association
CountryUK
Based inManchester, England
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.ethicalconsumer.org
ISSN0955-8608

Ethical Consumer Research Association Ltd (ECRA) is a British not-for-profit publisher, research, political, and campaign organisation which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and governments and issues around trade justice and ethical consumption.[1] It was founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner[2][3][4] and has been publishing the bi-monthly Ethical Consumer Magazine since.[1] Its office is in Manchester.[1]

History

Ethical Consumer was formed in Hulme, Manchester, UK, in 1989. Between 1989 and 2009 it was a worker co-operative,[1] then in 2009 became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor/subscriber members.[5] It is an industrial and provident society.[6] In 2012 the organisation started to collaborate with Lush, creating the Lush Prize, a £250,000 biennial fund that awards innovators working to find solutions to end animal testing.[7]

Company research and ratings

Ethical Consumer researches the social, ethical and environmental records of companies,[1][8] using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research. They provide companies that they deem to have good ethical credentials with a best buy label.[9][10]

Consumer publishing

It publishes a bi-monthly print magazine, Ethical Consumer Magazine, sold via subscription, shops and newsstands.

It has a consumer website which is partly subscription based, which includes:

  • around 100 shopping guides with analysis of company and product ethics [1][11] .
  • several thousand company profiles, which include company ownership structures, brands, and overall ethical scores
  • UK consumer boycotts list; some of the causes it supports are more contentious, such as the BDS movement.[12]
  • sections on ethical issues such as Palm Oil
  • feature articles categorised by sector including: Energy, Fashion & Clothing, Food & Drink, Home & Garden, Health & Beauty, Money, Retailers, Technology and Transport

It also produces the annual UK Ethical Consumer Markets Report[13] .

Campaigning

Ethical Consumer runs consumer oriented campaigns, including a boycott against Amazon.com, Inc. for its use of tax avoidance.[14][15][16][17] It has also campaigned for better working conditions, on behalf of migrant agricultural workers, based in Spain.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Toynbee, Polly (18 December 1996). "Why the green shopper is not being properly served". The Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "How can you shop with a conscience?". BBC News. 5 October 1999. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  3. ↑ Shanta Barley (14 September 2010). "Vote for your unsung green hero". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Tim Hunt (June 2010). "Workers of the world, co-operate!". RedPepper.org. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Boyle, Dave (2 March 2012). "Fresh Ideas 2 – Good News: A co-operative solution to the media crisis" (PDF). Co-operatives UK. p. 38. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Annual Review July 2023" (PDF). Ethical Consumer. 26 July 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. ↑ May, Amanda (2022-11-22). "3D printed human tissue project among Lush Prize winners for animal testing alternatives". cosmeticsbusiness.com. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  8. ↑ Hill, Simon. "How to Buy Ethical and Eco-Friendly Electronics". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  9. ↑ "Process and Control Today | STIEBEL ELTRON Secures Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label". www.pandct.com. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Triodos Bank UK Recognised as Ethical 'Best Buy' for Investment Funds and Stocks & Shares ISAs". Fintech Finance. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  11. ↑ "From loo rolls to fashion: how to spend your cash more ethically". The Guardian. August 15, 2020.
  12. ↑ Halbfinger, David M.; Wines, Michael; Erlanger, Steven (July 27, 2019). "Is B.D.S. Anti-Semitic? A Closer Look at the Boycott Israel Campaign". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  13. ↑ Butler, Sarah (2024-04-02). "Ethical shopping on the rise in UK despite cost of living crisis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  14. ↑ Thomas, Daniel (October 13, 2020). "Amazon accused of Covid failings as Prime Day begins". BBC News.
  15. ↑ Jones, Rupert (November 30, 2013). "Alternatives to Amazon: MPs spread seasonal boycott message". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  16. ↑ Brignall, Miles (October 13, 2020). "UK shoppers urged to shun Amazon Prime Day to support small businesses". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ Allen, Katie (December 19, 2012). "'Boycott Amazon' campaign launched". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  18. ↑ Carlile, Clare (2020-04-27). "The plight of Spain's migrant workers | New Internationalist". newint.org. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
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