Ethical Consumer
Encyclopedia
Ethical Consumer is a not-for-profit UK magazine and website, founded in 1989, which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and issues around trade justice
and ethical consumerism
. It defines its mission as to "promote universal human rights, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare" by informing consumers and campaigners. Ethical Consumer is a subscription publication but also publishes free Buyers' Guides to consumer products and services through the Ethical Consumer website .
The term ethical consumer also describes someone who practices ethical consumerism
.
Ethical Consumer is perhaps best known for its company ratings tables which rate products from baked beans to banks across 19 criteria. The data behind the ratings tables is produced by research into the social, ethical and environmental records of companies, using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research.
Ethical Consumer is widely acknowledged to maintain the most comprehensive English-language list of consumer boycotts in the world.
Ethical Consumer and its associated websites is produced by the Ethical Consumer Research Association (ECRA). Between 1989 and 2009 ECRA was a worker's co-operative, based in Manchester
, UK. In 2009 ECRA became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor\subscriber members.
Lucy Siegle
, 'Ethical Living
' correspondent to UK sunday newspaper The Observer
has said: "Ethical Consumer approaches ethical issues with a mind-boggling thoroughness and integrity that makes everyone else look like a charlatan."
Ed Mayo
, former CEO of Consumer First (previously the National Consumer Council) and head of Co-operatives UK has commented: "Ethical Consumer is a drawing pin strategically placed on the throne of corporate rule.”
The Ethical Consumer website was re-launched in 2011 with additional functionality allowing subscribers to 'drill down' to the information behind ratings tables and adjust scores to suit their own ethical priorities.
The Corporate Critic website provides access to ECRA's database, tracking over 30,000 companies. Corporate Critic is primarily a paid-for-access service, however, a basic company search is freely available, providing useful information such as rating, ownership structure and turnover.
ECRA also undertakes consultancy and bespoke research on behalf of NGOs and corporate clients as well as providing a screening service. Clients have included: Amnesty International, CafeDirect, Christian Aid, Comic Relief, The Co-operative Bank, British Red Cross, Consumer Focus, Ecology Building Society, International Consumer Research and Testing, Friends of the Earth, Glasgow Caledonian University, Lush cosmetics Médecins Sans Frontière Belgium, Natural History Museum, Oxfam, The Guardian, the Soil Association, Vegetarian Society, Water Aid, Women's Institute, WWF.
ECRA conducts regular research on behalf of the Co-operative Group for the annual Ethical Consumerism Report, the "barometer of the UK ethical market".
Trade justice
Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations lobbying for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that poor people and the environment benefit...
and ethical consumerism
Ethical consumerism
Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment...
. It defines its mission as to "promote universal human rights, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare" by informing consumers and campaigners. Ethical Consumer is a subscription publication but also publishes free Buyers' Guides to consumer products and services through the Ethical Consumer website .
The term ethical consumer also describes someone who practices ethical consumerism
Ethical consumerism
Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment...
.
Ethical Consumer is perhaps best known for its company ratings tables which rate products from baked beans to banks across 19 criteria. The data behind the ratings tables is produced by research into the social, ethical and environmental records of companies, using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research.
Ethical Consumer is widely acknowledged to maintain the most comprehensive English-language list of consumer boycotts in the world.
Ethical Consumer and its associated websites is produced by the Ethical Consumer Research Association (ECRA). Between 1989 and 2009 ECRA was a worker's co-operative, based in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, UK. In 2009 ECRA became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor\subscriber members.
Lucy Siegle
Lucy Siegle
Lucy Siegle is a British journalist and writer on environmental issues.Siegle has written a weekly ethical living column for The Observer since 2004, and two books, including Green Living in the Urban Jungle and To Die For .Siegle has contributed to various television and radio programs,...
, 'Ethical Living
Ethical living
Ethical living is the philosophy of making decisions for daily life which take into account ethics and moral values, particularly with regard to consumerism, sustainability, environmentalism, wildlife and animal welfare...
' correspondent to UK sunday newspaper The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
has said: "Ethical Consumer approaches ethical issues with a mind-boggling thoroughness and integrity that makes everyone else look like a charlatan."
Ed Mayo
Ed Mayo
Ed Mayo is Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, the UK trade association for co-operatives. He is the former Chief Executive of the British National Consumer Council and CEO of the NCC's successor, Consumer Focus.-Education:...
, former CEO of Consumer First (previously the National Consumer Council) and head of Co-operatives UK has commented: "Ethical Consumer is a drawing pin strategically placed on the throne of corporate rule.”
The Ethical Consumer website was re-launched in 2011 with additional functionality allowing subscribers to 'drill down' to the information behind ratings tables and adjust scores to suit their own ethical priorities.
The Corporate Critic website provides access to ECRA's database, tracking over 30,000 companies. Corporate Critic is primarily a paid-for-access service, however, a basic company search is freely available, providing useful information such as rating, ownership structure and turnover.
ECRA also undertakes consultancy and bespoke research on behalf of NGOs and corporate clients as well as providing a screening service. Clients have included: Amnesty International, CafeDirect, Christian Aid, Comic Relief, The Co-operative Bank, British Red Cross, Consumer Focus, Ecology Building Society, International Consumer Research and Testing, Friends of the Earth, Glasgow Caledonian University, Lush cosmetics Médecins Sans Frontière Belgium, Natural History Museum, Oxfam, The Guardian, the Soil Association, Vegetarian Society, Water Aid, Women's Institute, WWF.
ECRA conducts regular research on behalf of the Co-operative Group for the annual Ethical Consumerism Report, the "barometer of the UK ethical market".