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Ethical Consumerism continues to rise
The most recent Ethical Consumerism survey by the Co-operative Bank was published in December 2005. An estimated £25.8 billion was spent on ethical products and services in 2004, an increase of over 15% on the previous year.
The report, now in its sixth year, claims that ethically motivated shopping and behaviour continues to grow and is here to stay. We are also growing in confidence in our level of influence as consumers. Over half of those questioned agreed with the statement; “As a consumer, I can make a difference to how responsibly a company behaves” . Only 17% disagreed.
One in two people are now aware of the Fairtrade mark and food products with the label continue to experience growth in sales. Last year Fairtrade food sales topped £140million, compared to just £92 million the previous year. Fairtrade chocolate reached £16.5 million.
Spend on organic food meanwhile reached £1,119 million with around three in four households buying at least one organic food product during 2004. The largest proportion of organic goods was found in the baby food sector, with over half of all baby food sales in 2004 being organically certified.
Looking at negative purchasing decisions, 28% of consumers boycotted at least one product for ethical reasons during 2004. Esso was mentioned by name as the company most frequently boycotted in the area of travel expenditure.
Climate Change
The survey also found that climate change had been pushed up the agenda.
Instead of waiting for governments and companies to set the pace, consumers
have been taking it upon themselves to tackle the issue, spending £3.4
billion in the process. The report looked at the installation of items
such as solar panels, wind turbines, small scale hydro-turbines and
ground source heat pumps. This sector had increased by four times the
previous year. Spend on green mortgages had also significantly increased,
up from £162 million in 2003 to £357 million in 2004.
As well as commenting on Ethical Consumption, the report also recommended
that the government introduce tougher legislation on climate change,
such as restricting the sale of household appliances of energy efficiency
ratings of ‘C’ and below.
Consumer trends
· 93% of people recycled at least once during the year.
· 25% actively campaigned on environmental and social issues.
· 35% actively sought information on a company’s reputation.
· 58% avoided product or service on the basis of a company’s
reputation.
Other figures in brief
· For the first time, the amount of money invested ethically
broke the £10 billion barrier. This is up 17% on the 2003 figure.
· Market share for ethical products increased by 22% over the
past 6 years.
· For the first time, Ethical Fashion as a sector was included
and figures totalled £680 million. This included £43 million
spent on ethical clothing, £341 million on second-hand clothing
and £296 million on the boycotts of clothing and footwear companies
for ethical reasons.
· 10% of consumers cited environmental concerns as the prime
motivation for shopping at second hand outlets.
· £1,570 million spent on second hand goods.
Ethical consumerism in the UK, 2003-2004
| Spend 2003 | Spend 2004 | |
| Food | ||
| Organic | £1,015m | £1,119m |
| Fairtrade | £92m | £140m |
| Free range eggs | £188m | £215m |
| Vegetarian products and meat alternatives | £613m | £626m |
| Ethical boycotts - grocery and food outlets | £1,857m | £1,947m |
| Sub-total | £3,765m | £4,047m |
| Green Home | ||
| Energy efficient electrical appliances | £1,102m | £1,361m |
| Micro-generation | £5m | £23m |
| Green mortgage repayments | £162m | £357m |
| Eco-cleaning products | £11m | £13m |
| Sustainable timber | £704m | £728m |
| Ethical boycotts -other | £85m | |
| Subtotal | £1,984m | £2,567m |
| Travel and Transport | ||
| Environentally friendly transport | £22m | £20m |
| Public transport | £348m | £380m |
| Responsible tour operators | £92m | £112m |
| Environmental tourist attractions | £19m | £20m |
| Ethical boycotts - travel | £1,040m | £1,112m |
| Sub-total | £1,521m | £1,644m |
| Personal | ||
| Ethical clothing | £33m | £43m |
| Buying for re-use | £1,443m | |
| Humane cosmetics | £186m | £173m |
| Charitable donations | £2,132m | £2,340m |
| Charity shops | £270m | £383m |
| Local shopping | £1,724m | £2,119m |
| Ethical boycotts - clothing | £273m | £296m |
| Sub-total | £6,061m | £6,924m |
| Ethical Finance | ||
| Ethical banking | £4,447m | £4,715m |
| Ethical investment | £4,214m | £5,517m |
| Credit unions | £366m | £394m |
| Sub-total | £9,027m | £10,626m |
| Grand Total | £22,358m | £25,808m |
ASDA bows to Greenpeace pressure
In January, Greenpeace protestors scaled ASDA’s Leeds headquarters
and hung a banner highlighting the supermarket’s destructive fishing
practices, while others toured the city with mobile advertising, before
being invited by the company to discuss the issues. ASDA has now vowed
to reassess its seafood policies. Additionally, it agreed to immediately
remove from its shelves four of the 13 ‘danger list’ species
that it currently stocks - skate, dogfish, Dover sole and ling.
The protest followed a league table ranking supermarkets by their seafood
policies which placed Asda at rock bottom. Asda notched up just one
point out of twenty, Tesco got five and Sainsbury’s ten. US-owned
Asda was found to be selling at least thirteen species on Greenpeace’s
‘danger list’ including swordfish, dogfish (shark) and Atlantic
cod.
M&S, on the other hand, was the clear leader in all fields and scored
seventeen. It was found to have a comprehensive, transparent policy
which is largely reflected by what it sells, in addition to supporting
research and promoting sustainability initiatives. Waitrose also impressed
on fifteen points. M&S and Waitrose were best buys in our supermarkets
report in Issue 97, Nov/Dec 2005 for their progressive policies in areas
such as environmental reporting, Fairtrade products and chemicals.
The league table appears in a report called ‘A recipe for disaster’.
For more information contact Greenpeace on 020 7865 8100 or download
the full report A
recipe for disaster.
Italians reject Mcdonald’s
Five years ago, McDonald’s revealed plans to open a fast food restaurant
in the Southern Italian town of Altamura, Apulia. Local citizens, supported
by Italy’s Slow Food movement, campaigned against the development
by establishing their own group Friends of Cardoncello (named after
an Italian mushroom). Despite community opposition, McDonald’s
built a fast food store in town, but struggled over the next few years,
as townspeople shunned the golden arches and supported local baker Luigi
Diges and other community restaurants. Last month, McDonald’s closed
its doors and left town. “There was no marketing strategy, no advertising
promotion, no discounts,” Il Giornale, a local paper commented.
“It was just that people decided the baker’s products were
better. David has beaten Goliath.”
More info from
www.organicconsumers.org/btc/slowfood010906.cfm
From cell blocks and silk parachutes
The response to Worn Again’s limited edition trainers made from
99% recycled materials has been overwhelming and stock is selling out
quickly. There are currently two styles made from ex-military parachutes,
long johns and towels, men’s suits, prison blankets, car seat scrap
leather and recycled rubber. The ones pictured here are from the Spring/Summer
collection and will soon be available. They feature coffee bags (left)
and military jackets (right). Worn Again is a collaboration between
small eco designer shoe company, Terra Plana, and non-profit organisation,
Anti-Apathy.
Grab yourself a pair before they’re gone from the on-line shop
or at various retailers across the UK, including Terra Plana on Bermondsey
Street in London and and at Schuh across the UK. For a stockist near
you, e-mail info@wornagain.co.ukor
phone 0207 407 3758. Available online from www.wornagain.co.uk
priced £60 (inc P&P). You can even get Worn Again gift vouchers.
Ride for peace
Cyclists can now register to take part in the second Peace Cycle to
Jerusalem.
On 6th August 2006, cyclists from all over the world will leave central
London and embark on an amazing journey across Europe to the Middle
East. Cycling through Europe, they will meet with politicians and public
to raise awareness of the 38 year occupation and call for justice and
peace in Israel and Palestine. After touring parts of Israel and the
West Bank, the cyclists will finally ride into Jerusalem in September
2006.
Places are limited so cyclists need to register soon. Application forms
can be obtained from the website www.thepeacecycle.org
For more information, contact the founder of The Peace Cycle, Laura
Abraham by email at laura@thepeacecycle.orgor
phone 07941056616.
Vegans save planet
A report in the New Scientist on 17th December has confirmed what groups
like Viva! have been saying for many years, that meat and dairy production
causes environmental degradation on a huge scale. The report quotes
a US study that concludes switching to a vegan diet is the best way
to reduce greenhouse emissions.
The study, conducted by the University of Chicago, compared the amount
of fossil fuel needed to cultivate and process various foods, including
running agricultural machinery, providing food for livestock and irrigating
crops. They also factored in emissions of methane and nitrous oxide
produced by cows, sheep and manure treatment.
They found that the typical US diet, about 28 per cent of which comes
from animal sources, generates the equivalent of nearly 1.5 tonnes more
carbon dioxide per person per year than a vegan diet with the same number
of calories. By comparison, the saving in annual emissions from driving
a hybrid car instead of a typical saloon car is just over 1 tonne.
“For too long environmental groups have ignored the damaging effects
of animal agriculture, focusing instead on cars, food miles and factories”,
says Viva!’s Toni Vernelli.
See also the animal rights and sustainability feature on page 30
