Ethical Consumer

Ethical Consumer

Join thousands of others and become an ethical consumer today.

Join thousands of others and become an ethical consumer today.

Learn how to use your spending power to help change the world for the better.

Why be an ethical consumer? How to be an ethical consumer

We are an independent, not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder co-operative with open membership.

At the heart of the ethical consumer movement, since 1989.

We are an independent, not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder co-operative with open membership, based in Manchester.

We provide all the tools and resources you need to make choices at the checkout simple, informed and effective.

Discover more about us

Includes guides to: Outdoor clothing, Shoes, Trainers, Sportswear

The latest magazine includes shopping guides rating:

  • Outdoor Clothing
  • Shoes 
  • Trainers
  • Sportswear

Plus:

  • score tables rating and comparing the brands
  • Best Buy recommendations
  • get to know Ethical Consumer - a few facts and stats
  • what outdoor brands are still using toxic 'forever chemicals'?
  • How do vegan synthetics compare to leather for footwear
  • workers' rights in the footwear industry
  • should you buy polyester sportswear?

Feature on:

  • Brands to buy from if you are boycotting Israeli apartheid

Issue 208 (May/June 2024) now in print and online.

Read the latest issue 

More from Ethical Consumer

Image: underwear

Sustainable Underwear Brands

How to find sustainable and ethical underwear which is eco friendly. In this guide we investigate, score and rank the ethical and environmental record of 41 brands of underwear which make adult bras and knickers or pants.  We look at fabrics, organic and fair trade options, workers' rights, longevity of underwear, secondhand options, price and sizes, and give our recommended buys. 

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image: ethical cloth colourful dye fabrics in a row

Ethical Clothing Brands

Which are the real sustainable ethical clothing brands? Ratings for 29 UK ethical clothes brands, with Best Buy recommendations. See how brands rate on key areas including use of sustainable fabrics, climate impact, fair wages and working conditions, animal rights, and supply chain transparency. We look at their range of clothing and at the innovators that are going beyond fairtrade and organic. We also cover vintage and secondhand clothing companies, and have a head to head between Depop and Vinted.

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Image: chocolate

Ethical Chocolate

Find ethical, sustainable and fair trade chocolate: ratings for 84 brands of bars of chocolate and chocolate snacks, with recommended brands and ones to avoid. Is all fair trade chocolate equally fair? What are chocolate brands doing about child labour? We look at the big ethical issues including colonialism in the cocoa sector, palm oil and deforestation, child labour, cocoa certification, as well as who makes vegan chocolate, and how to find ethical and responsibly-sourced chocolate to suit your budget.

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bookshop

Ethical Bookshops

Guide to 34 leading UK bookshops, with best buys. Includes alternatives to Amazon and its various book-selling brands and how to find ethical online and local bookshops. We also look at the best options for ebooks and audio books, sustainability, buying secondhand books, and how to support independent authors, publishers and bookshops.

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Trays of eggs

Eggs

Ethical and environmental rankings for 43 brands of eggs and vegan egg alternatives.  Is it ethical to eat eggs? We investigate egg labelling, vegan egg substitutes, the carbon impact of egg production, and the differences between cage, barn, free range, biodynamic and organic eggs.

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Image: Amazon

Boycott Amazon

We have called a boycott of Amazon over its outrageous tax avoidance since 2012. The list of accusations against Amazon is long, from offering its services to fossil fuel giants to firing activist workers.

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