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: Vitamins & Supplements, Breakfast Cereal, Baked Beans, Cat & Dog Food

The latest magazine includes guides rating:

  • Vitamins & Supplements
  • Breakfast Cereal
  • Baked Beans
  • Cat & Dog Food

Plus:

  • score tables rating and comparing the brands
  • Best Buy recommendations
  • which big food businesses also make vitamins & supplements?
  • do you really need vitamins & supplements?
  • which breakfast cereals are healthy and which are junk food
  • which cereals and baked beans are high in sugar and salt
  • is it OK to buy insect-based pet food?
  • how to avoid hazardous chemicals in your can of beans
  • what's so bad about fish-based cat food?

Feature on:

  • Our updated list of oppressive regimes

Issue 204 (Sept/Oct 2023) now in print and online.

Read the latest issue 

  • Ethical Vitamins and supplements

    Box with seven compartments filled with vitamins and pills
    Finding ethical vitamins and supplements: ratings for 23 brands, with recommended buys and brands to avoid. Are there vegan vitamins and supplements? Are supplements organic and free from palm oil? We rate major vitamin brands as well as small eco brands. We look at packaging, misleading marketing, sugar levels and animal ingredients.
    Read more

  • Baked Beans

    Image: Baked Beans
    Finding ethical and eco friendly baked beans: ratings for 13 brands of baked beans. Our shopping guide covers sugar and salt content, vegan and organic baked beans, packaging, shines a spotlight on the ethics of Kraft Heinz and gives recommended and best buys.
    Read more

More from Ethical Consumer

pension guide

Ethical Pensions

Finding an ethical pension: a guide with ethical and environmental ratings for 23 major pension providers, with recommended buys. We rate the major pension providers which offer some kind of ethical option for clients. We look at different types of pension, what makes a pension ethical, transparency, investments and carbon reporting, Sharia funds and ethical pension campaigns. We also shine a spotlight on Vanguard and Nest.

Read more
Photo: rolls of toilet paper

Ethical Toilet Paper

Finding ethical and eco-friendly toilet paper: ratings for 19 toilet paper brands, with recommended buys and what to avoid. We rate the major toilet paper brands as well as smaller eco friendly brands, look at deforestation, bleach and toxic chemicals, recycled paper and FSC labelling, and ask is bamboo toilet paper really eco friendly? 

Read more
Image: Heat Pumps

Eco Heat Pumps

How to find an eco friendly heat pump company. We rate the ethical and environmental record of 18 heat pump brands. We look at the different types of heat pumps, their efficiency and performance, environmental impact, running costs and grants. Plus we give our Best Buys and recommended buys. We also shine the spotlight on MasterTherm.

Read more
Ethical Current Accounts

Ethical Bank Accounts

Finding an ethical bank account. Rating the ethical and environmental record of 31 UK current accounts, with recommended buys and who to avoid.  We also look at app-based banking, which banks own which brands, fossil fuel investments, tax avoidance, unequal pay, and how to switch accounts. 

Read more
image: VEGAN CHEESE TASTE test in different coatings

Vegan cheese

Is vegan cheese better for the environment? What about dairy companies making vegan cheese, palm oil and other ingredients? Ethical & environmental rankings for 18 vegan cheese brands, with Best Buys and what to avoid.

Read more
image: ethical cloth colourful dye fabrics in a row

Ethical Clothing Brands

Which are the real ethical clothing brands? Ethical ratings for 27 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.

Read more
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.

Read more