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Ethical alternatives: Brands to buy from if you boycott Israeli apartheid

Millions of people worldwide are refusing to buy from brands complicit with Palestinian human rights abuses, and many are seeking information about ethical brands they could buy from instead.

Because of this, we've decided to share all relevant research from our shopping guides published between 2018 and 2024 to help people find alternatives to boycotted brands that are a little, or a lot, more ethical than competitors in their sector. 

Ethical alternatives to brands if you support Palestine

Which boycotts for Palestine are legitimate?

Many people want to boycott brands complicit with abuses of Palestinian human rights but, How do we know which are legitimate? Which are effective? And, are there some that we should be sceptical of supporting? 

We explore ways to distinguish between impactful campaigns against Israeli apartheid, and social media crazes to ensure your boycott energy is spent effectively.

Which boycotts for Palestine are legitimate?

20 companies complicit in Israel's apartheid regime

This is a list of the key brands being targeted in 2024. For reasons why, and the complete extended list of all boycotts for Palestinian human rights that can be supported in the UK, see our boycotts list - link in bio.

Boycott list

New landing page: Palestine and Israel boycott and campaign articles

We've created a new landing page dedicated to all our Palestine and Israel boycott and campaign articles. And, we've added a new flyer for you to download and spread the word. 

Help spread awareness: print the flyers and hand them out at local demos and events, or put them up around your community or even at local coffee shops and other businesses. 

Palestine campaigns page

The reality of Black Friday mania for workers at Amazon

To understand what Black Friday looks like from the inside, we spoke to an Amazon worker currently employed in a fulfilment centre. 

They asked to remain anonymous, but wanted people to know what the season really demands of those who keep it moving. Read the full interview here.

We link to alternatives so that you can avoid Amazon.

Black Friday through the eyes of an Amazon worker

Your ultimate guide to an ethical Christms: alternative gift ideas

Check out our latest feature to help you find ethical solutions to Christmas. 

We explore alternative ethical Christmas gifts, where to shop ethically if buying new, sustainable decoration ideas to give some Yuletide sparkle, and much more.

Your ultimate guide to an ethical Christmas

What are the reasons to avoid Black Friday

We examine reasons to boycott Black Friday, the tax-avoiding activities of companies most likely to profit from the sales, ways to protest against Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and other ethical alternative events you can support instead.

Before you hit the 'buy' button, take a read of our feature. 

Reasons to avoid Black Friday and Cyber Monday

eBay vs Backmarket

How do eBay and Backmarket compare ethically?

Check out the head to head and see the full details in our guide to online retailers.

Guide to ethical online retailers

Guide to Ethical Online Shopping

Find ethical online shops so that you can shop with a clear conscience. 

This shopping guide is part of our Alternatives to Amazon series. All of the brands in this guide are better alternatives to using the tax avoiding giant.

Ethical online retailers

How do Spotify and Qubuz compare?

How do Spotify and Qubuz compare? 

Take a look at our full shopping guide on music streaming and digital music download platforms to see the full details, and our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 74/100.

Digital music guide

Guide to music streaming services

Looking for ethical alternatives to Spotify, Amazon, and YouTube?

Our guide rates and ranks 13 music streaming services and digital music download platforms, offering Best Buys advice, recommended brands, and brands to avoid. Discover the best options for ethical music consumption.

Guide to music streaming and download platforms

Bookshops head to head

How do Amazon and eBay compare in our bookshops guide?

We rate not only these two retail giants, but rate 26 online and high street bookshop brands. 

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 90/100. Which is way higher than these two!

Read the bookshops guide

Ethical bookshops

Our guide rates and ranks 26 UK bookshops, providing Best Buys, recommended brands, and which to avoid. Find your next great read while supporting ethical businesses.

The guide covers finding high street bookshops, online booksellers, as well as which ones sell secondhand books. We also recommend using libraries and your local independent bookshop.

Plus, how to avoid using Amazon for buying books!

Read the bookshops guide

Ethical chocolate head to head

Our chocolate guide contains over 30 brands, but here's how two popular brands compare.

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 93/100.

Chocolate shopping guide

Ethical Chocolate Guide

We rate and rank 31 brands of chocolate bars and chocolate snacks, with our unique Best Buy advice, recommended brands and brands to avoid.

As well as rating brands on their cocoa sourcing policies, we also look at child labour, fair trade chocolate, organic chocolate, plus which brands still use palm oil. 

Find out which are the most ethical brands of chocolate

Vegan food brands owned by meat or dairy companies

We've analysed a long list of vegan food brands to see which are owned by non-vegan companies.

As the plant based food alternatives gains wider interest, big meat and dairy companies are buying up smaller vegan brands. For some people they see this is a proof of the value of vegan food, but others prefer to support vegan only companies. 

Find out who owns what in the article.
 

Vegan food brands owned by meat/dairy brands

Conference tickets on sale now!

Come together and join us for another day of insightful discussions and workshops, connecting with like minded people.

We will explore if re-inventing corporations can help us build a fairer and more sustainable future.

We will be taking a look at some of Ethical Consumer’s own work on challenging corporate power over the years, as well as issues surrounding tech that is being manipulated by some of the richest and most powerful on the planet.
 

Ethical Consumer Conference 2025 Tickets

Buying Secondhand Online

Buying secondhand is one of the best ways to cut the carbon footprint of the products you buy. Giving new life to pre-loved items also helps tackle demand for water, raw materials and energy associated with their production.

But how ethical are the secondhand online shops? In our latest article, we review exactly that!

Buying secondhand online

24 UK companies undermining US democracy

Which 24 UK companies are undermining US democracy?

UK corporations are helping bankroll US politicians accused of “undermining democracy”, according to a new report by Donations and Democracy.

In this article we look at which UK brands are involved in channelling donations to US politicians, how the donations work, and what action you can take.

24 UK companies undermining US democracy

Crowdfunder: Challenging Corporate Power

Ethical Consumer is extending its work on challenging corporate power beyond consumer markets.

Most large for-profit companies are no longer operating in the long-term interest of humans, animals or the planet.

In addition, some of them have captured our democratic governments and our media channels and surrounded us with a sea of misinformation and hate speech.

Support our crowdfunder to help us challenge corporate power.

Challenging Corporate Power Crowdfunder 2025

Brands that test on animals

Animal testing is common for everything from cosmetics to pet food products. 

In this article, we look at the companies using animal testing, and ways to avoid them. 

Brands that test on animals

How ethical are charity shops?

Check out this article for a break-down of 7 of the largest UK charity shops for secondhand and our analysis of how ethical their spending is.

Finding ethical charity shops for clothes

How do two solar panel brands compare?

In our latest shopping guide for solar panels, we compare 19 brands and rate them on important ethical issues.

Compare how two of them, GBSol and Jinko Solar, rate.

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, and find out about carbon pay back time, materials used in solar panels, and funding.

Solar panels guide

How do two heat pump brands compare?

In our latest shopping guide for heat pumps we compare all the big brands and rate them on important ethical issues.

Compare how two of them, Stiebel Eltron and Ecodan, rate.

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands and find out about grants for replacements.

Heat pumps shopping guide

How do two big boiler brands compare?

In our latest shopping guide for boilers we compare all the big brands and rate them on important ethical issues.

Compare how two of them, Tepeo and Viessmann, compare for ethical ratings.

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands and find out about grants for replacements.

Shopping guide to boilers

How do two big energy suppliers compare?

In our latest shopping guide for energy suppliers we compare all the big gas and electricity suppliers.

Compare how two of them, British Gas and Octopus, compare for ethical ratings. 

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 80/100. 

Ethical Energy Suppliers

How to find an ethical web browser

With the rise of ‘big tech’ and artificial intelligence (AI), people are becoming more aware of issues around data privacy and the power wielded by tech monopolies.

Our choice of web browser can play an important part in how much personal data is gathered about us and our online activity.

In this article we explore some of the issues around browser use, and which browsers are best for privacy and security. 

How to find an ethical web browser

Which organisations are challenging corporate power?

Find out more about other organisations who are campaigning on corporate power.

We explore who they are, what they have achieved so far, and how you can support them. From working towards public ownership to preventing damaging trade deals, these groups are tackling corporate power.

In this feature, we profile organisations that are working hard to challenge corporate power, to make society better for people and planet. Check out what they're doing, sign their petitions, raise their profiles and support their work where you can.
 

Find out more about campaign groups

Challenge corporate power!

Rob Harrison explains why persuading companies to convert to less damaging corporate forms will be a key step in addressing corporate power. 

This article looks at co-operatives and social enterprises, and highlights that they are more common in many other European countries. 

Convert existing businesses to more ethical structures

How ethical is Triodos Bank?

Our research highlights several ways in which Triodos Bank is more ethical than other banks, including its approach to lending, investment, and climate change, as well as its overall company ethos.

Find out more about the Triodos Bank.
 

Triodos Bank

How ethical is The North Face?

The North Face is owned by VF Corporation, an American apparel and footwear company that owns brands including Timberland, Dickies and Vans.

Our research highlights multiple ethical issues with VF Corporation and The North Face, including use of ‘forever chemicals’, unsustainable fabric use, and likely use of tax avoidance strategies.

North Face company profile

How ethical is Tesla?

We've recently updated our Tesla company profile. This includes a new expanded section on Elon Musk, his political influence in the US and his support for far-right politics in Germany and the UK.

Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. His unelected role in the US Government with the 'Department of Government Efficiency' received criticism globally, with experts saying it triggered a “constitutional crisis” in the U.S.

Tesla company profile

Win a year's SIM contract worth £220 with ethical phone network provider Meaningful Planet

We have a giveaway happening in our newsletter on Friday 22nd August. 

If you’re not already part of our weekly newsletter community, don’t worry; there’s still time to sign up before Friday’s mail goes out.

Those who enter will be in with the chance to win a full year's contract with Meaningful Planet, one of our most ethical phone providers.

Meaningful Planet directs 10% of its revenue towards restoring nature, helping the environment, and enhancing biodiversity with its phone contracts.

*New sign-ups must join by Wednesday, 20th August
 

Sign up to our weekly email to join the giveaway

Vegan Clothing Companies

In our latest article, we're de-cloaking clothing companies.

What is a vegan clothing company? Which companies are using animal products? Are there any certifications for vegan clothing? 

Along with many other big ethical questions, we've taken a dive into the growing world of vegan fashion and clearly laid out advice on where and how to find brands that align with your values.

Vegan clothing companies

Ethical Pensions

Find out if your pension is funding fossil fuels!

Did you know that most pension plans invest in fossil fuels? Pensions are complex to explain, so our guide is devoted to breaking down how they work, why they are important and where you can go to make sure you're with the most ethical plan.

Shopping guide to pensions

Amazon Free August

It's Amazon Free August! There is a long list of accusations against Amazon. Get all the advice you need to take action in this article! 

Last year, thousands of people across the UK pledged to boycott Amazon for the whole of August. There's power in numbers!

Are you ready to join in this year? Take a break from Amazon.com and sign up to our Amazon Free Pledge.

Already boycotting Amazon? Your pledge is still valued!

Sign up to the Amazon Free August pledge

Issue 216 is out now!

Our new magazine issue is out now. It includes a NEW section on fighting climate change from your home!

Can't wait for your printed copy? Read it online now.

Read issue 216 now

Are boycotts effective?

Learn about the power of boycotts and if they are effective in our latest article.

In this article, we explore what boycotts can achieve and their impact – whether that’s denting the finances of a company, showing solidarity with workers, or ensuring media reports on an issue.

Are boycotts effective?

The relationship between Amazon and Trump: profiting from power

In this new article, we explore the commonalities between Amazon and Trump, from their overlapping stances on workers' rights and tax loopholes to surveillance policies and backtracking on climate action.

Find out how Amazon and Trump profit from their relationship

Insurance companies head to head

Our latest guide to home and car insurance covers what you need to know about finding an ethical insurance underwriter. 

Here's how just two of the brands compare. Take a look at our full shopping guides to Home and Car insurance to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 64/100.

See the home insurance shopping guide

Ethical investment funds head to head

Our latest guide to ethical investment funds compares 22 different green and ethical investment funds. 

But, some are greener than others. Here's how just two of the brands compare. Take a look at our full shopping guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 100/100!

See the full ethical investment funds shopping guide

How Ethical is Etsy?

Etsy, online selling platform and owner of Depop, has recently faced widespread criticism over allegations of withholding payments to sellers, and its operations in illegal Israeli settlements. 

Find out more about how ethical Etsy is, in our profile of the company.

Read the Etsy company profile

Ethical investment funds guide: Are your "green" investments really green?

With new sustainability labels now in place, ethical investing should be clearer, but it's not always the case. Our latest guide to ethical investment funds reveals some surprising holdings, like the AXA Global Sustainable Managed Fund (an 'Improver') investing in oil giant TotalEnergies. Read the full guide now. 

Ethical Investment Funds

Charity and small business banking guide

Ethical and environmental ratings for 26 small business accounts. The guide covers banking for charities and small businesses, including traditional banks, challenger digital banks, building societies, and other innovative banks.

Business and charity banking guide

New research into Amazon spending

New research by Ethical Consumer's Boycott Amazon campaign has found that local authorities in England are spending tens of millions with Amazon, a known tax avoiding company. 

Read the report now to find out how much publicly funded councils are spending with Amazon.

Research into local authority spending with Amazon

Lloyds Bank vs Co-op Bank

Take a look at our full shopping guide to mortgages to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 96/100. 

Plus, find out how Lloyds and the Co-op Bank perform on ethics.

Guide to ethical mortgages

Climate Action Group: how can we cut car miles?

This month our Climate Action Group is looking at reducing car journeys and enjoying alternatives. 

Join the group and receive the May newsletter plus free climate action almanac. 
 

Sign up to our Climate Action Group Newsletter

Ethical Mortgages

Finding the most ethical mortgage, with ethical and environmental ratings for 34 mortgage providers.

We offer our Best Buy advice and recommended brands and spotlight companies to avoid. 

Shopping guide to mortgages

Boycott Musk & Trump

People in the UK and around the world are boycotting Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and companies associated with them.

This article looks at the reasons for boycotting Musk and Trump, and how to get involved.

Boycotts protest against Trump and Musk (

Barclays Vs Nationwide

How does Barclays score compared to Nationwide?

Our Take a look at our current account shopping guide to see our Best Buys and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 96/100. 

How does your bank score?

Guide to current accounts

Where is our clothing made?

In this article, we ask how fashion supply chains work, where our clothing is made, and why this is important for people and the planet.

Where is our clothing made?

Challenging corporate power:

Our new challenging corporate power series will explore options, generate discussion and consider how consumers can use their influence to help bring about change.

In the first article we explore options to move away from having for-profit companies.

Challenging corporate power

Ethical savings accounts

Who is most ethical for your hard earned savings? We rating 49 banks, building societies and credit unions, plus Best Buy recommendations and who to avoid. Read the guide now.

Guide to ethical savings accounts

Ethical Current Accounts

Current account guide with ratings of 28 UK current accounts. Plus, which banks own which brands, fossil fuel investments, tax avoidance, unequal pay, and how to switch accounts. Read it now. 

Guide to ethical bank accounts

Issue 214 is out now

Latest issue of our magazine, which includes a NEW section on Challenging Corporate Power!

Can't wait for your printed copy? Read it online now.

Issue 214 Ethical Consumer Magazine

Ethical Easter eggs

If you celebrate Easter with chocolate Easter eggs, make sure to check out our ethical guide to Easter Eggs to find the most ethical options. 

It includes the ethical and environmental records of 39 Easter egg brands, plus vegan and palm oil-free choices.

Guide to Easter eggs

Cut tax avoidance, not benefits and aid

In the 2022–2023 financial year in the UK:

  • Total Personal Independence Payments were £17.7 billion.
  • Aid spending in 2022 was £12.8 billion
  • BUT, the corporation tax gap was estimated to be £13.7 billion.

The government must prioritise making corporations pay the tax they owe. Read more about tax justice here. 

Tax justice information

Gmail vs Outlook

Which email provider is the least worst out of these two popular brands?

Take a look at our full shopping guide to see the full details, our Best Buy and Recommended brands, the highest scoring of which had an overall Ethiscore of 88/100.

Email providers

Migrant farm workers evicted in key Spanish supply region

In February, around 60 migrant farm workers who pick fruit and vegetables in Almeria, Spain were forced out of their homes after the owner of the land was granted an eviction order.

Many of the people who live in this area grow fresh produce for all major UK supermarkets and are now homeless or in uncertain housing. Find out more and take action.

Eviction for farm workers in southern Spain

Vegan cheese guide

Whether you're cutting out dairy for animal rights or the positive environmental impacts, you'll want to avoid fuelling dairy companies' revenues! Make sure you're not accidentally buying from one of the 'vegan-washing' brands we list in our vegan cheese guide.

Vegan cheese guide

Netflix Vs Amazon Prime

In this head to head we look at the two most popular streaming services, Amazon Prime and Netflix.

Take a look at our full guide to see our Best Buy and Recommended brands, and the highest scoring brands.

Guide to streaming services

Boycott for Palestine

Ethical Consumer had the privilege of speaking with Omar Barghouti and PSC about all things BDS: the power of consumer pressure, the importance of ethical spending and how boycotts drive real change. 

Want to make a difference? Read our Palestine boycott list to find ethical and environmentally friendly alternatives now.

Palestine support and boycott information

How ethical are your binoculars and sports optics?

As part of our latest report, Beyond Specs: The Ethics of the Optics Industry, we've examined the environmental credentials of companies that sell binoculars. Of the 32 brands we rated, we found that two-thirds were not taking meaningful action to reduce their environmental impact, despite the severe effects of climate change on bird populations in the UK.

Download the full report.

Find out about how ethical binocular brands are

Is your olive oil bird-friendly?

Find out if your olive oil is bird-friendly in our new article: Does olive harvesting cause bird deaths? 

Olive harvesting and bird deaths

Plant meat alternatives

This comparison is a summary of some of the main points we examine for our guide to plant based and vegan meat alternatives. 

Read the full guide which features 36 alternative meat brands, 28 of which score higher than Quorn.

Shopping guide to meat-free foods

Plant milk guide

In our new ethical guide to to plant milk, we provide ethical & environmental rankings of 20 vegan plant milk brands, including organic and powdered plant milk.

New vegan plant milk guide

Vegan cheese guide

This comparison is a summary of some of the main points we examine for our guide to plant based and vegan cheese. Read the guide now, which features 17 vegan cheese brands, 12 of which score higher than Applewood. 
 

Read the full vegan cheese guide

Napolina Vs Suma

For this head-to-head we compare the ethics of tinned pulses and bean brands Napolina, a multinational company, with Suma, UK based co-operative.

This comparison is a summary of some of the main points we examine in our guide to beans and pulses. Read the full guide now, which features 18 beans and pulses brands. 

Shopping guide to beans and pulses

Ethical alternatives to meat guide

In our new ethical guide to to meat alternatives, we provide ethical & environmental rankings of 36 meat alternative brands, including tofu plus:

  • Best Buy advice, recommended brands and companies to avoid
  • Water use, land use, and carbon emissions of veggie alternatives
  • Which brands are fully vegan, and which are owned by big meat and dairy producers
  • Which companies also use soya for animal feed
Meat free alternatives

Oatly Vs Alpro

For this head-to-head we compare the ethics of plant milk brands Alpro, which dominates the plant milk market in the UK, with Oatly, the second most popular plant milk brand in the UK. 

This comparison is a summary of some of the main points we examine for our guide to plant milks - read the guide here. 

Plant milk ethical shopping guide

Top reasons to boycott Amazon this Christmas

Amazon may seem like Santa but they're much more like Scrooge. 

In this feature we explore 10 reasons to avoid Amazon this Christmas and beyond.

Ten reasons to avoid Amazon

Who’s boycotting Twitter/X and Tesla?

We discuss why Twitter is being boycotted by advertisers and others, emerging calls to boycott Tesla, and the demise of Twitter as a tool for campaigning and journalism in our new article.

Who's boycotting Twitter/X and Tesla?

Ethical Chocolate Guide

Find sustainable, fair trade, and vegan options, while tackling big issues like child labour, deforestation, and colonialism in the cocoa industry.

We also look at packaging and which brands are plastic free.

Ethical chocolate shopping guide

Amazon's Tax Avoidance

In September, headlines announced Amazon UK paid corporation tax for the first time since 2020. But don’t get too excited: while Amazon UK Services paid £18.7m in 2023, our calculations show its tax avoidance could have cost the UK £433 million this year.

Amazon UK's substantial tax avoidance

Apple Vs Fairphone

For this head-to-head we compare Apple, which dominates the mobile phone sector, with Fairphone, a disruptor brand with a focus on ethics. 

This comparison is a summary of some of the main points we examine for our guide to mobile phones. 

Read the full guide for ratings on 21 mobile phone brands.

Shopping guide to mobile phones

New ethical guide to ethical mobile phones

Our mobile phone guide looks at a range of environmental issues including repairability and recycled content.

Plus we also look at: 
▪Environmental impact of mobile phone production and usage 
▪Where to buy secondhand and refurbished mobile phones
▪How to recycle your phone
▪How smartphones use conflict minerals 
▪How do mobile phone companies rate for workers' rights?

Of the 21 brands in the guide, 12 received a pitiful overall score of 0 out of 100! Can you guess which brands they are? 

Ethical mobile phones guide

Happy Eggs Vs Clarence Eggs

In this head-to-head, we compare two well-known egg brands: Happy Eggs and Clarence Eggs.

This summarises the main points we examine for our new guide to eggs and vegan egg alternatives, which examines 36 brands.

View the guide now and find out which brands receive our Best Buy recommendation.

Eggs and egg alternatives - ethical shopping guide

New ethical guide to eggs and vegan egg alternatives

We rank 36 brands of eggs and vegan egg alternatives and ask: is it ethical to eat eggs? And, can there be a no-kill egg?

We investigate the differences between cage, barn, free-range organic and biodynamic eggs and look at river pollution from intensive poultry farms.

Read the guide now:

Ethical guide to eggs

Apple Vs Lenovo

In our recent guide to laptops we investigated 15 laptop brands. 

In this infographic we compare Apple and Lenovo. For the full results and see how the other 13 brands compare by reading our new shopping guide to laptops now. 

Shopping guide to laptops

The new ethical laptops guide is now live

Secondhand and refurbished laptops are the future when it comes to laptops, and this guide shows you how to find these.

It also ranks all the major laptop brands in order of ethics, and highlights two brands that are being targeted by boycotters - find out about HP and Intel's links to Israeli apartheid. 

The guide also features which new laptops are the most repairable, Best Buys and recommended buys and brands to avoid.

Read the laptop guide now

How ethical is M&S?

Thanks to everyone who voted for the company you wanted us to research. M&S was the clear winner!

Marks and Spencer has long been seen one of the brands leading a move towards higher ethical standards on the high street, but, is it truly ethical? Find out here:

Find out how ethical M&S is

Top 5 Amazon greenwashing tactics

Amazon has worked hard in recent years to green its image. But the online giant is responsible for huge emissions and resource use.

In our new article, we outline its top five greenwashing tactics. Read it now.

Top 5 Amazon greenwashing tactics

What is GMO food and precision breeding and can we avoid it?

Our new online feature outlines what precision breeding is, how it relates to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and what you can do about it if you're concerned about GMOs.

The article also sets out how you can protect your right to know about GMOs in the food chain and environment.

And it highlights the new briefing by GM Freeze on recommendations for regulations for new GMOs.

Continue reading now

Read about GMOs potentially getting into the food chain and environment

The ethics of loyalty cards: dodgy pricing and data collection

Do loyalty cards actually save you money? And how ethical are they? 

In our new feature, we look into what companies, including supermarkets, might be doing with your data. Continue reading to find out more

Read our new feature on the ethics of loyalty cards

B Corp certification pros and cons

Is the B Corp certification still worth looking out for?

Ethical Consumer co-founder, Rob Harrison, explores the recent explosion of interest in the B Corp movement in the UK and the rise of critical voices. Read the review now.

B Corp certification pros and cons

Supermarkets guide

In our recent guide to ethical supermarkets we investigated 12 leading UK supermarkets. 

In this graphic we compare Sainsbury's and Tesco - see how the other 10 compare in the guide now. 

Shopping guide to supermarkets

Is there any ethical dairy milk?

In this shopping guide we rate 32 dairy milk brands on ethical and environmental issues and ask if there is any ethical milk.

We look at animal welfare, pollution, packaging, organic milk, and investigate if dairy milk can be sustainable or cruelty free.

Dairy milk shopping guide

New Ethical Food Supermarkets Guide

In this new guide, we look at eco food shops that can be used as alternatives to mainstream supermarkets. 

If you're thinking of reducing your shopping spend in high street supermarkets, these are the retailers to look at!

Shopping guide to ethical food supermarkets

Head to head: Which brand is more ethical, Flora or Utterly Butterly?

In our new guide to ethical butter and spread, we rank 51 brands of butter, margarine and spreads including dairy free butter and margarine.

Read the new guide now to see how Flora, Utterly Butterly and others rate.

Read the shopping guide to butter and spreads

New ethical guide to supermarkets

Supermarkets are associated with a lot of unethical practices, yet they’re hard to avoid, with most of us using them regularly.

In our new guide we score 12 mainstream supermarkets and recommend the most ethical brand overall, plus the most ethical mid-price and budget supermarkets.

Ethical shopping guide to supermarkets

Standing up to the hate

Ethical Consumer has always believed in diversity and equality, from our founding roots as an anti-apartheid publication onwards. 

A guide we published with Stop Funding Hate in 2021 is still available online, for groups and individuals who want to help stop social divisiveness in the media. 
 

How to challenge media hate

Are wet wipes flushable?

Festival season is upon us in the UK and at the top of many people essential packing list are wet wipes. Handy in a sanitary pinch - but how ethical are they? 

Each year, 11 billion wet wipes are used in the UK, and many contain plastic. 

Are wet wipes flushable?

Amazon Free August

Around the UK people have committed to boycotting prolific tax avoider Amazon for a whole month.

Tax avoidance, workers’ rights abuses, climate change contribution, or any of the many other ethical problems associated with Amazon are all valid reasons to decide we’d rather avoid adding to the company’s bottom line.

Take the Amazon Free Pledge

Ethical guide to fridges and freezer

In our latest guide to fridges and freezers we:

  • List brands to avoid
  • Recommend brands
  • Investigate energy efficiency, conflict mineral use and military connections
  • Provide energy saving tips for fridge use
Shopping guide to fridges and freezers

Ethical guide to laundry detergent

Use our new laundry detergent guide to find the best eco-friendly and sustainable laundry detergents, with ratings of 34 brands. 

Guide to ethical laundry detergent

Ethical washing-up liquid guide

In our latest guide to ethical washing-up liquid we:

  • Look at eco-friendly and vegan options
  • Shine a light on the use of palm oil, animal testing and toxic chemicals in washing-up liquids
  • Examine packaging and refill options
  • List brands to avoid
  • Recommend brands 
Guide to ethical washing-up liquid

Which white goods brands is the most ethical?

In our new ethical washing machine guide and ethical fridge and freezer guide we ranked and rated companies to find the most ethical options. 

We also compare two of the most popular brands, Hotpoint and Beko. 

See how they do in the washing machine guide.

Guide to washing machines

Groundbreaking workers’ rights model to be explored in Spain

When it comes to improving working conditions in global supply chains, the Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) model has achieved unparalleled success. 

We are pleased to announce that funding has been secured to explore WSR in UK supermarkets’ Spanish supply chains. Continue reading to find out more. 

Groundbreaking workers' rights model to be explored in Spain

What laundry and washing up detergents are the most ethical?

In our new ethical laundry detergent guide and ethical washing-up liquid guide we ranked and rated companies to find the most ethical options.

We also compare two of the most popular brands, Fairy and Ecover.

Ethical shopping guide to washing-up liquid

Are there any squeaky clean washing machine brands?

In our latest guide, we dive into the murky waters of washing machine brands. Key issues include:

  • brands' links to military equipment manufacturing, which is used in oppressive regimes
  • poor ratings for workers' rights
  • little improvement on the use of conflict minerals
  • and the lifespan of washing machines becoming shorter than it used to be.

Read the guide now

Ethical shopping guide to washing machines

Update to the outdoor clothing guide

UPDATE alert: Merrell have received 20/100 for their use of PFAs.

We scrutinised what all the companies in the outdoor clothing guide were saying about their use of PFAs in our new ethical outdoor gear guide. Read it here now.  

Shopping guide to ethical outdoor clothing

Ethical shoe guide

The footwear industry is a decade behind the garment industry when it comes to workers' rights.

Several big brands of footwear are also noticeably silent when it comes to acknowledging or reducing their carbon impacts.

Read the shoe guide to find out why, and what's being done about it. 

Shopping guide to ethical shoes

Ethical Sportswear?

In our new ethical sportswear guide Ethical Sportswear guide we rank the ethical and environmental record of 48 brands of sportswear. 

We also look at the materials used including synthetics and the problem of microplastics, size inclusivity, shine a spotlight on the ethics of Lululemon and Sweaty Betty, review secondhand sportswear and give our recommended buys.

Shopping guide to ethical sportswear

Leather vs Synthetic?

Cruelty-free, vegan footwear is on the rise, but most of the time it's made from plastic-based synthetic materials.

While many people may want to avoid animal use in the form of leather shoes, are fossil-fuel based alternatives really the answer?

Read our latest article where we delve into the pros and cons of leather versus synthetic materials for footwear and look at other plant-based options.

Footwear materials: leather vs synthetics

Outdoor clothing

In our new ethical outdoor clothing guide, we rating 41 brands of outdoor clothing and gear for their ethics and sustainability. 

We look at the environmental impact of synthetic materials and toxic chemicals, animal rights and workers' rights. We also look at repair options for a more sustainable approach, vegan outdoor clothing, and put Berghaus against North Face in an ethical head to head.

Ethical outdoor clothing guide

Is Temu using AI greenwashing?

We look at Temu's ethical credentials and its possible use of AI generated content for greenwashing.

Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_s40cqAeEg

Article link below

Temu and the world of AI generated greenwash

Ethical trainers?

Adidas and Nike might dominate the trainer market, but their ethical practices have much to improve!
In our new guide to ethical and sustainable trainers we provide ratings for 44 brands of trainers, for their ethical and environmental record.

We also pitch Adidas and Nike in a head to head on ethics, and give our best buy recommendations. 

Shopping guide for trainers

Best Buy Label expanding

Ethical Consumer’s Best Buy Label is expanding.

The label, which recognises brands with top scores in environmental and ethical credentials, is now open to products outside their guides. 

Suma Wholefoods organic Italian pasta is the first to receive the off-guide Best Buy label, making it their 20th award-winning product.

Best Buy Label Scheme

Ethical Jeans

In our latest ethical shopping guide we’ve ranked the ethical and environmental record of 56 jeans brands - find out where your favourite brands ranks link in bio. 

Shopping guide to ethical jeans

Ethical clothing brands

We've added secondhand clothing brands and apps to our ethical clothing shopping guide!

We've rated Depop  and Vinted for the first time, along with 27 other UK ethical clothes brands including Lucy & Yak , THTC (The Hemp Trading Company), Beyond Retro UK, Bamboo Clothing and many more. Find out more about the sustainable ethical clothing brands and which Best Buy brands we recommend in the guide.

Guide to ethical clothing brands

Problem with forever chemicals and waterproof clothing

In our latest article, we look at the problem of PFAS (forever chemicals) and waterproof clothing and investigates what companies and the government are doing about it, and what consumers can do.

The problem of forever chemicals and waterproof clothing

Amazon’s burning approach to unsold and returned products

Our Amazon campaign team has been working on a new series highlighting some of Amazon's unsustainable and environmentally damaging practices. In the first in our series of new articles, we uncover:

🔥Why are millions of items destroyed by Amazon?
🔥Legal challenges to Amazon dumping new goods
🔥What does Amazon say about its throwaway policy?
🔥What you can do to take action

Read the first article now

Amazon's burning approach to unsold and returned products

Secondhand clothing guide

Buying secondhand clothes is a great way to avoid fast fashion. 

Our new ethical clothing guides includes secondhand clothing companies. View the full guide here now. 

Ethical clothing brands shopping guide

The ethics of fur

Fur comes with massive animal rights and animal welfare issues, and yet some brands continue to use it. 

In our latest online feature we discuss the ethics of fur, which brands still use fur, and whether faux fur is an ethical alternative.

Is fur unethical?

Plastics: problems and solutions

Almost everything we buy is made from or packaged in plastic, but do you know why plastic is a problem? Or how to recycle it properly?

We've compiled everything you need to know about plastic in our latest online feature. 

Plastics: problems and solutions

Pay it forward subscriptions

Our 'pay it forward' subscription scheme is for people who are in a financial position to fund others who want to learn more about ethical issues but can't afford a subscription.

Find out how you can either donate to the fund or apply for one of the donated subscriptions. 

Pay It Forward: Solidarity donations

Alternatives to Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia

For those trying to avoid using Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia, we've included ethical alternatives in our guide to travel companies.

Ethical travel booking companies

Flora owner Upfield has taken a minority stake in OGGS' owner Alternative Foods.

The move follows the acquisition by Upfield of plant-based cheese alternative brand Violife, inJanuary 2020, and the recent announcement that its entire Flora and Proactiv spreads range will now be vegan (and palm oil free). View Upfield's compnay profile here.

Upfield company profile

Issue 207 of Ethical Consumer Magazine is out now

Can second hand kill fast fashion? This issue explores ethical fashion and includes shopping guides rating:

  • High street clothing
  • Ethical clothing
  • Underwear
  • Jeans 

Subscribe today and receive issue 207.

Ethical Consumer Magazine

New ethical cosmetics shopping guides

Ethical shopping doesn’t have to be expensive! Surprisingly, sustainable cosmetics brands compete with well-known, less ethical options on price.

Find out more in our new shopping guides on makeup, shampoo, skincare, deodorant and toothpaste

Guides to skincare, makeup, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and more

YouTube Video: Should we boycott Starbucks?

In our latest video we’re asking the question, should we boycott Starbucks?

Video: Should we boycott Starbucks?