Ethical Consumer


Ethical Consumer Research Ltd is a not-for-profit publisher, research and campaign organisation which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and issues around trade justice and ethical consumption. It was founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner.

Mission

Its mission is 'making global businesses more sustainable through consumer pressure'. It's Manifesto identifies ten key issues 'which could each have a transformative effect on the economic systems within which we live, and which are illustrative of the kind of broader change we are seeking'.

History

Ethical Consumerwas formed in Hulme, Manchester, UK in 1989. Between 1989 and 2009 it was a worker co-operative, then in 2009 became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor/subscriber members. It is an industrial and provident society.

Company Research and Ratings

Ethical Consumer researches the social, ethical and environmental records of companies, using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research. Its Corporate Research Database holds ratings for companies on 300 topics in 19 areas in 5 main ethical categories

Consumer Publishing

It publishes a bi-monthly print magazine sold via subscription, shops and newsstand, and the consumer website https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ which is partly subscription based. this includes analysis of company and product ethics by sector including: Banking Sector, Energy Industry, Fashion, Food & drink, Home & Garden, Supermarkets, Technology and Transport.
It also produces the annual UK Ethical Markets Report Ethical consumerism in conjunction with the Co-operative Bank. This is an annual review of the facts and figures around ethical consumption in the UK.

Campaigning

Ethical Consumer runs consumer oriented campaigns, including a boycott against Amazon Inc Amazon for their use of tax avoidance. They were heavily involved in setting up both the Fair Tax Mark https://fairtaxmark.net/ Fair Tax Mark and Save Our Bank campaign https://saveourbank.coop/.

Consultancy work

Ethical Consumer also undertakes consultancy, research and ethical company screenings https://research.ethicalconsumer.org/, primarily for NGOs and third sector clients.