Flying the Ethical Flag

It’s not all bad news. An increasing variety of ethically produced brands are emerging and offering ethical alternatives to high-street products whose ethical values are questionable. Websites like New Consumer (www.ethicalconsumer.org) advertise an array of ethically-informed products, from organic make-up to electric scooters, eco-kettles, fashion products and even ethical holidays.

Ethical Consumerism in the UK 2011-2012

Source for statistics: Ethical Consumer Markets Report 2013 from UK ethicalconsumer.org (UK)

Ethical Food and Drink

 2010 £m2011 £m2012 £m% growth 2011-2012
Organic food1,4751,3821,332-4%
Fairtrade1,0641,2531,55224%
Rainforest Alliance1,1971,3451,98047%
Free range eggs41952557710%
Free range poultry251265261-2%
Vegetarian meat alternatives5415736137%
Freedom Food5727401,01237%
Sustainable fish14129335320%
Boycotts total1,0841,1132,478123%
Total6,7477,49110,16036%

Green Home

 2010 £m20112012% growth 2011-2012
Energy efficient household appliances2,0682,0442,1385%
Energy efficient boilers2,3322,3742,4895%
Micro generation2489361,40750%
Energy efficient light bulbs43485617%
Ethical cleaning products4142433%
FSC timber/wood products1,6541,7061,653-3%
Green energy351378139-63%
Rechargable batteries464543-3%
Buying for re-use: household products82381997319%
Total7,6118,3948,9437%

Eco travel and Transport

Eco travel and Transport2010 £m2011£m2012 £m% growth 2011-2012
Responsible tour operators1641691774%
Visits to environmental tourist attractions1917172%
Cars8461,0882,800157%
Bicycles6986507058%
Boycotts1,0681,198846-29%
Total2,7963,1234,54546%

Ethical Personal Products

 2010 £m2011 £m2012 £m% growth 2011-2012
Ethical clothing171145144-1%
Ethical cosmetics528558555-1%
Charity shops350389378-3%
Buying for re-use: clothing32133043231%
Boycotts333346306-12%
Real nappies4445%
Sub-Total1,7081,7731,8203%
NEW Ethical jewellery3
NEW Co-consumption81020%
Total1,7081,7821,8343%

Community

 2010 £m2011 £m2012 £m% growth 2011-2012
Local Shopping2,3302,3682,5839%
Voluntary income of top 500 charities (NEW)3,0394,2225,16022%
Total5,3696,5907,74317%

Ethical money

 2010 £m2011 £m2012 £m% growth 2011-2012
Total20,99520,91221,1711%

Average Ethical Spend £ per year

 20002012
Renewable energy£0£59
Transport£25£172
Clothes£23£48
Sustainable home products£59£184
Energy efficiency£20£96
Cosmetics£7£21
Food and drink£88£385
Local shopping£69£98
Total£291£1,062