Ethical Consumer
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Ethical Consumer is a not-for-profit UK magazine and website, founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner,[1][2] which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and issues around trade justice and ethical consumerism. It defines its mission as to "promote universal human rights, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare" by informing consumers and campaigners. Ethical Consumer is a subscription publication but also publishes free Buyers' Guides to consumer products and services through the Ethical Consumer website.
The term ethical consumer also describes someone who practices ethical consumerism.
Ethical Consumer is perhaps best known for its company ratings tables which rate products from baked beans to banks across 19 criteria.[3] The data behind the ratings tables is produced by research into the social, ethical and environmental records of companies, using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research.
Ethical Consumer is widely acknowledged to maintain the most comprehensive English-language list of consumer boycotts in the world.[citation needed]
Ethical Consumer and its associated websites is produced by the Ethical Consumer Research Association (ECRA). Between 1989 and 2009 ECRA was a worker's co-operative, based in Manchester, UK. In 2009 ECRA became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative[4] consisting of worker members and investor/subscriber members.
Lucy Siegle, Ethical Living correspondent to UK Sunday newspaper The Observer, has said that "Ethical Consumer approaches ethical issues with a mind-boggling thoroughness and integrity that makes everyone else look like a charlatan."
Ed Mayo, head of Co-operatives UK, has commented: "Ethical Consumer is a drawing pin strategically placed on the throne of corporate rule."
The Corporate Critic website provides access to ECRA's database, tracking over 30,000 companies, providing information such as rating, ownership structure and turnover.
ECRA also undertakes consultancy and bespoke research[5] on behalf of NGOs and corporate clients as well as providing a screening service.[6] Clients have included: Amnesty International, CafeDirect, Christian Aid, Comic Relief, The Co-operative Bank, British Red Cross, Consumer Focus, Ecology Building Society, International Consumer Research and Testing, Friends of the Earth, Glasgow Caledonian University, Lush cosmetics Médecins Sans Frontière Belgium, Natural History Museum, Oxfam, The Guardian, the Soil Association, Vegetarian Society, Water Aid, Women's Institute, WWF.
ECRA conducts regular research on behalf of the Co-operative Group for the annual Ethical Consumerism Report, the "barometer of the UK ethical market".
[edit] References
- ^ "Vote for your unsung green hero". The Guardian (London). 2010-09-14. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/poll/2010/sep/14/unsung-green-hero. Retrieved 2011-12-15. "Rob Harrison and Jane Turner: founders of Ethical Consumer magazine. They've worked tirelessly for the last 20 or so years"
- ^ Tim Hunt. "Workers of the world, co-operate!". http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Workers-of-the-world-co-operate/. Retrieved 2011-12-15. "at Ethical Consumer. The co-op has been based in the Homes for Change co-operative housing building in Hulme, Manchester, for more than 13 years. Founder members Rob Harrison and Jane Turner"
- ^ "Quick Guide to using Ethical Consumer". http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/Home/QuickGuide.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ "Co-op Structure". http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/AboutUs/MembersArea/uniquestructure.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ "Consultancy & Research". http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ResearchServices.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ "Company Screenings". http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ResearchServices/CompanyScreening.aspx. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
[edit] External links
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