Ethical purchasing powers hits record high

As COP26 is under way in Glasgow, a 20-year study shows that as we become ‘activists’, it is not just sit-down protests. Ethical purchasing-power shows shoppers are withholding cash at record-levels to boycott brands driven by their social or environmental concerns.

Tracking consumer shopping habits since 2000, with a year pause during Covid, The Co-op’s Ethical Consumerism Report provides analysis of concerns about the environment, animal welfare, energy consumption and the ethics of food production, from plant-based food to Fairtrade and organics.

The ‘green pound’ has reached record levels with ethical consumer spending and finance in the UK amounting to £116bn. In just ten years, the ‘green pound’ has more than doubled from £45bn, however, with the average household eco spending only reaching £1.2k, there are fears ambitions to reach a net zero status will prove a challenge.

Aston spoke to Barry Clavin, sustainability climate change manager at Co-op.

Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash