{{Short description|British not-for-profit publisher, research and campaign organisation}}{{for|the consumer practice|Ethical Consumerism}}{{Infobox magazine | title = Ethical Consumer Magazine | frequency = Bi-monthly | founder = Rob Harrison and Jane Turner | founded = 1989 | company = Ethical Consumer Research Association | country = UK | based = Manchester, England | language = English | website = {{URL|https://www.ethicalconsumer.org}} | issn = 0955-8608 }} '''''Ethical Consumer Research Association Ltd''' ('''ECRA''')'' is a British not-for-profit publisher, research, political, and campaign organisation which publishes information on the social, ethical and environmental behaviour of companies and governments and issues around trade justice and ethical consumption.<ref name="independent-toynbee">{{cite web|first=Polly|last=Toynbee|author-link=Polly Toynbee|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/why-the-green-shopper-is-not-being-properly-served-5411924.html|title=Why the green shopper is not being properly served|date=18 December 1996|access-date=30 October 2020|website=The Independent}}</ref> It was founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/465649.stm|title=How can you shop with a conscience?|date=5 October 1999|website=BBC News|access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/poll/2010/sep/14/unsung-green-hero|access-date=15 December 2011|title =Vote for your unsung green hero |location=London|work=The Guardian|author=Shanta Barley|date=14 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Workers-of-the-world-co-operate/|access-date=15 December 2011|title=Workers of the world, co-operate!|author=Tim Hunt|website=RedPepper.org|date=June 2010}}</ref> and has been publishing the bi-monthly '''''Ethical Consumer Magazine''''' since.<ref name="independent-toynbee"/> Its office is in Manchester.<ref name="independent-toynbee"/>
==History== Ethical Consumer was formed in Hulme, Manchester, UK, in 1989. Between 1989 and 2009 it was a worker co-operative,<ref name="independent-toynbee"/> then in 2009 became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor/subscriber members.<ref>{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Dave |url=https://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/2021-07/Good%20News.pdf#page=38 |page=38 |date=2 March 2012 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Fresh Ideas 2 – Good News: A co-operative solution to the media crisis |website=Co-operatives UK}}</ref> It is an industrial and provident society.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/EC%20Annual%20Review%202023.pdf#page=6 |access-date=30 March 2024 |title=Annual Review July 2023 |page=6 |website=Ethical Consumer |date=26 July 2023}}</ref> In 2012 the organisation started to collaborate with Lush, creating the Lush Prize, a £250,000 biennial fund that awards innovators working to find solutions to end animal testing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=Amanda |date=2022-11-22 |title=3D printed human tissue project among Lush Prize winners for animal testing alternatives |url=https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/3d-printed-human-tissue-project-among-lush-prize-winners-for-animal-testing-alternatives-205102 |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=cosmeticsbusiness.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Company research and ratings == Ethical Consumer researches the social, ethical and environmental records of companies,<ref name="independent-toynbee"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Simon |title=How to Buy Ethical and Eco-Friendly Electronics |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-buy-ethical-and-eco-friendly-electronics/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> using media reporting, NGO reports, corporate communications and primary research. They provide companies that they deem to have good ethical credentials with a best buy label.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Process and Control Today {{!}} STIEBEL ELTRON Secures Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label |url=https://www.pandct.com/news/stiebel-eltron-secures-ethical-consumer-best-buy-label/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=www.pandct.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-06 |title=Triodos Bank UK Recognised as Ethical ‘Best Buy’ for Investment Funds and Stocks & Shares ISAs |url=https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/fintech/triodos-bank-uk-recognised-as-ethical-best-buy-for-investment-funds-and-stocks-shares-isas/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Fintech Finance}}</ref>
== Consumer publishing == It publishes a bi-monthly print magazine, ''Ethical Consumer Magazine,'' sold via subscription, shops and newsstands, and a consumer website which is partly subscription based. This includes analysis of company and product ethics<ref name="independent-toynbee"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/aug/15/spend-cash-ethically-coronavirus-money|title=From loo rolls to fashion: how to spend your cash more ethically|date=August 15, 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> by sector including: Banking Sector, Energy Industry, Fashion, Food & drink, Home & Garden, Supermarkets, Technology and Transport. Some of the causes it supports are more contentious, such as the BDS movement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halbfinger |first1=David M. |last2=Wines |first2=Michael |last3=Erlanger |first3=Steven |title=Is B.D.S. Anti-Semitic? A Closer Look at the Boycott Israel Campaign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/world/middleeast/bds-israel-boycott-antisemitic.html |date=July 27, 2019 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=The New York Times |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727081359/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/world/middleeast/bds-israel-boycott-antisemitic.html |archive-date=2019-07-27 |url-status=live}}</ref>
It produces reports on products and companies, and lists current boycotts.<ref name="independent-toynbee"/> It also produces the annual UK Ethical Consumer Markets Report<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=2024-04-02 |title=Ethical shopping on the rise in UK despite cost of living crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/02/ethical-shopping-on-the-rise-in-uk-despite-cost-of-living-crisis |access-date=2025-05-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> in conjunction (2019) with The Co-operative Bank.
== Campaigning == Ethical Consumer runs consumer oriented campaigns, including a boycott against Amazon.com, Inc. for its use of tax avoidance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Daniel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54523156 |title=Amazon accused of Covid failings as Prime Day begins |date=October 13, 2020 |website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Rupert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/30/alternatives-to-amazon-mps-boycott |title=Alternatives to Amazon: MPs spread seasonal boycott message |date=November 30, 2013 |website=The Guardian |access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/oct/13/uk-shoppers-urged-to-shun-amazon-prime-day-to-support-small-businesses|title=UK shoppers urged to shun Amazon Prime Day to support small businesses|first=Miles|last=Brignall|date=October 13, 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Katie |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/boycott-amazon-campaign-launched |title='Boycott Amazon' campaign launched |date=December 19, 2012 |website=The Bookseller |access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref> It has also campaigned for better working conditions, on behalf of migrant agricultural workers, based in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlile |first=Clare |date=2020-04-27 |title=The plight of Spain’s migrant workers {{!}} New Internationalist |url=https://newint.org/features/2020/04/27/plight-spain-migrant-workers |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=newint.org |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Alter-globalisation * Anti-globalisation movement * Business ethics * Fair trade * Green brands
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.ethicalconsumer.org}}
{{Consumer protection}}
Category:1989 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Anti-corporate activism Category:Bi-monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom Category:Business ethics organizations Category:Consumer magazines Category:Contemporary philosophical literature Category:Co-operatives in England Category:Ethical consumerism Category:Ethics journals Category:Magazines established in 1989 Category:Magazines published in Manchester Category:Non-profit publishers Category:Consumer organisations in the United Kingdom Category:Research organisations in the United Kingdom Category:Social responsibility organizations