Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Ethical Consumer

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. It was founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner and has been publishing the bi-monthly Ethical Consumer Magazine since. Its office is in Manchester.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
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≈ 3 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Ethical Consumer Magazine
FrequencyBi-monthly
FounderRob Harrison and Jane Turner
Founded1989
CompanyEthical Consumer Research Association
CountryUK
Based inManchester, England
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.ethicalconsumer.org
ISSN0955-8608

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.1 It was founded in 1989 by Rob Harrison and Jane Turner234 and has been publishing the bi-monthly Ethical Consumer Magazine since.1 Its office is in Manchester.1

History

Ethical Consumer was formed in Hulme, Manchester, UK, in 1989. Between 1989 and 2009 it was a worker co-operative,1 then in 2009 became a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder co-operative consisting of worker members and investor/subscriber members.5 It is an industrial and provident society.6 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.7

Company research and ratings

Ethical Consumer researches the social, ethical and environmental records of companies,18 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.910

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 ethics111 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.12

It produces reports on products and companies, and lists current boycotts.1 It also produces the annual UK Ethical Consumer Markets Report13 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.14151617 It has also campaigned for better working conditions, on behalf of migrant agricultural workers, based in Spain.18

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Toynbee, Polly (18 December 1996). "Why the green shopper is not being properly served". The Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. "How can you shop with a conscience?". BBC News. 5 October 1999. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  3. Shanta Barley (14 September 2010). "Vote for your unsung green hero". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  4. Tim Hunt (June 2010). "Workers of the world, co-operate!". RedPepper.org. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  5. Boyle, Dave (2 March 2012). "Fresh Ideas 2 – Good News: A co-operative solution to the media crisis" (PDF). Co-operatives UK. p. 38. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. "Annual Review July 2023" (PDF). Ethical Consumer. 26 July 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. May, Amanda (2022-11-22). "3D printed human tissue project among Lush Prize winners for animal testing alternatives". cosmeticsbusiness.com. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  8. Hill, Simon. "How to Buy Ethical and Eco-Friendly Electronics". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  9. "Process and Control Today | STIEBEL ELTRON Secures Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label". www.pandct.com. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  10. "Triodos Bank UK Recognised as Ethical 'Best Buy' for Investment Funds and Stocks & Shares ISAs". Fintech Finance. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
  11. "From loo rolls to fashion: how to spend your cash more ethically". The Guardian. August 15, 2020.
  12. Halbfinger, David M.; Wines, Michael; Erlanger, Steven (July 27, 2019). "Is B.D.S. Anti-Semitic? A Closer Look at the Boycott Israel Campaign". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  13. Butler, Sarah (2024-04-02). "Ethical shopping on the rise in UK despite cost of living crisis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  14. Thomas, Daniel (October 13, 2020). "Amazon accused of Covid failings as Prime Day begins". BBC News.
  15. Jones, Rupert (November 30, 2013). "Alternatives to Amazon: MPs spread seasonal boycott message". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  16. Brignall, Miles (October 13, 2020). "UK shoppers urged to shun Amazon Prime Day to support small businesses". The Guardian.
  17. Allen, Katie (December 19, 2012). "'Boycott Amazon' campaign launched". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  18. Carlile, Clare (2020-04-27). "The plight of Spain's migrant workers | New Internationalist". newint.org. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
External links