Ethical Consumer

Ethical Consumer

Join thousands of others and become an ethical consumer today.

Join thousands of others and become an ethical consumer today.

Learn how to use your spending power to help change the world for the better.

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We are an independent, not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder co-operative with open membership.

At the heart of the ethical consumer movement, since 1989.

We are an independent, not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder co-operative with open membership, based in Manchester.

We provide all the tools and resources you need to make choices at the checkout simple, informed and effective.

Discover more about us

Includes guides to: Energy suppliers, Heat pumps, Boilers, Solar panels

The latest magazine includes guides which rate:

  • Energy suppliers
  • Heat pumps
  • Boilers
  • Solar panels
     

Plus:

  • score tables rating and comparing the brands
  • Best Buy recommendations
  • which energy companies contribute most to renewable energy generation in the UK?
  • choosing the most ethical heat pump maker
  • heat pumps compared to gas boilers
  • who's best for a gas or electric boiler
  • the use of Uyghur forced labour in the manufacture of solar panels
  • links to grants and financial support for green energy
     

Features

  • migrant fruit & veg workers in Spain
  • the partnership between Amazon and Trump
  • converting for-profit corporations to co-ops and social enterprises

Issue 216 (Sept/Oct 2025) now in print and online.

Read the latest issue 

  • Challenging corporate power

    Woman holding banner which reads 'people not profit'
    Discussing the ethics of companies and brands is now pretty mainstream. But with the state of the world as it is, it is time to think outside the box and imagine a different economy. One not based on capitalism, corporate greed and domination by a few oil, tech and food multinationals. Our new challenging corporate power series will explore options, generate discussion and consider how consumers can use their influence to help bring about change.
    Read more

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Ethical Mobile Phones

Finding an ethical mobile phone. Ethical and environmental rankings of 21 mobile phones with recommended buys and what to avoid. In this guide to ethical mobile phones we take a look at the ethics of tech companies, from multinational brands like Apple and Samsung to smaller brands doing things differently in the mobile phone industry like Fairphone.

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Eco-friendly bicycles & E-bikes

Find an eco-friendly bicycle and e-bike. Ethical and sustainability ratings for 32 e-bike brands and 37 push bike brands, with recommended buys and what to avoid.  There was a surge in interest in bikes during the pandemic. Bikes are a low-carbon form of transport, but we were surprised by the poor level of engagement with climate change by bike brands. 

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Travel booking companies

Finding an ethical and sustainable travel booking company. Ratings for 29 travel companies, with recommendations, best buys, and what to avoid. The reduction in flying during the global pandemic led to a rise in interest in 'slow holidays' and more local vacations. This guide gives you all the options for sustainable holidays.

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Vegan and plant milks

All plant milks have lower emissions and land use than dairy milk, but are some more ethical and environmentally friendly than others? This guide includes ethical & environmental rankings for 20 vegan plant milk brands, including organic and powdered plant milk.  

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Ethical Laptops

Are there any ethical or eco-friendly laptops? Ethical and environmental ratings for 15 laptop brands, with recommended buys. In this guide to laptops we look at a number of ethical and environmental issues to compare laptop brands like Apple, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Lenovo and Samsung. 

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