Consumers now spending £100 a month on ethical products, says Co-op report

The Co-op’s Ethical Consumerism report shows UK households are spending an average £100 a month on lowering their carbon impact.

The report’s findings include tracking the increase in the total size of the ethical food market from £1bn a year in 2000 to £14bn today, a year-on-year increase of 12%.

In the last year plant-based foods saw a 34% increase to £1.5bn at the same time as the Co-op introduced a price-match initiative for its own brand vegan foods against equivalent meat products.

The report reveals that that spending on plant-based foods, renewable energy for the home, eco transport and second-hand clothing amounts to £1,210 per household per year.

Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-op group and a speaker at the Cop 26 conference this week, said: “The world can’t hold its breath waiting for global leaders to make statement on how to tackle climate change, action is needed now.

“Our Ethical Consumerism Report is a barometer on consumer behaviour and the report offers clear evidence to policymakers that they can positively influence change.”

The report also found that free-range egg sales topped £1bn for the first time as more supermarkets followed the Co-op’s lead in selling only free-range eggs.

Murrell said: “Shoppers are turning up the heat to boycott businesses which fail to act on ethical or social concerns.

“The findings are a warning to brands that they must do business a better way for workers, communities and the planet but it offers clear evidence to policy-makers that they can positively influence change.”