From electric cars to sustainably sourced fish, 2015 saw an average 8.5 per cent increase in sales of ethical goods, according to a new report.

The 2016 Ethical Consumer markets report, compiled by ethical rating body Ethical Consumer in partnership with Triodos Bank, shows that investment in the UK’s ethical goods and services sector entered its thirteenth year of growth in 2015 and, at £38bn, is now estimated to be worth almost double the UK tobacco market.

“This report shows that people are increasingly choosing to spend their money in ways that line up with their values,” says Huw Davies, head of retail banking at Triodos Bank.

“The growth of ethical and sustainable markets is an important reminder of the relevance of our financial decisions; where we spend, save and invest. Our money really can work for positive social, environmental and cultural change.”

Our money really can work for positive social, environmental and cultural change

The report, released on 28 December, pinpointed three major trends: the ‘green car revolution’ has continued to boom and is now worth £8.4bn due in part to improvements to electric charging infrastructure; and shopping locally for ethical reasons grew by 11.7 per cent in 2015. It also revealed that an estimated 53 per cent of people in the UK are choosing to avoid buying products or services over concerns about companies’ ethics.

Rob Harrison, editor of Ethical Consumer magazine, believes these trends can be explained in part by an increased range of ethical products from which people can now choose.

“More companies, from small entrepreneurs to large multinationals, are bringing more ethical choices than ever before to modern consumer markets,” Harrison says. “The increasing availability of positive alternative products in many markets means that consumers are finding it easier to make more ethical choices.”

The survey, which calculates the value of UK sales from a range of ethical products and services, has been published each year since 1999.

Harrison said the findings provided “encouraging news for many people in these otherwise troubled political times”.

Photo: Julian Fong

Join the movement for a constructive and compassionate media

Media has a powerful influence on our world. Join as a Positive News supporter or subscriber to get exclusive member benefits and help change the news for good.

The post Value of UK ethical markets grows to almost double that of tobacco appeared first on Positive News.

Pill hot-water bottle

As the weather turns cold, snuggling up with a hot-water bottle is a great way to save on central heating bills – not to mention lower your carbon footprint. And now there’s a new model on the market that stays hotter for longer, thanks to a cover made from neoprene – the same material used for wetsuits that keep divers warm in the sea. The unique round shape and pop-out funnel make it easier to fill too, so you’re less likely to pour scalding water over your hands. Available in a range of colours, the Pill costs £35.

Buy online at www.cuckooland.com
Tel: 01305 755621

Upcycled sailcloth bags

If you want a really good, simple explanation of the circular economy and why it’s better than the traditional linear economy, visit the website of Rapanui Clothing. Essentially, it’s about reusing and upcycling so as to reduce waste and consumption overall.

Rapanui have put the theory into practice with their fantastic sailcloth bags, £49.95 each, which are made from old boat sails. As well as transforming waste into something useful, the bags are designed to be deconstructable, so consumers can return each product at the end of its life and it can be inspected to see where design can be improved, before being broken down and its working parts reused to make new models. There’s even a financial incentive to do so – you could get up to £9.99 back by returning your old bag!

www.rapanuiclothing.com
Tel: 01983 409790

Jewellery from Made by Survivors

Made By Survivors is an international non-profit organisation set up by American couple Sarah Symons and John Berger in 2005, which provides education and employment for victims of human trafficking. Jewellery-making is one of the most popular projects among the women, who are trained as silversmiths and go on to earn the equivalent of a graduate wage. The jewellery is highly design-led, and has developed a celebrity following, with A-listers such as Ashley Judd and Patricia Arquette spotted wearing items from the collection.

www.madebysurvivors.com
Tel: +1 800 831-6089

Five Ways to Wellbeing app

According to the New Economic Foundation, there are ‘five ways to wellbeing’ – in other words, five key things we need to do to ensure that we are at our best, emotionally. These are: connect, take notice, be active, keep learning, and give. Now, thanks to funding from Somerset Public Health team, you can keep track of how you’re doing with these goals through a new free app, which allows you to select activities based on the five ways and choose times to be reminded about them. When you’ve completed your activities, they’ll be logged so that you can keep track.

Download through the Apple App Store or Google Play

The post Positive Products: best buys for winter 2013 appeared first on Positive News.