British research has discovered that food and grocery shoppers are not yet confident they can make a sustained difference through their shopping choices. When asked what they feel they can positively influence, shoppers told food and grocery experts IGD: personal health – 57% British farmers – 41% the local economy – 38% the way animals are treated – 38% farmers and workers in poorer nations – 26% the environment – 23% sustainable fishing – 17% global... ...Read more »

British shoppers are becoming increasingly engaged with standards of animal welfare when purchasing food, according to research into consumer behaviour from international food and grocery expert IGD. One-fifth of shoppers (20%) now say that knowing about the standards of animal welfare has become one of their key drivers of product choice, which is up from 13% in 2008, according to Shopper Trends 2009, IGD’s latest research. When asked about concerns they have relating to food production,... ...Read more »

The cost of living pressures in the UK are not likely to inhibit growth of ethical consumerism, according to the Co-operative Bank. Its 9th annual report into green spending in Britain discovered the ethical market had risen by 15 per cent to £35.5b (A$83.6b) in 2007; although ethical spend remained a reasonably small percentage (about 5%) of total retail sales of over £600b. Dick Parkhouse, Managing Director for Retail at the bank, believes that Government stimulus packages can help ensure the... ...Read more »

A new campaign has been launched in the UK challenging businesses and the public sector to end so-called ‘greenwash’ by achieving the new “Carbon Trust Standard” certificate – the only way for organisations to prove they are tackling climate change and have made genuine reductions in their carbon emissions. The ‘UK Carbon Trust’ has come up with the initiative as the global environmental movement gathers pace. In Australia the ACCC has become concerned over ‘greenwashing’... ...Read more »

New research from international food and grocery expert IGD has revealed that ethical food shopping is now mainstream in Europe as consumers base their purchase decisions on a growing number of factors. Tens of millions of shoppers across Europe regularly consider factors such as organic, Fairtrade or local sourcing when making food purchasing decisions. “Until recently, ethical food shoppers were seen as niche,” Chief Executive Joanne Denney-Finch told IGD’s Global Retailing conference.... ...Read more »