Ethical Consumerism 2010: The New “Good” Shopping Experience

What is Ethical Consumerism?

Ethical consumerism is a growing trend that business leaders need to respond to in 2010. Today’s informed consumer is considering much more than service and price when making routine purchasing decisions.

According to Wikipedia,

Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment. Ethical consumerism is practiced through ‘positive buying’ in that ethical products are favoured, or ‘moral boycott’, that is negative purchasing and company-based purchasing.^1]Wikipedia.org

A Trend and Business Opportunity

Ethical consumerism is now part of the consumer’s definition of a “good” shopping experience. Business leaders have an opportunity to recognize this growing trend and to carefully evaluate the ethics of their products and services and how they are packaged and sold. Making improvements delights consumers, and that may help businesses have a successful year even in a down economy.