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£4·25 190 188 May/June Jan/Feb 2021 www.ethicalconsumer.org Low carbon cooling, cooking and cleaning Guide to SHOPPING GUIDES TO beer Fridges & freezers & lager Cookers, ovens, hobs Vacuum cleaners Conservation or Climate Change? How is your money being used? At Investing Ethically Ltd our Chartered Financial Planners specialise in helping our clients to meet their financial goals while maintaining their ethical principles. We offer advice on areas including investments, retirement plans and trusts. Your first consultation will be free and without obligation, so please get in touch. By investing ethically you can be part of the solution to the problems facing our world today. 01603 309020 [email protected] www.investing-ethically.co.uk Investing Ethically Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 2 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 ETHICAL CONSUMER Editorial WHO’S WHO Ethical consumption legislation targeting the right to protest, THIS ISSUE’S EDITORS Rob Harrison which is so authoritarian that it has led PROOFING Ciara Maginness (Little Blue Pencil) dangerously subversive? WRITERS/RESEARCHERS Jane Turner, Tim Hunt, Throughout the history of ethical to weekly protests in cities around the Rob Harrison, Anna Clayton, Josie Wexler, consumption, real-world activities like country and opposition from pretty much Ruth Strange, Mackenzie Denyer, Clare Carlile, protest marches, shop pickets, banner every campaigning non-governmental Francesca de la Torre, Alex Crumbie, Tom Bryson, drops and street theatre have been organisation across the UK.3 Jasmine Owens REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Simon Birch, Colin Birch key moments in the wider campaigns It does not take a rocket scientist DESIGN Tom Lynton to prevent short-sighted corporate to observe that the purpose of much LAYOUT Adele Armistead (Moonloft), Jane Turner behaviours undermining the societies legislation from the current government COVER Tom Lynton we live in. “seems frequently designed to polarise CARTOONS Marc Roberts, Mike Bryson, Andy Vine, There has, therefore, been much debate and create social divisions.”4 Rcihard Liptrot, Paul Fitzgerald (Polyp) concern in the first few months of 2021 And for those of us with long memories, AD SALES Simon Birch SUBSCRIPTIONS Elizabeth Chater, about the emergence of a whole raft it does feel very similar to the years Francesca Thomas, Nadine Oliver, Billy Saundry of proposed new rules in the UK that of Conservative government under PRESS ENQUIRIES Simon Birch, Tim Hunt give the police wide-ranging powers to Margaret Thatcher. It was under this ENQUIRIES Francesca Thomas prevent actions or protests which the government that ethical consumption WEB EDITORS Sophie Billington, Alyson Tyler government of the day thinks might initially flourished, partly because it was THANKS ALSO TO Marlous Veldt, Emma Davies, Joel David Taylor, Katie Spittle, Katie Percival, Charu causes 'serious annoyance' or 'serious one of the few effective routes to change Mittal, Sally Abernathy unease'. that protestors had left to address key All material correct one month before cover date For example, a recent report areas of concern. and © Ethical Consumer Research Association from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of It is, however, actually very difficult Ltd. ISSN 0955 8608 Constabulary and Fire and Rescue to stop people from buying ethically or Printed with vegetable ink by RAP Spiderweb Ltd, Services (HMICFRS) was revealed to be boycotting as a means of protest, because c/o the Commercial Centre, Clowes Centre, defining something it called “aggravated choice and consumption is at the heart of Hollinwood, Oldham OL9 7LY. 0161 947 3700 activism” as “activity that seeks to bring what modern capitalist economies claim PAPER 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine-free about political or social change but to offer people. In addition, it is also and sourced from the only UK paper merchant supplying only recycled papers – Paperback does so in a way that involves unlawful very difficult to stop concerned citizens (www.paperbackpaper.co.uk) behaviour or criminality, has a negative protesting in the streets by banning it RETAIL DISTRIBUTION is handled by Central Books impact upon community tensions, or or threatening them – as evidenced by on 0845 458 9911. causes an adverse economic impact to protests all around the world. Ethical Consumer is a member of INK businesses”. So, although regulations like these (independent news collective), an association of radical and alternative publishers. Of course, having 'an adverse need opposing, as indeed we are doing, www.ink.uk.com economic impact' on dangerous it's also important to remember why We are a Living Wage employer, a multi-stakeholder corporations is exactly what Ethical they are happening. As we say at Ethical co-op, and Fair Tax Mark accredited. Consumer has been trying to do for Consumer, when corporate lawyers more than thirty years now. And, as we are on the phone, it is evidence that a have explained in a longer article on this campaign is working, and the effects subject on our website, it appears that are being felt. If protest and economic the police think they may now 'actively campaigning weren’t having real impact, disrupt the entire campaigns' of anyone the government, and the companies labelled an 'aggravated activist'.1 it seeks to protect, just wouldn't be ABOUT THE ADVERTISERS Others appear to share our concern. bothered. ECRA checks out advertisers before accepting their Jolyon Maugham, director of the ads and reserves the right to refuse any advert. legal campaigning organisation, COVERED IN PREVIOUS PRODUCT GUIDES References: 1 www.ethicalconsumer.org/ Good Law Project, was quoted in the technology/what-does-new-police-crime- Ecotricity (189), Green Stationery (185), Infinity sentencing-courts-bill-mean-ethical-consumers 2 Wholefoods (178), Kingfisher Toothpaste (184), Guardian as saying, 'What’s really www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/24/ guidance-on-policing-protests-may-breach- Vegetarian Shoes (185). worrying here is the embedded human-rights-say-campaigners 3 www. value judgment that it’s wrong to greenpeace.org.uk/resources/policing- OTHER ADVERTISERS bill-open-letter 4 www.theguardian.com/ target economic activity.'2 commentisfree/2021/mar/15/the-guardian- Green Building Store, Green Gathering, view-on-policing-dissent-johnson-plays- International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, All this is before we politics-with-protest Kindling Farm, Investing Ethically, Scientists get to the Police, Crime, for Global Responsibility, The Path, The Toybox Sentencing and Courts ROB HARRISON Campaign. Bill, a piece of proposed EDITOR WHAT IS ETHICAL CONSUMER? Democratise the market by enabling Push for wider political action and 2consumers to assert their own ethical 5legislative change. Ethical consumerism is We are an independent, not-for-profit, multi- values by using our shopping guides. not a replacement for other forms of political stakeholder co-operative founded in 1989 action. But it is an important additional way and based in Manchester. Our primary goal is Have a fully transparent ranking system. All for people to exert their influence. making global businesses more sustainable 3our data is available to subscribers. through consumer pressure. Our mission is to: HOW TO CONTACT US Engage with companies by telling them why Unit 21, 41 Old Birley Street, Manchester, M15 5RF Help consumers to challenge corporate we are buying or not buying their products. 4 0161 226 2929 — 10-5pm 1 power by using their economic vote every We also send them detailed questions about [email protected] — general time they go shopping. their policy and practice on ethical issues. [email protected] — subscriptions ethicalconsumer.org 3 Our world is being destroyed by cheap throw away things. Moonloft ethical web & graphic design Try Beautiful Long Life, All Metal, Plastic Free Stationery. There are over 600 quality Green Stationery products in our online catalogue. www.greenstat.co.uk logos & design website branding for print design www.moonloft.com Corporate Research Ethical company Database screenings Ethical Consumer offers quick and cost effective screenings to help you to ensure that partners, suppliers, sponsors or potential investments will not pose a reputational risk, or clash with your own ethics, values and mission. Past and present clients include: Subscribe to Ethical Consumer’s Corporate Research Database for information on over 25,000 companies and brands. Access in-depth, independent analysis of corporate ethical policies, reporting and performance across 18 social, environmental and animal welfare categories. Easily search the ethical and environmental records of suppliers, sponsors, contractors and competitors. Annual subscriptions start at £850 (+VAT) Screenings are available from just £150 (+VAT) 0161 226 2929 0161 226 2929 [email protected] [email protected] 4 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 ETHICAL CONSUMER Contents NEWS FEATURES SHOPPING GUIDES 06 Food & Home 42 Made in China Fridges & freezers toxic chemicals in packaging, Tesco Should we boycott? 10 Introduction and the Amazon fires, Green Homes Grant axed 47 Airbnb 12 Score Table & Best Buys Lobbying and deception 06 Cookers, ovens & hobs 20 Introduction 42 22 Score Table & Best Buys 16 New Energy Labels 17 Boycott Turkey 18 Steel, carbon and home appliances 18 08 Climate UK banks funding fossil fuels, coal mine stalled, carbon tax, smart meters REGULARS 40 25 Gift subscriptions