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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

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4 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 ETHICAL CONSUMER Contents

NEWS FEATURES SHOPPING GUIDES

06 F ood & 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

08 Climate UK banks funding fossil fuels, coal mine stalled, carbon tax, smart meters REGULARS 40 25 Gift subscriptions Give a gift subscription to Ethical Consumer Vacuum cleaners 48 Letters 26 Introduction A regular forum for readers’ views 27 Manual sweepers

50 Inside view 28 Score Table & Best Buys The fight to ban the use of peat 32 50 39 Clothes sweatshop tragedy in Morocco, Boohoo, fashion and sustainability

40 Money Kindling Farm Community share offer, Co-op Insurance, local councils divest from fossil fuels, GameStop

45 Tax justice Fair Tax Mark news, tax tech now news, online sales tax? Beer & lager 46 Beyond consumerism 32 Introduction Degrowth 34 Score Table & Best Buys

ethicalconsumer.org 5 NEWS Food and home CORRECTIONS TO GAS AND ELECTRICITY Green Homes Grant axed GUIDE IN EC189 The government has just axed the Green Homes Grant, just over six months after its launch. The £1.5 Octopus Energy billion programme was the central plank of how we suggested in the last magazine that people might In our research in the print edition, we missed the fact that, in 2020, afford green technologies like solar thermal or heat the Australian company Origin Energy had bought 20% of Octopus pumps. Energy. Origin is the largest owner of natural gas-fired power stations in It has instead given a £300 million boost to Australia and, while it has a target to phase out coal by 2032, we could the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery not find any target to phase out other fossil fuels, nor a commitment Scheme and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund not to build more fossil-fired power stations. Demonstrator, which supports upgrading homes for Because of our ranking system, this means that Octopus Energy is low-income families. no longer listed as a Best Buy. This also affected the companies which The Green Homes Grant had been heavily use its energy: Ripple and Co-op. Ripple remains a recommended buy criticised: there was a serious lack of accredited if you are investing enough to cover 100% of your energy. All three are installers and so homeowners often couldn’t find still offering really interesting options in this market though. anyone to do the work. That has led some people to say “good riddance”. However, its cancelling leaves the UK with no Renewable energy development table convincing plan for tackling household heating emissions, without which we have no way to tackle In the table in the guide which showed each company’s contribution climate change. to renewable capacity building (page 13), we incorrectly listed some The Green Homes Grant was also the centrepiece of the larger companies contributions as ‘none’. This should have read of Boris Johnson’s promise to “build back greener” 'none found'. In fact, some of the big companies contacted us to tell us from Covid-19, a green stimulus that was still paltry they are indeed building renewables. For example, EDF UK Renewables compared to that of many other countries. Germany has 36 wind farms in operation with many more in development. We has pledged around £36 billion for a green stimulus, still do not recommend these companies however as they failed on to be spread across many technologies including our other key clause: none of them had a commitment not to build any hydrogen and transport, with about £2 billion for further fossil-fuelled power stations. buildings.1 We have updated the online guide which can be found at Refernces: 1 www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/germany-green-recovery- www.ethicalconsumer.org/energy/shopping-guide/energy-suppliers. billions-sustainable-investments TESCO AND THE AMAZON FIRES

The world’s largest inland wetland, cattle, cattle bought by meat processors the Brazilian Pantanal, was ravaged by like the world’s largest, JBS. fires in 2020. An area twice the size of Greenpeace is arguing that Wales burned, destroying several large supermarkets and fast-food companies, Indigenous territories and vast swathes of including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, habitat for rare species like the hyacinth Burger King, MacDonald’s and KFC, are macaw, jaguars, maned wolves and giant complicit because they do business with anteaters. JBS. Residents flee as a forest fire burns out of control in the Pantanal. A Greenpeace report Greenpeace is targeting / NurPhoto Basso © Gustavo has linked these fires to Tesco demanding that they ranchers clearing land for stop buying from with plant-based food by 2025. companies owned Tesco sells more industrially produced by JBS and meat than any other supermarket in the replace half UK. It buys it from Moy Park and Tulip, the meat both owned by JBS. Tulip also makes a they sell vegan meat brand – The Green Butcher. Sign the petition at https://secure. greenpeace.org.uk/page/s/tesco- industrial-meat? Read the report - www.greenpeace. org/international/publication/46577/ pantanal-brazil-fires-jbs-meat-cattle

A life-size animatronic jaguar, roaring from the roof of what appears to be a Tesco delivery van, greets staff and customers at a Tesco store in Tunbridge Wells, Woodsgate Corner. © Luca Marino / Greenpeace Marino / Greenpeace © Luca NEWS Food and home

oceans, soils, air and wildlife across DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN the globe, from pole to pole and from the tundra to the tropics. They’ve been recorded in seabirds, seals, polar bears, 'SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING' food crops, drinking water and in 99% of people tested. Babies are now born with PFAS already in their bodies.

How do we solve the PFAS problem? We can’t remove PFAS once they’re in the wider environment, the only way to tackle them is to cut them out at source. The EU have already committed to ban all PFAS across all sectors unless their use is considered essential to society. Denmark banned PFAS in food packaging in July 2020, after a leading Danish supermarket did it voluntarily as far back as 2015. Even global food giants McDonalds and Nestlé have committed to removing PFAS from their food Dr Kerry Dinsmore of environmental in humans to neurological problems in packaging. charity Fidra explains how chemicals wildlife.1 Of particular concern in our Ultimately, UK legislation is needed of concern, PFAS, risk undermining current climate is the mounting evidence to prevent this ongoing source of the environmental benefits of many linking exposure to immune system harmful pollution, but legislation takes so-called ‘sustainable’ packaging suppression, reduced vaccine efficacy, time and when we’re dealing with alternatives, and why almost 12,000 and even an increased risk of developing persistent chemicals, time is not an people have joined together to ask UK severe Covid-19 symptoms.2 option. Every day we wait, more PFAS supermarkets to take action to remove PFAS are known as the ‘forever are being produced, used and disposed harmful ‘forever chemicals’ from UK chemicals’ because of their extreme of, and every day we ignore this growing food packaging. persistence. Rather than breaking down issue, is another day of environmental in the environment, they persist and contamination we can’t take back. With widespread public concern over accumulate, some taking over 1,000 the impact plastic pollution is having years to degrade. As such, almost all on our seas and our environment, the the PFAS ever produced are still in What can you do? food sector has increasingly found itself our environment today, and while we scrambling for solutions. This has led to continue to use and produce PFAS, Fidra is calling for UK supermarkets, a rapid increase in the use of alternative concentrations will continue to grow. including Aldi, ASDA, Co-op, Iceland, materials, such as paper, cardboard PFAS are currently used in a huge Lidl, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and moulded fibre (think eco-branded variety of everyday products, many of Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, to remove all containers replacing polystyrene for your which you probably have in your home PFAS from their food packaging, ensuring takeaway chips). right now. For example, they are often they don’t simply replace visible plastic But, to prevent your vegan sausage used in stain-resistant carpets, water- pollution with this hidden, more toxic, roll soaking through its paper bag, or repellent outdoor gear, cosmetics, chemical alternative. deliciously greasy chips eroding a hole in cleaning products and non-stick frying a sugarcane compostable container, these pans. They are also used in fire-fighting Fidra is asking the public to get involved materials need to be treated. They need foams, industrial applications and and test their own packaging for PFAS, to to be grease proof and water resistant. lubricants in help them build a better picture of how Unfortunately, one of the cheapest and everything from widespread this problem really is. easiest ways to achieve this is with per- or wind turbines to You can: Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl substances, PFAS, bike oils. l watch a video on their website to otherwise known as ‘Forever Chemicals’. Despite see how to test your packaging – www. no natural pfasfree.org.uk/beadtest sources, l carry out a simple ‘bead test’ on The persistent PFAS are packaging now found l send your results to Fidra via the PFAS problem with PFAS in our Free website – www.pfasfree.org.uk PFAS are a group of highly persistent References: 1 More information on the on Fidra generally and industrial chemicals, associated on the health impacts of PFAS appears on the Fidra website at with a wide range of health and www.pfasfree.org.uk 2 www.chemistryworld.com/news/pfas- exposure-found-to-increase-risk-of-severe-covid-19/4012992. environmental issues, from cancer article

ethicalconsumer.org 7 NEWS Climate UK BANKS CONTINUE TO FUND CLIMATE CHAOS

The latest Banking on Climate Chaos 2021 report finds that the world’s 60 largest private sector banks have financed fossil fuel industries with $3.8 trillion since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2016. Although fossil fuel financing dipped 9% in 2020, in parallel with a fall in demand and production for fossil fuels, this appears to have mainly been driven by the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The financing in 2020 was still higher than 2016, with the overall trend going in the wrong direction. According to the report, Barclays ($144.897 billion) was the worst in Europe and 7th globally. HSBC was not far behind in 13th position ($110.745 billion). Read the full report here - www.ran.org/ bankingonclimatechaos2021

Cumbrian coal mine Cumbria’. It calculates that “around 9,000 smoking ban. It just requires leaders to jobs could be created for local people lead. And now is the time”. stalled once again during a 15-year ‘transition period’ In the last issue, we wrote of the towards the county reaching net-zero, government’s refusal to intervene in and a further 3,800 jobs in the longer Nigerians can now sue Cumbria County Council's decision to term across sectors including transport, approve a deep coal mine in Whitehaven industry, retrofitting, renewable heat, Shell in England – the first facility of its kind to gain renewable electricity and waste”. Of these, Following five years of legal battles, the planning approval in 30 years – despite 4,500 would be in West Cumbria (the site Supreme Court has ruled that cases local objections and it undermining the of the proposed Whitehaven coal mine). brought against Shell regarding pollution UK Government’s carbon targets. The We look at the use of coal in the steel incidents in Nigeria can now proceed in mine aims to remove 2.5 million tonnes of industry in more detail on page 18. English courts. coal from beneath the Irish Sea every year Lawyers have described this as a for the production of steel in the UK and “watershed moment” for multinational Europe. Public calls for carbon company accountability. In a surprising U-turn, in mid-March Daniel Leader, a partner at Leigh Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick tax that protects low- Day, commented: “This supreme court decided to ‘call in’ the controversial income households judgment gives real hope to the people decision. of Ogale and Bille, who have been asking An official letter stated that Mr Jenrick A survey carried out by Opinium for the Shell to clean up their oil for years. We “believed the application had raised Zero Carbon Campaign revealed that hope that now, finally, Shell will act … issues of ‘more than local importance’” seven in ten people support calls by Increasingly, impoverished communities and that “The Climate Change MPs for a carbon tax that would make are seeking to hold powerful corporate Committee’s recommendations for the big polluters pay for their harmful actors to account, and this judgment will 6th Carbon Budget have been published greenhouse gas emissions. significantly increase their ability to do so.” since he was advised on this decision. The survey of 2,000 UK adults also The law firm, which represents the The Secretary of State ... considers that showed large majorities want lower Bille and Ogale communities, successfully this should be explored during a public income households protected from any argued that Shell, one of the world’s 10 inquiry.” price increases (68%), with big business largest corporations, must answer for the Tony Bosworth of Friends of the Earth polluters bearing the costs (69%). environmental failures of its subsidiary commented: “It was not possible for the The Zero Carbon Campaign says the because it is registered in London. government to maintain ... that this was tax could raise £27 billion annually by Read more in our online article. just a matter of local importance and 2030. the decision will now rightly be taken at Campaign supporter national level. Stephen Fry said: “If you have “A new coal mine in Cumbria would the courage to make polluters not only wreck our climate, it would also pay, it will save many times TAKE ACTION destroy the UK government’s credibility more people than have died ahead of crucial climate talks in Glasgow during the pandemic. Support l Sign the Global Call on Banks to stop financing later this year”. for the plastic bag tax rose fossil fuels https://www.fossilbanks.org/ Cumbria Action for Sustainability after it was implemented and l Sign the Zero Carbon Campaign petition to make (CAfS) simultaneously released a report it was the same with other polluters pay : https://petition.parliament.uk/ titled ‘The potential for green jobs in measures like the indoor petitions/574678

8 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 NEWS Climate IN THE SMART HOME… SMART METERS MATT FRANKLIN of Carbon Co-op peers into some of the complexities we face in the transition to low carbon homes.

time-of-use tariffs (covered in this column negative cost) and discouraging energy in Issue 188 on Smart Tariffs), where use when there is a burden on the grid

© ecotricity energy prices vary dramatically based and an increased reliance on polluting on wholesale energy costs. These smart sources of generation (with a higher tariffs are likely to play a major role in the associated cost). o one could claim that the roll- decarbonisation of our energy system, In the future, combining smart meter out of smart meters has been an because you can’t turn renewables up data with other sources of information easy process, with exaggerated and down easily like you can a gas-fired such as weather data, readings from concerns about privacy alongside power station, hence you have to move internal sensors, or solar forecasts could Na plague of technical issues on one side the demand to where the supply is rather help people better understand their and overly optimistic claims of savings than the other way around. They can also home and energy use, supporting plans and environmental benefits on the other. help pioneering customers save on their for future energy-saving measures and Yet, four years after launching, it seems energy bills. assessing the impact of retrofit works. that the smart metering system is starting Integrating smart meter data with ‘smart to bear fruits. home appliances’, such as electric vehicle Smart meters installed by the utility The future chargers, can automatically ensure they companies allow you to view a half- use energy when there is a surplus of hourly record of your electricity and As smart metering technology matures, renewable energy and are powered down gas usage. Obvious impacts include no new third-party services allow customers when there is a higher carbon intensity of longer needing to take monthly meter to take full advantage of this system and the grid. readings manually and being able to see control over their data. New energy- Contrary to coverage, smart meters a live feed of your energy usage through switching services are using smart meter are not a massive threat to our privacy the provided in-home display unit (IHD). data to identify the best tariffs based due to the strong security standards built However, if the value of smart meters on personalised energy use, and smart into the system, and restrictions limiting stopped here there wouldn’t be much to meter data can be used to automatically access to groups you have given explicit get excited about, so why all the hype? optimise energy use to further drive consent to, along with the relatively low New tariffs launched by energy the uptake of renewable energy by detail (a half-hourly use figure) of the companies like Octopus and Bulb rely on encouraging use when there is a surplus data which means that, from smart meter this half-hourly data to support dynamic of renewable energy (at a low or even data alone, identifying in-home activity beyond basic information, such as whether you are home or not, would be reasonably difficult. Nor are they a solution to our energy usage problems. Instead, they are just one piece of the puzzle which will help us decarbonise the energy system and better understand climate and financial impacts of our domestic energy consumption. Hopefully, as meters continue to be installed, teething issues will be resolved and innovative ways to take full advantage of this data will continue to be developed. Contact your energy supplier to get a smart meter installed or to reactivate an older non-functional meter.

ethicalconsumer.org 9 SHOPPING GUIDE Fridges & freezers Looking for a greener fridge?

his guide is for anyone with a fridge, freezer or fridge-freezer, which is probably most of us. We will highlight ways to make existing appliances as energy efficient as possible, Tand to make best use of them to cut down on food waste. But we’ll also explain why it might actually make sense to buy something new, even if yours still works (as long as you dispose of your old equipment properly). If you do decide to buy, we help you think about what to look for. And what to avoid. This includes smart fridges, American-style fridges, and fridges or freezers that are just bigger than you need. And ok, a green fridge might not be a realistic colour option, but there are some really sensible things to consider if you want to be as eco as possible. We explain the recent switch to new energy labelling, and which companies are leading or lagging behind, but also why there’s more to making an energy- efficient choice than whether it’s A-rated – ‘kWh’ are key. As always, our scores uncover social concerns too. We explain why you might want to boycott some fridge brands for their ties to oppressive regimes, and which companies have been found to use tax havens too.

Best use of your existing fridge There are some simple tips to keep an existing fridge as energy efficient as possible, which will save on your bills as well as cutting carbon emissions. Good maintenance should also increase the life of an appliance. RUTH STRANGE explores Temperatures around the fridge the route to low-carbon A fridge or freezer needs to get rid of heat in order refrigeration in the home. to keep cool. So, if the space it’s in is too warm, it will have to work harder. Aside from the age of a fridge, room temperature has been found to be the biggest factor affecting energy use. Ideally, the A fully referenced room should be under 19°C. You can also make it version of easier for your fridge to get rid of heat (and safer) by this Product keeping the back 10 cm from the wall, and the air Guide is on our website escape route above unobstructed by stored items or shelves.

10 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 Temperatures inside the fridge But as food accounts for 20% of an It is always good to check the average Brit’s carbon footprint, and temperature inside the appliance too. A fridges and freezers account for only DISPOSAL OF fridge thermometer will help you keep about 1%, if you’re thinking about not OLD FRIDGES it at about 5°C (freezers should be at running one to make carbon savings, you -18°C). Fridges should cycle on and off need to make sure you’ve really got food to maintain the correct temperature. If waste under control. It is possible to keep you can hear that yours is noisy all the food relatively cool in a traditional larder time, it may need a repair that could or cold cupboard, or even make your own save you having to buy new. The seals on evaporative cooler. the doors should also be maintained and can be replaced if they wear out and are Disposing of old appliances no longer keeping your fridge properly properly means that the closed. gases can be recovered Time to buy and the plastic and other something new? materials recycled. Retailers Defrosting and draining usually take them in when If you let ice build up it actually New fridges are much more you buy a new one, or your decreases the efficiency of a fridge efficient local authority may collect or freezer. Self-defrosting appliances Because fridges and freezers are on all them for a fee if you can’t have progressed, and ‘passive’ defrost the time, the vast bulk of their life- get to a recycling centre. is more efficient than ‘electric’. Most cycle energy – in the region of 90% – is new freezers are now self-defrosting, expended in use. And, compared to 10 but if yours isn’t, it should be turned years ago, they have been getting much off to defrost every 6-12 months. This more energy efficient. So, if your fridge is quite fiddly, so prepare yourself, and is over 10 years old, or if you are running be patient – don’t hack at the ice or a separate fridge and freezer, you may you can damage your freezer and risk actually make cost and carbon savings leaking refrigerant which is likely to be over time by buying new. flammable. If you bought yours before July 2012 it The drainage hole inside the fridge at could be rated anything between G and A the back also needs to be kept clear – if it and have much higher running costs. You gets blocked this can lead the compressor could find out how much your existing to use more energy. fridge or freezer is actually using with a plug-in energy-usage meter, measuring it Daily use of the fridge over a period of time. Then a calculation Ideally, you should let any hot or warm could be done to compare it to the annual food cool down before putting it into kWh on the energy label of a new fridge. the fridge. It may be hard to control how much the fridge is opened depending on New energy labels the size of your household, but you can Since 2012, all fridges should have been at least not leave the door open longer at least A+, and 90% were. But many than needed. had gone beyond A+ and so A++ and +++ were added. And they’re still getting better. To make the better models stand Food waste and going out more, the labels have just been revised. fridge-free As of March 2021, new labelling and Food production has huge impacts on Ecodesign requirements have been land, pollution and animals. But, in the introduced to further push better choices UK, 6.6 million tonnes of household and manufacturing improvements food is wasted per year. Fridges can across Europe and the UK. This means help to reduce this. Most vegetables, that almost all new models will score D peppers and carrots for example, last or below. For more information on this about a week longer in the fridge, or subject, see page 16. Annual energy two if they’re in a polyethylene bag. The consumption for fridges and freezers is bag stops them drying out and reduces predicted to be 64% less by 2030. condensation in the fridge which You can’t exactly compare the energy can lead to ice forming. Fruit can be efficiency of appliances now to those from refrigerated too – oranges and pears will the pre-March 2021 period as the testing last for up to two weeks longer. methods have changed. Although in our Some things are damaged by the cold research we found that in most cases this wouldn’t always be the case. Testing though, such as potatoes, onions, bananas you could work out the equivalent class now applies ‘fairer rules’, by using more or tomatoes. And bread will go stale as follows (old A = new G, old A+ = new F, realistic calculations based on typical quicker. old A++ = new E and old A+++ = new D), home use rather than in a lab.

ethicalconsumer.org 11 SHOPPING GUIDE Fridges & freezers

USING THE TABLES Environment Animals People Politics +ve USING THE TABLES Ethiscore: the higher the score, the Positive ratings (+ve): better the company. Scored out of 14. Plus up to 1 extra point for Company Company Ethos: Ethos and up to 5 extra points for e = full mark Product Sustainability. = half mark Green (good) = 12+ E Product Sustainability: Amber (average) = 11.5–5 Various positive marks available Red (poor) = 4.5–0 depending on sector. H = worst rating h = middle rating = best rating/no criticisms found Best Buys are highlighted in blue

BRAND 14 + 6 extras) (out of Ethiscore Reporting Environmental Change Climate & Toxics Pollution Habitats & Resources Oil Palm Animal Testing Farming Factory Animal Rights Human Rights Rights Workers’ Chain Management Supply Marketing Irresponsible Arms & Military Supply Technologies Controversial Call Boycott Activity Political Finance Anti-Social Conduct Tax Ethos Company Sustainability Product COMPANY GROUP Miele 10 h h H H H Miele family & Zinkann family LG A-rated fridge freezer 8.5 h H H h h h HH 0.5 LG Corp Montpellier 8.5 HH h H HH Montpellier Domestic Appliances Amica 8 HH HH HH Holding Wronki S.A CDA 8 HH HH HH Holding Wronki S.A LG 8 h H H h h h HH LG Corp Smeg 8 HH HH HH Smeg SpA Swan 8 HH HH HH Swan Products Limited Liebherr 7.5 h H HH H H h h Liebherr-International AG Sharp 7 HH h H H h h H h Sharp Corp/Zorlu Holding AEG 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Belling 6.5 HH HH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Electrolux 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Essentials 6.5 h H HH h H H h H Dixons Carphone Plc Kenwood 6.5 HHHH HH h H De'Longhi Industrial SA LEC 6.5 HH HH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Logik 6.5 h H H H h H H h H Dixons Carphone Plc Stoves 6.5 H HHH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Zanussi 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Hotpoint 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp Indesit 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp KitchenAid 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp Whirlpool 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp Baumatic 5.5 H HHH H H H h H Haier Group Bosch 5.5 h HHH H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Candy 5.5 HHHH H H H h H Haier Group Fisher and Paykel 5.5 HHHH H H H h H Haier Group Haier 5.5 H HHH H H H h H Haier Group Hoover 5.5 HHHH H H H h H Haier Group Ikea 5.5 h h h H H H H h h H H Stichting INGKA Foundation NEFF 5.5 h H H H H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Siemens 5.5 h H H h H H h h h H H Robert Bosch/Siemens AG Aga, Rangemaster 5 HHHH H h H h h h H The Middleby Corporation Beko 5 h HHH H H H h h h H Koç Holding AS,Arçelik AS Flavel, Grundig 5 h HHH H H H h h h H Koç Holding AS,Arçelik AS

John Lewis 4.5 h HHH hHHHH H h h E John Lewis Partnership Limited Fridgemaster 4 H HHH HH H h H h H Hisense Import and Export Co Gorenje 4 H HHH HH H h H h H Hisense Import and Export Co Hisense 4 H HHH HH H h H h H Hisense Import and Export Co Samsung 3.5 h h H h H H H HHHHH Samsung Group Bush 2 h HHHhhHHHH H H hH J Sainsbury plc

12 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 m nsu er o .o c r l g

WHAT TO BUY WHAT NOT TO BUY i h BEST t

e Y l To save energy and bills, compare l Is the brand connected to a company BUYS B U kWh figures on the energy labels – this group involved in weapons manufacture ES T B is even more important than the A-G or supplying equipment to oppressive classification as it tells you the energy use regimes? See our Brands to avoid, below. Best Buys for this guide are the per year. Smaller models will use less. l Smart fridges with in-built most energy-efficient models from l Look for models newly rated as D or technologies likely to become obsolete companies with better management of above for energy efficiency relative to size, long before the fridge itself stops working. workers’ rights in their supply chains, which is roughly equivalent to what was l American style side-by-side and without likely tax avoidance A+++. fridge-freezers use more energy than strategies. l If your fridge is 10 years old or more, conventional above-below fridge-freezers. These are the newly D-rated models do consider buying an efficient new from Miele, or the A-D models from LG. model as they have improved a lot. You could save a lot of energy and money with lower running costs. Miele Which brands are most energy efficient? 10

The table below shows the highest energy-rated freestanding fridge-freezer on each company’s website (there may be differences in their fridge-only or freezer-only models). Only a few had models rated above D, which is roughly similar to the previous LG highest rating: A+++. Many companies didn’t have anything with a rating higher than F, similar to the previous A+ which was the minimum expectation since 2012. Two 8.5 brands fell below with only G-rated models. Those highlighted in bold were from companies which made it possible to search by energy rating, or made them easily visible on their websites. Numbers refer to how many models were of that rating, out of all models shown (N.B. some websites duplicated models if they were available in different colours). RECOMMENDED THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT FRIDGE-FREEZERS Also recommended are the C-D models A LG 1/34 (or models with annual kWh under 250) from Liebherr, or D models from Smeg B (although these are pretty pricey). These brands scored relatively well Liebherr 4/43, Bosch 3/25, Siemens 2/28 C but did not qualify as best buys due to D Miele 6/12, Smeg 4/16, IKEA 2/14, Grundig 1/6, Whirlpool 1/20, Siemens 1/10 having worst ratings for management of workers’ rights in their supply chains. Beko 20/20, AEG 9/10, Stoves 8/9, John Lewis 3/7, Neff 4/14, Hotpoint 3/51, If you just want an under counter E KitchenAid 1 /2, Electrolux 1/5, Haier 1/5, Hoover 2/24, Indesit 1/22 fridge, with low energy use due to being small, John Lewis is a good option. Swan 1, Flavel 2, Belling 2, CDA 4, Blomberg 4, Hisense 4, LEC 6, Essentials 7, Bush Although scoring badly overall due to F 8, Russell Hobbs 8, Zanussi 10, Montpellier 14, Amica 15, Kenwood 16*, Logik 17, its range of products, it did get our best Fridgemaster 18, Fisher Paykel 26, Candy 29 supply chain and tax ratings. G Aga 2, Rangemaster 3

*on Currys website. Although the deadline for applying new energy labels to company websites was 19 March 2021, the following still referred only to old ratings: Gorenje A+++ 11/15; Sharp A++ ?/80; Baumatic A+ 3/3. BRANDS TO AVOID All the research behind these ratings is available for subscribers to see on the score tables on www.ethicalconsumer.org Some people may want to avoid Definitions of all the categories are at www.ethicalconsumer.org/our-ethical-ratings companies connected to supplying weapons, or military equipment used in m Best Buys are decided by the editorial team based on the research we have undertaken, the oppressive regimes. This includes Koç nsu er o .o scoring system and the unique insight into the issues that our editorial team has. 9 times c r brands , and , l g Flavel Leisure Blomberg a out of 10 this will be the brand (or brands) that are top of the table but sometimes an

c as well as Beko and Grundig which are

i ethical company which is truly innovative scores less well on our rigid scoring system and h

t e also the subject of a boycott call. See Y we use the Best Buy and Recommended section to acknowledge this. A company cannot BES T BU be a Best Buy if it scores worst for Supply Chain Management. page 17.

ethicalconsumer.org 13 SHOPPING GUIDE Fridges & freezers

kWh are key Small is beautiful of the cheapest D (similar to previous Minimising energy use will involve not A+++) rated models, and the cheapest F As well as the energy efficiency class buying a fridge bigger than you need. (similar to previous A+) rated ones of a (A-G), the energy label lists how many Although storing more food in the fridge roughly similar size. kWh electricity an appliance uses per might sound good at first from a food In this tiny sample, whether they are year, the volume of freezer space and of waste point of view, it really depends on more or less energy efficient they will chilled space, and how noisy it is. your buying and cooking habits. If you cost about the same – give or take a bit – The energy efficiency class is over-buy and then can’t see what you’ve over a lifetime of 14 years, including the calculated relative to the volume of the got, produce will probably get neglected purchase price. appliance. So, a 150 or 350 litre fridge and go off anyway. A fridge-freezer could last much longer could both carry the same energy rating, than 14 years, and electricity prices may but the smaller one will use less energy. Lifetime costs explained go up too – meaning you’d save even more To use the least energy, the kWh figure It is hard to make price comparisons by buying a more efficient model. And is the most important one to compare. between fridge-freezers because there if you are replacing older, much more It can vary quite a bit. We looked on are so many different models with inefficient fridges and freezers, it can Curry’s website in March 2021, and different capacities and features. You easily save you hundreds of pounds. found a small fridge from Liebherr, one may only need a small fridge with (or Note that cheaper fridge-freezers tend of our recommended brands, that only even without) an icebox, in which case to need manually defrosting – if you are used 113kWH/year. Compare that to the the energy used will be lower. not good at keeping up with this, be aware cheapest American style fridge they had On the first table below, we looked at that built-up ice causes the appliance which used 387kWh/year. fridge-freezers of a medium or large size to use more energy, so it may be a false on the Currys website. We found a couple saving!

LIFETIME COSTS OF HIGHER AND LOWER ENERGY RATINGS

Price Cost to run per year Total cost including Energy Size in litres of (if a discount price was kWh assuming UK average purchase price Model given, we still used the per electricity cost of 15p/ assuming 14-year lifespan Rating fridge/freezer year (with electricity staying at 15p/ original price) kWh kWh) Samsung 227/114 D RB34T652DWW medium size £669 203 £30.45 £1,095.30 Hotpoint 228/111 F H1NT 811E W 1 medium size £339 301 £45.15 £971.10 Grundig 352/158 D GKN67920DX large size £699 242 £36.30 £1,207.20 Kenwood 316/119 F KNF70X19 large size £509 336 £50.04 £1,214.60

LIFETIME COSTS EXAMPLES FROM OUR BEST BUYS AND RECOMMENDED BRANDS

On the table above we looked for models from our Best Buy and Recommended brands, with annual kWh figures under 250. Although the Liebherr model had an energy rating of F, as it was smaller than other more efficient models, its annual energy consumption was still relatively low.

GREENER FRIDGES IN SHOPS AND SUPERMARKETS

See our guide online for more information on developments in commercial refrigeration. Most of us use shops and supermarkets that use fridges, and we can take action in that field too. You may even work for a small business that could benefit from an upgrade, and we have some little tips that could help a lot. There’s also some good news about international progress on reducing the use of refrigerant gases with very high global-warming effects.

14 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 What to avoid Companies behind the brands Smart fridges Tax havens We are not alone in suggesting that a The only brands which did not lose any marks for likely tax avoidance strategies smart fridge is not so smart. You may were seven at the top of the table – Miele, Montpellier, Amica, CDA, Smeg, Swan, and be tempted to see inside your fridge Liebherr – and John Lewis. via a screen on its door, or even on Miele is a Best Buy whilst Liebherr, John Lewis and Smeg are among our your smartphone when you’re out and Recommended brands. wondering what to buy, but for most of us, a shopping list can do the job. Military equipment One worry about smart appliances is Several brands on our table are part of company groups which also make military that if they are ‘connected’, as the tech equipment. gets older, it becomes more vulnerable Beko, Grundig, Flavel, Leisure and Blomberg are all ultimately controlled by Koç to hacking. Also, if Holding A.S. Another of Koç’s companies, Otokar, manufactures military vehicles used they rely on cloud- by the Turkish police and army to suppress protests, especially in Kurdish areas. We based services hear more from a new Boycott Turkey campaign on page 17. to offer users Sharp Home Appliances is a division of Vestel UK Limited, part of the Zorlu Holding music or recipe which also includes Vestel Defence Industry, a supplier of drones, computer technology suggestions, and and fuel cells for armoured vehicles for the defence industry. these services are AEG, Electrolux and Zanussi are part of the Investor AB group, which has almost not maintained, 40% of the voting share in Saab AB, a manufacturer of advanced weapons systems people will be for air, land and sea combat. Press releases in the last six months on its website encouraged to listed orders for weapons and ammunition to the Estonian Armed Forces, airborne replace their surveillance systems for the United Arab Emirates, and the first flight of a Saab Gripen fridges more often combat aircraft in Brazil, as part of a partnership to develop 36 aircraft for the Brazilian than necessary. Air Force. And do we really Robert Bosch – Bosch Rexroth was listed on USASpending.gov as having contracts need more screens with the US Department of Defense in 2020 worth $7.9 million including 'aircraft and cameras in our launching equipment' and other items. The Siemen’s brand of home appliances is also lives? produced and marketed by Bosch. Samsung was marked down for investments since 2015 in companies involved American and bigger in the manufacture and sale of cluster munitions, as well as marketing virtual reality Many manufacturers are now offering devices for military training and other communications equipment “tailored for American-style models, with fridge and deployment in tactical environments". freezer compartments side-by-side Liebherr makes “systems for combat aircraft, military transporters, military rather than above and below. Not only training aircraft ... and combat helicopters", as well as military cranes. are these models often much larger than what was previously considered normal, just the fact that they are side-by-side is also said to use more energy.

Fire risk Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, Which? campaigned for manufacturers to stop producing refrigeration appliances with flammable plastic backs. Although this backing doesn’t cause fires, it can allow an existing fire to spread. New safety standards were introduced in 2019, but retailers can still sell more risky models that have already been made. Which? research does reveal that the likelihood of a fridge fire is very low, but, if you are buying a new appliance, check it is fireproof. You can also reduce the risk of a fire by plugging directly into the wall socket rather than an extension lead, ensuring there is at least 10 cm between your appliance and the wall, and airflow is not obstructed.

ethicalconsumer.org 15 SHOPPING GUIDE

Energy labels rescaled

ALEX CRUMBIE explains the changes afoot in the world of the energy labels we find on our domestic appliances.

s the label enthusiasts among ‘A’ to ‘G’. This you are no doubt already rescaling also saw aware, the 1st March 2021 the boundaries was a momentous day in the shift, so that Aworld of energy labelling, being the previously ‘best- official launch of a ‘new generation’ in-class’ products of EU energy labels!1 The EU energy might now only labels were first introduced for a receive a ‘D’. The number of household appliances in EU claimed that 1994 to help consumers choose more the ‘A’ class would energy efficient products. The labels “initially be empty list energy performance on an ‘A’ to ‘G’ to leave room for more energy-efficient Fridge Energy Labels old (left) and new scale and have been widely praised for models to be developed.”2 However, in our (right). encouraging manufacturers to innovate research we have found some appliances and produce more efficient products. that have already made the ‘A’ grade. Of course, since casting off the shackles Another change is that the new labels of EU bureaucracy, the UK is free to boldly will include a QR code on the top right. RIGHT TO REPAIR go its own way but, in this instance, we’ve Scanning this code will allow consumers chosen to follow suit – the only notable to find out additional information about A new ‘right to repair’ law will difference between the EU and UK labels the product, such as data relating to the be introduced this summer after is that the latter will now proudly boast dimensions, specific features, or test ministers confirmed that the UK will the Union Jack instead of the Flag of results, depending on the appliance. implement the EU initiative. The law Europe. It’s good news that the UK is will legally oblige manufacturers to continuing with this labelling scheme, make spare parts available so that but we should have settled for nothing Which products are appliances can be easily fixed. less. The government had previously The changes are expected to stated that, following Brexit, the UK would affected? extend the lifespan of products by “match and even exceed EU eco-product The new energy labels will be introduced up to a decade, aiming to tackle regulations” as part of its plan to reach to the following products from 1st ‘premature obsolescence’ – where net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. March 2021, with the exception of ‘Light a short lifespan is deliberately built sources’ which will be introduced from 1 into product. September: Not only should this benefit What has changed? l Refrigerators and freezers consumers, but also the l Washing machines and washer-dryers environment as less electrical waste The main change is that the efficiency l Dishwashers would be sent to landfill, hopefully categories have been ‘rescaled’. As l TVs and electronic displays reducing the 1.5 million tonnes of mentioned above, when it was first l Light sources (September 2021). electrical waste produced annually launched, the scheme used a scale from in the UK.5 ‘A’ (most efficient) to ‘G’ (least efficient) The EU has stated that other products It should also lead to a reduction but, as products became more efficient, will also be ‘rescaled’ in future years, in carbon emissions as fewer more categories were added: A+, A++, including tumble dryers, local space appliances would need to be fully A+++. It was clear that the proliferation heaters, air conditioners, cooking replaced. of pluses could not go on forever: the appliances, ventilation units, space and 3 system was becoming confusing and water heaters, and solid fuel boilers. It References: 1 https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/focus-new- did not clearly highlight which products is likely the UK will implement the same generation-eu-energy-labels-2020-aug-13_en 2 https:// ec.europa.eu/info/energy-climate-change-environment/ were the most energy efficient on the changes though the official UK energy standards-tools-and-labels/products-labelling-rules-and- market. label website is somewhat unclear on requirements/energy-label-and-ecodesign/about_en 3 https:// ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_818 4 In order to solve this problem, it was the matter, stating, “new labels will be https://energylabel.org.uk/for-consumers/new-labels-from- march-2021 5 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ decided that, in 2021, the energy labels introduced as soon as new or revised UK electrical-appliances-to-be-cheaper-to-run-and-last-longer- would return to using the original scale: regulations come into force.”4 with-new-standards

16 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 Spotlight on the Boycott Turkey campaign

Ethical Consumer asked the UK Boycott Turkey campaign to write about its work and to explain to us why it is targeting white goods brands Beko and Grundig.

he UK Boycott Turkey campaign manufacturers selling household We’d also recommend avoiding Sharp emerged in response to a call appliances from fridges to washing products. The Sharp brand is part-owned from Kurdish and Turkish civil machines: Beko, Grundig, Flavel, Leisure by the Vestel group. Vestel Defence society groups for international and Blomberg. Industries sells a number of military Tsolidarity and action against the regime While Boycott Turkey UK is specifically aircraft. The website stated that "VESTEL in Turkey. targeting Beko and Grundig, in order is one of the strongest actors in Turkish The campaign highlights institutions to have a strategic focus, all these five and international markets of its industry, and corporations that are complicit in brands could be avoided. All five brands and is among the greatest producers the oppressive policies of the Turkish are part of the Beko PLC brand portfolio, in the world." It advertised the sale of state. We collaborate closely with the UK which is ultimately controlled by Koç Unarmed Aircraft (drones) and fuel cells Kurdish Assembly and other community Holding A.S. for armoured vehicles for the Turkish groups affected by the Turkish state. The Koç group is a major Turkish defence industry. The current regime is led by President conglomerate which plays a central role in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the AKP party, the Turkish economy. It has a long history in coalition with the ultranationalist far- of links to the Turkish state, in particular What can UK right party MHP. It is quick to imprison through the Koç group company Otokar. political opponents who criticise the Otokar manufactures vehicles consumers do? state or its assaults on Kurds. Academics, including the Cobra and Akrep military One in five kitchen appliances sold in journalists and elected politicians are vehicles used by the Turkish police the UK is made by Beko. If these sales routinely jailed for using their right to free and army. These have played a key are impacted by a consumer boycott speech. role in suppressing protests, especially this could have an economic impact on, The Turkish state has a long history in Kurdish areas. The company also and send a clear message to, the Turkish of systematic racism and violence manufactures tanks, armoured vehicles, arms industry. against Kurds and religious and ethnic gun turret mounting systems and 4-wheel l Consumers in the UK can make a minorities. The state has been guilty of drive military vehicles. real difference by boycotting Beko and ethnic cleansing,1 deliberately targeting Sales of Beko and Grundig products Grundig. While there is only a specific civilians, kidnapping women, and therefore prop up the production of boycott call for these two brands, we also weaponising water and other natural military vehicles used by the Turkish encourage you to avoid Flavel, Leisure resources. This authoritarian violence regime. and Blomberg. goes beyond Turkey’s borders, affecting l We also call on consumers to contact Kurds, Yazidis and other communities the sports teams, celebrities and in Iraq and Syria. It was involved in the institutions that are linked to these recent invasion of Armenia,2 and the civil brands, and to the broader brutal regime war in Libya.3 The Turkish state also has in Turkey. links with Jihadist groups like ISIS.4 For example, you can Tweet celebrity chef @massimobottura and ask him why he is a brand ambassador for Grundig Beko’s links with the considering its connection to the Turkish Turkish military military. UK consumers can support the boycott More information available at boycott- of the regime by avoiding taking holidays turkey.net. to Turkey. Visit our campaign website to see how Turkish holding companies that own travel companies and hotels also References: 1 https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ erdogan-turkey-kurds-border-syria-war-trump-ethnic- own arms companies. cleansing-a9204581.html 2 https://www.middleeasteye.net/ Closer to home, consumers can boycott news/turkey-azerbaijan-armenia-nagorno-karabakh-clashes- erdogan 3 https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/ the brands that are intricately tied up with for-turkey-the-libyan-conflict-and-the-eastern-mediterranean- the regime. are-inextricably-linked 4 https://www.businessinsider.com/ links-between-turkey-and-isis-are-now-undeniable-2015- This includes several white goods 7?r=US&IR=T

ethicalconsumer.org 17 SHOPPING GUIDE

Steel, carbon and home appliances

ALEX CRUMBIE and JOSIE WEXLER crunch the numbers on the enormous carbon and other impacts of the steel humans consume each year. A tidal wave of mud rushed downhill covering parts of the Steel has come to play a vital role in and a number of town of Brumadinho in Brazil, industrial societies and, as such, is serious incidents killing over 250 people. produced at an incredible magnitude. have caused untold In 2019, world crude steel production devastation. reached nearly 1.9 billion tonnes, up The Mariana from 0.9 billion tonnes at the start dam disaster of the millennium.1 It is an essential occurred in component of domestic appliances, 2015 when the but only 2% of the total steel produced Fundão tailings is used for this purpose. The vast dam collapsed, majority (52%) is used for building and releasing around infrastructure. 60 million cubic China produced 1 billion tonnes of metres of iron crude steel in 2019, accounting for just ore waste into over half (53%) of the global total. Next the surrounding in line is India, which produced 6%, area, killing 19 followed by Japan at just over 5%. The people, displacing UK, meanwhile, produced over 7 million hundreds, and tonnes, accounting for 0.4%. contaminating 3 the river. © Earthworks The company Iron ore mining responsible for the disaster was Samarco, a joint venture In 2020, Brazilian prosecutors charged Steel is primarily composed of iron, between the Brazilian company Vale 16 people over the incident, including which is extracted from iron ore. In and the English-Australian BHP, which the former CEO of Vale, with murder and 2019, 2.85 billion tonnes of iron ore was are the second and third largest iron ore environmental crimes and, in 2021, the produced, about 98% of which is used producing companies in the world.4 company agreed to pay the equivalent of for steel making.2 In that year, the top “Mariana, never again,” said Vale CEO, £5 billion to the communities affected.7 three iron ore producing countries were Fabio Schvartsman, in a speech 2017, the Australia (930 million tonnes), Brazil day he became president of the company.5 (480 million tonnes), and China (350 But, in January 2019, about 120 km The carbon impact of million tonnes). west of the site of the Mariana dam Iron ore mining, like most types of disaster, the Brumadinho dam disaster steel mining, has taken its toll on the natural occurred, killing at least 259 people and Steel has a heavy carbon footprint, environment. This is especially true in releasing 13 million cubic metres of iron primarily due to its energy-intensive Brazil, where iron ore mines gnaw away ore waste and mud into the surrounding and coal-reliant production process. at the ever-shrinking Amazon rainforest area.6 The dam was owned by Vale. For the most common method of steel production, blast furnaces are heated to temperatures around 1,300 degrees Celsius, requiring huge amounts of energy. Carbon is also needed, which comes in the form of coke (a form of coal), which is added to iron in order to increase its strength and hardiness. According to scientist Mike Berners- Lee, global steel production produces

2.9 billion tonnes CO2e, accounting for 8 up to 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions. It is therefore essential that changes are made to the industry in order to reduce its carbon impact. There are already ways of doing this, notably replacing coal with hydrogen in the manufacturing process, and increasing the use of recycled steel Effects of the 2015 tailings dam failure in Mariana, Brazil. – the latter not only reduces carbon

18 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 COAL IN CUMBRIA

Using hydrogen instead of coal in the production process greatly reduces the carbon impact of steel yet, in October 2020, planning permission was granted for a new coal mine in Cumbria, UK, the stated purpose being “to supply national steel and chemicals industries”. As mentioned on our Climate News page on page 8, the proposal was initially backed by the local Cumbria Country Council but, after criticism from environmental groups and warnings We need to move away from the use from the government’s own Climate of emissions-heavy blast furnaces in Change Committee, the government the production of steel, towards more 14 renewable options. backtracked. The Cumbrian company involved is © envirotec magazine © envirotec continuing to make claims that its coal is a vital ingredient in the steel-making process. However, planning documents mining. At present, on average, only 25% could do a rough calculation of the reveal that UK steel manufacturers of steel is recycled globally. emissions from the steel in them from have said they would not be able to Using figures from Mike Berners-Lee’s this, although it is complicated by the use coal from this mine because of book, ‘How bad are bananas?’, we can see different types of steel. Stainless steel its high sulphur content.15 The Daily that these production methods greatly has at least double the greenhouse gas Telegraph quotes Julian Allwood, a reduce the carbon impact of each tonne of emissions of normal steel.10 professor of energy and environment steel produced: Total greenhouse emissions from at the University of Cambridge, who manufacturing appliances are estimated states that; 'the market for coking coal at about 300-400 kg CO e for fridges,11 Tonnes of 2 is going to collapse, probably rapidly.' Production method CO e washing machines are similar and 2 dishwashers in the region of 200 kg.12 virgin steel made in a 2.3 However, this needs to be spread over Appliance companies blast furnace with coal their lifetime – fridges last for about 15 years, washing machines and say ... 25% recycled steel 1.8 dishwashers about 12 years.9 350 kg During our research, we found that the spread over 15 years is 23 kg per year. environmental and social impacts of steel virgin steel using 1.1 Everyone agrees that the bulk of the were hardly discussed publicly by the hydrogen instead of coal greenhouse gases in the case of all of appliance companies covered in these these appliances is expended during the guides. Granted, they are not producing 100% recycled steel 0.4 usage stage. It is hard to find up-to-date the steel but, as buyers of it, they have the figures, but studies from about 10 years ability to pressure steel manufacturers ago estimate it at 80%,9 although given and a responsibility to minimise their Steel and embodied that they are getting more efficient and impacts. our electricity grid is decarbonising, it Only two companies were found to emissions in may be less than that now. discuss the environmental impacts of steel appliances in any depth: Miele and Electrolux. Both Here are some figures for comparison: companies stated that they were working Steel accounts for about half of the l UK average per person per year, to increase the amount of recycled steel

weight of dishwashers, washing including imported goods: 12 tonnes CO2e they used, the latter had also set targets 13 machines and fridge freezers, which l 1 kg European beef: 39 kg CO2e in relation to this issue. It is essential that 9 13 weigh in the region of 40-70 kg. You l 1 kg bananas: 0.9 kg CO2e other companies follow suit.

References: 1 www.worldsteel.org/en/dam/jcr:f7982217-cfde-4fdc-8ba0-795ed807f513/World%2520Steel%2520in%2520Figures%25202020i.pdf 2 www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/ top-iron-ore-producing-countries 3 www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/22/toxic-sludge-reaches-atlantic-after-brazil-dams-burst 4 www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/top-five-iron-ore- producing-companies-world 5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/brazil_dam_disaster 6 www.reuters.com/article/us-vale-sa-disaster-exclusive-idUSKBN1Z72GS 7 www.bbc.com/news/ business-55924743 8 Berners-Lee, Mike. How bad are bananas?: the carbon footprint of everything. Profile Books, 2020 9 Hischier et al, 2020, Environmental Impacts of Household Appliances in Europe and scenarios for their impact reduction 10 ICE database 11 Xiao et al. 2015, A life-cycle assessment of household refrigerators in China; The Japan electrical manufacturers association (2014), report on life cycle inventory analysis of refrigerators 12 Porras et al (2020) A guide to household manual and machine dishwashing through a life cycle perspective 13 Joseph Poore, personal communication of background data for (2018), reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers, Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaq0216 14 www.theccc.org.uk/publication/ letter-deep-coal-mining-in-the-uk 15 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/2021/03/01/case-cumbrian-mine-undermined-doubt-uk-market-coking-coal

ethicalconsumer.org 19 SHOPPING GUIDE Cookers

TOM BRYSON asks whether the era of cooking with gas is coming to an end.

his guide covers gas and electric the iconic Aga, which we criticise in the While the stated maximum energy cookers, including hobs, ovens ‘Companies behind the brands’ section on rating for ovens is A+++, our research did and combined units. page 24 for its high energy use. not find a single product on the market As household appliances go, using the highest rating. Only three Tcookers tend to have a long life, which brands were found to offer products makes choosing the right one all the more Energy efficiency featuring a second-best A++ on specific important. models, these were AEG, Grundig and Alongside the activities of the On average, cooking accounted for just Hoover. As these models were exceptional companies behind the brands, the main 3% of the overall energy consumption of in achieving an A++ rating, they received considerations from an ethical consumer a UK household in 2019. Still, as it’s an a product sustainability mark on our point of view are energy use and the appliance you’re likely to use every day score table; the vast majority of products resulting carbon emissions. For the for a decade or more, it’s worth taking available were rated A or A+, with B being first time in this guide, we recommend the time to choose a cooker that will the lowest rating we found on any current choosing electric rather than gas cookers minimise both your costs and carbon models. for those living in the UK, a reflection of footprint over the long term. the country’s ongoing transition towards Gas or electric? carbon-free electricity. Energy labels This is likely to be the first question you The market for cookers is a confusing Unlike most other household appliances, ask in your search for an eco-friendly array of brands and models, with this cookers and ovens are not yet subject cooker, but it’s one that hasn’t always guide listing over 40 different brand to the new improved EU (and UK been easy to answer. However, while it

names. However, many of these brands equivalent) energy labelling system (see may have led to fewer CO2 emissions in are ultimately owned by the same page 16). This means that, until the next the past, the evidence shows it’s time to multinationals that dominate the rest round of updates, cooking appliances ease off the gas. of the home appliances market such as are still labelled according to the old The table opposite presents the Whirlpool Corporation, AB Electrolux, system, which ranges from A+++ to D. average energy consumption of gas and Arçelik and Samsung. Another notable Manufacturers are required to include electric ovens and hobs, showing that player in the industry is the British energy labels for conventional gas and electric cookers typically consume less manufacturer AGA-Rangemaster, who electric ovens, whether they are built-in energy than gas (presented in Kilowatt produce a multitude of brands at the ovens or part of a freestanding cooker. Hours per use, week and year) for the premium end of the market including Hobs and grills are not covered by the same amount of use. labelling system, and neither are many On the other hand, gas cookers are ‘non-conventional’ types of oven (such as still somewhat cheaper to run due to A fully referenced ovens with built-in microwaves, steam- the higher price per energy unit of version of only ovens and more). Labels must be electricity. And while electric cookers this Product provided for each conventional oven may use slightly less energy to cook with, Guide is on our website ‘cavity’, meaning that units with multiple this doesn’t take into account the fact ovens may come with two or more that large amounts of energy are lost different energy labels. in the generation and transmission of

20 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 electrical power. Indeed, burning a fossil to emissions. Accordingly, the Committee fuel to produce electricity, sending that on Climate Change has recommended Going electric electricity down a wire before converting no new-build homes be connected to it back to heat to cook your food is clearly the gas grid after 2025, a measure that Now that we’ve convinced you to leave the less efficient than burning a fossil fuel has already been implemented in the gas in the past, there are some additional directly under your pan. As a result of Netherlands. choices to make when shopping for this, electric cookers have tended to lead All of which would suggest that, in the electric hobs and ovens. to higher overall carbon emissions than UK at least, electric cooking looks to be gas. That is, until recently. the better option for the future. In the UK, where the electricity grid Electric hobs is undergoing a gradual process of decarbonisation, the balance is now Gas and indoor For those used to cooking on gas, electric shifting. The right-hand columns of the pollution hobs can take a bit of getting used to. table below compare the CO2e emissions They typically take longer to heat up and associated with gas and electric cookers Growing awareness of the health risks cool down, making it trickier to control. based on the UK energy grid in 2012, 2016 associated with indoor combustion may However, this type of complaint will and 2020, showing that emissions from also help persuade you to turn off the be diminished by newer ceramic and electricity use have roughly halved over gas. Recent research shows that gas induction hobs, which offer faster heating eight years, while those from gas have cookers can cause harmful levels of and responsiveness. remained the same, to the point where nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide electric has begun to overtake gas as the inside the home, substances that are Ceramic and metal hotplates low-emissions option. linked to a range of health problems Traditional electric hobs are available with Moreover, the carbon impact of including heart problems, diabetes and either ceramic or metal heated surfaces. electrical appliances should continue cancer. If you are already using a gas Ceramic hobs heat up more quickly and to decline in line with the further cooker, you can mitigate these risks by are easier to clean than metal. They often planned decarbonisation of the grid. Gas installing a carbon monoxide detector, feature ‘dual zones’ on a single ring which appliances however, which burn fossil ventilation to the outside and by opening means that you can set it to the size of fuels at the point of use, will always lead windows when cooking. your pan, maximising energy efficiency. Metal (or ‘solid plate’) hobs are available on the cheaper end of the market, so ENERGY CONSUMPTION – GAS VS ELECTRIC may be a good option if you’re on a tight budget.

kWh kWh kWh Annual CO2e Annual CO2e Annual CO2e /use /week /year (Kg) 2020 (Kg) 2016 (Kg) 2012 Induction hobs Hobs (average) Induction differs from traditional electric hobs by using electromagnetism to Gas 0.90 54.51 381.60 70.42 70.21 70.68 directly heat the pan, leaving the hob Electric 0.71 43.01 301.04 70.18 124.04 138.48 surface cold. This process heats liquids Induction 0.50 30.53 213.70 49.82 88.05 98.30 such as oil and water much more quickly, reducing cooking times and wasting less Ovens (average) heat in the cooking process. All of this Gas 1.52 48.42 338.96 62.56 62.37 62.78 leads to better cooking time and greater energy efficiency; as you can see from Electric 1.09 34.72 243.07 56.67 100.16 111.82 the table (left), the average induction hob should now outperform gas and traditional electric hobs in terms of energy use and resulting emissions. ANNUAL CO2E (KG) 2012-2020 One drawback is that the induction process only works on pans with a Electric hobs magnetic base containing iron (cast iron, some stainless steel) – copper, glass, Electric ovens ceramic or aluminium pans simply won’t work. Check to see if the base of your pan is Induction hobs magnetic using a fridge magnet or look for an induction loop symbol. Gas hobs This problem can be alleviated through the use of a diffuser, basically a round Gas ovens sheet of metal with a handle, which sits in between the hob and the pan. Using a diffuser is likely to reduce energy efficiency since it essentially converts the induction hob into a traditional hob but may be a useful stopgap if you don’t have the right pans.

ethicalconsumer.org 21 USING THE TABLES Environment Animals People Politics +ve USING THE TABLES Ethiscore: the higher the score, the Positive ratings (+ve): better the company. Scored out of 14. Plus up to 1 extra point for Company Company Ethos: Ethos and up to 5 extra points for e = full mark Product Sustainability. = half mark Green (good) = 12+ E Product Sustainability: Amber (average) = 11.5–5 Various positive marks available Red (poor) = 4.5–0 depending on sector. H = worst rating h = middle rating = best rating/no criticisms found Best Buys are highlighted in blue

BRAND 14 + 6 extras) (out of Ethiscore Reporting Environmental Change Climate & Toxics Pollution Habitats & Resources Oil Palm Animal Testing Farming Factory Animal Rights Human Rights Rights Workers’ Chain Management Supply Marketing Irresponsible Arms & Military Supply Technologies Controversial Call Boycott Activity Political Finance Anti-Social Conduct Tax Ethos Company Sustainability Product COMPANY GROUP Miele 10 h h H H H Miele family & Zinkann family Montpellier 8.5 HH h H HH Montpellier Domestic Appliances Amica 8 HH HH HH Holding Wronki S.A CDA 8 HH HH HH Holding Wronki S.A Smeg 8 HH HH HH Smeg SpA AEG A++ ovens 7.5 h h H h H h H H h H 1 Investor AB Sharp 7 HH h H H h h H h Sharp Corp/Zorlu Holding AEG 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Belling 6.5 HH HH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited De'Longhi 6.5 H HHH HH h H De’Longhi Industrial SA Electrolux 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Essentials 6.5 h H HH h H H h H Dixons Carphone Plc Hoover A++ ovens 6.5 HH HH HH H h H 1 Haier Group Kenwood 6.5 HHHH HH h H De'Longhi Industrial SA Logik 6.5 h H HH h HH h H Dixons Carphone Plc New World 6.5 HHHH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Stoves 6.5 H HHH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Zanussi 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Grundig A++ ovens 6 h H H H H H H h h h H 1 Koç Holding AS,Arçelik AS Hotpoint 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp Indesit 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp KitchenAid, Cannon 6 h h h HHHH H h H Whirlpool Corp Baumatic 5.5 H HHH H H H h H Haier Group Bosch 5.5 h HHH H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Candy 5.5 H HHH H H H h H Haier Group Gaggenau 5.5 h H H H H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Hoover 5.5 H HHH H H H h H Haier Group Ikea 5.5 h h h H H H H h h HH Stichting INGKA Foundation Neff 5.5 h HHH H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Russell Hobbs 5.5 H H H h h H H H h h h Spectrum/ Matchstick Men Siemens 5.5 h H H h H H h h h H H Robert Bosch/Siemens AG Aga, Falcon 5 HHHH H h H h h h H The Middleby Corporation Beko, Blomberg, Grundig 5 h H H H H H H h h h H Koç Holding AS,Arçelik AS Leisure, Flavel 5 h HHH H H H h h h H Koç Holding AS,Arçelik AS Rangemaster, Mercury, 5 H HHH H h H h h h H The Middleby Corporation Rayburn, Redfyre, Stanley 5 H HHH H h H h h h H The Middleby Corporation

John Lewis 4.5 hHHH hHHHH H h h E John Lewis Partnership Gorenje 4 HHHH H H H h H h H Hisense Import and Export Co Panasonic 4 h H H h H H h H h H H H Panasonic Corporation Samsung 3.5 h h H h H H H H H H H H Samsung Group Bush 2 hHHHhhHHHH H H hH J Sainsbury plc

m nsu er o .o c r l g Best Buys are decided by the editorial team based on the research we have undertaken, the scoring system and the unique insight into the a

i issues that our editorial team has. 9 times out of 10 this will be the brand (or brands) that are top of the table but sometimes an ethical company

t e which is truly innovative scores less well on our rigid scoring system and we use the Best Buy and Recommended section to acknowledge this. A Y BES T BU company cannot be a Best Buy if it scores worst for Supply Chain Management.

22 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 SHOPPING GUIDE

Cookers ume ns r o .o c r l g

Electric ovens used, although no statistics were found i

h to support these claims. However, a BEST t

e Y Unlike with hobs, electric ovens are more obvious advantage of self-cleaning BUYS B U already more popular than gas, (as ovens from an environmental point-of- ES T B evidenced by the availability of many view is that they may enable you to avoid ‘dual-fuel’ free-standing cookers, which highly toxic oven cleaners. Because of the need to rapidly offer electric ovens combined with gas decarbonise to address climate change, hobs). Electric ovens are better for heat our Best Buy and Recommended advice distribution and accurate temperature Avoiding buying new is to only buy electric cookers, ovens control, making them ideal for baking. and hobs. Buying used Full steam ahead Given the lack of high-scoring brands on Miele is the only company on the list Steam ovens are becoming increasingly our list, not to mention the high cost of to both receive a best rating for supply popular, and are available from most new cooking appliances, you may well be chain management and to avoid being of the major brands, either as ‘steam- inclined to avoid buying new. The good marked down for likely tax avoidance. only’, which can cook with steam, or news is that, with cookers among the Miele produces built-in ovens with ‘combi-steam’, which can also be used longest lasting of household appliances, a maximum energy rating of A+, and like a conventional oven. Both types it shouldn’t be too hard to find a second- electric hobs (including induction). use an internal water canister, which hand unit with plenty of life left in it must be regularly refilled, to generate and that could save you a considerable steam inside the oven. Steam cooking amount of money. What is more, supply is considerably faster than roasting or of many household appliances has been Miele baking and is therefore likely to offer disrupted by Covid-19, so if you need a energy savings as well as the health cooker urgently, second-hand may be a 10 benefits of not having to cook with oil. better way to go. For reliability, it’s better to buy from a Self cleaning local appliance repair centre than from an A significant number of ovens now individual on an online marketplace like feature pyrolytic self-cleaning, eBay. That way it should come fully tested, which works by heating to extreme and lots of dealers also provide a delivery For freestanding electric cookers, see temperatures of over 400ºC. This means and fitting service. the Recommended brands below. that all food deposits are turned into ash for you to simply sweep away once Repairing what you have the oven is cool. Heating to such high Unlike with many other household temperatures for several hours at a time appliances, common faults with RECOMMENDED is clearly an energy-intensive process cookers, such as failing elements in (although definitive figures were hard to electric ovens, are often practical and Miele is a premium brand and its find, one test found that the self-cleaning economical to repair, so it’s worth calling cookers come with a high price tag. cycle consumed 8 kWh, which would a repair specialist about a faulty cooker If Miele is way outside your budget, be equivalent to around two weeks of before you think of chucking it out for a then British brand Montpellier, and normal use). Some proponents of self- new one. The UK Whitegoods website at Polish brands Amica and CDA, are cleaning ovens argue that the quality of ukwhitegoods.co.uk is a useful resource cheaper electric cooker options and are insulation needed to contain such high for repairs advice and spare parts for made by smaller companies who avoid temperatures mitigates the extra energy cookers and other appliances. being marked down for some of the worst activities seen with many of the larger multinationals in this industry, such as likely tax avoidance and Table highlights military supply. Amica is the only brand to make Only two companies featured in this guide received our best rating for Carbon freestanding cookers with induction Management and Reporting: Panasonic and Ikea. hobs. A majority of companies were considered to have insufficiently reported on scope 3 carbon emissions, despite the fact that the majority of emissions for the manufacture and supply of appliances is likely to occur in the use phase, which falls into scope 3. Robert Bosch GmbH was marked down for supplying parts to the automobile BRANDS TO AVOID industry, while Koç Holding had interests in petroleum as well as automobiles. Best: Panasonic Corporation, IKEA Ltd. We recommend avoiding companies Middle: AB Electrolux, Whirlpool Corp, Arçelik, Sharp cookers, Dixons Carphone Plc, connected to supplying weapons, or J Sainsbury plc, The Miele Group, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. military equipment used in oppressive Worst: Koç Holding, Haier Group, Hisense Import and Export Co, Amica SA, regimes. This includes the Koç brands John Lewis Partnership plc, Glen Dimplex Group, Matchstick Men Group Limited, Flavel, Leisure and Blomberg, as well Montpellier Domestic Appliances Ltd, Robert Bosch GmbH (automobile), Siemens, as Beko and Grundig which are also Smeg SpA, De’Longhi SpA, The Middleby Corporation. the subject of a boycott call (see p. 17).

ethicalconsumer.org 23 SHOPPING GUIDE Cookers

Clever cooking WHAT TO BUY WHAT NOT TO BUY

Besides what you cook with, how you cook is also important for l Electric cookers Although l A traditional Aga, which can reducing energy consumption. they currently have a similar consume as much energy as Here are some simple steps you can take to save energy: climate impact to gas cookers, some people’s entire house! as the electricity supply l An oven with an energy In the oven moves towards renewables, rating of B or below. The vast l Think carefully about how you reheat food – microwaves are they will become the better majority of ovens come with A 60-80% more efficient than vens.o long-term option. They also or A+ ratings, so anything rated l For baked potatoes, give them ten minutes in the microwave avoid the potential health risks B represents a bad deal both before finishing in the oven. associated with gas (see article for running costs and for the l Cook as much as possible in one go to make sure all the space for more). environment. and heat is being used. l Induction hobs are energy l Products from companies l Keep the oven closed while cooking as each time you open the efficient and super-quick to involved in military supply or door the oven loses heat and requires more energy to get back heat food! likely tax avoidance up to temperature. l A++ energy label This is – see Brands to Avoid on page l Defrost frozen food in the fridge overnight to reduce the the best rating we found on 23 for more and the military cooking time. the market, so ensures you and tax sections in the Fridges l Whenever possible use the fan assist cooking option that are getting a product with guide on page 15. allows you to set the oven at a lower temperature. maximum efficiency. l For longer cooking cycles, you can switch off the oven 10 or more minutes before the end of the cooking time and use the residual heat to finish cooking. Companies behind the brands l Maintain the seal on your oven. l Glass and ceramic dishes heat more efficiently than metal. Koç Holding AS owns multiple home appliance brands via Arçelik AS, in which it owns a 57% share. These are Beko, On the hob Blomberg, Grundig, Defy, Flavel and Leisure. Koç also owns l Keep lids on pots and pans wherever practical. an airline and several energy sector businesses, including l Copper-bottomed or cast-iron pans heat more effectively petroleum shipping and power generation plants that use than stainless steel. natural gas. It is also a major supplier to the Turkish military l When possible use a steamer to cook multiple veggies at the via its subsidiary Otoka. See the Boycott Turkey article on page same time. 17. l Cut food into smaller pieces so it will cook more quickly. Middleby Corporation is the American owner of Aga- l Use the right sized pan. According to SmarterHouse, a 6” Rangemaster and describes itself as the leader in the “ultra- pan on an 8” electric ring wastes more than 40% of the heat premium”, kitchen appliance market. The company recently produced by the ring. published a sustainability report for the first time since 2009 following pressure from shareholders to do so. It nevertheless Straw box cooking received worst ratings in a number of categories including A long-time favourite of earlier Ethical Consumer reports has Carbon Management and Reporting, Supply Chain Management, been the idea of making your own 'straw box' or 'hay box'. This and Conflict Minerals. involves placing a pan of food, once heated, into an insulated Traditional Agas and their equivalents are designed to stay on box to finish the cooking process. There are lots of videos/ all the time, constantly consuming fuel and, as a result, consume instructions on the web for anyone interested. Wrapping exorbitant amounts of energy. In recent times this has led to towels around a pan on an insulated surface is an even lower- strong condemnation by environmentalists such as George tech way of achieving the same result. Monbiot and Mike Berners-Lee.

24 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 ETHICAL CONSUMER Give a gift subscription Inspire someone with the ONLY gift of a year’s subscription £29.95 to Ethical Consumer. PER_____ YEAR And give a gift of an olive tree to Palestine

Your gift recipient will receive access to all our print and web products: l Print and digital copies of the magazine & access to our subscriber-only website Overseas l A welcome letter saying who the gift is from and log in details Subscriptions so they can access our subscriber-only website l PLUS: A certificate of sponsorship of an organic olive sapling in Palestine, where Print magazine olive trees and their harvest provide the livelihood for entire communities. £45.95 One year’s gift subscription to Ethical Consumer includes six issues of the magazine Digital magazine plus access to all our 130+ Shopping Guides online with daily updated company (pdf or flip book) £29.95 scores, the stories behind the scores, customisable ratings, and digital back issues.

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ethicalconsumer.org 25 SHOPPING GUIDE Vacuum cleaners Do your vacuum cleaner’s ethics suck?

JANE TURNER looks at electric vacuum cleaners and their manual alternatives.

acuum cleaners come in all What no Energy However, Which? actually found that shapes and sizes: corded and both bagged and bagless vacuums can cordless; bagged and bagless; Label? lose suction as the bag or container fills stick, upright, cylinder and The EU Energy up. Vhandheld. This guide looks at the Label for mains Nevertheless, as a result of makers of all these different types. operated (corded) Dyson’s court case, vacuum cleaner We haven’t looked at vacuum cleaners vacuum cleaners manufacturers are no longer required to since 2003 and that means we haven’t was introduced display an energy label on their products. been able to scrutinise the activities of in 2014 to cut We didn’t find any manufacturers James Dyson’s company, the world leader energy use across voluntarily displaying an Energy Label on in vacuum cleaners. Europe, but it was their websites. Dyson is the brand leader, but the withdrawn in 2019 EU Ecodesign regulations still apply new US brand Shark is making waves. after Dyson argued to corded vacuums but not to cordless Both companies are incorporated in tax in court that the and handheld models. These regulations havens. pick up tests didn’t restrict the maximum motor wattage of Most vacuum cleaners sold now are of reflect real life corded vacuums to 900W and the noise the bagless and cordless variety, but we use because tests level to 80 decibels. They also require also look at manual cleaners and the role were conducted minimum cleaning, filtration and they can play in a lower carbon life. Like with an empty durability standards. the eponymous ‘Hoover’ vacuum cleaner, vacuum rather than full of dust. Dyson When the Energy Label existed, and the ‘Dustbuster’ (Black & Decker) argued that this test favoured bagged cordless models were exempt. One handheld vacuum, consequence of that was that these manual many manufacturers focused products also have on cordless models. For an eponymous The European Commission example, Dyson announced brand name, said that lower-wattage in 2018, before the Energy ‘Ewbank’. Label was annulled, that it vacuum cleaners could save wasn’t making any new corded models. up to 20 TWh of electricity per This means there is no labelling scheme for year by 2020, the equivalent of consumers looking for energy- efficient vacuums. In 2019, the annual household energy the European Commission said that lower-wattage consumption of Belgium. vacuum cleaners could save A fully referenced up to 20 TWh of electricity version of vacuum cleaners because they might per year by 2020, the equivalent of the this Product be energy efficient when empty but use annual household energy consumption of Guide is on our website more energy when full of dust. Dyson, Belgium. coincidentally, only makes bagless The EU is working on a revised version cleaners. of the Energy Label and is also looking at

26 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 Do your vacuum cleaner’s

A survey of the corded brands in this We gave all manual sweeper models guide with an Ethiscore of 8 or more an extra Product Sustainability point for found that most models were between being zero carbon in use. ethics suck? 700W and 900W (the maximum wattage For the greenest option, the original allowed). But Numatic, Bissell, Ewbank, manual sweeper is a dustpan and brush Swan, and Shark all made at least one which has all the advantages of a manual model with a motor of 450 watts or less. sweeper, but more so, and you get more A smaller motor means a smaller exercise whilst cleaning. This method energy use. is obviously better suited to hard floors rather than carpets and not so good for Voltage of cordless vacuums allergy sufferers. The power of cordless vacuum cleaners is measured in volts (V) – more volts equals more wattage equals more energy Bagged vs consumed. Overall, cordless vacuums tend to be lower wattage than corded bagless vacuums, but we could not find wattage With bagless vacuum cleaners information for any cordless models. We you don’t have the problem of found some manufacturers’ websites replacing or reusing dust bags. that indicated battery voltage for But emptying bagless containers some models but not for all, and some may be an issue for allergy manufacturers didn’t indicate voltage at sufferers. all. As discussed above, some manufacturers of bagless vacuums claim that bagged models lose Manual sweepers suction as the bag fills up, and that bagless vacs don’t. Some also claim Advantages: their bagless systems have hygienic broadening its remit to cordless vacuum l Manual power so zero carbon in use. emptying features. However, Which? cleaners. Though we are no longer part of l Fewer resources in manufacture found that both bagged and bagless the EU, it is unlikely that manufacturers because it’s a smaller appliance. vacuums can lose suction as the bag will make separate models just for the UK l No electronics so no conflict minerals or container fills up. They also tested market. But will labels be displayed on issues. bagless vacs with hygienic emptying vacuums for sale in the UK? l Quiet. features, and found they still released The only options for consumers looking l Light. much more dust into the room when to cut energy consumption are to: l Cheap to buy and no running costs. emptied than bagged models. l buy a corded vacuum which is at least covered by the Ecodesign regulations According to carpet sweeper maker Dust bags for bagged cleaners l look at motor size – lower wattage Ewbank, the main drawbacks to a You can get both disposable means lower energy use. manual sweeper compared to an bags and reusable bags for most electric vacuum is that they don’t clean vacuums either from the vacuum as well because they have no suction. A manufacturer or there are loads of Eco vacuum cleaners more manageable drawback is that the other companies that make them. dust container is smaller so you have If disposable then opt for paper Motor size of corded vacuums to empty them more often. ones rather than synthetic so they The power of a corded vacuum cleaner One option would be to use your are at least biodegradable. If reusable is the most common specification given electric vacuum less often by using a then you can get cloth bags that can be by a manufacturer and is often used as carpet sweeper in between washed and reused. You can even empty a selling point. It is usually found under vacuuming sessions. and reuse paper bags, but the bags act Technical Specifications on a website, Ewbank, Bissell and as a filter and need air to pass given in watts. Beldray make through them so after a According to Which?, a bigger motor manual sweepers while the paper may get with a bigger wattage does not necessarily as well as electric clogged with dust. equate to better cleaning performance. vacuums.

ethicalconsumer.org 27 SHOPPING GUIDE Vacuum cleaners

USING THE TABLES Environment Animals People Politics +ve USING THE TABLES Ethiscore: the higher the score, the Positive ratings (+ve): better the company. Scored out of 14. Company Ethos: Plus up to 1 extra point for Company = full mark Ethos and up to 5 extra points for e Product Sustainability. E = half mark Green (good) = 12+ Product Sustainability: Amber (average) = 11.5–5 Various positive marks available Red (poor) = 4.5–0 depending on sector. H = worst rating h = middle rating = best rating/no criticisms found Best Buys are highlighted in blue

BRAND 14 + 6 extras) (out of Ethiscore Reporting Environmental Change Climate & Toxics Pollution Habitats & Resources Oil Palm Animal Testing Farming Factory Animal Rights Human Rights Rights Workers’ Chain Management Supply Marketing Irresponsible Arms & Military Supply Technologies Controversial Call Boycott Activity Political Finance Anti-Social Conduct Tax Ethos Company Sustainability Product COMPANY GROUP Beldray manual sweepers [S] 10.5 H h H H H 1 UP Global Sourcing Holdings PLC Miele 10 h h HH H Miele family & Zinkann family Vax 10 H h H h h h Techtronic Industries Co Ltd Beldray 9.5 H h HH H UP Global Sourcing Holdings PLC Bissell manual sweepers [S] 9 HH HH HH 1 BISSELL Netherlands Holding Ewbank manual sweepers [S] 9 HH HH HH 1 Ewbank Products Ltd Numatic ERP 180 eco [S] 8.5 HH HH HH 0.5 Numatic International Ltd Bissell 8 HH HH HH BISSELL Netherlands Holding Ewbank 8 HH HH HH Ewbank Products Ltd Gtech 8 HH HH HH Grey technology Limited Henry 8 HH HH HH Numatic International Ltd Numatic 8 HH HH HH Numatic International Ltd Sebo 8 H HHH HH Stein & Co GmbH Swan 8 HH HH HH Swan Products Limited Black + Decker 7.5 h H H h h h H h H Stanley Black & Decker AEG 6.5 h h H h H h H H h H Investor AB Essentials 6.5 h H HH h H H h H Dixons Carphone Plc Morphy Richards 6.5 HH HH H h H H Kilkee Investments Unlimited Shark 6 H H h H H H H h H JS Holding Limited Partnership Bosch 5.5 h H H H H H HHH Robert Bosch Stiftung GMBH Dyson 5.5 HHHH h H H h h H Weybourne Holdings Pte Ltd Hoover 5.5 HHHH H H H h H Haier Group Russell Hobbs 5.5 H H H h h H H H h h h Spectrum/Matchstick Men Beko 5 h H H H H H H h h h H Koç Holding AS, Arçelik AS

John Lewis 4.5 hHHH hHHHH H h h E John Lewis Partnership Samsung 3.5 h h H h H H H HHHHH Samsung Group Bush 2 h HHH h h H H H H H H h H J Sainsbury plc

All the research behind these ratings is available for subscribers to see on the score tables on www.ethicalconsumer.org Definitions of all the categories are at www.ethicalconsumer.org/our-ethical-ratings [S] = sustainable product: manual sweeper or Numatic is made with recycled plastic parts m nsu er o .o c r l g Best Buys are decided by the editorial team based on the research we have undertaken, the scoring system and the unique insight into the a

i issues that our editorial team has. 9 times out of 10 this will be the brand (or brands) that are top of the table but sometimes an ethical company

28 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 m nsu er o .o c r l g

Table highlights Cordless or corded? i

h BEST t

e Y Product Sustainability Both Gtech and Dyson now only BUYS B U We gave all manual sweeper models an make cordless vacuums and they are ES T B extra Product Sustainability point for becoming increasingly prevalent on being zero carbon in use. the market. However, the rechargeable Electric vacuum cleaners The Numatic ERP180 is made from lithium-ion batteries that cordless We are only recommending corded up to 75% plastic parts reused from the vacuums run on have environmental models which avoid unnecessary car industry and so receives an extra half and social impacts of their own. battery issues, are cheaper and point. In the case of vacuums, where there perform better in use. are many lithium battery-free options Miele, Vax and Beldray score Carbon Reporting – i.e. corded vacuums – cordless and best overall on the score table but 16 of the 22 companies in this guide rechargeable vacuums can be easily their smallest motors were 800W, scored our worst rating for their carbon avoided. 850W and 700W respectively. See emissions reporting and management. the Recommended brands below for This included two of the bestselling Lithium-ion batteries smaller motors. brands, Gtech and Dyson, neither of Used in cordless vacuums but also as Miele models cost about £300 on which said very much about their climate storage for renewable energy, in mobile average but they do have a cheaper impact. phones and in electric cars, lithium- £200 model. Vax’s top Which? scoring The five exceptions are Miele, Vax, ion (Li-ion) batteries are a crucial model costs £120. Beldray’s one Beldray, AEG and Samsung who scored a step forward in battery technology for corded vacuum costs around £130. middle rating. tackling climate change. But the mining No-one got a best rating. This is and processing of this mineral known as Manual sweepers disappointing in a sector where carbon ‘white gold’ is problematic. Beldray also makes manual sweepers emissions are a key part of both the The big producers of lithium are China, costing just £30 and is our Best Buy for manufacture and use of vacuum cleaners. the USA, Australia and South America these. (Argentina, Bolivia and Chile). In South Supply chain management America, lithium is extracted from brine None of the companies did much better under salt flats. Its processing uses a on policies to protect workers’ rights lot of water and, because it comes from RECOMMENDED in their supply chains, despite most some of the driest places on earth, local manufacturing taking place in the Far communities and farmers are often Electric vacuum cleaners East (see page 31). deprived of water. In addition, toxic We would also recommend Numatic 15 of the companies scored worst waste products that are filtered out of the and Henry UK-made corded vacuums. whilst 3 scored a middle rating. The brine and hydrochloric acid used in the They all have smaller 420W-620W notable exceptions are Miele, Beldray, processing of lithium, can leak into rivers motors. John Lewis and Sainsbury’s who all got a and the water supply. Where lithium is The Numatic ERP 180 best rating. mined from rock using chemicals, similar has recycled plastic parts contamination of water can occur. and a 420W motor and Conflict minerals An in-depth investigation by the costs £130. The Henry All the companies in this guide use Washington Post in 2016 focused on the Eco also has a 420W electronics that contain minerals like Atacama people in Argentina and their motor and costs £150. tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold. The concerns about contamination, water main source of these minerals is the shortages and how much they share in Manual sweepers Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the profits from the operations on their Bissell and Ewbank are our where they are mined in conditions of ancestral lands. recommended brands. armed conflict and human rights abuses. Lithium-based batteries also require Ewbank’s multi surface sweeper (Evo3) Most companies did not have an raw materials like cobalt, nickel and costs £27 whilst Bissell’s Natural adequate policy on the sourcing of these graphite, which further complicate the Sweep costs £28. minerals. Only three companies did – Vax supply chain. For example, over 20% and Black&Decker getting a best rating of cobalt exports from the Democratic whilst AEG got a middle. Republic of Congo, the world’s top producer, come from unregulated Supply to the military artisanal mines that often employ BRANDS TO AVOID See the fridges guide for details about children. And for nickel and graphite, AEG, Beko, Bosch and Samsung’s links to producing countries cope with health Beko is the subject of a boycott for the defence industry and the military. impacts, pollution and deforestation. its links to the oppressive regime of Turkey. Beko is owned by a Turkish company which also supplies the Turkish regime with military vehicles. See page 17. We would also suggest avoiding Dyson for its role in getting rid of the Energy Label.

ethicalconsumer.org 29 SHOPPING GUIDE Vacuum cleaners

And, like fossil fuels, lithium is a finite resource so there needs to be a circular recycling solution to make its use sustainable. According to Friends of the Earth, because they contain compounds of various metals, the technology for recycling lithium batteries is currently inadequate and expensive. They often end up in landfill or are incinerated. It argues for tighter recycling regulations and better recycling technology. As we become more reliant on lithium technology, we need something similar to the conflict minerals regulations – the Dodd Frank Act – which covers the gold, tungsten, tin and tantalum used in Lithium is extracted electronics. from salt flats like In February 2021, Amnesty this one in Bolivia in International published a set of principles South America but at what cost to local for businesses and governments for communities? ensuring that lithium is not linked to human rights abuses or environmental damage from extraction to end-of-life. Companies behind the brands Amnesty International also calls on manufacturers to design batteries for UK company Numatic has made its well- competitive. While Chinese workers’ maximum resource efficiency, including known Henry vacuum in Somerset for wages have risen dramatically in recent innovations to use fewer materials and more than 35 years. years, the average wage in manufacturing minerals, and to work towards 100% They also seem to have durability remains around £2.60 to the UK’s £8.20. safely recycled content in batteries. 51 and repairability as their main selling Factory space is also much cheaper and civil society organisations across the points which is pretty rare: “We pride more readily available abroad.” world have endorsed the principles. ourselves on the fact that we can still But he added that by manufacturing in More details of the metals used in supply replacement parts for all Numatic the UK it would save shipping costs and

batteries appear in our batteries guide vacuum cleaners ever produced … right CO2 emissions from shipping which may – www.ethicalconsumer.org/energy/ back to No.1.” soon become more of a consideration in shopping-guide/batteries Numatic advertises its 420W vacuums, buying decisions. the Henry Eco and Numatic ERP180, as The manufacture of a UK-made What to do with waste batteries having high-efficiency motors because vacuum cleaner is currently on hold. If you do have a cordless vacuum, of their 30% reduction in energy usage Unfortunately, Gtech also make you may need to replace the battery. compared to its models with 620W leaf blowers and patio heaters, two Although some councils collect batteries motors. unnecessary high-carbon products. as part of their household collection Numatic also says the packaging for Ewbank Products originated in services, in most areas waste batteries its Henry Eco is 80% made from recycled Accrington in 1864, the brand name have to be taken to the local recycling materials. Numatic claims its ERP180 coming from the Ewbank area of the town centre or a battery drop-off point. UK is made from up to 75% plastic parts where the factory was located. It started legislation requires all battery retailers recycled from the car industry. off making manual washing machines and distributors who sell or supply 32 kg Unfortunately, none of Numatic’s and mangles and has been making carpet or more of portable batteries annually to ethical policies meet our strict criteria sweepers since 1880. It is still based in the offer a free takeback collection of waste to get a middle but at least they do have UK, but it stated that its main factory was or used batteries. policies, unlike most of the other small now in Ningbo, China. In some products, the battery’s not companies. They are therefore only a The eponymous Dustbuster is replaceable. Another good reason to avoid Recommended brand, not a Best Buy. owned by Black & Decker, a company cordless vacuums. Nick Grey started Gtech (Grey well-known for its power tools. Its Technology) in 2001. After working for parent US company, Stanley Black & Other drawbacks to cordless Vax as Head of Product Development, Decker, also makes storage for military vacuums he decided to go it alone. Gtech is guns, electronic security systems, and Which? says that on average: based in Worcester in the UK where the equipment for oil and gas companies to l The best cordless vac is twice as research and development takes place. use in their pipeline constructions and for expensive as the best corded one. Manufacturing is done in China. inspection. l Cordless vacs suck up 41% of dust Nick Grey talked about making his next Bissell’s Natural Sweep manual from carpets compared to 70% for vacuum cleaner in the UK rather than in sweeper “contains parts that are 100% corded. China in a 2018 New Statesman article: recycled plastic and PVC-free” but it l Cordless are less durable than corded “You can’t build things that are hugely doesn’t say what percentage of parts are and fare less well in reliability tests. labour-intensive in the UK – it just isn’t made from recycled plastic.

30 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 WHERE ARE VACUUM CLEANERS MADE? Spotlight on Dyson It is pretty safe to say that most vacuums are made in the Far East. For example: James Dyson turned l Beldray says that 85% of its products the vacuum cleaner come from China. into a design icon l Ewbank’s specification sheets for its and to many he is a products say made in China. brilliant inventor and l Gtech says the wages are cheaper entrepreneur. in China but they are planning to But he is also a make a vacuum cleaner in the UK (see high-profile Brexit Companies behind the brands). supporter and one l Dyson used to make its vacuums of the few prominent in the UK but moved production to businessmen who Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines was. It was widely in 2002. reported that he then left the UK in There are a couple of notable 2019 and moved exceptions however: Dyson’s headquarters l Numatic has made its Henry and from Wiltshire to Numatic vacuums in Somerset for more Singapore where he than 35 years – the steel components owns the country’s are manufactured in Wales, the motors most expensive delivered from Scotland and the bodies penthouse costing are vacuum moulded in Somerset. $79 million. Everything is made, painted and Dyson said the assembled in the UK. move wasn’t for tax l Sebo says its machines are ‘Made in reasons. (Singapore Germany’. “With pride we can say that is on our list of tax 90% of all components used are made havens – www. and developed by SEBO.” ethicalconsumer.org/ ethical-consumers- list-tax-havens). He said it was because Leave campaign in 2016 after he lost his most of Dyson’s sales and operations were first legal challenge to the Labelling rules. now in that region. The company stopped Since then, Dyson has repeatedly manufacturing its products in the UK advocated stripping away European in 2002 and now makes everything in rights and protections because they stifle Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. business. From our point of view, many But it still apparently employs around of these rules are in place to protect 3,000 people in the UK doing research consumers and the environment. and development. James Dyson was listed as the richest He also said the move to Singapore man in the UK by the 2020 Sunday Times wasn’t to guard against Brexit, especially Rich List, with his fortune estimated at the sort of no-deal Brexit he once argued £16.2 billion. He increased his net worth for. Singapore had, however, signed a by £3.6 billion in one year. trade agreement with the EU, in October Some consumers may also be 2018, which would give Dyson better deterred by his long-term support for the access to EU markets than if it had stayed Conservative Party. in no-deal Britain. Beeswax Dyson Farming is an WHAT TO BUY James Dyson used to support British agricultural company owned by James membership of the euro. In 2000, he said Dyson. It has four arable farms and l a corded vacuum with a small motor to that it would be “suicidal” for Britain not 35,000 acres of farmland making James reduce energy consumption to join the euro. But his opposition to the Dyson number 25 in the top 50 UK l a zero-carbon-in-use manual sweeper EU started in 2014, only days after new landowners. Dyson claims that its farms to cut down on the amount of times you EU standards for vacuum cleaners were are sustainable and regenerative and are use an electric vacuum introduced. “innovating farming for the future”. He complained that the EU Energy Dyson invested £2 billion in an electric WHAT NOT TO BUY Labelling scheme discriminated against car project which it was going to make in his bagless vacuums and in 2018 he Singapore. But Dyson’s electric car dream l A cordless vacuum with a lithium finally won a 5-year-long legal battle to ended abruptly in 2019 after four years battery have the regulation overturned on the and production of a driveable prototype, l Products from companies involved in grounds that it misled consumers. when Dyson couldn’t make the figures the arms trade – see Brands to Avoid on He had already decided to back the stack up. page 29 and page 15 of the fridges guide

ethicalconsumer.org 31 SHOPPING GUIDE Beer & lager Finding ethics in a brewery?

CLARE CARLILE looks for ethical options amongst the high-profile beer and lager brands.

lthough alcohol consumption process, are certified organic or vegan, and in 2019, in India, it was accused of in the UK has declined during or are innovating around low-carbon harassing, intimidating and sacking the pandemic, sales of branded solutions. We’ve also tried to have a union members. In 2020, a subsidiary of bottles and cans of beer and spread of companies from across the UK the company was also accused of funding Alager from supermarkets have soared. so that you can buy locally as much as paramilitary groups in Colombia – a claim We’ve therefore updated this guide. possible, although many of the beers are which it denies. The market is dominated by six giant also available online. Heineken is the second largest beer multinationals, many of which have Although we may not have reviewed company in the world with sales of $26 displayed dubious ethics, as well as them, the small craft brewer near you billion. It has been repeatedly accused of continuing to fall short when it comes may often be your most ethical option. We discrimination. to addressing their carbon emissions. discuss the questions to ask them later in In 2018, the company was forced to We discuss their climate ratings on p.35, the guide. pull a racist advert after widespread along with the decisions you can make to outrage. lower the footprint of your pint. In 2019, the company was also Luckily, there are also more than The giant accused of ongoing exploitation of ‘beer 2,000 smaller local craft brewers out girls’ in Nigeria and nine other countries there to choose from, some of which multinational in Africa. The company hired young are really innovating when it comes to brewers women to promote its beer at events, who ethical options. We couldn't do ethical were frequently sexually assaulted. “Our checks on them all, so we have picked Many of the most well-recognised employer thinks: if you do not want to be a handful by way of example which are brands are brewed by just six giant groped, you have to look for another job." doing something particularly interesting companies, which have been linked to Some stated that they had been pressured such as using food waste in the brewing multiple abuses. into having intercourse with managers AB InBev is the largest beer company in order to keep their jobs. A former HR in the world, with sales of over $52 billion. Manager for the company claims that Its brands include Corona which has, Heineken knew about the abuses for years strangely, seen growing sales during the but chose not to address them because pandemic. the PR would damage the company’s The company has received several global reputation at a time when it was criticisms in recent years for its violation of workers' rights, in particular for violation of union rights. In 2018, in Peru, it was accused of unilaterally discarding parts of a collective bargaining agreement with the A fully referenced workers’ union version of for its brewery, this Product Guide is on | Dreamstime.com © Olgakotsareva our website

32 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 celebrated for its work around HIV. Who makes what? “Better to frame that [the exploitation of The table below shows the dominance of these companies over the UK market. beer girls] as a local custom: ‘That’s how Brands are often owned by one company but either distributed or licensed out to they do things over there.’” and brewed by another. Sometimes a brand is even owned by one company but brewed In 2019, workers in South Africa also by a partnership of others, as is the case with Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. protested against a ‘sex for shifts’ system We’ve ranked the beer based 50% on the brand owner and 50% on the licensed at a Heineken brewery, where women distributor or brewer(s) in these cases. were forced to have intercourse with The Big Their UK Brands supervisors in return for work, by the Multinationals company’s service provider, Imperial. The company denies having turned a blind AB InBev Beck’s, Budweiser, Camden Town, Corona, Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Stella Artois eye to sexual harassment claims. Asahi is next largest ($19.2 billion) and Asahi Group Asahi, Dark Star, Grolsch, Meantime, Peroni Nastro Azzuro, Pilsner Holdings Urquell, Fuller’s (50%, brand owned by Fuller, Smith and Turner) faces a social media boycott of its Tyskie brand in Poland after its subsidiary Carlsberg 61 Deep, Carlsberg, Holsten Pils, Hobgoblin, Owd Roger, Pearl Jet, Marston’s Brewing Pedigree, Resolution, Special Brew, Tetley’s, Tuborg, Wainwright, Brooklyn Kompania Piwowarska sponsored an Company (50%, brand owned by Brooklyn Brewery), Kirin Ichiban (50%, brand event by Poland’s right-wing magazine owned by Kirin), Mahou (50%, brand owned by Mahou), San Miguel (50%, Gazeta Polska in 2020. The magazine brand owned by Mahou) is known for its homophobic views: in Carlsberg A/S Beerlao, CELIA (50%, distributed by Empress Ale) 2019, it was prevented by Polish courts Heineken Amstel, Birra Moretti, Desperados, Foster’s, Heineken, John Smith’s, from handing out ‘LGBTQ-Free Zone’ Kronenbourg 1664, Murphy’s stickers, instead distributing ones that Kirin Fourpure, Little Creatures, Kirin Ichiban (50%, brewed by Carlsberg read ‘LGBTQ Ideology-Free Zone’. Its Marston’s) event awarded ‘man of the year’ to Molson Coors Carling, Coors, Miller, Sharp’s, Staropramen, Cobra (50%, 50% owned by Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s Balimoria Holdings) ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, under The larger UK Brands which Poland is the least LBGTQ-friendly Brewers country in the EU. Kaczyński is known for his Islamophobic and Homophobic views. Marston’s McEwan’s, Thwaites Kirin is next ($17.8 billion) and has Fuller, Smith and Fuller’s (50%, brewed by Asahi), London Pride (50%, brewed by Asahi) recently ended ties to the Burmese Turner military, following a military coup in CK Asset Holdings Abbot Ale, Greene King, Old Speckled Hen the country in February 2021, and after a boycott call was made against the company in August 2020. campaigns on areas including food Kirin previously ran a joint venture The smaller waste, industrial agriculture, and food with the Union of Myanmar Economic citizenship. It runs a gleaning network Holdings (MEH), a company controlled breweries across the UK, rescuing fresh, surplus by the Burmese military. In September Luckily, ethical, local breweries have fruit and veg from farms where it would 2020, Amnesty International published popped up all over the UK during recent otherwise be wasted. Toast is also a a report which found that around £12 years, making it easier than ever to certified B-Corp. billion in dividend payments had been minimise the impact of your pint. Hepworth Brewery is a really transferred from MEH to military units impressive example of a small company over the 20 years since it was founded. Organic and Fairtrade taking significant steps towards Shareholders in the company included Organic beer is pretty easy to get hold sustainable production. It is a vegan, Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in- of, with many of the smaller breweries organic company, using solar panels and, chief who has been instated as leader on our table either doing all or some it claims, the world’s first beer-source following the coup, and military battalions organic beers. Organic products are heat pump at its brewery! It has created that Amnesty has linked to crimes against labelled [O] on the table and receive a reed beds to deal with its least harmful humanity against Rohingya populations, positive Product Sustainability mark. liquid waste naturally, and is hoping soon as well as war crimes in Kachin and You can look up Soil Association- to install a system that would recapture northern Shan state. In early February, certified Organic companies on their the CO2 that escapes during fermentation Kirin announced that it would sever ties website. to use to keep oxygen away from its beer with MEH. We only found one Fairtrade beer – (rather than having to buy it in liquid Kirin also previously admitted that its Little Valley Brewery’s Radical Roots pale form). Hepworth is hoping to get its site to subsidiary made three donations to the ale. The beer is also vegan and organic, carbon neutral within just five years. military and authorities in 2017, while and scores an impressive 17 on our table. they were involved in the ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya. The Other standout companies donations totalled USD$30,000, and Min As well as brewing using surplus bread, Aung Hlaign received the first in person, Toast donates all profits to charities stating that it would in part fund “security changing the food system, with the personnel and state service personnel”. majority going to Feedback. Feedback

ethicalconsumer.org 33 USING THE TABLES Environment Animals People Politics +ve USING THE TABLES Ethiscore: the higher the score, the Positive ratings (+ve): better the company. Scored out of 14. Plus up to 1 extra point for Company Company Ethos: Ethos and up to 5 extra points for e = full mark Product Sustainability. = half mark Green (good) = 12+ E Product Sustainability: Amber (average) = 11.5–5 Various positive marks available Red (poor) = 4.5–0 depending on sector. H = worst rating h = middle rating = best rating/no criticisms found Best Buys are highlighted in blue

Little Valley Radical Roots [O,Vg,F] 17 H e 3 Little Valley Brewery Hepworth [Vg, O] 16.5 e 1.5 Hepworth & Company Brewers Toast Ale [Vg, S] 16.5 e 1.5 Toast Ale Ltd Little Valley Brewery [O, Vg] 16 H e 2 Little Valley Brewery Stroud Brewery [O, Vg] 15.5 H e 1.5 Stroud Brewery Limited Freedom organic [Vg, O] 14 HH H e 2 Freedom Brewery Ltd Black Isle bottled [Vg, O] 13.5 H H 1.5 Black Isle Brewing Co

Nirvana Brewery [O, Vg] 13.5 HH H e 1.5 Copper Tun Ltd Freedom [Vg] 13 HH H e 1 Freedom Brewery Ltd Black Isle cask [O] 12.5 H H 0.5 Black Isle Brewing Co CELIA Organic [O, Vg] 12.5 h h h H h 1.5 Carlsberg AS/Empress Ale Ltd

Nirvana Brewery [Vg] 12.5 HH H e 0.5 Copper Tun Ltd Brooklyn [Vg] 11.5 H h h h h h E 0.5 Carlsberg/Brooklyn/Marston's CELIA Dark [Vg] 11.5 h h h H h 0.5 Carlsberg AS/Empress Ale Ltd Beerlao [Vg] 10.5 h h h h h h H 0.5 Carlsberg A/S Carlsberg, Special Brew [Vg] 10 h h h h h h h h h 0.5 Carlsberg A/S/Marston's plc Holsten Pils, Tuborg [Vg] 10 h h h h h h h h h 0.5 Carlsberg A/S/Marston’s plc Kirin Ichiban [Vg] 10 h h H h h h H 0.5 Carlsberg/Kirin/Marston's Samuel Smith's organic [Vg, O] 10 HH HH H h h 2 Samuel Smith Old Brewery BrewDog [Vg] 9.5 H h HH H h h 1 BrewDog plc Hobgoblin, Tetley’s 9.5 h h h h h h h h h Carlsberg A/S/Marston’s plc Marston's, Wainwright 9.5 h h h h h h h h h Carlsberg A/S/Marston’s plc Cobra [Vg] 9 h HH H h H H 1 Molson Coors /Bilimoria Holdings Samuel Smith's [Vg] 9 HH HH H h h 1 Samuel Smith Old Brewery San Miguel, Mahou [Vg] 9 h H h h h h H h h 0.5 Carlsberg AS/Mahou/Marston’s BrewDog 8.5 H h HH H h h BrewDog plc Fourpure, Little Creatures [Vg] 8.5 h H h h H h h h H 0.5 Kirin Holdings Company Ltd Asahi, Dark Star Hophead [Vg] 8 h H HH H h h H 0.5 Asahi Group Holdings Ltd Grolsch, Meantime [Vg] 8 h H HH H h h H 0.5 Asahi Group Holdings Ltd Peroni, Pilsner Urquell [Vg] 8 h H HH H h h H 0.5 Asahi Group Holdings Ltd Beck's, Stella Artois [Vg] 7.5 h h h h H HHHH 0.5 AB InBev Budweiser, Camden Town [Vg] 7.5 h h h h H HHHH 0.5 AB InBev Corona, Goose Island [Vg] 7.5 h h h h H H H H H 0.5 AB InBev Dark Star 7.5 h H H H H h h H Asahi Group Holdings Ltd Fuller's bottled [Vg] 7.5 H H H H H H h h 0.5 Fuller, Smith & Turner/Asahi Hoegaarden, Leffe [Vg] 7.5 h h h h H H H H H 0.5 AB InBev London Pride bottled [Vg] 7.5 H H H H H H h h 0.5 Fuller, Smith & Turner/Asahi McEwan's, Thwaites 7.5 H H H H H h h h Marston's plc Staropramen , Miller [Vg] 7.5 h H H h H h H h H 0.5 Molson Coors Beverage Co Carling, Coors, Sharps 7 h H H h H h H h H Molson Coors Beverage Co Guinness [Vg] 6.5 h H H H h h h h H h H 0.5 Diageo plc Birra Moretti, Amstel [Vg] 4 Hhh HHHHhh h HHH 0.5 Heineken Holding N.V. Heineken, Desperados [Vg] 4 Hhh HHHHhh h HHH 0.5 Heineken Holding N.V. Murphy's stout [Vg] 4 Hhh HHHHhh h HHH 0.5 Heineken Holding N.V. Foster's, Kronenbourg 1664 3.5 Hhh HHHHhh h HHH Heineken Holding N.V. John Smith's 3.5 Hhh HHHHhh h HHH Heineken Holding N.V. Abbot Ale, Greene King 3 HHh HhHHhhHH h hH CK Asset Holdings Limited Old Speckled Hen 3 HHh HhHHhhHH h hH CK Asset Holdings Limited

Key to the score table: [O] = organic [F] = Fairtrade [Vg] = vegan 34 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 SHOPPING GUIDE

Beer & lager ume ns r o .o c r l g

Transparency i

h When we last updated this guide in 2017, we found that transparency wasn’t BEST t

e Y strong amongst the small breweries we reviewed. Since then, there has been BUYS B U some improvement, with several releasing Impact Reports and publishing some ES T B information about sustainable brewing or their suppliers on their websites. Even where transparency was weak, most were spared a worst rating for Environmental Our best buy companies are Little Reporting and Supply Chain Management by virtue of being small (turnover below Valley, Hepworth, Toast and Stroud, £10.2 million) and having their entire product range certified organic (which contains all of which only produce vegan and/ some protections for workers’ rights), as well as brewing and/or sourcing in the UK. or organic beer, and do not receive The majority of the small breweries on our table also received positive Company our worst rating for Supply Chain Ethos marks for having entirely vegan or organic ranges, as well as Product Management. Sustainability marks for vegan and organic products. Look out for an ethical, local brewery near you – our top recommendation for this guide. Table highlights restoration. As far as offsetting goes, the project looks like it has all the right Carbon management and reporting partners and has been developed with Little Professor Mike Berners-Lee – respected Valley As always, we rated all companies on climate scientist and the source for many what they’re doing to report and tackle of our emissions figures in this guide. 17 their emissions. We expect companies Our problem with the approach is that, to be taking meaningful steps to address while the steps taken may be positive, their key emissions; to be reporting on all sectors need to decarbonise and we emissions including those within their can’t all offset our emissions like this – Hepworth supply chains; and to be committing there isn’t enough land. There is also no to targets in line with international guarantee that they’ll be permanent. The 16.5 emission goals. For beer and lager, carbon capture and storage will only last this means that companies should as long as the woodlands and peatlands be discussing their emissions from are protected. It’s therefore much better Toast agriculture and ingredient sourcing, as to avoid the emissions in the first place. well as from their breweries, packaging Because BrewDog already counts its 16.5 and transportation. emissions as compensated, it doesn’t have Only a handful of companies were adequate targets in line with international considered to be taking adequate steps agreements in place. in terms of reporting and managing their BrewDog looks impressive though carbon, and half of these were small when compared to some of the biggest Stroud companies, which don’t have to meet companies. Heineken and Asahi failed such robust criteria by virtue of their size. to report absolute emissions. Molson 15.5 Of the larger beer companies, just 20% Coors failed to convince on the steps it received our best rating. was taking to address its climate impacts. Best: Carlsberg, Diageo (Guinness), These three companies are amongst the Hepworth, Kirin, Stroud, Toast. largest brewers in the world. Middle: BrewDog, Empress Ale In fact, many rich conglomerates have (distributes CELIA), Black Isle, AB InBev, been shown up by Hepworth brewery, Mahou. which, despite having a turnover under Worst: Little Valley, Samuel Smith, £10.2 million, was taking significant steps RECOMMENDED Marston’s, Fuller Smith & Turner, towards reducing emissions and has one Molson Coors, Heineken, Asahi, Greene of the most ambitious net zero targets we We also recommend Black Isle and King, Freedom, Copper Tun (Nirvana), saw in researching this guide (as outlined Freedom and Nirvana breweries. Brooklyn. earlier on p.33). We think some readers will be surprised not to see BrewDog in the Political donations ‘best’ category. The company has been For some reason, the big brewers also celebrated over the claim that it “takes are often big donors to political parties. BRANDS TO AVOID twice as much carbon out of the air as For example, Molson Coors Brewing we emit.” However, this strategy is based Company was listed as being linked to Heineken faces allegations that it on offsetting – an approach that Ethical donations of $330,000 to the Republicans turned a blind eye to claims of sexual Consumer doesn’t rate as highly as and $106,000 to the Democrats in the assault at a brewery and at promotional emissions reduction plans. 2020 US election cycle. AB InBev was events in several countries in Africa. The company has purchased 2,050 said to be linked to donations totalling AB InBev and its subsidiaries have acres of land in the Scottish Highlands $857,000 to Republican Party candidates been accused of union busting, links with the aim of creating 1,500 acres and $504,000 to Democratic Party to paramilitaries in Colombia, and of broadleaf native woodlands and candidates. involvement in land grabs. dedicating 550 acres to peatland

ethicalconsumer.org 35 SHOPPING GUIDE Beer & lager

Choosing a lower impact beer Aluminium cans made from recycled materials save around 92% of the energy compared to making from raw materials. Recycled glass bottles save about 30%. Both forms of packaging Carbon Footprint can also be infinitely recycled. Drinking more at home often means more packaging and a “Happily,” Berners-Lee also points out, “I’m told, cans are also higher carbon footprint. better for the quality of the beer, allowing in no light and always

650 g CO2e – locally brewed cask ale at a pub. having a perfect seal.”

780 g CO2e – locally bottled beer from the shop. Some beers unfortunately also have wasteful excess

910 g CO2e – long-distance beer at a pub. packaging that is damaging to the environment, in particular

1,000g CO2e – long-distance bottled beer from the shop. the plastic rings that sometimes hold together multipack cans. At the upper end, a pint’s emissions are equivalent to a Not only do these use petrochemicals and add to microplastic generous bath heated by an efficient gas boiler, at the lower, the pollution, but they also endanger animals, getting tangled same as an 800 g locally produced loaf of bread. around them. The breakdown is as follows: More and more companies are BREWING moving away from INGREDIENTS these, along with OTHER OFFICE 12% PROCUREMENT ditching shrink 11% wrap packaging. If you do find yourself purchasing beer OTHER BREWING with ring carriers, PROCUREMENT 27% the companies TerraCycle and This turtle’s shell has grown around GAS HiCone now offer the plastic rings wrapped around it. Conservation Department of © Missouri 19% a recycling service that can be found here: www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/ringcarrier WASTE If you’re having a party after lockdown, you might want to 3% consider bulk ordering to cut down on packaging by buying a ELECTRICITY mini keg. Check whether the brewery can reuse the keg once 9% you’re done with it, otherwise it may not be a more sustainable TRAVEL AND DISTRIBUTION option. 19% Water Footprint Every litre of beer produced requires many times that amount in water. The most up-to-date figures we found were from 2009 and stated that the water footprint per litre could range between 45 litres and 155 litres, largely depending on where it was brewed and where the ingredients were grown. For beer brewed in the UK, water consumption may be less of Transport an issue because we usually have plenty and our cooler climate Most beer drunk in the UK is also brewed in the means that the footprint for the crops required (if also locally UK. However, Mike Berners-Lee says, “Although sourced) is likely to be lower. However, it can be a real issue a few hundred road miles are not usually a for communities fighting multinational breweries in countries very significant factor for foods, beer is an facing water shortages. exception because it’s so heavy. Hence it’s Heineken, for example, has generally best to opt for local beer if you been linked to water conflicts can.” in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Counterintuitively, many of the high- company was widely criticised profile Spanish or Czech beers we see may for opening its factory in a well have been brewed in the UK too. It is region that faces serious water always worth reading the label. stresses, where the capital has been warned that it may only Packaging – bottle vs can have 10 years of water left due Packaging is a key contributor to the to overexploitation, and where environmental impact. Draught in a pub is some households face rising therefore often the most sustainable way to prices for water use. have a pint. “For home consumption,” Mike Berners- Lee says, “cans turn out to be better than bottles [with regards to carbon footprint], especially when you recycle them.”

36 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 Is beer vegan? BREWING The short answer is, no, beer is not always vegan. Brewers sometimes use a FOOD WASTE substance called isinglass. It is derived from the swim bladders of certain Vegan beers and lager One company in our guide is showing tropical and subtropical fish and used Here is a list of beers that are certified or the role that the brewing industry in a process called ‘fining’, which is marketed as vegan in the UK: could play in reducing food waste and essentially clarifying the beer. Isinglass moving towards a circular economy. is rich in collagen, which binds to yeast • Amstel • Kirin Ichiban Toast uses surplus bread in its beer to cells in the beer and settles at the bottom • Asahi • Leffe replace some of the barley, using less of the cask. This settling process happens • Beerlao • Little Creatures land, water and energy and reducing without isinglass, just more slowly: it can • Beck’s • Little Valley carbon emissions. take 48-72 hours for an unfined beer to • Birra Moretti • London Pride & We also spoke to Feedback, an settle, compared with less than 24 for • Black Isle Fuller’s bottles organisation working to change food fined beer. (bottled) • Mahou systems around the world, to hear The good news is that most beers • BrewDog (not Jet • McEwan’s what else brewers could do. Brewing and lagers in our table are now vegan, Black Heart or • Meantime produces lots of food waste, primarily particularly in bottled and canned form. alcohol free cans) • Miller Genuine in the form of ‘brewers spent grain’ More and more pubs are now also labelling • Brooklyn Draft (or BSG), usually a mixture of barley, their vegan options. Isinglass is more likely • Budweiser • Murphy’s wheat and oats that is boiled up to to be used for cask ales (and occasionally • Camden Town • Nirvana make ‘wort’ and then discarded. for craft ales) – because unfined casks • Carlsberg • Peroni Nastro Spent grain accounts for 85% of need longer to settle, a pub would need a • Carlsberg Export Azzuro total by-products generated during lot of storage space to keep the taps flowing • Carlsberg Special • Pilsner Urquell production. with vegan beer as each barrel needs to be Brew (bottled) • Samuel Smith’s Lots of the brewers we look at for in situ for longer before serving. • CELIA (all bottles except this guide were already using spent • Cobra Yorkshire Stingo) grain as feed for local livestock, So, am I drinking fish guts? • Corona • San Miguel usually cattle. But Feedback says: Very little isinglass remains in the beer • Dark Star Hophead • Staropramen “as there is a significant nutritional that is eventually drunk, but many (bottled) • Stella Artois benefit to using BSG, even in relatively find the use of the substance at all in • Desperados • Stroud Brewery small quantities, the better outcome the production process unacceptable. • Fourpure (all bottles, cans would surely be to introduce it into Luckily, more and more breweries are • Freedom & kegs) the food chain directly.” also seeing this process as unnecessary: • Goose Island • Toast It has piloted a spent grain granola after all, people did for many years just • Grolsch • Tuborg “that used the peel from surplus drink slightly cloudy beer. • Guinness • Wainwright citrus fruit, pumpkins that we roasted On our score table, breweries producing • Heineken vegan and gluten and made a caramel with and the only vegan beer received a positive • Hepworth free (normal seeds that we dried for additional Company Ethos mark. Those with some • Hoegaarden Wainwright not texture,” and is looking at using certified vegan products received a full • Holsten Pils vegan) it in flour. We hope any home (or Product Sustainability mark, while those commercial) brewers reading this marketing their products as vegan but not might be inspired to do something officially certified received half a Product If your favourite beer isn’t on our list, creative! Sustainability mark. We marked all vegan barnivore.com is a great site for crowd- We have a longer interview with beers with a [Vg]. sourced information on which beers are Feedback on our website. vegan.

WHAT TO ASK WHEN BUYING LOCAL Although they may not appear on our score table, buying from your local brewery can be a way to cut your carbon footprint, avoid the problems that giant multinationals might bring with them, and to support local enterprise. Here are a few questions you might want to ask them: l Where do you source your ingredients from? Look for ingredients that are organic and/or local. It’s a good sign if a brewery can tell you about the farms that they work with. l Is it vegan? Many brewers suspect that isinglass impacts beer taste, so local craft breweries may in fact be likely to sell vegan beer. l Do you have any approaches for sustainable manufacture? Some UK breweries use solar panels or renewable energy for manufacture. One, Hepworth Brewery, even uses a ‘beer-source heat pump’ for its building – which it claims is the first in the world.

ethicalconsumer.org 37 SHOPPING GUIDE WE SPOKE TO READER GERARDE ABOUT HOME BREWING: “Like many people I tried out a homebrewing kit for a bit of fun. Then I got Beer interested in just how you could ‘design’ your own beers, rather like a cake recipe, and started to experiment. “Hops can come from all over the world, so ‘food miles’ are a consideration Genetic modification for me. There are British grown hops available, so I try and balance supporting UK growers alongside playing with experimental hops. You can also grow hops in In theory, beer is manufactured using gardens or pots. They are rather nice to look at too, although I’m yet to find a spot very few ingredients: water, yeast, hops my rescue Greyhounds wouldn’t dig them up. and a starch source such as barley malt. “I also have a few secret places where you can find wild hops often hiding in The biggest risk for GM, however, comes plain sight. What could be better than wild and free hops! from sugar or corn syrup. Genetically “At the moment, I am learning how to ‘wash’ and reuse yeast to cut down on modified varieties of these products buying lots more packets. This means you can reuse yeast several times but still are sometimes grown, and while these get great results in your glass. There are some really cool yeasts out there, like ingredients aren’t used in ‘proper’ beer, Kveik, a fast-fermenting Norwegian farmhouse yeast, so you are not limited. they may be used by larger, commercial “Moving from kits to all-grain brewing [brewing directly from grains rather than brands. extracts included in kits] means I can use the spent grain for dog treats or give In the UK, GM ingredients have to away as chicken feed.” be labelled. However, GM corn syrup “Also, homebrewing clubs – virtual or in real life – are great for sharing, helping and sugar are much more common in or even bottle swaps.” countries like the US, where there is less regulation around GM use. GM yeast has also been developed in DIY alternatives recent years, although we couldn’t find any suggestion that it had been approved Home brewing Co-operative brewing for use in the EU/UK. Liz O’Neil from Home brewing is easier than you might There are also a handful of cooperative campaign group GM Freeze explained, think. A basic setup costs around £35 for breweries in the UK: breweries owned by “The yeast is more complicated as I’m not equipment. Another £25 or less will get and brewing for the local community. sure it is covered by the same regulations you a recipe box with all the ingredients [in the UK] due to being a microorganism and instructions. Around 3 hours of • Boundary Brewing rather than a plant or an animal.” brewing and 3-5 weeks of waiting, and Belfast If you’re concerned about the potential you’ll have 40 pints to drink. boundarybrewing.coop impact of GM on our ecosystems, you may As well as cost (once you have the • Lacada Brewery want to steer clear of a company that is equipment, it’s just over 50p per pint), Northern Ireland using GM anywhere in the world. Asahi, there are a few potential ethical benefits lacadabrewery.com Heineken, Kirin, Mahou and Molson Coors to home brewing. The first is that it cuts • Pumphouse Community Brewery all lost half a mark under Controversial down emissions from transportation: a North Essex / Suffolk Technologies for likely use of GM recipe box is much smaller and lighter toppbrew.co.uk ingredients. AB InBev is directly involved than 40 bottled pints. The second is that it • Adur Brewery with developing genome editing of barley cuts down on packaging, as glass bottles Brighton and therefore lost a full mark. can simply be collected, rinsed out and adurbrewery.co.uk reused each time. • Drone Valley Brewery If you brew the more advanced way – Derbyshire Price comparison choosing your own hops, grains and yeast dronevalleybrewery.com – you can also be selective about your • Hesket Newmarket Brewery We compare the price of our best buy ingredients. Beer company Toast has even Cumbria companies against the two lager and two published a recipe using surplus bread. hesketbrewery.co.uk ale brands with the largest market share. They say that the home brewers who have • The New Lion used the recipe have saved 675,000 slices Totnes Brand Price of 500ml to date. You can access it by signing up to newlionbrewery.co.uk their mailing list. Little Valley £2.35 - 3.30 Toast £3.00 - 4.55 Stroud £2.85 - 3.80 WHAT TO BUY? WHAT NOT TO BUY? Hepworth £2.10 - 3.30 l Is it vegan? Surprisingly, some beer l Are the ingredients grown using Stella Artois £0.90 - 1.70 isn't vegan or even vegetarian! pesticides? Synthetic pesticides and Budweiser £1.00 - 1.70 l Is it local? Going for beer from local herbicides threaten insect populations, Guinness £1.00 - 2.79 breweries puts money back into the local contaminate water sources and can have economy and cuts down on the food ecosystem-wide knock-on effects. Look BrewDog £ 1.75 - 4.55 miles and thereby carbon impacts. It for organic certification. also means that you are less likely to be l Is it funding human rights abuses? Notes to the table: Price brackets from a funding problems associated with big Some of the companies involved in this variety of websites, including the company’s multinationals. guide have been linked to serious human own, supermarket searches and beer l Is it home brewed? Escape many of rights abuses – from land grabs and water retailers, as of March 2021. the dilemmas of emissions, packaging hoarding, to sexual assault and racist Best Buys marked in blue, largest brands and genetic modification by joining the advertising. See Brands to Avoid on page marked in red. growing homebrew movement. 35.

38 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 NEWS Clothes

Boohoo bans subcontracting and How fashion measures removes suppliers up on sustainability Fashion brands are failing to make the In the wake of last year’s independent in place become business as usual”.1 changes needed, despite the increasingly enquiry into labour abuses in Boohoo’s The changes came after Boohoo’s urgent need, says the new report by The Leicester supply chain, the company share price fell at the beginning of March Business of Fashion (BoF) which states: has published a full list of its current 78 when reports emerged that the US was “The global economy has 10 years to avoid suppliers. considering an import ban against the catastrophic climate change and an urgent It has brought the number down from company due to the allegations of slavery duty to improve the welfare of the workers over 500, through banning key suppliers in its supply chain, although Boohoo who make it tick. Fashion has a prominent from subcontracting as well as severing stated that it had not been aware of role to play in solving these dual challenges, ties with a number of suppliers found not this and had not been contacted by US both because of its global scale and its to meet its new standards. officials.2 cultural influence.” The company has appointed ex-judge We will be updating our fashion The BoF ranked brands against Sir Brian Leveson to oversee its supply and clothing guides in the near future, major issues associated with the fashion chain restructure. While acknowledging including a full rating of Boohoo and any industry: transparency, emissions, water & some progress, he has stated: “there is new policies it has put forward. chemicals, materials, workers’ rights, and some way to go to ensure the changes put waste. Not a single brand scored more than 50 out of 100. The average was 36. Under Armour scored poorly across the board TRAGEDY IN MOROCCO HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR receiving the worst score overall, just 9 out of 100. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON FACTORY SAFETY The report also gave an industry score in each section based on overall performance. In February, 28 people lost their lives in an underground sweatshop in Tangier, The industry was considered to be making Morocco, with a further 17 injured after they became trapped in a flood which also least progress on tackling waste with the caused a short-circuit. BoF finding that companies were far better It was reported that “To meet growing international demand, numerous at “talking about circularity than embracing factories in Morocco, notably in Casablanca and Tangier, rely on unregulated it”, with 40 million tonnes of textile waste shadow factories to speed up production and meet deadlines.”3 The UK is among heading to landfill or the incinerator each the main destinations for Moroccan clothing exports. year. The incident highlights that there is still a dire need for a strong international The report argued that clothing agreement on safety in factories, similar to the Bangladesh Accord created in the companies need to start making wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy. The Clean Clothes Campaign stated: “The need demonstrable progress rather than just for brands and retailers to commit to such a binding agreement with global union setting grand targets, put real money federations is further underlined by this tragedy and its causes ... Brands and behind their sustainability programmes, retailers have the responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. While make meaningful collaborative efforts, and that was always a challenge, the combined threats of climate change and a global earn back trust with true transparency. pandemic, make a concerted approach to health and safety even more pressing.”4 https://cdn.businessoffashion.com/ reports/The_Sustainability_Index_2021.pdf

References: 1 – www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/25/boohoo-severs-ties-with-hundreds-of-uk-manufacturers-after-critical-review 2 - www.independent.co.uk/news/business/boohoo-us- import-ban-slave-labour-abuse-b1810370.html 3 www.independent.co.uk/news/28-garment-workers-killed-in-flooded-factory-in-morocco-factory-garment-workers-workers-woman-city-b1799492. html 4 cleanclothes.org/news/2021/factory-tragedy-shows-need-for-international-safety-agreement-and-improved-working-conditions-in-morocco

ethicalconsumer.org 39 NEWS Money KINDLING FARM COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER Co-op sells insurance underwriting business In EC187 we published guides to car and home insurance which awarded Co-op Insurance our Best Buy. However, in December, the Co-op sold its insurance underwriting business to Markerstudy, TwinFocus, and funds managed by Blackstone Credit for £185 million. Part of the deal included a 13-year partnership agreement between the Co-op and Markerstudy which included continued use of the Co-op Insurance brand. Kindling Farm members (above) and We have recently had confirmation the establishment team (left). that the Co-op does not have influence over the ethical policies of Markerstudy, and that the Co-op is now solely an Since 2007, the Kindling Trust has insurance broker for other insurers. established and supported farming Since the guides did not include brokers, projects and food enterprises aimed we have now removed the Co-op brand. at creating a more sustainable food As a result, there are no Best Buys in system for Greater Manchester and the the four insurance guides as none of the Northwest. It is now looking to establish underwriters scored highly enough or a large-scale, pioneering agroforestry had robust enough ethical investment farm just outside Greater Manchester. The farm will be dedicated to producing organic policies. fruit, vegetables, grains, and pulses within a low-carbon and habitat-rich agroforestry Our recommend car and home system, and will also act as a site of research, learning and education. In the longer insurance buys are now Aviva, Allianz, term it will become home to a Social Enterprise Hub and Centre for Social Change. and Zurich. “Kindling Farm is about coming together to find practical solutions to the ecological crisis we are in,” says co-founder Helen Woodcock. “It is about hope, it is about social change, and it is about creating a farming blueprint for our future, right here in the Northwest of England.” SHOPPING GUIDE TO Kindling Farm needs capital investment to make all this happen, which is why on 4th April it launched its community share offer, aiming to raise a minimum of £390,000 CASH ISAS to help buy the farm they have identified. Our new product guide to ethical Cash Supporters who purchase shares will become members of Kindling Farm, which ISAs is now available online: is a community benefit society – working not for profit, but for the benefit of the www.ethicalconsumer.org/money- community and its members. The minimum investment is £200 and the maximum for finance/shopping-guide/cash-isas individuals is £65,000. The scheme plans to pay interest on shares up to 3% from the year 2024/25. Offer closes: Saturday 3rd July 2021. See: kindling.org.uk/InvestFarm Local councils must divest from fossil fuels

Local government pensions hold investments in the 200 most harmful seen its costs falling, generally making investments of nearly £10 billion in fossil fuel companies worldwide. Had energy from renewables cheaper than fossil fuels, research has found. A recent it included all fossil fuel extractors and fossil fuel alternatives. According to the report, ‘Divesting to protect our pensions companies that provided services to the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the planet’, published by Platform fossil fuel sector the overall figure would electricity costs for solar and wind power and Friends of the Earth, calls on local have been far greater than £10 billion. fell significantly over the period 2010- authorities to divest from oil, coal and gas. 19: 47% for concentrated solar power, On average, each of the 6.8 million Financial risk 82% for solar photovoltaic (PV), 39% for members of the Local Government The authors discuss the moral onshore wind and 29% for offshore wind. Pension Scheme in the UK has £1,450 imperatives to divest from fossil fuels, As a result, the report argues, “A great invested in fossil fuels, representing but their argument is primarily centred deal of the planned fossil fuel production about 3% of the scheme’s total value. around economics and the risk of by fossil fuel companies – including the Greater Manchester, Strathclyde and capital losses – understanding that most ones owned by the local authority pension West Midlands councils were found to investment fund managers comprehend funds in this report – is going to be have the largest investments in fossil only one language: money. They argue redundant, leading to stranded assets.” fuels, together accounting for 20% of that “energy economics is only going in Many funds are already seeing the all local government pension fossil fuel one direction, which is the end of the negative effects of fossil fuel investments. investments in the UK. fossil fuel age.” For example, at the start of 2021 the The report only considered The growth of renewable energy has Norwegian state sovereign pension fund

40 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 NEWS Money

announced that it had sold its entire portfolio of companies focused on oil 1 GameStop exploration and production. It later revealed that the previous year it had lost The US video-game store, GameStop, approximately $10 billion on its oil and Divesting to protect our made headlines in late January when it gas holdings, which had been valued at found itself at the centre of a stock-market more than $40 billion at the beginning of pensions and the planet war waged by users of the social media 2020. An analysis of local government investments site, Reddit, against Wall Street hedge in coal, oil and gas funds. Positive investing It all started when Reddit users Change is happening, albeit not quickly realised that some hedge funds were enough. Six local government pension short selling GameStop shares. Simply funds have already committed to put, short selling is a way of profiting from divesting from fossil fuels, as have half shares decreasing in value – investors of all UK Universities and over 1,250 do it when they believe a company is institutions representing over $14.5 overvalued. Some argue that short selling, trillion in assets. especially when done by powerful hedge Money that was previously invested funds, can sound the death knell for in fossil fuels can be invested in ways struggling companies. In this sense, it can that are good for people and planet. be a self-fulling prophecy. Investments in renewables aid the In an incredible example of modern transition to a zero-carbon economy shareholder activism, members of the and appear a safe financial bet, with Reddit group ‘WallStreetBets’ decided to renewable stock prices growing by l Find out what your council invests in collectively invest in GameStop, forcing up to 20% per year, according to the and talk to your neighbours about it. the share price up, thereby causing the authors. Money can also be used for local l Contact your Councillors and election hedge funds to lose money. investment opportunities, supporting candidates. It worked! Share prices for GameStop communities that have suffered due to l Contact local government trade union rose over 700% in just a week and hedge the impacts of the coronavirus and the branches in your area and ask them to put funds lost billions of dollars. Melvin pernicious Tory-austerity virus. you in touch with those eager to push for Capital, one of the hedge funds caught at divestment. the centre of the storm, lost more than £7 What can you do? l Join one of the many local divestment billion. In order to put pressure on councils to campaigns across the UK. If there are Some have been critical of the divest from fossil fuels, you can do the none in your area, set one up. hype around GameStop, especially following: For more information see: divest.org.uk as GameStop’s share price has since fallen dramatically. Ted Franks of WHEB, an investment fund focused on sustainability, argued in a blog that Carbon divested funds: financial performance the action of Redditors “just generated enormous excess volatility. Which goes Carbon divested fund 5-year cumulative Ethiscore against the messy-but-reliable price performance to as of formation process any good market 22/03/21 09/2020 needs.”1 Janus Henderson Global Sustainable Equity Fund 133.4 7 Franks goes on to argue that reliable BMO Responsible Global Equity 120.8 10.5 price formation is important for any market, “But for sustainability in 2021, it Triodos Pioneer Impact 87.1 16 is quite acute.” This is true, and extreme WHEB Sustainability 86.9 16 fluctuations can be harmful – the Jupiter Ecology 84.6 6.5 financial crash of 2007 was, he points out, hugely damaging for the clean energy EdenTree Amity International 77.2 7 industry. Quilter Cheviot Climate Assets* 59.7 6 It would be wrong to see the GameStop Rathbone Ethical Corporate Bond 36.4 6 saga as a shining beacon of progressive AXA Ethical Distribution 29.2 10 and sustainable finance – clearly it is not. But it does illustrate how a relatively small Kames Ethical Corporate Bond 18.2 5 number of activist investors, through Sarasin Sustainable Global Real Estate Equity 12.6 11 coordinated and collective action, were Castlefield B.E.S.T Sustainable Income 7.8 13 able to make a big ripple in a huge pond and draw attention to the major power ASI Global Equity Impact Data unavailable 6.5 imbalances that are endemic to the global

Data from trustnet.com Data from IA Global (for comparison) 90.3 - financial system.

*January 2021, data from quiltercheviot.com Following the publication of our guide to Ethical Funds in EC186, we have expanded this table to include all carbon divested funds as References: 1 www.whebgroup.com/the-online-mob-and-the- identified by 3D Investing. sustainability-transition

ethicalconsumer.org 41 FEATURE

Should we boycott ‘Made in China’?

The human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese state are numerous, and many are linked to global corporations and products sold around the world. Over recent months, more and more readers have been asking, “should we boycott ‘Made in China’?”

CLARE CARLILE explores the question through the cases of China’s abuses in Tibet,

Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Forced labour is used at many stages of the production process magazine © Peppermint Uyghur Autonomous Region. for cotton produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

What is the situation anyone ‘undermining’ the region’s ‘unity Many say that China’s behaviour in the with China’. In March, the CCP amended Uyghur Region amounts to genocide. In in China? Hong Kong’s constitution, almost halving March, an independent report from the The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the city’s proportion of directly elected US-based thinktank Newlines Institute has perpetrated multiple human rights representatives, and requiring all for Strategy and Policy found that the CCP abuses since it came to power in 1949. candidates to be vetted for party loyalty. had breached every single article of the It operates a mass surveillance state, Since at least 2017, the Chinese state UN genocide convention, showing “intent with the “silencing of human rights has also implemented a crackdown on the to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, defenders, journalists, and activists, and Uyghur Muslim and other ethnic minority ethnic, racial or religious group”.3 restrictions on the internet” across the populations in the northwest of mainland country.1 China. Between 1 and 1.8 million Uyghurs Since it annexed Tibet in 1951, it has are believed to have been held in ‘re- Complicit companies? denied religious, cultural and political education camps’ – used to try and strip freedoms to those within the region, and Uyghurs of their cultural and religious Global companies are linked to China’s perpetrated the “forced resettlement of identity. abuses. the Nomadic people”, destroying their Those who have fled the region say In the Uyghur Region, the Chinese state way of life. they faced prison-like conditions and is using forced labour as part of its system In recent years, it has also curtailed surveillance, and were forced to pledge of control. Over half a million Uyghur political and civic freedoms in Hong loyalty to the CCP, renounce Islam, and workers have been forced to act as cotton Kong, effectively ending the region’s learn Mandarin. Some say they were pickers, after being released from the ‘re- autonomy. Pro-democracy activists subjected to torture. Women say they education camps’.4 and candidates have been rounded up experienced sexual abuse, were forced to The Uyghur Region produces around and charged under new security laws undergo abortions or had contraceptive 20% of the world’s cotton, and studies which could mean a lifetime in prison for devices implanted against their will.2 suggest that around one in five garments

42 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 around the world are linked to this forced labour.5 Civil society experts say that if companies are sourcing cotton from the region, there is no way they can be Should we boycott sure it is not complicit. The End Uyghur Forced Labour Coalition says, “almost every major apparel brand and retailer selling cotton products is potentially implicated.”6

More than just cotton ‘Made in China’? But it is not only companies selling cotton products that may be linked. Thousands of Uyghurs are also being

transferred to factories across China, Tibetans face aggressive resource extraction for export to mainland China. Tibet Free Credit- manufacturing everything from apparel to tech. The workers, once given a new the region and has been given exclusive acknowledges that the shift often relies on role, cannot leave, are under constant rights to lithium extraction from developing domestic industries, requiring surveillance, and must continue Tibet’s Chabyer Tsaka Lake by the local government support. “ideological training” to abandon their authorities.10 religion and culture. BYD has supplied buses to Transport A blunt tool? Amazon, Apple, Adidas, Nike, H&M and for London,11 and in recent years it has Others though suggest that a consumer Uniqlo are amongst 83 companies already entered talks or brokered agreements boycott of all Chinese products would linked to Uyghur forced labour in their with Toyota,12 Ford,13 VW Audi,14 and not resolve the issues. factory supply chains.7 Jaguar Land Rover.15 Berkshire Hathaway, “Boycotts can actually make the Recently, the Chinese state has begun owner of Brooks Sports and Duracell situation worse,” Chloe Cranston from ‘exporting’ the model to other regions: in brands, owns an 8.25% share in the Anti-Slavery International, which is the first seven months of 2020, 500,000 company.16 a member of the End Uyghur Forced Tibetans – 15% of the population – were Labour Coalition, says. She explains that said to have been moved off their land and boycotts can exacerbate poor working and into military-style facilities where they So, should we boycott living conditions, poverty and even forced were trained as factory workers. Almost labour. 50,000 Tibetans were transferred to jobs ‘Made in China’? Many also suggest that a whole- within Tibet, and thousands were sent “As global citizens, it’s our responsibility country boycott would not even be a to other regions to work in industries to have a better future: we all have useful bargaining tool. China is unlikely such as textile manufacturing and a responsibility to make China to engage with a boycott or any other construction.8 It is not yet known which accountable,” Gonpo says. campaign, given its genocidal intentions. companies are linked to these abuses. TYC has had an active boycott call However, companies can drive significant against ‘made in China’ since 1991, change: while most would be unlikely to Aggressive resource extraction highlighting the country’s atrocities in exit China, they are more likely to be open Gonpo Dhundup from Tibetan Youth Tibet, as well as its expansionist policy to targeted demands. Congress (TYC) says that it is not only into India and more recently its cover Clearly, the decision whether to Tibetan forced labour from which up of the coronavirus crisis. Gonpo says boycott is complex, and there is a thin line companies benefit: “China is extracting that a boycott is possible, pointing to the between those in solidarity and ones that all the minerals, all the resources for sheer number of alternative products now exert neo-imperialist control. Listening to their products” from the region. available globally. those affected is therefore essential. Mining in Tibet is intricately linked to The question is nonetheless complex, state repression. Nomadic communities with ‘made in China’ only covering a What should companies do? are often forcibly resettled to make way minute proportion of China’s involvement Although not calling for a boycott of for mines, and authorities “fail to redress in the global economy. The ‘made in’ China overall, multiple organisations are popular concerns about mining and label indicates only the final country calling instead on companies to exit the land grabs by local officials, which often of manufacture, rather than the origin Uyghur Region. “Groups representing involve intimidation and unlawful use of of any resources or pre-assembly the victims and survivors have called force by security forces.”9 manufacturing. companies to get out,” Chloe from Anti- Lithium, a key element in batteries, is Gonpo says that TYC is also calling for Slavery International explains. The one of the resources exported from Tibet companies to avoid Chinese materials and organisation is amongst the coalition to the rest of China. Its extraction has parts further up in their supply chains. backing the call. “serious ecological impacts” as well as “There are lots of ways for companies “If you realise there’s forced labour in impacts on human rights. to stop operating in or sourcing from your supply chain, cut the link,” Zumretay The Chinese company BYD, one of China”, Gonpo says, pointing to India Arkin from the World Uyghur Congress the largest manufacturers of electric where exports from China declined 13% says. In the current context, she agrees vehicles and batteries in the world, is in 2020, following tensions between with Chloe that this means cutting ties heavily involved in lithium extraction in the two countries.17 However, he also with any supplier that is involved in

ethicalconsumer.org 43 FEATURE Now

unless certified not International Tibet Network, and Free to be linked with Tibet. forced labour.18

#ForcedLabourFashion Nike, Coca-Cola “Write to companies, asking, ‘do you 2. and Apple were know where your cotton comes from?’, End

© all found to have and asking them to join the End Uyghur lobbied on earlier Forced Labour Call to Action,” she says. versions of the bill, calling for 3. You can also write to companies that it to be watered might be benefitting from forced labour Campaigners are calling on Zara to stop profiting from Uyghur down.19 All three and aggressive resource extraction forced labour. companies have in Tibet. By asking whether they also previously are aware of the situation in Tibet cotton production in the Uyghur Region, been named over believed links to Uyghur and what they are doing to address or is accepting subsidies from the forced labour.20,21 it, consumers can make sure that the government in the region, or is using In March, several brands pulled abuses are on companies’ agendas. Uyghur workers anywhere else in China. statements condemning Uyghur forced It is impossible to otherwise ensure labour, in response to threats from the 4. There are multiple petitions and that individual suppliers are not using Chinese state. The CCP launched boycott actions online, which can be found forced labour, Zumretay explains. calls against companies taking action through the End Uyghur Forced Labour, “The Uyghur people are not free. The on the issue. H&M – which had issued a International Tibet Network and other crackdown is too severe for people to statement distancing itself from cotton websites. Here are just a few: speak out freely.” Auditors would be in made in the Uyghur Region – saw its l Call on the Chinese government to end danger if they spoke out, and four major brand pulled from major Chinese online Uyghur forced labour. auditing firms have recently exited the fashion stores and was even banned as a www.freedomunited.org/advocate/free- region. destination on one of China’s biggest taxi uyghurs/# Zumretay says that she is often asked apps.22 l Petition the UK government to ban whether cutting off these suppliers Fearing similar retaliation, the import of cotton from the Uyghur will make the situation for the Uyghur the campaign group End region. https://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/ workers worse. “No, they’re not there by #ForcedLabourFashion Now says, campaigns/ban-import-of-cotton choice, they’re there by coercion … These “Inditex, the parent company of ZARA, l Urge 83 companies complicit in brands shouldn’t be seeing these workers has responded by removing its policy on Uyghur oppression to end their support. as normal workers.” Chloe agrees that it’s forced labour from its own website.” The www.change.org/p/apple-apple-nike- likewise “not a context where we see the campaign says PVH, Muji, Hugo Boss, Fila, dell-and-the-other-83-global-companies- risk that brands exiting the Region would Asics and VF have all also either removed should-stop-using-uyghur-slave-labor make the situation worse.” their forced labour or Uyghur statements l Call on Nike, Adidas, Puma and North Dominique from Labour Behind the or are promoting the use of cotton from Face to stop using Uyghur forced labour. Label says companies need to be showing the Uyghur Region.23 https://actions.sumofus.org/a/just-don-t- “more transparency, mapping, due do-it diligence and remediating those affected”, l Send a Tweet from the Clean Clothes as well as cutting ties with complicit What should Campaign, calling on Zara to end ties. suppliers. https://cleanclothes.org/campaigns/end- consumers do? uyghur-forced-labour How are companies responding? Some consumers may choose to follow Some companies are already taking the Tibetan Youth Congress’ boycott call. 5. “Call on your MPs to make sure they action. Seven companies including For others, campaign groups say there know about this,” Zumretay says. “Yes, ASOS, Marks & Spencer and TFG Limited are still many actions to take, as both they’re elected officials, but they don’t (owner of Hobbs, Phase Eight and citizen and consumer. always know about everything. Call for Whistles brands) had signed the End an official hearing for brands to give Uyghur Forced Labour coalition’s Call to 1. Zumretay says that we should evidence that they’re not involved in Action, committing to the steps outlined start by “educating yourself on the forced labour.” above, at the time of writing. widespread use of forced labour in But other brands appear to be doubling global supply chains.” Great websites for down on the problem. this include: Anti-Slavery International, A LONGER VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE IS ONLINE In February, the USA passed a bill Labour Behind the Label, Clean Clothes WWW.ETHICALCONSUMER.ORG/FASHION- banning imports from the Uyghur Region Campaign, End Uyghur Forced Labour, CLOTHING/SHOULD-WE-BOYCOTT-MADE-CHINA

References: 1 www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/china-and-tibet#bbae7b 2 www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/16/world/asia/china-xinjiang-documents.html 3 www. theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/09/chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-breaches-un-genocide-convention-finds-landmark-report 4 www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/nz0g306v8c/china-tainted- cotton 5 https://cleanclothes.org/campaigns/end-uyghur-forced-labour 6 www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/brands-urged-take-action-forced-labour-uyghur-muslims-china 7 www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/brands-urged-take-action-forced-labour-uyghur-muslims-china 8 www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/report-charts-chinas-expansion- of-mass-labour-programme-in-tibet 9 www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/china-and-tibet#bbae7b 10 www.freetibet.org/files/BYD%20in%20Tibet%20-%20the%20 costs%20of%20lithium%20extraction.pdf 11 www.freetibet.org/files/BYD%20in%20Tibet%20-%20the%20costs%20of%20lithium%20extraction.pdf 12 www.cnbc.com/2019/11/07/ buffett-backed-byd-signs-up-to-electric-car-partnership-with-toyota.html 13 www.reuters.com/article/us-ford-byd-electric/buffett-backed-byd-to-supply-ev-batteries-to-ford- idUSKBN2381VJ 14 www.autonews.com/china/byd-close-battery-deal-vws-audi 15 www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/jaguar-land-rover-talks-byd-battery-supply 16 BYD Company Limited, 2019 Annual Report 17 www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/chinese-exports-to-india-decline-13-india-s-trade-up-16-in-2020-120120701335_1.html 18 www. aljazeera.com/economy/2021/2/18/us-house-reintroduces-bill-to-ban-imports-from-chinas-xinjiang 19 www.businessinsider.com/apple-nike-coca-cola-lobbied-china-uyghur-forced- labor-bill-2020-11?r=US&IR=T 20 www.nytimes.com/2020/11/29/business/economy/nike-coca-cola-xinjiang-forced-labor-bill.html 21 www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale 22 www.npr. org/2021/03/25/981113024/china-retaliates-against-clothing-brands-after-western-sanctions?t=1617005560027 23 www.forcedlabourfashion.org/forcedlabourfashion-cowards

44 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 NEWS Tax justice FAIR TAX News from Ethical MARK NEWS Consumer's Tax Tech Fair Tax Week Now campaign

In March, Fair Tax Mark announced that Fair Tax Week 2021 The budget will run from 5th – 13th June 2021. This will incorporate a Tax Justice Sunday on 6th June in partnership with Church Action Ethical Consumer's campaign for increasing tax on Big Tech for Tax Justice. companies during the pandemic was disappointed, but not surprised, as our call for an increase in the current 2% Digital Services Tax didn't appear in the Chancellor's March 3rd budget announcements. In addition, nurses only got a meagre 1% pay rise. A Digital Services Tax, temporarily set at 10%, The whole week is designed as a UK-wide recognition of would have raised enough for the companies and organisations that are proud to promote a 3% rise on its own. responsible tax conduct and pay their fair share of However, the budget did corporation tax. A week of events and discussion sessions contain a few surprises, such will explore recent events such as the growing government as a widely supported increase in corporation tax from the support for corporation tax in a post-Covid world. Certified current 19% to 25% from 2023. This increase is expected to companies include Lush, Richer Sounds and Timpson. raise an additional £22 billion a year with the tax take increasing More information from https://fairtaxmark.net from £48.8 billion in 2022-23 to £71.3 billion in 2023-24.1 Less encouraging was the Chancellor's announcement of £25 billion of unprecedented 'super-deduction capital allowance tax Harriet Lamb joins reliefs' for big UK businesses. Fair Tax Mark board An Online Sales Tax to re-balance

In February, Fair Tax Mark the High Street? announced the latest addition In the run-up to the budget, another new idea for an Online to its Board of directors. Harriet Sales Tax began gaining some high-profile supporters. Repeated Lamb CBE previously headed lockdowns have hit the retail sector hard, with thousands of up Fairtrade in both the UK shops closing amidst a boom in online sales. Once things do and internationally and is a key open up again, the High Street looks set to be very different. appointment as Fair Tax Mark embarks Ministers, USDAW (the shop workers union) and even big on a plan to internationalise its operations. retailers such as Tesco have called for an online sales tax, as a She also authored ‘Fighting the Banana Wars’ and is currently way to redress the balance between physical, bricks-and-mortar Chief Executive at Ashden, a climate solutions charity. shops and online retailers.2 There has even been speculation that the tax could be a way of reforming the business rates system.3 Councils for fair tax The proposal is for a flat-rate tax that would be applied to all online sales, for example, a 1% levy on online delivery items or a Fair Tax Mark also announced that two more local authorities 2% tax on sales made online. USDAW have calculated that such had signed its 'Councils for Fair Tax Declaration'. A motion a tax would raise around £1.5 billion, which could fund a cut in was unanimously approved by Sunderland City councillors retail business rates of around 20%.2 Some sources suggest a tax earlier this year, with South Tyneside Council following swiftly of this kind may appear in the Autumn budget.4 after. In doing so, they became the first councils in the North See our longer article and more about our campaign by East of England to take a stand for responsible tax conduct. searching for 'windfall-tax' at www.ethicalconsumer.org 11 local councils across the UK have now shown significant support for fair tax. The Councils for Fair Tax Declaration commits cities, towns and districts to exemplary tax conduct in their own affairs, to require greater transparency from References: 1 https://www.accountancydaily.co/budget-2021-corporation-tax-increase-25# 2 https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2021/Feb/Chancellor-urged-to-level-the-retail- suppliers and to join calls for more meaningful powers to playing-field 3 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/07/online-sales-tax-aims-to- tackle tax avoidance amongst supplier businesses. shift-balance-as-uk-high-streets-struggle 4 Financial Times: Sunak to delay decision on UK online sales tax, officials say. Emma Agyemang, George Parker and Daniel Thomas March 21 2021 www. ft.com/content/ca2b1b08-60b3-44a8-8957-7ae568f4134f

ethicalconsumer.org 45 NEWS Beyond Consumerism Exploring degrowth

In February 2020, Housmans Bookshop hosted an Introduction to Degrowth event. We caught up afterwards with ANITRA NELSON, one of the authors of the book Exploring Degrowth.

So, degrowth! This is not a word us share everything we grow and make. we hear much in the UK. What is Conviviality refers to this cooperative, it and where is the idea most mutually supportive and sociable popular? approach. Convivial tools are simple and 'Degrowth' aims to meet every person’s appropriate technologies that everyone basic needs – no less, no more. So can understand and use. degrowth activists focus on reducing Relocalisation refers to economies use of the Earth’s materials and cutting where everyone produces and consumes waste. The idea of degrowth is popular in locally as much as they can. The potential Barcelona where there is now a "degrowth and limits of ways local environments can manifesto for reorganising the city post- feed, clothe and house people become Covid-19" for people to sign.1 ‘second nature’ to their inhabitants. In a degrowth future, those now ‘Open’ relocalisation refers to outward- without would have their needs met. But looking approaches, embracing diversity, those now producing and consuming nurturing creative and rich cultures. more than they need would have to cut back. Degrowth activities focus on simple, Has the pandemic created a space appropriate technologies so people can for more awareness of degrowth easily grow and make things, and engage ideas? in collective decision making over what Covid-19 helped us understand that our and how things are made. Degrowth is lives are fragile. We are more aware that therefore postgrowth and postcapitalist.2 increasing climate change can affect us right now, including increasing the You say in the book that the term likelihood of disasters and pandemics. degrowth began as a provocative It is clearer that degradation relates to slogan – tell us more. growth for growth’s sake. As concerns over unsustainable practices Restrictions have made us more aware have skyrocketed, ‘degrowth’ has of the advantages of growing and making emerged as a concept and practice to things locally. We are also less afraid of challenge social obsessions with growth. living simply. We have had to identify our Read about activities and organisations Businesses are considered successes or basic needs and have become more aware enabling us to self-organise according to failures in terms of growth. Governments of the importance of human contact. local risks and care needs. rise or fall on the rate of economic growth Many people have enjoyed working less (GDP). Capitalist cultures rotate around and working from home. This slower ‘bigger is better’. So degrowth advocates and more congenial living is attuned to talk about ‘decolonising our imaginations’ degrowth. – to counteract the ways that our growth In a degrowth future we could deal culture and economy traps us. with a pandemic more easily than today. SEE ALSO Some people misunderstand degrowth Degrowth has clear and unique messages Building Alternative Livelihoods in to mean poverty or austerity. But scarcity within a chorus of sustainability ideas times of ecological and political crisis is a characteristic of monetary economies. for new and ‘greener’ economies. We online conference 5-8 July 2021 - see In contrast, degrowth mean that no-one must go beyond the monetary economy www.isee-esee-degrowth2021.net is either materially poor or rich. Instead, of capitalism to achieve sustainability. If we all enjoy ‘frugal abundance’, have rich those of us overconsuming cut down and ‘convivial’ livelihoods, and collectively share right now, then Earth and those make decisions over economies based on without both benefit. Degrowth gives us References: 1 https://www.degrowth.info/en/2020/05/ manifesto-for-the-reorganisation-of-the-city-after- ‘open relocalisation’. and the Earth a new lease of life – a real covid-19/ 2 ‘COVID-19: Capitalist and postcapitalist perspectives’ by Anitra Nelson, Human Geography 13 (3): Frugal abundance refers to the future. 305–309, open access: https://journals.sagepub.com/ security gained by each of us when all of doi/10.1177/1942778620937122

46 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 FEATURE

Airbnb’s growing political power

A new joint investigation by Ethical Consumer and the University of Manchester, has shown how Airbnb is mobilising its users to form ‘Home Sharing Clubs’ to lobby for favourable regulation of short-term lets.

‘Home Sharing Clubs' are associations which asked citizens to vote on various of landlords recruited by Airbnb. They measures to stiffen regulations around now exist in 400 cities globally and, the short-term rentals, including limiting report argues, are beginning to have a the number of listings where the owner corrosive influence on local democracy is not present to 75 nights per year. and communities. Airbnb spent over $8 million Members of Home Sharing Clubs are successfully opposing the bill, much of selected by Airbnb and are resourced, which was spent harnessing the power of mobilised and coordinated by Airbnb local home-sharing clubs. The campaign public policy teams. Like more traditional hired consultants, researchers, social Analysis of grass- lobbying and PR practices, they target media specialists and eleven full-time public officials and public opinion. political campaigners who had experience roots lobbying Most are established in cities where the from the Obama electoral campaigns. The new report demonstrates the scale negative impacts of Airbnb’s business They led a campaign to engage local of the issue. It analyses documents model are leading to calls for stricter users of the platform. According to the and interviews twenty-one former regulation. company, their team made 32,000 phone Airbnb public policy staff who worked The company claims that its clubs are calls to the 6,500 Airbnb landlords in across fourteen countries in North representative of its users, but the new the city, several hundred of whom were America and Europe. Dr Luke Yates, a report says that they avoid the 59% of persuaded to attend protests and court Lecturer in Sociology and researcher at ‘professional landlords’ on the site. hearings, and club members claimed to Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption This makes it appear that its hosts have spoken to 105,000 people. Institute said: (those renting rooms or properties One former Airbnb employee told “Corporate-sponsored grassroots on the site) are mainly individuals researchers, “I was an organiser, so lobbying is becoming common across renting out rooms in their own homes, my aim was to turn out people for this Silicon Valley, as digital platform when this actually applies to only 8% campaign that we were working on. businesses resource, mobilise and of listings (the rest being largely those We had about eight organisers. On any coordinate their users to lobby authorities of professional landlords). The report campaign you have people doing strategy for their preferred forms of regulation. also presents evidence challenging and whatever and then people who are This raises questions about transparency Airbnb’s suggestions that the clubs organisers, which are literally just going – most politicians and institutions are independent of the company and out and calling people and saying ‘Hey, targeted aren’t aware of the backing questions the attempts made by Airbnb to will I see you Tuesday?’ ‘Hey, can you these groups have from companies, and downplay their political function. write this letter?’ ‘Hey, go and meet with risks undermining local democratic this City Council person’. Something like a institutions.” puppet master, I don’t know. But it’s more The report ends by making several Successful lobbying sincere than that." recommendations including statutory Another said that during a different lobbying registers and records of in San Francisco campaign, “when you have local meetings between policymakers and One example outlined in the report is councillors and people out there saying grassroots lobbyists. the case of San Francisco in 2015. The ‘Oh Airbnb’s terrible’, you have these city was the most expensive in North hosts who become the face of campaigns Longer articles and the full report America to live in based on average and become the face of the mobilisation are available to download from the new rental costs. Dwindling stocks of movement, going ‘No, I’m just Dan from 'Ethical Consumption Review' area of affordable housing led to campaigners Leith and I just need to make a little bit of Ethical Consumer's research website: successfully collecting sufficient income’, or ‘I got laid off from my job’, or https://research.ethicalconsumer.org/ signatures of residents needed to ‘I have a health problem’, and you kind of research-hub/ethical-consumption- launch a referendum, ‘Proposition F’, tease out these people.” review

ethicalconsumer.org 47 ETHICAL CONSUMER Letters

Combi suitable for heat pumps. However, the What you are looking for is basically a sources we have consulted do not agree home energy assessment, or at least boilers that air source heat pumps are not an that is a good place to start. I was reading your option for older housing stock. EPC is a government assessment, but it latest issue about may be too basic, and some providers heat and power are of poor quality. Similar issues for homes and Heat pump hurdles may plague Green Deal assessments. was extremely There are other assessments available disappointed to On reading your article on heat pumps including Carbon Coop’s Home Retrofit find you didn’t (EC189) I think you rather glossed over Planner, and Andy recommended an mention electric the actual costs and difficulties involved. organisation called Sustainable Building combi boilers To be suitable for a heat pump, a house (http://syec.co.uk/sustainable/) which once. Given needs to be very well insulated and may also be able to recommend other the disruption and expense (plus ideally pretty airtight too. providers elsewhere. However, we aren’t requirement for outdoor space) that Making our existing houses more able to judge the quality of these. ground source requires, and the fact energy efficient is essential, but there that air source is not really an option are significant hurdles to overcome. for older housing stock, I would have One is the high cost – there needs to Brexit disappointment 1 thought that electric combi boilers be a mechanism for people to be able must form a decent part of the short- to to borrow money cheaply with a long Simon Birch’s partisan ‘Inside View’ medium-term heating solution. payback time (with grants for those on (EC189) highlights the difficulties now Electric combi boilers can directly lowest incomes) to make it affordable. faced by some businesses when selling replace a gas combi boiler and are only Two is the absolute dearth of anyone with goods to the EU. Having previously a few hundred pounds more expensive expertise in this area – there are many acknowledged that the EU is far from (although there can be some additional disastrous examples of poorly installed perfect (EC163), surely there must also costs for upgrading the power supply insulation that were undertaken under be some ethical benefits from Brexit? in your house). They are more efficient the auspices of previous government Environmental payments to farmers? than gas boilers, so running costs are initiatives. No more tampon tax? No more live- comparable even though electricity is I think it is important that we are animal exports? No need for a television more expensive than gas. realistic and unbiased about the potential campaign just to stop dead fish being A cursory Google will find a number of problems with things like heat pumps thrown back into the sea? Rather than different brands, but no one will search – there is no silver bullet and it is likely try to vindicate a stance taken in the for them if they are unaware of their that a range of solutions are required for 2016 referendum, isn’t it just time to existence. A proper Ethical Consumer different types of housing. move on and look to heal the divisions in review of the major players would be Gemma society? even more useful. I can understand if you Matthew don’t think this technology worthy of your attention, but if that is the case you should Independent energy say so (and why) explicitly. Brexit disappointment 2 Edric advisor? I read with interest your articles on I was very sorry to see and read ‘The Ed: Thanks for bringing this to our heating and powering your home. Great Brexit Fiasco’ (Inside View, EC189). attention. We should have discussed However, the problem I have is I’ve no Having owned a small company and electric combi boilers. Their greenhouse idea what the right approach for my having been wiped out in the courts gas footprint is unlikely to be currently house would be – if I get a solar panel by L’Oréal – using the EU – I saw at less than gas boilers, but it is no longer person round, they will only recommend first hand what a corrupt organisation much higher like it was in the past. The solar panels, heat pump people only the EU is. We owned a trademark that government currently counts the carbon a heat pump, etc. What seems to be L’Oréal wanted and, although we held footprint of grid electricity as 0.23 kg missing is a company offering an the UK trademark, L’Oréal applied for CO2e per kWh and gas as 0.18 kg per independent review of your house and that trademark in the EU. Although kWh. But electric combi boilers are more recommend what would be the best we objected to L’Oréal getting the efficient than gas ones, in the region of ecological and cost-effective solutions trademark in the EU (which overrode our 99%, vs about 95%. to heat and power your home (much the trademark) our objection was ignored. Electricity is around three times the cost way an IFA looks at your finances). Large companies are extremely powerful of gas. However, there may be other Are you aware of any companies that in the EU. Also, I’m looking forward to costs associated with running a gas will do this? If not, what do you suggest? better animal welfare outside the EU – boiler that you can avoid, such as the Martin France have only just stopped shredding gas certification cost. If everyone used live chicks! electric boilers then it would cause a Ed: Thanks for raising this issue. To Brexit is done. It is difficult getting out huge spike in electricity demand at cold answer it we got input from Jonathan of a spiders web and the arrogance of your times, which a renewable-powered grid Atkinson of Carbon Coop and Energy article was very disappointing. Please try would struggle to manage. But they Consultant Andy Hamilton – thanks to to be positive and supportive about the are an option for houses which are less both of them for their help. future. Jenifer

48 Ethical Consumer May/June 2021 ETHICAL CONSUMER Letters

Insidious Amazon by global capital.” I couldn’t disagree impacts of renewable energy more strongly. I can think of so very infrastructure but we all, individually I’ve been trying to avoid Amazon by many instances where the people and and collectively, need to continue to be as buying at eBay instead, which I think you the environment have been blighted by efficient and prudent in our use of energy recommended. However, when several global capital. I think you need to justify as we can be. of my orders have turned up they have why you put that quote in the magazine. Andy clearly been ordered and fulfilled by Don Amazon. I can tell this by the Amazon Alex Crumbie: I’m glad you enjoyed packaging and sometimes there’s even a Ed: Joan Robinson’s statement is a the poem! While poetry can teach us a gift note from Amazon inside. It’s really provocative one and there are, of course, thing or two, it should generally be taken hard to complain to eBay about this as instances where it does not apply. with a pinch, perhaps even a fistful, of it’s a general problem not a specific issue However, it succinctly identifies the salt. When writing this poem, I wanted with an order. Any advice or suggestions almost paradoxical situation in which to counter the view some people have you can give? Are you able to raise it as many find themselves under capitalism: of the environmental movement – that an issue with eBay? to be employed is to be exploited, but to it is anti-fun and demands we all live Cate be without employment is not to be free, in a state of dull asceticism. Clearly we just unemployed. The solution in such are far from the point where we can live Ed: This practice is known as ‘drop- cases is surely to push for better rights in “guiltless, infinite luxury”, but I do shipping’ and appears to be quite and conditions. believe that we need to imagine a world common, even if it is against the rules. where we can enjoy the pleasures of In such instances, sellers may use their modernity without having to worry that own Amazon Prime account to get free doing so is killing the planet. In order to shipping, but still charge you for the Poetic injustice get people on board we must dangle the delivery. It is not easy to find a way carrot as well as brandish the stick. round this, but it may be wise to check It was lovely to read Alex Crumbie’s the seller’s feedback or reviews if you poem in EC189, the energy issue. But, don’t want to find them buying the item and it’s a big but, by waxing lyrical about from Amazon on your behalf. You could “guiltless, infinite luxury” it falls into also add a review yourself. We hope that the trap of assuming that zero carbon eBay will ban this practice, as appears to energy is zero impact in every respect have been the case in Australia. and that there is a rosy green future in which we will no longer need to worry about the amount of energy that we use. To be exploited, or not The reality is that energy use, even with no carbon dioxide emissions, still We welcome readers’ letters. Letters to be exploited ... has an environmental impact. Every may be edited for reasons of space In your article on Fruit Juice (EC188), I wind turbine, every solar panel, every or clarity. If you do not want letters found it astonishing that you quoted the hydroelectric turbine, is still a significant or emails to be published, please economist Joan Robinson as saying, “the chunk of metal and concrete where once mark them ‘Not for publication’. Our only thing worse than being exploited nature existed. Good planning, design and address is on page 3, or email us at by global capital is not being exploited location can minimise the environmental [email protected]

ethicalconsumer.org 49 INSIDE VIEW Peat’s last stand

Could the fight to ban the use of peat finally end in victory? SIMON BIRCH talks to a leading campaigner.

“Peat has for too long been presented as a plentiful and perfect product in which to grow plants. But if gardeners could see the destruction that peat extraction has caused to habitats around the globe, they would be truly horrified,” says Nikki Williams from the Wildlife Trusts. “The gardening sector has had a decade to end peat use,” adds de Zylva. “An outright ban or a levy on its sale could be the only way to stop garden centres and DIY stores profiting from the sale of this natural asset at rock bottom prices.” Whether or not the government chooses to act though is now largely Little Woolden Moss in Lancashire was up until recently exploited for immaterial as it looks like © Lancashire Wildlife Trust Wildlife © Lancashire peat. Now this rare habitat is being restored by Lancashire Wildlife Trust. change will be forced on the horticultural industry whether o peat-free. That’s the simple “We sat on committees with the it likes it or not. message that campaigners have gardening industry, the government and In a recent landmark decision, for gardeners this spring in big retailers and we thought that this the Republic of Ireland has slapped a their battle to stop peat being would lead to a successful conclusion,” moratorium on the extraction of all peat, Gdug up for use in gardens, something says de Zylva. meaning that the supply of the main which many, including TV gardener “However the government took its eye source of peat for the UK market will end. Monty Don, describe as an act of off the ball thinking everything would be “This is a big move and will environmental vandalism. fine and it let the targets slip.” undoubtedly have an effect,” says de However, this won’t be the Zylva. first time that campaigners However rather will be issuing this plea, as the than being a peat-free campaign has been The gardening sector problem, de Zylva running for well over 30 years. belives that this Given peat’s vital role has had a decade to end is actually a big in locking away carbon, opportunity for the regulating floodwaters and peat use PAUL DE ZYLVA government and supporting threatened the horticultural wildlife, banning its sale industry to show should have been an easy environmental Just how far the targets slipped is the public that growing healthy plants can win years ago. shown by figures released last autumn. be done without destroying a valuable Incredibly however, bags of peat are Between 2015 and 2019, the amount natural resource. still being stacked high and sold cheap of peat contained in composts sold to “A scenario where the Irish peat supply in garden centres, DIY stores and petrol shoppers had barely fallen from 53% to chain suddenly shut down has never station forecourts across the land. 42% and it was a similarly pitiful small happened before,” says de Zylva. The fact that peat still remains freely drop for the professional sector. “This could be a much needed available is a stark testament to the failure “Ministers presumed that, once it had stimulus for locally produced compost, of an industry to fulfil its environmental set targets, the horticultural trade would a peat alternative made from the huge responsibilities, and a government unable deliver on that,” says de Zylva. amounts of food and garden waste that’s or unwilling to perform its regulatory role. “That didn’t happen and it shows how currently sent to landfill.” “It’s unfinished business,” admits Paul over-reliance on businesses to self- “Investing in skills and local supply de Zylva, a campaigner from Friends of regulate and to respect voluntary targets chains is more complicated and not as the Earth who has been banging the peat- is a sure-fire way to failure.” easy as flogging peat,” adds de Zylva, “but free drum for more than 20 years. Now a broad coalition of environmental it would add value, create jobs and help It was back in 2010 that the new Tory- and gardening groups including the solve many other problems including the led coalition promised to phase out the National Trust, RSPB and the Royal carbon and nature crises.” use of peat for gardeners by 2020 and by Horticultural Society are demanding that 2030 for the horticultural industry. the government finally takes action. @SimonBirchSays

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