Current ethical issues clearly cover a massive array of subjects, but this page is focussing on areas relating to everyday consumer activity mainly in terms of the products we buy. Going shopping, particularly for food, is often a rush job and cost comes into the equation for the majority of people, but it is possible to also think about current ethical issues whilst filling your shopping basket.
Environmental concerns certainly come into the realm of current ethical issues and our Sustainable Food page covers areas relating to this such as buying organic produce and trying to avoid air-freighted produce. In addition, the environmental conduct of a company should be of interest, so don’t be afraid to ask for the eco-credentials of shops and other institutions you use.
There are, however, also other considerations, such as the source of products in terms of who has been involved in their production. There are many products on the market in the UK, such as some cheap clothing, which are produced in an environment which exploits workers, some of whom can even be children. Current ethical issues certainly include the right of everyone to receive a fair wage and experience decent working conditions. The Fairtrade mark is an easy way to reassure yourself about the origin of a product, but otherwise it can be difficult to know where a product is from. It is certainly worth thinking twice before going for the cheapest brand; it may be too good to be true. There are also ethically-oriented publications and websites which look into the credentials of stores and contain information on areas of concern such as these and anti-competitive practices.
Current ethical issues can also apply to areas such as banking. There are financial institutions available in the UK, however, which have ethical policies including, for example, refusing to invest in businesses related to arms dealing and focussing on environmental or ethical investments.
