The history of textile sustainable/ethical products has started in early 1990’s. It was the time when manufacturing entities and ordinary consumers started taking interest in eco-friendly products and environmental sustainability issues. And this was the phase when green movement goals have started under discussion on a mass level. The key manufacturer commenced producing eco-friendly products like organic cotton, bio-gradable papers and detergents, bamboo fibers, sustainable chemicals and pesticides etc.
Similarly, by the end of every day, the ethical spending trend is also increasing in all over the world. As consumers are more insist on eco-friendly products rather than conventional. As per research study findings by Grand View Research, the global eco fiber market will expected to reach US$ 93.27 till year 2025. And the growth rate would be anticipated around 12% pa. As per some other research findings, the global eco-fiber demand has already increased from 9570 kilo tones. And it is expected to increase up to 7.25% till current year to year 2025.
Ethical Consumer and Environmental Sustainability Approach in UK:
The trend of buying less but buying better is more dominant in UK market. As per the new ethical consumer markets research study findings 2015, the value of ethical product’s sales increased by 8%. It was the time when inflation scarcely rose 0.5%. As per the other research study by Mintel, the 69% women of segment 25-44 aged group said that they prefer quality over quantity. Not only this, the new study report on millennials says that 70% from the target respondents loves to spend on eco-friendly products.
The UK ethical market spending wroth was £54 billion in year 2016. And it represents the 7% of the total UK conventional product’s sale. Based on the consumer buying behavior and trends, most of the national and international brands started aggressively sourcing eco-friendly products. Despite of increasing trends and demand of sustainable clothing in all over the world. The eco system is not as controlled as it should be and still there is need to do a lot towards sustainable development agenda of 2030.
Although the denim and clothing companies’ efforts towards sustainability are remarkable yet we still need to improve the overlooking areas. Being a consumer, we have the power to drag or change industry giant’s approach towards sustainability. If we well educate ourselves from the supply chain system of the brands which we often use. And our brand loyalty is totally depending upon the brand’s strict policy towards environmental sustainability. Then we can say that we are wise and ethical consumer as well as responsible resident of this beautiful globe.
Ethical Consumer:
As we discussed above, being a consumer, our buying behavior and trend has significant effect on our society. As we already discussed in our other article that how excessive cloth buying created waste clothes and polluted our environment. Similarly, if we buy less but buy conventional clothing (unethical) even then our environment will pay the cost of it. So, the approach regarding buy less but buy better will work here. And we can say that while buying anything, we need to follow an ethical approach. Being an ethical consumer, we should be really careful about our buying that it doesn’t harm our environmental sustainability, society and other creatures (animals etc.). So, we can say, we need to do a little research before buying any item so that we could contribute positively for the betterment of our globe.
Being an ethical consumer, we need to spend a little time and research about the origins from where our clothes other daily utensils come from. Although the research work and information digging is getting smooth and easy day by day. Because, most of the companies are already showing its material suppliers published to their sites. Moreover, you can also get a lot of information about company’s approach and its journey towards sustainability in daily journals and news updates. By putting a little effort, we can pay our contribution in our natural environmental sustainability.
