Do you shop green in recession?

We may have overdosed on news of the financial downturn, but times like these raise important questions about how we spend our money.

Most high street brands have reported huge losses over Christmas, and famous brands are toppling like dominoes. Yet in the midst of all this economic chaos, cheap fashion outlets are thriving. So have we thrown our social conscience out with last year's Christmas decorations?

The picture might not be as bad as you think. Many brands continue to trade ethically, despite the economic downturn.

Making small changes

Take Marks & Spencer, which has set the standard with ethical trading. It recently celebrated the second anniversary of its Plan A campaign which encourages people to make small ‘green' changes that will save them money, as well as saving the planet.

Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of M&S, says,"We know times are tough and that some businesses are wondering if they can still afford to focus on the environment and ethical issues. From a business perspective we can't afford not to, while climate change won't wait for the economy."

Following history

Boots is another large retailer with a noble history of social awareness.  The Nottingham company was established in 1849 by John Boot, a herbalist who provided affordable medical care (of sorts) to the local community, most of whom couldn't afford to see the doctor. Historically Boots has always looked out for its employees. In fact (and here's a history lesson for you!) back in 1938 Jesse Boot stated that:

"When we build factories in which it is a joy to work, when we establish pension funds which relieve our workers of fears for their old age, when we reduce the number of working days in the week or give long holidays with pay to our retail assistant, we are setting a standard which governments in due time will be able to make universal."

This was at a time of jaw-dropping economic devastation, and Boots is now one of the most successful pharmacist companies in the UK, which just goes to show that ethical trading doesn't necessarily mean making poor business decisions.

Making the right choices

But in today's economic minefield, how can we make sure that we make the right choices without being left out of pocket? Nikki Beukes, fashion editor at online retailer Shudoo.co.uk, says that even in an economical downturn ethical consumerism is up by 15%, proving that people will choose ‘values' over ‘value'.

"As consumers, we have a great deal of power in our pockets. Those who spend ethically, even in hard times, see their money as a vote, which they use every time they go shopping," she says.

She also points out that spending within your means is also very important, saying "You don't always need to pay a fortune for quality items, and a price tag doesn't always guarantee that it has been ethically produced either."

Shopping online also has its advantages, as Nikki explains. "Shopping ethically is far easier online as there is considerably more information readily available that you wouldn't get elsewhere. There are countless websites offering ethical and fair trade goods that consumers are spoilt for choice."

Ultimately, if you're unsure about the ethical stance of the products, you can either check to see whether they are certified Fair Trade or Organic, or you can simply ask the company what their ethical and environmental policies are.

I put this to the test and, approaching them as an ordinary consumer, chatted to a spokesperson from BellaPiere cosmetics about their ethical stance, as I'm a fan of mineral make-up. I was happily informed that, although they aren't certified Fair Trade, they don't test on animals and they recently opened a major office and warehouse facility in Park Royal to cut down on shipping. Not ground-breaking news, but I feel better shopping with them knowing that they are aware of the issues and are willing to act on them.

Hopefully most companies will follow their lead and continue to act responsibly. After all, this is our future we're talking about here!

What are your favourite ethical companies? I'm sure there are more out there than we realise ...

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