The Fair Jewerly Organisation

Dear All,

Recently I have had correspondence with Marc Choyt a founding member of the Fair Jewelry Organisation establishing industry standards and best practise sharing for the diamond market.

From the exchanges I've had with Marc it definitely looks like they're very much on the ball trying to establish an ethical platform which sets them apart from the general jewelry trade.

Please take the time to view their org and the steps they're working towards to help establish a standard. http://www.fairjewelry.org/

All the best
Andreas

At IHT Luxury Conference, ethics are in vogue

Dear All,

The 'luxury ethical' mantra has resonated to the top of the supreme luxury brands, at the recently hosted IHT Luxury Conference in Moscow. The question is, do they truly believe in adopting or playing lip service to maintain a sales up-lift with their existing and potential customer base?

I'm confident in believing they actually want to make a difference. I welcome the leaders in their respective fields to set new industry standards and best practise sharing, how to be a 'luxury ethical' brand in the 21st century.

All the best
Andreas

The Ethical Consumerism Report 2007

Dear All,

Please find attached the latest 'Ethical Consumerism Report 2007' for the UK conducted by The Co-Operative Bank. In summary:

Household expenditure on ethical goods and services has almost doubled in the past five years: on average, every household in the UK spent GBP664 in line with their ethical values in 2006 compared with just GBP366 in 2002, an increase of 81 per cent. However, whilst the overall ethical market in the UK is now worth GBP32.3 bilion a year, up nine percent from GBP29.7 billion in the previous year 12 months, it is still a small propotion of the total annual household consumer spend of more than GBP600 billion.

Key Findings:

• Ethical consumer market: Six per cent of the UK adult population (2.8 million people) are committed ethical consumers, shopping for ethical products and services every week
• Ethical behaviours: Across eitht seprate indicators, between 199 and 2007, UK consumers, across all age groups, reported an increase predisposition to ethical behaviours
• Average spend per household: The average amount spent on ethical products and services has almost doubled from GBP366 per household in 2002 to GBP664 in 2006
• Food and drink: Ethical sales now account for 5.1 per cent of the UK's total food and drink sales. Including consumer boycotts, this rises to 6.8 per cent. Sales of Fairtrade products have increased 46 per cent to GBP285 million
• Green home: Within an overall spend of GBP6.2 billion on environmentally friendly and energy efficient home products, spend on energy efficient light blubs has increased by 44 per cent to GBP26 million
• Eco-travel and transport: Six per cent growth to GBP1.7 billion reflects limited consumer choices for eco-travel. However, an increased proportion of consumers did report using public transport for environmental reasons, in 2006
• Ethical personal products: Overall spend is static at GBP1.5 billion. Consumers boycotts of clothing retailers did grow by 20 per cent reflecting a concern amongst some consumers that low prices could mean poor labour conditions
• Ethical finance: At GBP13.3 billion, 2006 saw the largest ever increase of monies channelled into ethical forms of finance, with a net increase of GBp1.7 billion over the 2005 value

The total value attached to ethical consumerism in the UK stands at GBP32.3 billion in 2006. This reflects the total economic value attached to the broad range of personal choices, be they food, finance or charitable donations. The luxury ethical market is represented within part of the whole sum. At some level the consumer is influenced by a concern for the environment, animal welfare or human rights.

In addition it reflects the economic value that consumers attach to ethical choices to support their community via local shopping or to boycott brands whose behaviour conflicts with their ethical priorities. At the end of the day its about choice and giving the consumer the knowledge and understanding to make that choice.

All the best

Andreas

Ethical shopping at the crossroads: out of the niche and into the mainstream

Dear All,

Today was spent at an all day conference called 'Ethical shopping at the crossroads'. It was insightful and yet at times rather frustrating. I was happy to be present as a delegate for the World Luxury Ethical Council and exchange ideas and contacts at the breakout sessions.

The key point which I took away from the whole day was 'sustainability' and the issues we face as consumers in the market between buying ethical and understanding the overall principles. The question which kept on coming up from the delegates is, whose responsibility is it? The Government; The Industry; The Individual Consumer? I believe its the consumer, we as individuals have a choice to pay or not to pay for the product or service. However, its up to ethical organizations and media to do their part in demystifying the terms of ethical business practises. Simpler and easier ratings and labels need to be applied across the board so it doesn't confuse the average consumer. Work is been done and yet we still have a lot of distance to cover to make things clearer.

I really feel like we're in the heart of the Victorian industrial revolution when the railway system was been laid out across Britain. Multiple gauges for railway tracks were been adopted and no industry standard had been established. So it was impossible to have a unified network until one industry gauge was recognized and set. This is where 'ethical business practises' are in terms of gauging and setting. Eventually, one system will apply........

All the best
Andreas

Brits prepare for GREEN Christmas

Dear All,

The good ole' Brits are taking up the ethical GREEN Christmas shopping challenge to provide gifts to fill their stockings for family and friends. This is a recent survey conducted by the environmental charity Cool Earth.

Congratulations on those who are trying to make a difference in their own independent way. Every ethical green conscience action counts no matter how minor or major. Keep up the good work.

All the best
Andreas

Have a read at the latest article.

The UK is preparing for a green - rather than a white - Christmas this year, according to environmental charity Cool Earth.

In an independent survey of over 1,000 British adults, the charity found a range of ethical and environmental gifts were at the top of people's Christmas lifts.
They included a ipod solar charger, a wind-up radio, a bike to use instead of the car and an acre of rainforest.
However, Cool Earth found that not all ethical presents would be gratefully unwrapped on Christmas morning.
Consumers turned their nose up at elephant dung stationery as a festive gift.
Cool Earth Director, Matthew Owen, said: "Christmas is usually a time of excess so it's great to see that lots of Brits are planning on buying their friends and families a present that will protect rather than harm the environment this year.
"During the festive season, each of our carbon footprints will rocket as we over consume, travel more frequently and for longer and use lots more energy.
Therefore, we all need to do our bit and do something to redress the balance."
Government department Defra estimates that the UK's Christmas rubbish mountain includes one billion cards, six million trees, 80,000 tonnes of old clothes and other textiles and 83 square kilometres of wrapping paper.
It all adds up to a bloated festive season waste total of three million tonnes.