Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- Impact of COVID-19 on ethical retailing
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- Figure 1: Short-, medium- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on ethical retailing, 2020-25
- The market
- The meat-free market continues to see strong growth
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- Figure 2: UK retail value sales of meat substitutes, 2015-20
- Online shopping is taking its toll on the environment
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- Figure 3: Internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales, 2015-20
- Government continues promise to reduce CO2 emissions
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- Figure 4: UK total greenhouse gas emissions headline results, 1990-20
- Companies and brands
- Retailers are trying to become more inclusive
- Lush and Co-op perceived to be the most ethical retailers
- The consumer
- Community and the environment are now a higher priority for many
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- Figure 5: UK consumers changing priorities since COVID-19, 4-12 Feb 2021
- Global warming tops list of concerns
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- Figure 6: Top environmental concerns for consumers, June 2021
- Fair treatment of workers is the top priority
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- Figure 7: Top ethical priorities for consumers, June 2021
- Ethical practices are important in frequently bought items
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- Figure 8: Importance of ethical practices in the main retail sectors, June 2021
- Certification can help educate but is not a driving factor for purchasing
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- Figure 9: Awareness and considerations of ethical certification, June 2021
- Media plays a big part in consumer’s ethical education
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- Figure 10: Sources used for ethical retailing information, June 2021
- Prior to COVID-19 people had adopted sustainable behaviours
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- Figure 11: Sustainable habits taken on prior to COVID-19, June 2021
Issues and Insights
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- How COVID-19 has made consumers prioritise ethics
- Opportunities in ethical retailing across categories
The Market – Key Takeaways
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- Online shopping is taking its toll on the environment
- Throughout challenging times, charity grows in importance
- There continues to be interest in the meat-free market
Market Drivers
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- The meat-free market continues to see strong growth…
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- Figure 12: UK retail value sales of meat substitutes, 2015-20
- …despite the fact there has been a reversal in the trend since COVID-19
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- Figure 13: Meat eating habits, 2017-20
- Despite pressures on finances, people have kept up charitable donations
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- Figure 14: Types of charitable cause donated to in last six months, 2019-21
- Increase in the number of people shopping online
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- Figure 15: Internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales, 2015-20
- Figure 16: Internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales, monthly, 2019-21
- Government continues promise to reduce CO2 emissions
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- Figure 17: UK total greenhouse gas emissions headline results, 1990-20
Companies and Brands – Key Takeaways
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- More retailers are embracing cruelty-free lines
- Retailers find ways to become more inclusive
- Primark still viewed as unethical by a quarter of people
Launch Activity and Innovation
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- Going vegan
- Asda trials vegan butcher counters
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- Figure 18: Veelicious vegan butcher in Asda, 2021
- Kylie Cosmetics reformulates to become ‘clean and vegan’
- Ugg launches vegan shoe collection
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- Figure 19: UGG Plant Power Collection, 2021
- Retailers up diversity efforts
- Levi’s campaign focuses on respecting pronouns
- John Lewis unveils plans to become most inclusive retailer in the UK
- Travis Perkins trains staff to become LGBTQ+ allies
- Lululemon launches extended sizes
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- Figure 20: Lululemon’s extended sizes displayed on its website, 2021
- Figure 21: Aesop’s Queer Library concept in New York, 2021
- Giving back
- Poundland launches charitable foundation
- Primark donates coats to disadvantaged children
- Co-op accelerates food donation scheme
- Plastic-free shopping
- Asda opens sustainability store
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- Figure 22: Asda’s refill stations in its Middleton store in Leeds, 2020
- M&S Food expands plastic-free refill concept
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- Figure 23: M&S Fill Your Own concept, 2021
- Carrefour partners with Loop
- The Modern Milkman set for further growth
Brand Research
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- Lush and Co-op perceived to be the most ethical retailers
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- Figure 24: Top ranking of retail brands*, by agreement with “ethical”, Jan 2020-Mar 2021
- Primark still viewed as unethical by nearly a quarter of people
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- Figure 25: Top ranking of retail brands*, by agreement with “unethical”, Jan 2020 -Mar 2021
- Brand research methodology
The Consumer – Key Takeaways
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- Increase in online shopping has negative implications on sustainability
- Younger shoppers are not the most concerned about ethical practices
- Hygiene concerns have led to less sustainable behaviours
- Shoppers are more likely to prioritise ethics in frequently bought items
Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Behaviour
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- Two in five continue to shop more online
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- Figure 26: UK consumers shopping more online since COVID-19, 16 Apr 2020-2 Jul 2021
- Community and the environment are now a higher priority for many
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- Figure 27: UK consumers changing priorities since COVID-19, 4-12 Feb 2021
- Extra hygiene cautions could have negative impact on environment
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- Figure 28: Levels of comfort around handling items in-store, 25 Jun-19 Nov 2020
Environmental Concerns
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- Global warming tops list of concerns
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- Figure 29: Top environmental concerns for consumers, June 2021
- A third of shoppers are concerned about food waste
- The myth of the eco-warrior younger generations
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- Figure 30: Top environmental concerns for consumers, by generation, June 2021
Ethical Priorities
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- Fair treatment of workers is by far the top priority
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- Figure 31: Top ethical priorities for consumers, June 2021
- Women are more likely to choose a retailer based on ethical credentials
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- Figure 32: Top ethical priorities for consumers, June 2021
Importance of Ethical Practices by Category
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- Ethical practices are important in frequently bought items
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- Figure 33: Importance of ethical practices in the main retail sectors, June 2021
Awareness of Ethical Certification
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- Certification does not necessarily draw shoppers to items
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- Figure 34: Awareness and considerations of ethical certification, June 2021
- Younger shoppers are more clued up on certification
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- Figure 35: Awareness of ethical certifications, June 2021
Sources Used for Ethical Information
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- Media plays a big part in consumer’s ethical education
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- Figure 36: Sources used for ethical retailing information, June 2021
Changing Ethical Behaviours since COVID-19
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- Prior to COVID-19 people had adopted ethical behaviours…
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- Figure 37: Sustainable habits taken on prior to and since COVID-19, June 2021
- …but some of that enthusiasm has been lost since the pandemic
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
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