Ethics and Morality in Consumption ─ Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Ethical consumerism is on the rise. No longer bound to the counter-cultural fringes, the concerns and practices of ethical consumerism are reaching into the mainstream of society and are increasingly being adopted by mainstream consumers. Interest in ethical consumption is not limited to those seeking to practise it. This burgeoning movement is drawing the attention of academics, activist organisations, government bodies, journalists, media, celebrities, primary industry, manufacturing sectors, and retailers. Increasing awareness of the ethics of consumption, visibility of the consequences of unsustainable consumption, and availability of ethical products and services, has facilitated the rise of the multifaceted ‘ethical’ consumer

It is said that ethical consumers have political, religious, spiritual, environmental, social or other motives for choosing one product over another and are concerned with the impact of their consumption choices on other individuals (including future generations), society, animals and the environment. In addition to the continued growth of the ethical consumerism movement, the past decade has also seen a significant shift in the breadth and scope of consumers’ ethical concerns. Both consumer and academic interest has expanded considerably from ‘green/environmental’ issues to the complex webs of ‘sustainable’ and ‘ethical’ consumption. The terms ‘ethical’, ‘conscious’, ‘socially responsible’ and ‘sustainable’ consumerism are now used interchangeably to describe this expanding social movement of consumers who care about ethics and corporate responsibility in their purchasing decisions. Far from a homogenous collective, however, what is ‘ethical’ will encapsulate different expressions, concerns and issues for each individual. These issues are often complex and involve the impacts of consumption across the entire product life cycle – from cradle to grave.

This book examines several different discipline areas and provides two differing chapters to enable contrast and critical analysis both within and across disciplines. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of ethical consumption and consumer ethics, Ethics in Consumption: Interdisciplinary Perspectives seeks to provide a platform for producing a holistic, broadened critical perspective that connects currently differing bodies of knowledge.

Deirdre Shaw is Professor of Marketing and Consumer Research at Glasgow university’s Adam Smith Business School, Scotland.

Terry Newholm is Lecturer in Consumer Theory at Manchester Business School, UK.

Michal Carrington is a Lecturer at La Trobe University Business School, Australia.

Andreas Chatzidakis is Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.