12 March 2008, 13:09 PM
  • Although the US remains the largest market for fair trade goods, Brits spend on average more on ethical products than their European, American, Australian, Kiwi and Japanese counterparts.

This information, revealed in a new report by market analyst, Datamonitor, demonstrates the importance of fair trade for the public. It also shows that sales of ethical products have experienced double digit growth since 2002.

“Ethical consumerism will increasingly come to the fore as people shop for products they feel akin to politically, ethically and aesthetically,” says Nick Beevors, consumer market analyst at Datamonitor. “Consumers will choose brands that are actively making a difference in a transparent and trustworthy manner.

“Another important driver of fair trade purchases is the perceived authenticity and overall sense of provenance associated with such products. Consumers increasingly want to become engaged with issues such as origin and production details. Fair trade labelling is something that gives them a degree of confidence over these issues

Globally, beverages account for the largest share of fair trade products sales. In the UK ethical coffee and tea has become hugely popular and is widely available in many supermarkets and shops.