Labour Research July 2004

Reviews

The good shopping guide

Your guide to shopping with a clear conscience

Published by the Ethical Marketing Group, 240 Portobello Road, 290 pages, paperback, £12.00. Also available delivery free from www.thegoodshoppingguide.co.uk

This book provides guidance for shoppers who want to make ethical decisions about the products they buy. It provides information about the main companies manufacturing or producing a range of household products: from tea and coffee, butter and yoghurt and breakfast cereals, to soap and skincare products, clothing and sports shoes.

It provides a rating system (green = good; red = bad) based on environmental criteria, animal welfare and "people issues". The information on workers' rights is presented in a global context and looks at issues such as whether companies use slave, forced or child labour, deny the right to associate, form unions or bargain collectively, or pay less than a living wage.