The Politics of Ethical Consumption

Ethical consumption as a political project is often rejected because it is considered too individualized to achieve a collective consciousness; companies simply take avoiding action; it is immoral for corporations to respond -unless it is clearly profitable for them to do so or that ownership of all resources would be a preferable way to ensure environmental stewardship. The idea of deploying consumption preferences in the market fits the neo-liberal concept of ‘consumer sovereignty’, that theory presupposed only individualized self-interest being expressed by consumers. This uncertainty leaves some debate about the nature and efficacy of ethical consumption.