Ethical dimensions in production, consumption and trade: an international account

Abstract

During the last decades, the way consumers, producers and ventors interact with each other has changed drastically. Nowadays, when a consumer makes a purchasing choice, the price and quality of the product aren't the only main factors. Consumers, now more than ever, take into account the social and environmental impact of purchasing goods, leaning more towards products made with more ‘ethical’ practices and avoiding ones with a negative impact on humans, animals and the environment. Even though shopping ethically in today's market and being a conscious consumer may not be so easy, it is important that everyone is educated on these issues and that producers, consumers and vendors make ethically conscious decisions. Some ethical considerations of production for example can be the use of animals in the cosmetic industry and the rise in Fast Fashion globally. At the same time, the ethical aspects of consumption have to do with overconsumption and the excessive demand for meat. Lastly, in trade, the ethical considerations refer to the wellbeing and safety of workers, whether they are factory workers or employees that are part of a minority group.