Ethical consumerism is a movement that encourages consumers to purchase products that are produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way. The term “ethical consumerism” can be traced back to the early 1970s when it was first used by Ralph Nader. Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed drew attention to the dangers of certain products, such as automobiles, and helped to spur the development of consumer protection laws in the United States.

The ethical consumerism movement has since grown to encompass a wide range of issues, including fair trade, organic agriculture, animal welfare, and social justice. Proponents of ethical consumerism argue that our purchasing decisions can have a significant impact on the world around us and that we, therefore, have a responsibility to choose products that do not cause harm.