About Ethical Consumer 

Rob Harrison

Consultancy Manager / Director

I was one of the founders of Ethical Consumer in 1988. With rising consumer boycotts and campaigns, I wanted information to guide my own purchases in a logical way. No one else was providing this at the time.

I'm lucky enough now to work or advise on projects across all issues, from food to electronics. However, for more than ten years I have specialised in looking at ethics in the banking and investment sectors.

Before Ethical Consumer, I did a Law Degree at Manchester University. I was active in student protest movements at the time around Apartheid South Africa and Third World Debt.

Highlights

In the 1990s, we had a three year project on the comparative environmental credentials of building materials. The books that came out of it (Green Building Handbooks) are still selling in China.

Other expertise and experience

I have worked as a consultant to NGOs (including Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace) on engaging consumers in their campaigns, as an advisor to government departments (including those in Belgium, Austria and Brazil) on encouraging the use of ethical consumption and procurement for social and environmental goals, as a consultant to consumer organisations (including groups in Spain and Hungary) on researching the CSR performance of companies, and to companies (including the Co-operative Bank and Lush Cosmetics) on developing world-leading ethical policies and implementing them in practice.

I have also edited and contributed to academic work in this area including the 2005 Sage book 'The Ethical Consumer' and the 1997 Routledge 'Green Building Handbook'. My most recent book was published in autumn 2021: The Handbook of Ethical Purchasing Principles and Practice

I have been an editor of Ethical Consumer magazine since its inception and have spoken widely in the press, on radio and on TV as well as to universities and campaign groups around the world on the importance of facilitating ethical consumption in a globalised marketplace.

Future aspirations

I'm increasingly interested in getting organisations to explore changing their corporate forms to ones that better address the interests of multiple stakeholder groups.

My long term aspirations for Ethical Consumer are that it remains true to its ethical focus, stays solvent, and continues to provide good quality information to people about ethics in markets.

Outside interests

Soul music, woodland ecology, fell walking, astronomy and craft beer. Not necessarily in that order.

Anna Clayton

Writer / Researcher and Director

I joined Ethical Consumer in 2014. I felt that it would be the perfect place to develop professionally and personally, whilst campaigning for a cause I believe in - challenging corporate power.

Highlights

A highlight for me was co-developing the Lush Spring Prize – a biennial prize that seeks to celebrate and support the regenerative movement around the world. The final prize-giving events are full of determined and inspiring people that are healing damaged environments and fractured communities, despite numerous obstacles and social stigmas. Amazing.

Other expertise and experience

At Ethical Consumer, I have worked on a number of consultancy projects including the feasibility work for the anti-badger cull campaign and the LUSH Spring Prize. I worked on the two Shooting Wildlife? Reports, which explore the links between optics companies and the hunting industry, and have supported the development of the Lush Spring Prize and Tools For The Future projects.

Outside of Ethical Consumer, I have worked on a number of community-led environmental and food growing initiatives around the UK and abroad. Highlights include:

• Co-developing a community food strategy for North Lancashire and coordinating FoodFutures: North Lancashire’s Sustainable Food Partnership and Network.
• Supporting the development of Lancaster Seed Library and Claver Hill community food project in Lancaster.
• Facilitating a community-led reforestation project in Uchira, Tanzania.
• Working on the Butterfly Effect project in Norwich, which used art and participatory workshops in schools and public spaces to explore the impacts climate change will have in the Norfolk area.
• Attending the European Food Sovereignty gathering in Romania and International Permaculture Convergence in India.

I currently work part-time for LESS - a sustainability organisation based in Lancaster -, where I am overseeing the development of a cross-sector food partnership.

Future aspirations

I would like to see Ethical Consumer’s work being adapted to create educational resource packs and campaigns that can be used within a variety of educational settings - from primary schools to universities.

Outside interests

I sit on the management committee of Claver Hill community food project in Lancaster and co-founded Lapwing House Cooperative. I am learning Greek and love to draw/paint; grow and implement my permaculture learnings.

Alex Crumbie

Writer / Researcher

I joined Ethical Consumer as a writer and researcher in 2018, wanting to apply and develop my research skills within an organisation that campaigns for progressive change.

Highlights

I have spoken on several radio shows since joining Ethical Consumer, including Radio 4’s You and Yours, and Voice of Islam. I have also given presentations on ethical consumption to the Shropshire and Stockport Humanist Societies.

Much of the my consultancy work has been for Lush Cosmetics – primarily auditing their supply chains for animal testing.

I am part of the team that obtained grant funding from Friend’s Provident Foundation to research greenwashing in the investment fund sector.

I am also part of the team campaigning for workers’ rights in supermarket supply chains – particularly migrant workers in southern Spain.

Other expertise and experience

I have a background in political economy, having completed an MA in Global Political Economy at the University of Sussex. I have a BA in International Relations & Philosophy from the same institution.

I also worked as a researcher at the Institute for Employment Studies, based in Brighton.

Future aspirations

I’m keen to continue working on a range of topics and sectors, from fast fashion to finance. I’m also really interested to see how the campaign for workers’ rights in supermarket supply chains develops.

Outside interests

Outside of Ethical Consumer I keep myself busy playing in a band, writing poems and creating short animation films.

Edward Lander

Writer / Researcher

I joined the Ethical Consumer consultancy team in January 2022 to work on a diverse range of meaningful projects.

I have a long-standing interest in international human rights, and improving the working and living conditions of people impacted by government and industrial policies.

Highlights

I was part of the team that developed and tested a system for ranking sustainable funds based on their commitment to tackling climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We secured funding from Friends Provident to rate the climate policies of more than 100 of the largest UK sustainably branded retail funds. Our report into the findings was covered by climate news organisation DeSmog.

Since joining the consultancy team, I have also worked on the Lush non-animal testing supply chain audits and helped create the Ethical Consumer Markets Report for the Co-operative Group.

Other expertise and experience

I am a researcher and writer with extensive experience as a financial and energy sector journalist.

I have written for publications including the Guardian, the Financial Times, Third Sector, Jazzwise, and Songlines. I also have significant experience working as a bid writing consultant.

Future aspirations

I am keen to design and implement environmental and social frameworks and projects that create value for our clients.

Outside interests

I enjoy writing, reading and exercising. I am also an enthusiastic composer and musician.