Delegated Interfaces
Ethical
Purchase
Consumers align their purchases and values through online services.
Trend
What is the Ethical Purchase trend?
Ethical Purchase: As consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of their consumption habits, they begin to take steps to change these harmful behaviors. Through mobile apps and online communities, shoppers are not only able to make smarter purchasing decisions based on their values, but also become apart of something bigger than themselves. Ethical shopping has ultimately become a process of self-actualization that consumers are excited to engage in and share with others.
Trend themes
Themes within the Ethical Purchase trend
Three behaviours holding the trend togetherEthical Consumption
The trend of ethical consumption encourages consumers to make purchases based on moral, environmental, and social factors, leading to the rise of platforms helping shoppers find goods that align with their values.
Sustainable eCommerce
Sustainable eCommerce allows consumers to buy ethically made goods online while contributing to environmental and social causes, leading to the emergence of platforms that offer responsible alternatives alongside conventional items.
Transparency in Fashion
The trend of transparency in fashion incentivizes consumers to demand accountability, labeling, and disclosure for more sustainable and ethical fashion products, leading to the rise of crowdsourced projects that give people more insights into the practices of fashion brands.
Industry implications
What the Ethical Purchase trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookEthical Retail
The ethical retail industry offers platforms to inform and educate consumers who are inclined to purchase products that are moral, ethical, and sustainable. Opportunities lie in the production and promotion of products that align with these values.
Sustainable Agriculture
The sustainable agriculture industry is dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly practices while growing and selling crops, such as reducing waste and increasing biodiversity. Opportunities lie in producing sustainable farming products for buyers who appreciate locally-harvested and healthy foods.
Socially Conscious Technology
The socially conscious technology industry aims to promote products that consider the ethical and environmental implications on society and the planet, and aim to produce technologies that contribute to sustainability and positive societal outcomes for users. Opportunities are ripe for businesses in the industry that aim to use technology to help individuals and businesses reduce their environmental footprints or support ethical causes.
Workshop question
How can your brand contribute to consumers' self-actualization?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Ethical Purchase
Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 83%, activity 61%, freshness 8%.
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Evidence
Examples of the Ethical Purchase trend
7 featured examples from Feb 23, 2015 to Nov 29, 2016Web-Based Farmers Markets
Peaceful Valley's Grow Organic Shop Carries Farming and Gardening Goods
The rise of web-based farmer's markets offers E-commerce businesses an opportunity to tap into the growing interest in buying locally-sourced, organic products.
Ethically Attuned Shopping Extensions
DoneGood Automatically Offers Ethical Shopping Alternatives
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop an ethical e-commerce marketplace that curates and promotes products from sustainable and socially responsible companies.
Consumption-Reducing eCommerce Platforms
The 'Buy Me Once' Online Shop Only Sells Items That Last
Opportunities for fashion brands and retailers that seek to combat fast fashion by producing high-quality, long-lasting clothing items with sustainable and ethical production meth…
Crowdsourced Ethical Fashion Projects
Project JUST Demands Transparent Clothing Purchases
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop an online marketplace that exclusively features clothing brands with transparent manufacturing processes.
Ethical Shopping Apps
Glia Enables Conscious Consumerism by Matching You with Moral Retail Options
Innovative technology solutions can be developed to help consumers make informed ethical shopping choices.
Ethical Fashion Apps
Good On You Shows Socially Conscious Fashion Ratings For Your Favorite Brands
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement technology-driven solutions that help traditional retailers integrate ethical fashion brands into their product offerings.
Sustainable Retail Apps
ClimateCounts is the Shopping Application for Socially Conscious Consumers
The ClimateCounts app provides opportunities for retailers to showcase their eco-friendly practices and appeal to consumers who prioritize sustainability.