We're all getting greener...

The Co-operative Bank is reporting that ethical consumer spending in the UK has doubled to 5% of total expenditure since 2002. This backs up the recent DEFRA survey on the general public's attitudes.

Food in particular is one sector where consumers are choosing fairtrade, organic and sustainably sourced products, breaking through the 5% 'glass ceiling' to hit 7%. Interestingly the cash spent by people choosing to shop locally has increased by 50%, although I could imagine a little guilt inspired exaggeration could have crept into that one...

Energy efficient white goods continue to grow ever more popular, up 44%, aided by easy-to-understand energy ratings. Micro-renewables are doing much better, but are still low in priority, up from £0 per household in 2002 to £6. The ongoing problems with renewables grants and the news story today that micro-wind turbines in urban settings can produce less energy than they take to make won't help that one...