Looking behind the Label: Global Industries and the Conscientious Consumer

by Tim Bartley, Sebastian Koos, Hiram Samel

What does it mean when consumers "shop with a conscience" and choose products labeled as fair or sustainable? Does this translate into meaningful changes in global production processes? To what extent are voluntary standards implemented and enforced, and can they really govern global industries? Looking behind the Label presents an informative introduction to global production and ethical consumption, tracing the links between consumers' choices and the practices of multinational producers and retailers. Case studies of several types of products―wood and paper, food, apparel and footwear, and electronics―are used to reveal what lies behind voluntary rules and to critique predominant assumptions about ethical consumption as a form of political expression.

Genres: Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

Reviews

[Charmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and worthy of further research and discussion. With a subject matter that is so critical they did a good job limiting their scope. I really woild have benefited from more data regarding the environment and the retail sector but again the topic can be infinite. Thank you!