Ethical consumerism has three main effects.
Firstly, it benefits those companies who are truly ethical. Secondly, it cuts down the environmental impact of much of our spending and thirdly it sends a clear message to corporations across the globe that enough is enough. Our buying patterns can register our dislike of child labour, sweatshops and other actions that cause suffering to some of the world's poorest people. Alas, cynical marketing often uses somewhat questionable awards to disguise their failings, which may include using wasteful plastic wrappings or printing such spurious phrases as 'environmentally friendly' on their products. With governments seeming to be unable to tighten labelling it falls to the consumer to show a lead and vote with their money.