Boycotts

Boycotts are where you hold companies accountable for their actions (regarding sustainability, diversity, working practices, investments etc). You basically stop buying from or using the company you are boycotting until they meaningfully change their practices.

Recent boycotts include:

• Big Night In – boycotting nightclubs in the UK in 2021 in response to an increase in spiking incidents.
• Boots – dropped the price of its morning after pill after BPAS called a boycott in 2017.
• Wetherspoons – during COVID they were going to pay employees 5 weeks late until the start of the furlough scheme. The company changed their minds after a boycott and MPs voiced criticism.

You can join national or international boycotts and share their information and materials, to ensure people are educated about why they should boycott that specific company. Some people feel that boycotts are not always the way forward, as there may be unintended consequences for the workers or other groups. Make sure to do your research to decide whether that company is worth boycotting.

You can find out more about boycotting on the Ethical Consumer website, including information about starting a boycott.