Bradford businesses are

benefiting from a major upsurge in ethical buying, according to research by The Co-operative Bank.

The bank's annual ethical consumerism report

highlighted a 30 per cent increase in sales of ethical clothing including organic cotton, fair trade clothes and garments made from

recycled material, up to £43 million last year.

It revealed that 66 per cent of people claimed to consider the environmental impact of their purchases and showed that consumers spent £25.8 billion in line with their

values, a 15 per cent annual increase.

Simon Williams, director of corporate affairs at Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), said: "As we can see from the growth in ethical clothing sales, a growing number of consumers take ethical considerations on board before making

purchasing decisions.

"The report reveals many areas of accelerating growth such as Fairtrade and

free-range eggs.

"What were previously thought by some as

somewhat curious or niche marketing exercises, are now becoming mainstream.

"However, there are some areas where it would appear much more intervention is needed by Government, particularly where the unethical alternatives are so much cheaper.

"Sustainable timber sales are practically static after growing 18 per cent between 2002 and 2003 and growth in organics, whilst significant, is slowing."