UK consumers are spending more money on ethical goods - such as organic food - than beer and cigarettes, a report has found.
The report, which was carried out by the Co-operative bank, shows that Brits spent £29.3bn on ethical products in 2005, compared with £28bn on tobacco and alcohol.
However, the Co-operative bank was quick to guard against complacency and cautioned against interpreting this growth as a sign that the "markets were capable of delivering sustainable solutions without intervention".
The figures show that ethical consumption jumped 11 per cent in 2005 from a year earlier.
Over the same 12-month period, total UK household expenditure increased by just 1.4 per cent.
Spending on ethical food - such as organic food, fairtrade goods and free-range eggs - grew 18 per cent to reach £5.4bn in 2005.
Green home expenditure - which includes energy-efficient electrical appliances, green mortgage repayments and green energy goods - increased from £3.8bn to £4.1bn in 2005.
Craig Shannon, from the Co-operative bank, said: "The fact that the value of ethical consumerism is now higher than the retail figures for cigarettes and beers is a milestone.
"However, total ethical spending is spread over a wide range of products and services, and in very few markets has it become the market norm.
"Overall, spend on ethical foods still only accounts for 5 per cent of the typical shopping basket."
The study was based on figures from the Office for National Statistics.
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