Attitudes of consumers towards ethical buying and fair trade in Slovakia

Nowadays, more and more consumers have an increased interest in the field of ethics and social responsibility, which they present in connection with the companies they buy from. The attitude towards ethical shopping becomes particularly important in the context of sustainable development and environmental protection. Slovakia, as a member of the European Union, is not left out of this trend. In the contribution, we focus on the attitude of consumers in Slovakia towards ethical shopping through an applied questionnaire inquiry. Ethical shopping is the way consumers think when choosing products, considering the conditions under which products are produced, distributed, and disposed. When choosing products, consumers consider not only the impact of these products on the environment but also whether adequate working conditions were observed during their production. We obtained data on the attitudes of consumers in Slovakia through a survey, using the questionnaire method. The survey focused on selected areas of ethical shopping, with a special focus on fair trade and its knowledge among consumers in Slovakia. Based on the results of the survey, we suggest ways to educate as well as motivate consumers in Slovakia to realize ethical buying to a greater extent.