Ethical parents 'pay £700 more'
Published On 18 March 2007
Pressure to live according to ethical principles is increasing all the time, but new research indicates that such a lifestyle comes at a cost.During the first year of a child's life, parents choosing ethical baby essentials can expect to fork out £700 more than those choosing standard alternatives.
Figures from Family Investments show that environmentally-friendly nappies cost 41p each, which compares to 19p for regular nappies.
Ethical baby food, meanwhile, will cost 79p a jar, in comparison to just 63p for a standard pot. The difference in the price of baby clothes is even more marked, with standard items worth an average of £1.50 and ethical version costing £4.65.
Once all necessities are factored in, a parent choosing ethical products can expect to pay £1,532.19, dwarfing the total of £835.17 spent by those sticking to regular brands.
While many parents are eager to embrace ethical concerns, it seems clear that sticking rigidly to such a strategy could potentially launch some individuals into an undesirable financial predicament, in many cases adding to existing debts.
John Reeve, chief executive of Family Investments, said: "The cost of being a parent is growing and the added pressure now of choosing ethical or organic products can overwhelm parents living on stretched budgets, especially as families learn to cope with the cost of a new baby."
The research comes on the back of a report from Daycare Trust, showing that the cost of sending a child to nursery is soaring.
Average fees for a full-time nursery place have now reached £152 a week and families in central London can expect to pay £205 a week.
