To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Courts are experiencing a recent surge of consumer class action filings alleging that manufacturers are misrepresenting the manner of procurement of materials for their products. These allegations center around claims of “ethical sourcing.” Broadly speaking, the goal of ethical sourcing is to ensure that a company only buys products and materials that are produced under reasonable working conditions and with fair pay for workers, as well as with minimal impact on the environment. Ethical sourcing is intended to reinforce social and environmental responsibility by companies. In the last several years, some consumers have shown a preference for ethically sourced products in lieu of similar products that are not necessarily procured in this way. This practice, known as ethical consumerism, is at the heart of a recent decision in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,