Canadians are increasingly reaching for fair trade coffee, sweatshop-free garments, lead-free toys, environmentally-friendly cleaning agents and organic and local foods according to a recent Statistics Canada study.

Getting the best deal isn’t the sole objective of Canadian shoppers according to the report that shows a growing number of consumers are also making decisions based on ethical considerations.

The study, released Tuesday, shows 27 per cent of Canadian consumers surveyed are steering clear of some products and gravitating to others based on ethical concerns.

The study was based on information collected through the General Social Survey and shows ethical consumption has increased among those 25 and older by 20 per cent since 2003.

Shoppers in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia were the most likely to align their purchases with their political views, environmental conscience or health concerns, according to Stats Can. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest rates of ethical consumption.

Immigrants and people 65 and older are less likely to boycott or buy certain products for ethical reasons, the study says.