It has long been the case that one of the major driving forces of the consumer marketplace is the age demographic that falls between 18 and 35 years of age. This generation of consumers has increasingly demanded through their purchasing power that businesses engage in responsible business practices while also adopting more sustainable production measures. This is a laudable position for these consumers to adopt, and it is certainly not untenable for businesses to adapt their practices to appease consumers.
As has been noted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies time and again, oversight is necessary to ensure that responsible behaviors are being utilized in any industry. This type of oversight can certainly be applied to the behaviors of corporations and businesses that are providing products and services to consumers, and consumers are able to demonstrate the corporate values they deem appropriate through their purchasing power.
This has led to changes among a number of large corporations that have seen profits dip after revelations of irresponsible business practices. These corporations were once able to get away with these practices because consumers continued to buy their products, but this new generation seems to be intent upon improving the way businesses operate and to see employees enjoy better working conditions.