In December 2013, the law allowing gay marriage was overturned in Australia – spurring outrage, as two thirds of people support same-sex unions. At Sydney's Mardi Gras, ANZ turned its cashpoints into glitzy GAYTMs, sending a bold statement: accept our cash, accept our values.

There's one rule that explains how trends catch on; visibility. And more than half of us are now willing to pay more for products that are visibly socially responsible. Professor Lynn Kahle, who studies brand values, explains to Canvas8 why a brand’s values matter and how they influence people.

The Pret Foundation Trust endeavours to minimise poverty in the UK by helping break the cycle of homelessness. In turn, Pret has announced that it will donate its marketing budget to five homelessness charities for Christmas. How does this move affect customers' views of the high street café?

During the Sochi Olympics, big-name brands from Google to Channel 4 displayed their logos in rainbow colours to support LGBT rights. But why are brands being more open about their ethical and political stance, and do their customers really care?