Werther’s

How ethical is Werther’s?

Werther’s is a brand of sweets owned by August Storck KG, which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Sweets Ratings Table.

Although Werther’s has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

We would have extra confidence in Werther’s if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby The Good Shopping Guide would make further detailed assessment and recommendations for ethical improvement.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the Sweets sector and see how other brands score in our Ethical Sweets Ratings Table.

What does Werther’s do?

Werther’s makes a range of butter candy sweets including hard pastilles and soft filled versions. It was created in Germany in 1909.

In which areas does Werther’s perform poorly?

Despite Werther’s making progress, there is still room for improvement. Werther’s was marked down under our criteria for the Environment, Palm Oil and GMO usage, due to a lack of available information in these areas.

Find out more about how we rate by exploring our ethical criteria.

Past criticisms of Werther’s record

In a recent Chocolate Scorecard survey by Be Slavery Free, Werther’s received a red rating, meaning that it needs to catch up with the industry regarding its cocoa-sourcing policies and practices.

In which areas does Werther’s score well for its ethics?

We found criticisms of Werther’s relating to Nuclear or Fossil Fuels, or Animal Welfare, so it also scores well for these criteria.

How can Werther’s  improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Werther’s is awarded on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Sweets Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria.

To reach our minimum ethical benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Werther’s has some issues to resolve, including  its lack of an Environmental Report or statements relating to palm oil and GMO ingredients. It could also have its products certified as vegetarian.

If it applies for Ethical Accreditation, The Good Shopping Guide will be able to give Werther’s some guidance to improve on these areas.

Were you aware that your brand could benefit from Ethical Accreditation? Brands accredited by The Good Shopping Guide can display our ethical mark, showcasing to consumers that it is an ethical and sustainable brand.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to attain Ethical Accreditation, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.