Sainsbury’s

How ethical is Sainsbury’s?

Sainsbury’s is a British supermarket brand which sells bananas sourced from Cameroon, Columbia, Dominican Republic and Ghana. Sainsbury’s has been given a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Bananas Ratings Table. Although it has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see Sainsbury’s make progress in future.

Read more about the issues facing the Ethical Bananas sector and find out which companies have achieved accreditation for their commitment to being ethical and sustainable.

In which areas does Sainsbury’s perform poorly?

Sainsbury’s is awarded a bottom score for Animal Welfare, as a recent undercover investigation by Open Cages found evidence of abusive treatment of chickens being supplied to supermarkets including Sainsbury’s.

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

Sainsbury’s is given a top rating for our Organic and Fair Trade criteria as its bananas are majority Fairtrade and Soil Association certified. It also gets a top score for its Environmental Report which contains lots of clear targets.

We found no criticisms of Sainsbury’s relating to; GM, Nuclear Power, Fossil Fuels, Political Donations or Armaments, so it scores well for these criteria.

How can Sainsbury’s improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Sainsbury’s is awarded is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria. To reach our minimum benchmark score and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Sainsbury’s has some issues to resolve including its poor Animal Welfare record.

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, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.